Lab view of CRC Spectrum Explorer software being operated by Ky-Bao Huu Ho.

In a world gone wireless, there is one essential component that connects radio and television, cell phones and pagers, plus a host of other devices. Widely used but often taken for granted, radio spectrum is the invisible but crucial component of the communications system in Canada.

At the Communications Research Centre Canada (CRC), radio spectrum is far from forgotten. In fact, it was here that Spectrum Explorer™ was born. This unique technology, based on open software and hardware architectures, was developed by CRC researchers beginning in 1993 to assist Industry Canada in assessing the use and quality of radio spectrum. From day one, the technology was a hit. Not only was Spectrum Explorer™ considerably less expensive than other off-the-shelf systems, it was also more user-friendly and significantly more flexible.

Currently, Industry Canada operates 25 Spectrum Explorer™ units to assist in the monitoring of spectrum usage across the country. Radio inspectors track broadband frequencies to pinpoint congestion and the causes of interference; to check for compliance to regulations by licensed users; to ensure safe levels of electromagnetic radiation in the radio frequency bands; and, on occasion, to assist in military or police surveillance for security purposes.

Always looking to build on their success, CRC researchers recently designed a new version of Spectrum Explorer™, which boasts a condensed size and weight. The latest system uses only a laptop computer and a moderate-cost spectrum analyzer (Rohde & Schwarz FSP), compared to the original model which required a more expensive VXI chassis with a state-of-the-art PC workstation. The result is a high-performance Spectrum Explorer™ that is smaller, more portable, and even less expensive than previous systems.

The new Spectrum Explorer™ system is capable of drawing a complete picture of the spectrum bands within seconds, which can then be updated or modified on an ongoing basis. Using Spectrum Explorer™, radio operators are able to identify channel occupancy and noise levels; locate transmitters (and, in the near future, plot them on a map); identify transmission types; as well as capture and store signals for post processing. Researchers are now pursuing ongoing research and development on a version tailored to meet the needs of the Search and Rescue Satellite (SARSAT) System to monitor traffic and detect interference.

CRC expects that the improvements offered through the new system will prompt a significant increase in the number of Spectrum Explorer™ units used by Industry Canada’s radio inspectors and sold by our licensees. In the foreseeable future, these systems may also be the next-generation solution for spectrum monitoring and surveillance within the radio communication industry, serving cellular service providers, law enforcement agencies, military and police worldwide.

*For more information about CRC’s work with Spectrum Explorer™ , please contact John Lodge at john.lodge@crc.gc.ca or visit our Web site at www.crc.gc.ca/en/html/spectrum-explorer/home/home.