Speaker
Description
This presentation explores the challenges of geolocating radio frequency transmitters in real-world environments using software-defined radios (SDR). This research aims to better understand this problem in pursuit of a solution that would be signal agnostic and operate throughout commonly used VHF and UHF bands from 30-3000MHz. With this broad requirement in mind, a time difference of arrival (TDOA) technique was implemented on Ettus X310 USRPs to explore this space. This presentation highlights many common challenges when implementing TDOA in real-world environments and provides potential solutions. These include time synchronization of multiple non-collocated X310s, errors due to geometric dilution of precision, errors due to signal bandwidth, and data backhaul concerns. Real examples from three different experimental layouts compare and contrast signals from FM, HDTV, and LTE transmitters in the greater Boston area. Overall, this research aims to show that TDOA techniques can be very effectively implemented on USRP hardware, but there are many challenges due to signal characteristics and environment. By sharing examples of these challenges along with potential solutions, this presentation aims to help future researchers implement their own geolocation techniques with SDRs.
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A. Approved for public release. Distribution is unlimited. This material is based upon work supported by the Dept of the Navy under Air Force Contract No. FA8702-15-D-0001. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Dept of the Navy.
| Talk Length | 30 Minutes |
|---|---|
| Acknowledge | Acknowledge In-Person |
