Measuring and Evaluating TV White Spaces in Samsun, Turkey

Year 2016, Volume: 5 , 139 - 148, 07.11.2016

Cetin Kurnaz , Zafer Emre Albayrak

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the available Television White Space (TVWS) spectrums in Samsun with the aid of TV spectrum measurements at 73 different locations. The measurements were performed within 470 MHz -790 MHz band, using software based RTL2832U-R820T and ANRITSU S332E frequency analyzer. In the measurements -40dB and -45dB above signals are considered. It is seen from the measurement results that, frequency spectrum usage change depending on the distance from TV transmitter station, existence of Line of Sight (LOS) path and geographical features of measurement locations. In addition, the maximum spectrum occupancy is 70% while the average spectrum occupancy is 20.7%. The spectrum occupancy increased up to 8.3 % with the choice of lower reference value (i.e. -45dB). The comparison of measurement results with the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTSC) terrestrial transmitter list show that in measurement environment more channels are active. In the last part of the study, measurement locations were transferred on to a map via QGIS program, and available TVWS spectrum map of Samsun city was created.  

Keywords

Cognitive Radio, TV White Space, Software Defined Radio, Frequency Analyzer, Spectrum Occupancy Ratio.

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