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Sensing TV spectrum using Software Defined Radio hardware

Abstract:

The smart use of the radio spectrum is viable with the use of Cognitive Radio (CR) techniques and Software Defined Radio (SDR) hardware. With that, this project aims to detect and utilize vacant TV channels for secondary users. The lack of spectrum sensing techniques and methods to identify the state of the TV spectrum in a particular time and location is a problem which is delaying the effective utilization of unused TV spectrum. This work provides an overview of the process used in order to sense the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) TV spectrum bands in the city of Windsor, Ontario, Canada and discusses some details of the resulting observations. The sensing platform implemented was composed of an SDR, Python application, Arduino-based GPS, and UHF antenna. The prototype is mounted in a vehicle to dynamically detect spectrum bands and the collected data is stored both locally and in a remotely located Data Base (DB). Analysis of the obtained data exhibits the state of the unoccupied spectrum in the frequency range from 500 MHz to 698 MHz in the urban area of the city. This portable prototype is proven to sense TV white spaces with high accuracy.