The Influence of Channel Errors in Mobile Passive Radar using DVB-T Illuminators of Opportunity

Abstract

In this paper the effects of inter-channel inequalities of the receiving chain of a moving passive radar system are analyzed. The purpose of the mobile passive radar is the detection of moving targets using techniques such as DPCA or STAP. These techniques rely on calibrated receiving hardware. As the purpose of a passive radar is covert operation, the use of an external emitting source for calibration is not preferred, but a digital calibration during the postprocessing could provide a solution. We analyze the influence of different inter-channel inequalities in order to become familiar with their implications on the moving target detection. Furthermore we present as a solution a digital calibration making use of the direct-signal to correct the inter-channel errors.