An Automated HF Noise Measurement System

Abstract

The determination and control of man-made noise in the 2MHz 32 MHz (HF) frequency band is a major concern to those who must operate, maintain, and plan for HF receiver installations. The ability to obtain an accurate and statistically significant characterization of the RF noise throughout the entire HF spectrum and not be limited to a set of noise measurements taken at several preselected points within the spectrum is paramount. This paper describes an automated noise measurement system, configured entirely with off the shelf components, that accurately gathers a representative sample of both noise and signal data over the entire HF spectrum. The measurement system described, although not strictly portable, has been taken literally around the world, via commercial air carriers, to gather noise data. The results of two surveys, one conducted in a quiet rural area and the other conducted in a suburban area are also presented.