Automatic DF antenna sharpens signal detection precision

When coupled with the powerful SignalShark real-time receiver, Narda’s ADFA 1 makes the ideal system for automatic direction-finding of signals in the frequency range from 200MHz to 2.7GHz.

As well as for cellular network providers and the military, it is primarily aimed at PMR and BOS radio operators with applications that involve safety and security, such as the police, fire and ambulance services, frontier defence, and intelligence services.

At the heart of the ADFA 1 is an array of nine antenna elements around an omnidirectional reference antenna optimally arranged to achieve stable measurement results. The reference antenna allows test engineers to observe the spectrum at the same time as direction-finding.

The principle of automatic direction-finding for a single-channel receiver is based on the measurement of the phase difference between antenna elements. The nine antenna elements are measured against the central reference element.

The greater the distance between them and the greater the recorded phase difference, the more reliable the bearings.

As well as stationary applications, the ADFA 1 can be attached to the roof of a vehicle using a magnetic mount.

When connected to the SignalShark, a bearing cycle takes just 1.2 milliseconds and achieves an accuracy of up to 1° RMS (typical).

Along with the simple display of the determined direction, the receiver can also overlay a so-called heat map on a stored map. The powerful localisation software on the SignalShark can show the most likely location of the interferer directly on the screen during mobile operation.

This can be achieved in real time, without the need for an external computer.

A hand-held antenna can be used with the SignalShark to determine the exact location of a signal source over the final few meters, so that the test engineer can enter a previously localised building in order to determine the floor and the exact room where the source is located.