Spectrum Monitoring Training Sequence

Course Description

Introduction to Radio Spectrum Monitoring and Measuring; sponsored by the Federal Communications Commission – April 24 to 28, 2023 in Columbia, MD

Course participants will receive an introduction to spectrum monitoring and related measurement techniques at a field facility of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).   Initially, class members will meet with the Director of FCC-Sponsored USTTI Programs for a course orientation, including an overview of the Agency, structure of the Enforcement Bureau, its responsibilities, as well as the structure of the Bureau’s Field facilities, its three Regions and its thirteen field offices.  The training will be conducted at the Columbia Operations Center facility in Columbia, Maryland. 

The following day, participants will be transported to the FCC Columbia facilities, located at the FCC’s Columbia Laboratory.   At this Columbia facility, the class members will meet their FCC course Instructors and commence the learning experience which will include topics such as interference resolution, FCC enforcement actions, radio frequency radiation measurements, demonstrations, etc.  Included will be small group training in field strength measurements and spectrum analyzer measurements — and later, in applications of spectrum monitoring with hand-held equipment and mobile direction finding.  Several special presentations, including a Sarsat/Cospas Search and Rescue tutorial offered by a NASA Affiliate, are planned for inclusion.

On the final day of the training, the course co-sponsor will offer hands on training at the Laboratory for the class.

Participant Learning Objectives:

To obtain a working understanding of:  (1) spectrum management techniques related to enforcement of national and international radio regulations, and their practical application using spectrum monitoring and measurement tools; (2) signal recognition, and how the signals are received, through correlation between available databases and other publications and observed/measured signal characteristics; (3) how received signals are processed through receivers, monitors, oscilloscopes and spectrum analyzers to establish transmission parameters; (4) how special engineering measurement equipment is applied against various types of communication signals (including broadcast and satellite signals) to understand the basis for their complex monitoring results; 5) the fundamentals of basic monitoring, measuring, and direction finding theory; and (6) the latest RF survey and measurement systems available today.

Focus:

Managerial and technical with a technical emphasis

Practical Applications of Spectrum Management and Spectrum Monitoring; sponsored by SPX, TCI – May 1 to 5, 2023 in Fremont, CA

The course focuses on the practical application of ITU-compliant spectrum management and monitoring techniques and the modern-day challenges associated with them. The course employs classroom and hands-on activities to provide students with an overview of spectrum management and a practical review of monitoring techniques and their interaction. Classroom time is used to instruct in the system planning and coverage analysis, operational principles of a monitoring station (fixed, mobile and transportable), principles of signal measurements, radio direction finding, and signal identification and recording. The hands-on portion of the course will demonstrate real time application of the principles taught in the classroom and include mission planning, operational set-up, running missions, and data analysis and management.

Learning objectives include: learning practical implementation of spectrum management, spectrum monitoring, radio direction finding, and signal measurement techniques as they relate to the international standards of the ITU and today’s signal environment. This includes: monitoring coverage and planning tools; radio direction finding; signal monitoring, identification, and correlation to the frequency management database; spectrum occupancy observations and analysis as part of the frequency management function; and transmitter measurements as required to ensure compliance to the radio regulations; management and monitoring trends, big data management.

 

Learning Objective

Sponsor

FCC and SPX,TCI

Location

FCC - Columbia, MD; SPX,TCI - Fremont, CA

Training Dates

FCC – April 24 to 28, 2023 and SPX, TCI – May 1 to 5, 2023

Sequence

Spectrum Monitoring Sequence