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Project Updates: May - August 2019

AWS-3 LTE Impacts on AMT
(proposed by Edwards Air Force Base)
Test Objective:  Perform high quality measurements and analysis of the impact of adjacent band LTE UE on aeronautical mobile telemetry (AMT) systems with an emphasis at the 1780 MHz boundary between LTE and AMT. 
Status Update:   Established baseline testbed and automation capability in Boulder, CO and Bedford, MA. Tested many types of adjacent band emission in the Bedford, MA testbed. Completed setup of Boulder, CO anechoic chamber to capture laboratory waveforms. Completed site surveys at EAFB, CA. and NASA Langley Research Center; also, collected and began processing the first set of field waveforms from EAFB, CA. Completed initial testbed setup and automation code to test waveforms. Resolved all remaining issues to finalize the design of experiment. 
Next Steps:   Begin waveform  testing with EAFB in-situ waveforms. Begin capturing laboratory waveforms for testing. Capture field waveforms from NASA Langley Research Center for processing and testing. Complete design of experiment, and update and finalize testbed and automation.

Aggregate AWS-3 LTE Emissions
(proposed by Defense Spectrum Organization)
Test Objective:  Characterize the in-band emissions of User Equipment (UE) across various Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network settings in the AWS-3 frequency range to empirically estimate parameters, sensitivity, and uncertainty of the variables influencing the level of potential interference to in-band DoD systems.
Status Update:  Completed the initial factor screening experiment test report and staffed for formal technical review as part of the public release process. Identified the factors and levels for focused closed-loop versus open-loop power control. Finalized the experimental design for the closed-loop characterization testing. Identified testbed issues delayed testing from August to September. Investigated options to recover delay to keep project on track to complete technical work by the end of the fiscal year.  
Next Steps:  Adjudicate technical review comments and submit factor screening report to NIST Editorial Review Board for public release. Fix testbed issues to support testing. Begin closed-loop characterization testing. 

Project Updates: January - April 2019

AWS-3 LTE Impacts on AMT
(proposed by Edwards Air Force Base)
Test Objective:  Perform high quality measurements and analysis of the impact of adjacent band LTE UE on aeronautical mobile telemetry (AMT) systems with an emphasis at the 1780 MHz boundary between LTE and AMT. 
Status Update:  Held community workshop to present the test plan on February 26th and the project kick-off meeting on March 25-27th. Started conducting laboratory sensitivity testing with sponsor-provided AMT equipment. Completed design and setup of initial testbed and identified automation requirements. Work continues on data capture requirements and design of experiment. Beginning to coordinate site survey to support in-situ measurements at first location.
Next Steps:  Complete data requirements, design of experiment, and testbed automation. Conduct site survey and finalize in-situ measurement design and date for data capture at first location.

Aggregate LTE:  Characterizing UE Emissions
(proposed by Defense Spectrum Organization)
Test Objective:  Characterize the in-band emissions of User Equipment (UE) across various Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network settings in the AWS-3 frequency range to empirically estimate parameters, sensitivity, and uncertainty of the variables influencing the level of potential interference to in-band DoD systems.
Status Update:  Completed the analysis of data from the four rounds of factor screening experiments, representing over 200 hours of test time, and presented preliminary results to sponsor. Engineering analysis started to determine the impact of relevant factors and the next stage of detailed testing. Continuing to write technical reports on factor screening experiments and results.
Next Steps:  Finalize next phase of testing and design of experiment, finish factor screening documentation, and begin next phase testing planned for late spring/early summer 2019.

Project Updates: September - December 2018

AWS-3 LTE Impacts on AMT
(proposed by Edwards Air Force Base)
Test Objective:  Perform high quality measurements and analysis of the impact of LTE UE emissions on aeronautical mobile telemetry (AMT) systems with an emphasis at the 1780 MHz boundary between LTE and AMT. 
Status Update:  Collected and adjudicated public comments on the initial test plan and modified accordingly.  Developed pre-testing activities to determine AMT susceptibility to LTE waveforms, catalog LTE waveforms for use in AMT testing, and capture In-Situ LTE measurements using AMT hardware. Also updated schedule, costs, staffing plan, and contract documents to support revised test objectives.
Next Steps:  Hold a community workshop and brief sponsor on updated test plan. Finalize and obtain contract agreements, locations, AMT equipment, and resources to begin test execution. 

Aggregate LTE:  Characterizing UE Emissions
(proposed by Defense Spectrum Organization)
Test Objective:  Characterize the in-band emissions of User Equipment (UE) across various Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network settings in the AWS-3 frequency range to empirically estimate parameters, sensitivity, and uncertainty of the variables influencing the level of potential interference to in-band DoD systems.
Status Update: Completed design and configuration of factor screening test procedure. Partially completed factor screening experiments and began statistical analysis. Began adjudicating internal comments for the UE path loss calculations report.
Next Steps:  Finish conducting factor screening experiments, analyze data, and refine test measurement design of experiment. Begin writing technical report on factor screening experiments. Submit path loss report for external review.

Advanced Waveform Co-Channel Interference
(research by the NIST Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL))
Test Objective:  Measure and collect co-channel interference between 5th Generation (Fighter Aircraft) -Advanced Training Waveform (5G-ATW) and Federal services in 1780-1850 MHz band.
Status Update:  Preparing report for publication in 2019.

Project Updates: May - August 2018

AWS-3 LTE Impacts on AMT
(proposed by Edwards Air Force Base)
Test Objective:  Perform high quality measurements and analysis of the impact of LTE UE emissions on aeronautical mobile telemetry (AMT) systems with an emphasis at the 1780 MHz boundary between LTE and AMT. 
Status Update:  The test plan is out for public comment until August 23rd.  Finalizing the project management plan (PMP) that outlines the resources, costs, schedule, and approach to execute the project. 
Next Steps:  Adjudicate the comment matrix and publish the updated test plan in September. Continue researching potential test master, locations, and resources, and finalize the necessary contract agreements for test execution. Schedule a community workshop to brief test plan after comment adjudication and test plan updates are complete. Finalize contract agreements and resources for test execution.

Aggregate LTE:  Characterizing UE Emissions
(proposed by Defense Spectrum Organization)
Test Objective:  Characterize the in-band emissions of User Equipment (UE) across various Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network settings in the AWS-3 frequency range to empirically estimate parameters, sensitivity, and uncertainty of the variables influencing the level of potential interference to in-band DoD systems.
Status Update:  (1) Finalizing the screening factor design of experiment, identifying and correcting unexpected equipment performance delaying factor screening experiments, and testing automation, parsing, and data analysis techniques. (2) Completed bulk of measurements of emission patterns from LTE handsets. (3) Refining initial model of radiated path loss for multiple morphologies (e.g., urban, suburban, rural) based on carrier and crowd-sourced base station locations to be attached as an appendix to the test report and as an independent research report.
Next Steps:  Resolve all testbed issues and complete factor screening experiment, analyze data, and refine test measurement design of experiment.  Document LTE emission pattern research. Finalize procurements and begin test execution in September.

Project Updates: January - April 2018

LTE Impacts on AMT
(proposed by Edwards Air Force Base) 
Test Objective:  Perform high quality measurements and analysis of LTE UE and AMT emissions with an emphasis at the 1780 MHz boundary between LTE and AMT systems. 
Status Update: The NASCTN Steering Committee has accepted the project proposal.  Forming the test plan development team. 
Next Steps:  Obtain required expertise and begin developing test plan. 

Out-of-Band Emissions Measurements of LTE Devices Operating in the AWS-3 Band
(proposed by Edwards Air Force Base)
Test Objective:  Measure out-of-band emissions from LTE User Equipment (UE) and macro-cell Evolved Node B (eNB) devices that will be operating in the Advanced Wireless Service (AWS) 3 band that allow DoD incumbents to determine impact to Aeronautical Mobile Telemetry (AMT) systems.
Status Update:  Final report publicly released and available for download. Community out-brief to multiple government, academic, and industry stakeholders held on 29 January 2018.
Next Steps:  Out-brief is the final official action on this project and the project is closed. Any additional request will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Aggregate LTE: Characterizing UE Emissions
(proposed by Defense Spectrum Organization)
Test Objective:  Characterize the in-band emissions of User Equipment (UE) across various Long-Term Evolution (LTE) network settings in the AWS-3 frequency range to empirically estimate parameters, sensitivity, and uncertainty of the variables influencing the level of potential interference to in-band DoD systems.
Status Update:  Preliminary sub-component tests complete. Integration into full test setup underway. Finalizing the design of experiment to conduct factor selection experiments. Due to the potential number of experiments to exhaustively test all factors, the Plackett-Burman technique 2 was used with a 24 run design. Contracting actions continue to augment NASCTN staff with support from MITRE and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU APL). 
Next Steps:  Finish major test setup and conduct factor selection experiments. Analyze factor selection results and update the test execution design of experiment. Finalize staff augmentation support. Organize on-site sponsor update scheduled for 27 March in Boulder, CO.

Advanced Waveform Co-Channel Interference
(research by the NIST Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL))
Test Objective:  Measure and collect co-channel interference between 5th Generation (Fighter Aircraft) -Advanced Training Waveform (5G-ATW) and  Federal services in 1780-1850 MHz band.
Status Update:  NIST completed testing and research on the effects of  waveforms operating co-channel with LTE and is drafting the final report.
Next Steps:  Publish final report in the Fall.

Project Updates: October - December 2017

Out-of-Band Emissions Measurements of LTE Devices Operating in the AWS-3 Band
(proposed by Edwards Air Force Base)
Test Objective:  Measure realistic out-of-band emissions from LTE User Equipment (UE) and macro-cell Evolved Node B (eNB) devices that will be operating in the Advanced Wireless Service (AWS) 3 band that allow DoD incumbents to determine impact to Aeronautical Mobile Telemetry (AMT) systems.
Status Update:  Completed writing test report.  Test report completed National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) editorial review.  National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) editorial review is in-progress. 
Next Steps:  Complete NTIA editorial review and publish final report November 2017.  Schedule a community out-brief in January 2018.

Aggregate LTE: Characterizing UE Emissions
(proposed by Defense Spectrum Organization)
Test Objective:  Characterize the in-band emissions of User Equipment (UE) across LTE network settings to empirically estimate parameters, sensitivity, and uncertainty of the variables influencing the level of potential interference to DoD systems.
Status Update:  Consolidated and adjudicated comments received from the community review period that ended 25 September.   The review yielded no critical comments.  Decision made to perform test measurements at the NIST T&E facility in Boulder, CO with staff augmentation from MITRE and Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU APL).  Updating project planning documentation (e.g., schedule, costs, equipment, staffing) for test execution. 
Next Steps:  Continue preliminary test setup and factor selection. Finalize staff augmentation support. Provide In-Progress Review (IPR) for early 2018.  

Advanced Waveform Co-Channel Interference
(research by the NIST Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL))
Test Objective:  Measure and collect co-channel interference between 5th Generation (Fighter Aircraft) -Advanced Training Waveform (5G-ATW) and  Federal services in 1780-1850 MHz band.
Status Update:  NIST completed research on the effects of  waveforms operating co-channel with LTE.
Next Steps:  Presenting preliminary results to select DoD audience on 14 December 2017.

Project Updates: July - September 2017

Waveform Measurements of Radars Operating in the 3.5 GHz Band
(research by the NIST Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL))
Test Objective:  Collect Radar 1 waveforms to inform the development and certification of Environmental Sensing Capability (ESC)/Spectrum Access Sharing (SAS) technologies. 
Status Update:  Published the Ft. Story final report  and the Point Loma final report from collection efforts as NIST Technology Note 1967 2. The workshop focused on radar detection activities.  Hosted project out-brief and radar detection workshop on 11 August.  Workshop attended by over 30 government, industry, and academic participants interested in radar detection supporting Environment Sensing Capability (ESC) capabilities. The data is supporting multiple follow-on research activities.
Next Steps:  The out-brief marked the official end of the project.   Respond to community requests for data or follow-up as required. 

Out-of-Band Emissions Measurements of LTE Devices Operating in the AWS-3 Band
(proposed by Edwards Air Force Base)
Test Objective:  Measure realistic out-of-band emissions from LTE User Equipment (UE) and macro-cell Evolved Node B (eNB) devices that will be operating in the Advanced Wireless Service (AWS) 3 band to determine impact to Aeronautical Mobile Telemetry (AMT) systems.
Status Update:  Draft test report written.  Completed technical review by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and adjudicated comments.  Document prepared for formal editorial review and public release.  Final authority from NASCTN Program Manager to submit for publication release delayed.
Next Steps:  Submit for editorial review and publish final report October 2017.  Schedule a community out-brief in December 2017 or January 2018.

Aggregate LTE: Characterizing UE Emissions
(proposed by Defense Spectrum Organization)
Test Objective:  Characterize the emissions of User Equipment (UE) to empirically estimate parameters, sensitivity, and uncertainty of the variables influencing the level of potential interference to DoD systems.
Status Update:  Briefed test plan to sponsor and NASCTN Steering Committee in July.  Developing the out-reach plan for comprehensive community engagement.  Finalized the test plan and distributed for community review on 23 August with comments due by 25 September.  Adjudicated comments from sponsor and Steering Committee and preparing test plan for community review and comment. Test plan review for stakeholders held on 13 September at the NIST campus in Boulder, CO.  Review attended by over 90 individuals both in-person and on-line from government, industry, and academia.  Consolidating and adjudicating comments received from the community review period that ended 25 September.   The review yielded no critical comments, to date.  Identified a T&E facility with the requisite skill and a majority of the test equipment.  Developed draft task statement for test execution at an external T&E facility.
Next Steps:  Adjudicate test plan comments and publish final test plan in November 2017.  Finalize test location and begin contract and funding actions.

Advanced Training Waveform Co-Channel Interference
(initially proposed by Naval Surface Warfare Center)
Test Objective:  Measure and collect co-channel interference between 5th Generation (Fighter Aircraft) -Advanced Training Waveform (5G-ATW) and  Federal services in 1780-1850 MHz band.
Status Update:  Currently executing a NIST-funded discovery phase.  A meeting with the sponsor in August transitioned the project into a research activity. 
Next Steps:  A NIST-funded research activity investigating LTE interference based on the proposed project will continue to completion.

Project Updates:  April - June 2017

Aggregate LTE: Characterizing UE Emissions
(proposed by Defense Spectrum Organization)
Test Objective:  Characterize the emissions of Long Term Evolution (LTE) User Equipment (UE) in the 1755-1780 MHz band to empirically estimate parameters, sensitivity, and uncertainty of the variables influencing the level of potential interference to DoD systems.
Status Update:  Developed plan to achieve objective in a two-phase approach with phase 1 occurring in a lab and phase 2 collecting field measurements. Completed initial test plan for phase 1.  Completed initial schedule and budget estimates to execute test plan 1.  
Next Steps:  Brief test and project plan to sponsor and NASCTN Steering Committee in July 2017.  Release test plan for community review and comment in August 2017.

Advanced Waveform Co-Channel Interference
(initially proposed by Naval Surface Warfare Center)
Test Objective:  Develop test methodology to measure and collect co-channel interference between 5th Generation (Fighter Aircraft) -Advanced Training Waveform (5G-ATW) and  Federal LTE services in 1780-1850 MHz band.
Status Update:  Conducting  research and discovery to prepare for test plan development.  Developing outline for project schedule and budget.  Developing initial contract documents to receive funds for test execution.  Test plan development is pending National Spectrum Consortium (NSC) Spectrum Access Research & Development Program (SARDP) contract award now expected in fall 2017.  
Next Steps:  Complete the test plan and distribute for spectrum community review and comments late fall 2017. 

Impact of LTE Signals on GPS Receivers
(proposed by Ligado Networks, LLC)
Test Objective:  Develop a test methodology and perform measurements to investigate the effects of LTE signals on GPS receivers that are operating in nearby frequency bands.
Status Update:  NASCTN publicly released the final test report 2 in February 2017 and provided an out-brief to the community on the methodology and results in May 2017.  Also, briefed the June 2017 meeting of the Space-Based Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) National Advisory Board. 
Next Steps:  The project is officially completed.  NASCTN is responding to requests made for the report, data, and briefings.

Out-of-Band Emissions Measurements of LTE Devices Operating in the AWS-3 Band
(proposed by Edwards Air Force Base)
Test Objective:  Develop the test processes and perform out-of-band emissions measurements of LTE systems that will be operating in the AWS-3 band so that DoD can mitigate potential interference effects on their aeronautical mobile telemetry (AMT) systems.
Status Update:  Completed User Equipment (UE) measurements in Boulder, CO in May and evolved Node B (eNB) measurements  in McLean, VA in June.  Began data analysis and writing final report.
Next Steps:  Brief results to sponsor and NASCTN Steering Committee in August 2017.  Publish final report September 2017. 

Waveform Measurements of Radars Operating in the 3.5 GHz Band
(research by the NIST Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL))
Test Objective:  Develop a test methodology to collect and analyze high-fidelity digital Radar 1 waveforms in the 3.5 GHz band.  The data will be used to inform the development and certification of Environmental Sensing Capability (ESC)/Spectrum Access Sharing (SAS) technologies.
Status Update:  NASCTN publicly released the Point Loma, CA collection final report 3.  NASCTN is finishing the editorial review of the Ft. Story, VA report prior to public release.  NASCTN is planning a community out-brief and workshop on radar measurements, tentatively planned for 11 August in McLean, VA.
Next Steps:  Publish Ft. Story, VA test report July 2017.  Finalize and invite federal stakeholders and ESC applicants to workshop.

Project Updates:  January—March 2017

Aggregate LTE: Characterizing UE Emissions
(proposed by Defense Spectrum Organization)
Test Objective:  Develop test methodology to collect measurements to validate or improve existing aggregate LTE models.
Status Update:  NASCTN Steering Committee approved this as a NASCTN project in March 2017.  NASCTN is collecting technical information and organizing the resources to develop the test methodology.
Next Steps:  NASCTN will complete the test plan and distribute to the spectrum community for review and comment.

Advanced Waveform Co-Channel Interference
(initially proposed by Naval Surface Warfare Center)
Test Objective:  Develop test methodology to measure the impact of the 5th Generation—Advanced Training Waveform (5G-ATW) on federal LTE services in the 1780-1850 MHz range.
Status Update:  NASCTN Steering Committee approved this as a NASCTN project in February 2017.  NASCTN is collecting technical and programmatic information to support the project.  NASCTN is also identifying the resources to develop the test methodology.
Next Steps:  NASCTN will complete the test plan and distribute to the spectrum community for review and comment.

Impact of LTE Signals on GPS Receivers
(proposed by Ligado Networks, LLC)
Test Objective:  Develop a test methodology and perform measurements to investigate the effects of LTE signals on GPS receivers that are operating in nearby frequency bands.
Status Update:  NASCTN completed and publicly released the final test report (NIST TN-1952).  The report is posted to the NASCTN and NIST web-sites.  The measurement data is available upon request; Instructions for requesting the data is on the NASCTN web-site. 
Next Steps:  A public out brief for this project is scheduled for 4 May in McLean, VA.  Details on the meeting are on the NASCTN web-site.

Out-of-Band Emissions Measurements of LTE Devices Operating in the AWS-3 Band
(proposed by Edwards Air Force Base)
Test Objective:  Develop the test processes and perform out-of-band emissions measurements of LTE systems that will be operating in the AWS-3 band so that DoD can mitigate potential interference effects on their aeronautical mobile telemetry (AMT) systems.
Status Update:  NASCTN obtained access to two AWS-3 LTE User Equipment (UE) and one eNodeB for testing.  The is also working with LTE manufacturers and other stakeholders to identify AWS-3 LTE equipment available for testing.  Currently, NASCTN identified two User Equipment devices and one eNodeB for testing.
Next Steps:  NASCTN will complete the interagency agreement and begin testing in early 2017.  NASCTN continues to coordinate with equipment vendors for additional AWS-3 LTE equipment for testing.

Waveform Measurements of Radars Operating in the 3.5 GHz Band
(research by the NIST Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL))
Test Objective:  Develop a test methodology to collect and analyze high-fidelity digital waveforms of radars that operate in the 3.5 GHz band to inform the development and certification of Environmental Sensing Capability (ESC)/Spectrum Access Sharing (SAS) technologies.
Status Update:  NASCTN collected high quality In-Phase and Quadrature (I/Q) data in two separate data measurement campaigns (i.e., Point Loma, CA and Ft. Story, VA).  NASCTN completed the Point Loma collection final report and submitted the document to the Department of Defense for public release decision.  NASCTN continues writing the Ft. Story collection final report.  NASCTN presented the results of the project to the DoD 3.5GHz group in March 2017, highlighting the potential use of waveform data for ESC/SAS certification.
Next Steps:  NASCTN is on-track to publish both reports in the next quarter.  The decision from the Navy will determine the extent of public distribution.  NASCTN will continue to work with the DoD and regulators on possible use of the waveforms for ESC/SAS certification.

 

NASCTN Releases Report on LTE Impact on GPS Receivers

February 15, 2017
The National Advanced Spectrum and Communications Test Network (NASCTN) has completed the Impacts of LTE Signals on GPS Receivers project  and has released the NASCTN report LTE Impacts on GPS along with the measurement data associated with this project.

The focus of this NASCTN project, proposed by Ligado Networks in April of 2016, was the development of a test methodology to (1) investigate the impact of Long Term Evolution (LTE) signals on Global Positioning System (GPS) devices that operate in the GPS L1 frequency band and to (2) perform radiated radio-frequency measurements on a representative set of GPS devices in order to validate the test methodology. 

To better understand the potential impact of adjacent-band LTE signals on GPS receiver performance, NASCTN developed a draft test plan designed to measure how the performance of GPS receivers changed as a function of increasing LTE signal power relative to a baseline with no LTE emissions.

NASCTN testing included several measurands: carrier-to-noise density (C/N0), 3D position error, timing error, number of GPS satellites in view, time to first fix and time to first reacquisition.  

The focus of this study was on GPS devices from four different receiver classes – general location and navigation (GLN), high-performance positioning (HPP), real-time kinematic (RTK), and GPS-disciplined oscillator (GPSDO).  

A cross-section of regulators, Federal agencies and GPS manufacturers reviewed the NASCTN test plan and provided technical comments, which NASCTN used to prepare a revised test plan, which was released in July of 2016. 

Over a three-month period, NASCTN performed the radiated measurements associated with this project at two facilities – a semi-anechoic chamber at National Technical Systems (NTS) in Longmont, CO and at a fully-anechoic chamber at the NIST Broadband Interoperability Testbed (NBIT) facility in Boulder, CO. 

NASCTN relied on technical staff from NIST and the U.S. Army’s Electronic Proving Grounds to perform and validate the measurements and collect the data. The team was multi-disciplinary, including expertise in GPS devices and simulation, radiated radio-frequency measurements, timing measurements, microwave metrology, statistical analysis and data processing.

In total, NASCTN performed 1,476 hours of testing and collected over 19,000 data files for a variety of measurands that were collected from a number of GPS devices.  These data were collected at a baseline condition (no LTE signals present) and over a large range of LTE signal power levels. Subsequent data processing yielded a set of 3,859 anonymized data files (780 MB) that is available along with the NASCTN report.

Due to significant interest in these measurements by regulators for assessing LTE signals on performance of GPS devices, Federal agencies, and the GPS community, NASCTN is publically releasing both the test report and the associated measurement data and may host a public meeting to give an overview of the test results and answer any questions on the testing methodology.

 

Project Updates:  October-December, 2016

Waveform Measurements of Radars Operating in the 3.5 GHz Band
(initially proposed by Federated Wireless, LLC)
Test Objective:  NIST’s Communications Technology Laboratory (CTL)  sponsored NASCTN’s effort to collect Radar 1 waveforms to inform the development and certification of Environmental Sensing Capability (ESC)/Spectrum Access Sharing (SAS) technologies.  This work supports CTL’s research goals and benefits the entire community of 3.5GHz spectrum stakeholders. 
Status Update:  NASCTN collected high quality In-Phase and Quadrature (I/Q) data in two separate data collection efforts.  The first occurred in Point Loma, CA from March-April 2016.  This effort produced over 70TB of Radar 1 waveform captures.  NASCTN provided a subset of this information (35 individual samples) to Federal regulators and potential ESC/SAS applicants on 29 September 2016. The second data collection activity occurred at Ft. Story, VA from August-October 2016.
Next Steps:  NASCTN is analyzing the data and preparing test reports.  NASCTN will document the test results in two documents to match the data collection.  NASCTN plans to complete the Point Loma, CA report in January 2017 and the Fort Story, VA report in March 2017.  

Impact of LTE Signals on GPS Receivers
(proposed by Ligado Networks, LLC)
Test Objective:  Ligado requested NASCTN  measure and collect interference data from LTE emitters and their impact on a subset sample of L1 GPS receivers (i.e., general location & navigation, precision timing, and precision location devices). 
Status Update:  NASCTN executed the NASCTN-developed and community reviewed test plan.  NASCTN developed several innovative automation techniques to support long test runs (>>hours) that allowed for almost 24/7 testing and performed simultaneous uplink & downlink testing.  NASCTN presented preliminary information to federal regulators and stakeholders in late September & November regarding the test methodology, pace of test execution, and the format of the data for regulator use. 
Next Steps:  NASCTN is conducting post-processing work and data analysis.   NASCTN has started writing the test report, which will include the text methodology, execution, and results.   The test report should be available for stakeholder review in early 2017.

Out-of-Band Emissions Measurements of LTE Devices Operating in the AWS-3 Band
(proposed by Edwards Air Force Base)
Test Objective:  EAFB requested NASCTN provide measured data showing the typical out-of-band emissions from LTE User Equipment and macro-cell Evolved Node B (eNodeB) devices that will be operating in the Advanced Wireless Service (AWS) 3 band.
Status Update:  NASCTN developed a two-phase test plan since AWS-3 band LTE equipment was not available when this project started.  The first phase conducted the planned measurements on LTE equipment in Band 3.  This band is close to the desired AWS-3 band and equipment was available for testing.  Phase I validated the test methodology and provided improvements to the test plan for phase II.  NASCTN released the phase II test plan for community review in October and adjudicated comments in November.  NASCTN is also working with LTE manufacturers and other stakeholders to identify AWS-3 LTE equipment available for testing.  Currently, NASCTN identified two User Equipment devices and one eNodeB for testing.
Next Steps:  NASCTN will complete the interagency agreement and begin testing in early 2017.  NASCTN continues to coordinate with vendors for additional AWS-3 LTE equipment for testing.

 

NASCTN Initiates First Spectrum-Sharing Project

September 23, 2015

The National Advanced Spectrum and Communications Test Network (NASCTN) has launched its first spectrum-sharing project, focusing on the 3.5 GHz Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS).

The CBRS was created by the Federal Communications Commission earlier this year to promote a three-tiered, spectrum-sharing environment that will eventually allow federal and commercial wireless communications systems to operate in frequency bands primarily used by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) for the operation of radar systems.

The NASCTN project, launched in September 2015, was proposed by Federated Wireless, Inc. (Arlington, Virginia). Other participants are NASCTN partners NIST, NTIA and DOD. The project will focus on the development of test methods to validate the performance of an environmental sensing capability, which is a network of sensors that can monitor the spectrum environment. This data is provided to spectrum access systems, which coordinate the use of this frequency band.

A key aspect of this project will be the development of a suite of waveforms for radars that operate in the CBRS frequency band. With a NASCTN-validated library of radar waveforms and test procedures, developers of spectrum access systems will be able to validate the performance of their environmental sensing capability.

 

NIST, NTIA, DOD Agree to Facilitate Testing and Evaluation of Wireless Spectrum-Sharing Methods

March 24, 2015

The Department of Commerce (DOC) and Department of Defense (DOD) have signed a memorandum of agreement that establishes a new collaborative framework to facilitate access to a wide range of laboratory and test facilities that support development of improved methods for sharing wireless communications channels or "spectrum."

The National Advanced Spectrum and Communications Test Network (NASCTN) established under the agreement is an important adjunct of the new Center for Advanced Communications (CAC), a joint effort of two DOC agencies, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). The CAC is implementing a key provision of the 2013 Presidential Memorandum Expanding America's Leadership in Wireless Innovation to further research, development, testing and evaluation of spectrum sharing technologies and other wireless-related efficiencies. 

NIST, NTIA and DOD's Chief Information Officer (CIO) signed the agreement on March 11, 2015, committing to develop a charter for NASCTN over the next six months. Additional federal agency members and private sector participants will be invited to join the network as well.

"Rapid advances in communications technology have created significant new demands for access to wireless channels," Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for Standards and Technology and NIST Acting Director Willie May said. "We need efficient and effective ways of sharing spectrum to continue to benefit from technology advances while balancing the needs of commercial broadband, national security and public safety."

"Access to spectrum will advance the country's future competitiveness and global technology leadership," Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Lawrence E. Strickling said. "NASCTN will play a critical role as we work toward fulfilling the Administration's commitment to making available an additional 500 megahertz of spectrum for commercial use by 2020 while safeguarding capabilities that are vital to federal interests."

"Developing systems that are efficient, flexible, adaptable and support greater sharing helps ensure our military readiness and optimizes operational effectiveness while allowing more spectrum to be available for public use—witnessed in the success of the record breaking AWS-3 auction ," said DOD Chief Information Officer Terry Halvorsen. "Through NASCTN we enable the best of our engineering capacity to work together to achieve these and other objectives set forth in the DOD Spectrum Strategy." 

The NASCTN's key functions are to:

Facilitate and coordinate spectrum sharing and engineering capabilities,
Create a trusted capability for evaluating spectrum-sharing technologies,
Perform outreach activities to identify spectrum-related testing and modeling needs, and
Protect proprietary, classified and sensitive information while facilitating maximum dissemination.
The NASCTN will rely on a network of members who will supply and share intellectual capacity, modeling and simulation capabilities, laboratory facilities and test ranges. Initial NASCTN projects will likely include finding mutually agreeable ways for spectrum users to share specific bands of spectrum and rapidly resolve pressing challenges to co-existence. For example, NASCTN will facilitate access to suitable federal testing facilities and resources to accurately measure and model potential harmful interference between government users and commercial wireless systems. 

Through the CAC, NASCTN's coordination of tests, modeling and validation will provide stakeholders with objective and trusted information needed to evaluate the performance of proposed spectrum-sharing technologies and help find technical solutions to key co-existence issues. The effort aims to accelerate the deployment of spectrum-sharing technologies, increase access to wireless spectrum and inform ongoing and future spectrum policy deliberations.

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