NTIA Report 98-345 

Analysis of Spectrum Utilization and 

Message Length Statistics for the 

Railroad Land Mobile Radio Service 

Michael Terada 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

William M. Daley, Secretary 

Larry Irving, Assistant Secretary 

for Communications and Information 

November 1997 

iii

PRODUCT DISCLAIMER 

Certain commercial companies, equipment, instruments, and materials are identified in this 

report to specify adequately the technical aspects of the reported results. In no case does such 

identification imply recommendation or endorsement by the National Telecommunications and 

Information Administration, nor does it imply that the material or equipment identified is 

necessarily the best available for the purpose. 

v

CONTENTS 

Page 

PRODUCT DISCLAIMER ........................................................................................................... iii 

ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................1 

1. INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................1 

2. SPECTRUM UTILIZATION SURVEY ...................................................................................2 

 2.1 Survey Site Selection ...........................................................................................................2 

 2.2 Measurement System.........................................................................................................11 

3. ANALYSIS ALGORITHM.....................................................................................................13 

 3.1 Noise Reduction Algorithm ...............................................................................................14

 3.2 Data Analysis.....................................................................................................................14 

 3.3 Spectrum Utilization Comparison......................................................................................24 

4. CONCLUSION........................................................................................................................26 

5. REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................28 

APPENDIX: DATA ACQUISITION (DA) SOFTWARE............................................................29 

ANALYSIS OF SPECTRUM UTILIZATION AND MESSAGE LENGTH STATISTICS 

FOR THE RAILROAD LAND MOBILE RADIO SERVICE 

Michael Terada1

In support of the Federal Railroad Administration of the United States 

Department of Transportation, the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences 

(ITS) has completed a field spectrum utilization survey designed to examine 

individual channel utilization and message length distributions. The measurement 

system was developed by ITS staff members to measure signal strength in each of 

the 91 channels used by the railroad industry in the frequency band from 160.215-

161.565 MHz. The measurement system surveyed three different sites selected for 

varying conditions such as the different types of traffic over the channels, 

propagation environments, line-of-sight conditions, and electromagnetic 

interference. 

Key words: spectrum usage; spectrum utilization; message characteristics; message length 

distributions 

1. INTRODUCTION 

The Institute for Telecommunication Sciences (ITS) has been involved in a railroad 

telecommunications study for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). This study has 

examined and reviewed a telecommunications system to be used by the Union Pacific and the 

Burlington Northern Railroads (UP/BN RRs) in their development of a positive train control 

(PTC) system. As part of that study, ITS was asked to provide support to the FRA on 

understanding telecommunications policy developments and utilizing telecommunications 

technology that affects PTC and high-speed rail (HSR) telecommunications system. 

This report describes ITS’ examination of the railroad industry’s current spectrum utilization. In 

particular, we report on the frequencies from 160.215-161.565 MHz, which are exclusively 

assigned to the railroad land mobile radio service. Each of the channels is 15 kHz wide and is 

frequency modulated (FM). Each user may use the channels in one of two ways to transmit voice 

or data. The channels can be used as mobile-to-base station (or mobile) using a single frequency 

or as mobile-to-repeater-to-base station (or mobile) using two frequencies. The channels 

assigned in other bands are shared with other services and the 800/900-MHz assignments 

currently have limited use for data communications. Using the measurement system, we 

surveyed three different sites that would allow for varying conditions, such as the different types 

of traffic over the channels, propagation environments, line-of-sight conditions, and

 1

 The author is with the Institute for Telecommunication Sciences, National Telecommunications 

and Information Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce, Boulder, CO 80303-3328 
2

electromagnetic interference. The spectrum utilization surveys were conducted from June 11, 

1996, through August 20, 1996, at three different sites spanning two states and three cities. 

Throughout this report, the term utilization and usage are used interchangeably. 

2. SPECTRUM UTILIZATION SURVEY 

We examined spectrum utilization of the radio channels in order to determine (1) current 

spectrum utilization and (2) any diurnal variations for selected sites. The spectrum utilization 

was analyzed by recording individual channel usage and message characteristics to determine 

message length distributions for particular measurement sites, voice channels, and data channels. 

2.1 Survey Site Selection 

Three cities were selected for the spectrum usage measurements: Kansas City, Missouri; Saint 

Louis, Missouri; and Chicago, Illinois. Figures 1, 2, and 3 show the location of the 

measurements for Kansas City, Saint Louis, and Chicago, respectively. Figures 4, 5, and 6 show 

the surrounding area and site locations for Kansas City, Saint Louis, and Chicago, respectively. 

These cities were chosen because they are important railroad centers, and the radio traffic at 

these locations was expected to be some of the busiest in the country. The measurements were 

made in railroad yards with site selection assistance from Union Pacific. 
3

Figure 1. Detailed map of the site location in Kansas City, Missouri; the diamond with the cross 

in the middle marks the measurement site. Map from DeLorme’s MapExpert, 

Freeport, Maine © 1993 DeLorme Mapping. 
4

Figure 2. Detailed map of the site location in Saint Louis, Missouri; the diamond with the cross 

in the middle marks the measurement site. Map from DeLorme’s MapExpert, 

Freeport, Maine © 1993 DeLorme Mapping. 
5

Figure 3. Detailed map of the site location in Chicago, Illinois; the diamond with the cross in the 

middle marks the measurement site. Map from DeLorme’s MapExpert, Freeport, 

Maine © 1993 DeLorme Mapping. 
6

Figure 4. Map of the surrounding area of the Kansas City, Missouri site; the diamond with the 

cross in the middle marks the measurement site. Map from DeLorme’s MapExpert, 

Freeport, Maine © 1993 DeLorme Mapping. 
7

Figure 5. Map of the surrounding area of the Saint Louis, Missouri site; the diamond with the 

cross in the middle marks the measurement site. Map from DeLorme’s MapExpert, 

Freeport, Maine © 1993 DeLorme Mapping. 
8

Figure 6. Map of the surrounding area of the Chicago, Illinois site; the diamond with the cross 

in the middle marks the measurement site. Map from DeLorme’s MapExpert, 

Freeport, Maine © 1993 DeLorme Mapping. 

To enhance signal intercept probability, line-of-sight coverage was considered to increase the 

probability of weak signal reception, such as transmissions from mobile and distant transmitters. 

The measurement antenna was mounted on a 9-m mast to increase the line-of-sight area. To 

prevent measurement system overload due to high input signals, the sites needed to be distant (at 

least 1 km) from base stations and repeaters used by railroads, or if there were transmitters 

nearby, they had to be low-power transmitters. The sites were selected because there was a high 

probability that the receiver would be able to receive signals from multiple rail yards. Finally, 

the sites had to have limited man-made noise such as impulsive noise from automobile ignition 

systems and electrical machinery (other than what could be expected from locomotives). 

Logistical factors that had to be considered included (1) commercial power, since these 

measurements needed to be conducted continuously for one week; and (2) the security of 

personnel, vehicle, and electronic equipment. 

Plots showing the line-of-sight and nonline-of-sight regions from the measurement system’s 

raised antenna are shown in Figures 7, 8, and 9 for Kansas City, Saint Louis, and Chicago,
9

respectively. On the plots, line-of-sight regions mean that the top and bottom of the antenna can 

be seen and receiver-line-of-sight regions mean that the top of the antenna can be seen. Shadow 

program plot overlays are provided by Telecommunications Analysis Services, Institute for 

Telecommunication Sciences, U.S. Department of Commerce, Boulder, CO 80303-3328. 

Figure 7. Line-of-sight and nonline-of-sight regions from the measurement system’s raised 

antenna in Kansas City, Missouri. Map from DeLorme's MapExpert, Freeport, Maine 

© 1993 DeLorme Mapping. 
10

Figure 8. Line-of-sight and nonline-of-sight regions from the measurement system’s raised 

antenna in Saint Louis, Missouri. Map from DeLorme's MapExpert, Freeport, Maine 

© 1993 DeLorme Mapping. . 
11

Figure 9. Line-of-site and nonline-of-sight regions from the measurement system's raised 

antenna in Chicago, lllinois. Map from DeLorme’s Map Expert, Freeport, Maine © 

1993 DeLorme Mapping. 

2.2 Measurement System 

To obtain a good sampling of the railroad service frequency band spectrum usage from 160.215-

161.565 MHz, measurements were made 24 hours per day for approximately a one-week period 

at each site. The system was operated automatically using the data acquisition (DA) software 

described in the Appendix. The measurement software provides instructions to configure the 

receiver system, execute measurement routines, record measured data, and maintain a real-time 

log of the measurements and key parameters. . 

The measurement system provides a “snapshot” of the spectrum occupancy at the time of 

measurement for a given location and antenna height. This “snapshot” can change by adjusting
12

such factors as sampling rate; time of day, month, or year of measurement; measurement 

location; or antenna height. 

The channel occupancy surveys were conducted using a discone antenna connected to an RF 

preselector and preamplifier. The signals were then passed through a spectrum analyzer with a 

15-kHz wide IF filter (centered at 21.4 MHz) used in place of the spectrum analyzer’s built-in IF 

(resolution bandwidth) filter. This was required because the spectrum analyzer’s filter would not 

reject energy from adjacent channels well enough to give an accurate representation of the 

energy in each channel. The preselector and spectrum analyzer were both controlled by a 

Pentium-based computer via an IEEE-488 bus. Figure 10 shows a block diagram of the 

measurement system. The measurement equipment was installed in a van to facilitate taking the 

measurements at the three different locations. The antenna was attached to a 9-m mast to 

increase reception of the radio signals. 

Figure 10. Block diagram of the measurement system. 
13

3. ANALYSIS ALGORITHM 

Channel occupancy was determined by making a sweep of the railroad land mobile radio service 

band with a spectrum analyzer. The measurement system sampled the frequency band from 

160.208-161.572 MHz at approximately 1-s intervals. The sweep time over the frequency band 

was 620 ms with 1001 points or bins recorded per sweep. When a signal that exceeded a certain 

threshold was measured in a channel, a channel was considered occupied during that time. The 

channel usage was then determined by the total number of times that the channel was occupied 

divided by the total number of sweeps. 

The message lengths were determined by detecting a signal in a channel on successive sweeps. 

For example, if there was no signal in a given channel on a sweep, but if a signal was detected in 

that channel during the next sweep, then it was determined that a message had started. If this 

signal was also present for six subsequent sweeps and then was not there on the seventh sweep, 

this was considered a single message of seven sweeps long (the first sweep plus the six 

subsequent sweeps). Since each sweep is approximately 1 s in length, this message would be 

approximately 7 s long. 

An example of a spectrum analyzer trace is shown in Figure 11. This figure shows the noise and 

signals from several channels. 

Figure 11. A typical spectrum analyzer trace from a site. 
14

3.1 Noise Reduction Algorithm 

To reduce the chances of noise giving a false indication that the channel was being used, the 

following issues were addressed: 

1. To be considered a real signal, the measured level must exceed a signal 

threshold. The signal threshold was determined by measuring the mean noise 

power over a 24-hour period and selecting a threshold approximately 6 dB 

above the mean noise level. 

2. In our analysis, the threshold appeared to eliminate most false signals due to 

noise when the mean value of the noise floor remains constant. Signals from 

transmitters weaker than the threshold were not counted in the analysis. 

3. To ensure that the channel was occupied by a real signal and not impulsive 

noise, several measurement bins of the channel were evaluated. Each channel 

is 15-kHz wide and each channel occupies about eleven bins of the 1001 

measurement bins swept by the spectrum analyzer. If the center bin contained a 

signal above the threshold, the two bins on either side of the center were also 

checked to ensure that their levels were above the threshold as well. If not, the 

channel was determined to contain noise, and not a signal. 

3.2 Data Analysis 

The raw data that were collected at the three different sites were processed to obtain message 

length statistics, channel utilization, band usage, median message length, and mean message 

length. These statistics can be calculated for any part of the day for an arbitrary time period. 

On all of the figures that show the processed data from the different sites, there is a nominal 

value of one added to the number of messages for each message length. This was done because a 

log-log scale was used to show more information. This value however, was added just prior to 

plotting the results, so it does not affect any of the other statistics shown. Each of the figures 

have a time factor and band usage. The time factor is a correction to the value of the message 

lengths to obtain the actual times of each message. Because it was not possible to have the 

measurement system sweep at precisely 1-s intervals, this time factor is the average time of each 

sweep in seconds. The band usage is the cumulative utilization of each channel divided by the 

number of channels in the band. That is, it is the average channel utilization for the band. 

Figure 12 shows a 1-hour time period for Chicago, Illinois. All 91 channels were scanned for 

signals, yet this figure shows that there were some channels that were not used during this 

particular 1-hour period. Because of that, there is a high confidence that the signals detected are 

real and that they are not false indications generated by noise or other artifacts. 
15

One of the objectives was to evaluate diurnal variations. Obtaining diurnal statistics on the traffic 

was difficult because of the continuous way the data was collected, stored, and processed. 

However, 1-hr blocks could be evaluated during different parts of the day. The data taken at the 

Chicago site were examined closely for any diurnal effects. Based on the small sample size, it 

appeared that there was a diurnal effect caused mainly by extra traffic being generated during the 

normal work day. This radio traffic could be attributed to commuter train traffic and “8 to 5” 

track force workers. Traffic roughly doubles during the normal work hours. Figure 13 shows an 

hour when the traffic is noticeably lower during the day and Figure 14 shows an hour when the 

traffic is noticeably higher during the day. These two figures show roughly a 300% difference in 

traffic since Figure 13 shows the least busy hour for a 24-hour period and Figure 14 shows the 

busiest hour for that 24-hour period. 

Besides evaluating diurnal effects, another objective was to investigate message length 

characteristics to determine whether they are indicative of the type of traffic being sent on a 

particular channel. Certain channels primarily carry either voice or data traffic. When these 

channels are analyzed individually, they show characteristics that would indicate that these 

channels are indeed carrying a specific type of traffic. For the data channels, we did not expect 

the traffic to contain any messages that are very long because packet sizes should be relatively 

small. For the voice channels, we did expect the traffic to contain some messages that are 

substantially longer than the average. Figure 15 shows analysis results for a channel used for data 

transmission, and Figure 16 shows analysis results for a channel used for voice transmission. 

In Figure 15, the messages are all under 10 s in duration. The reason for some of the longer 

messages is probably due to the resolution of the measuring system. The measuring system can 

only sample a channel approximately once per second. It is, therefore, possible for a message to 

be transmitted and terminated and another message started before the measurement system looks 

at that channel again. To the measurement system, that signal would be counted as the same 

message. In Figure 16, there are some messages that are very long—on the order of 100 s. We 

know from voice traffic over the telephone that there can be some very long conversation times, 

much longer than the average. 

The three different sites had some subtle differences between them. One of the differences that is 

not seen in the analysis is the average noise floor. The average noise floor varied slightly from 

site-to-site and affects the minimum threshold selected. Other variations are the channels that are 

used and the percent utilization of a given channel. The message length statistics, however, had a 

tendency to follow a straight line when the number of messages of a given message length were 

plotted on a log-log scale. Figures 17, 18, and 19 show measurement results over a typical day’s 

worth of activities for Kansas City, Saint Louis, and Chicago, respectively. 
16

Figure 12. Measurement results for a 1-hr time period at the Chicago, Illinois site. 
17

Figure 13. Measurement results for a 1-hr time period when the traffic is noticeably lower 

during the day (Chicago, Illinois site). 
18

Figure 14. Measurement results for a 1-hr time period when the traffic is noticeably higher 

during the day (Chicago, Illinois site). 
19

Figure 15. Measurement results showing an example of a channel carrying data traffic. 
20

Figure 16. Measurement results showing an example of a channel carrying voice traffic. 
21

Figure 17. Measurement results over a typical day’s worth of activity at the Kansas City, 

Missouri site. 
22

Figure 18. Measurement results over a typical day’s worth of activity at the Saint Louis, 

Missouri site. 
23

Figure 19. Measurement results over a typical day’s worth of activity at the Chicago, Illinois 

site. 
24

3.3 Spectrum Usage Comparison 

Although there have been several Federal Communications Commission (FCC) studies [1-4] that 

have investigated land mobile spectrum utilization, none of them have surveyed and 

characterized the traffic in the 160.215- to 161.565-MHz band as in-depth as this survey has 

done. The way in which the data were measured in the earlier studies and the emphasis of the 

studies was much different than the survey done for this report. However, we did compare data 

taken during the previous studies with those taken during this study (Table 1 and Table 2). 

There are differences in the ways the data were obtained and analyzed in the previous studies 

versus this study. In the previous studies, channels were monitored as a block of frequencies 

continuously for a 5-min period then not monitored while two other blocks of frequencies were 

monitored. Thus, a group of channels would be monitored for 5 min during a 15-min period. The 

frequencies were monitored for two days per site and only between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 

6:00 P.M. The peak hour transmission occupancy for the FCC was determined by the 90th

percentile occupancy2 of the 5-min occupancies for each channel and is shown in Tables 1 and 3 

below. By contrast, the peak hour transmission occupancy for this study was determined by the 

peak band usage for a 1-hr period and is shown in Tables 2 and 4 below. All the tables show the 

number of channels that have a certain percent usage. 

 2

 “90th Percentile Occupancy: This occupancy statistic characterizes peak usage on a 

channel defined as the five-minute occupancy value exceeded by only 10% of all five-minute 

values... [The 90th Percentile Occupancy was used because] it requires fewer samples per hour 

for comparable accuracy... [and] peak usage period[s] occurred during different hours each day... 

[The 90th Percentile Occupancy was found to have] excellent statistical correlation between Peak 

Hour and 90th Percentile Occupancies. The parameters are roughly equivalent in characterizing 

peak usage.”[2]
25

Table 1. Survey Comparisons Showing the Number of Channels Having a Given Percent Usage 

(90th percentile occupancy) [1-4] 

Site Location Percent Usage 

 0-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-100

Detroit Belle Island 75 10 4 2 - - - - - -

Detroit Galinee Park 83 5 3 - - - - - - -

Detroit Oakland 

Community College 

79 6 2 4 - - - - - -

LA Griffith Park 36 17 18 7 1 3 3 3 1 2

LA Rose Hill 

Memorial Park 

60 10 11 1 3 2 2 1 1 -

LA Orange Hill 

Restaurant 

72 5 5 3 2 1 2 1 - -

LA Torrance Airport 68 8 5 2 2 2 1 - 2 1

San Diego Grosmont 

College 

86 2 - 1 - 1 - - 1 -

San Diego Montgomery Field 84 4 - - 2 - 1 - - -

San Diego Point Loma 83 3 1 1 1 1 1 - - -

Washington D.C. 

University of Maryland, 

Fort Myer 

75 12 3 1 - - - - - -

Table 2. Survey Comparisons Showing the Number of Channels Having a Given Percent Usage 

(busy hour). 

Site Location Percent Usage 

 0-10 11-20 21-30 31-40 41-50 51-60 61-70 71-80 81-90 91-100

Saint Louis 57(24)* 9 1 - - - - - - -

Kansas City 67(0)* 14 4 4 1 1 - - - -

Chicago 65(15)* 7 - 3 - 1 - - - -

*The numbers in the parenthesis are channels with exactly zero usage during the busy hour. 

In the FCC reports, several usage groups were categorized to subjectively quantify the measured 

channel usage. They defined a mobile channel with measured usage of 40-100% (or 60-100%) 

during the 90th percentile 5-min period to have “Very High Usage,” 16-39% (or 24-59%) to have 

“Substantial Usage,” and 0-15% (or 0-23%) to have “Low Usage.” Those with exactly 0% usage 

are noted as “Zero.” The results of the groupings for the FCC surveys and the present survey are 

given in Table 3 and 4, respectively. 

The tables show that in the 20 years since the FCC surveys, the most change has been an 

increase in traffic that resulted in reduction of channels with zero usage and an increase of 

channels with low usage. The majority of the channels still do not fall into the “Very High” or 

“Substantial Usage” groupings. 
26

Table 3. Survey Comparisons Showing the Number of Channels Within Various Usage Groups 

(90th percentile occupancy) [1-4] 

Site Location Zero Low (0-15%) Substantial (16-39%) Very High (40-100%) 

Detroit - 79 12 -

 Zero Low (0-23%) Substantial (24-59%) Very High (60-100%) 

LA 27 19 33 12

San Diego 57 27 3 4

Washington D.C. 53 30 8 -

Table 4. Survey Comparisons Showing the Number of Channels Within Various Usage Groups 

(busy hour) 

Site Location Zero Low (0-15%) Substantial (16-39%) Very High (40-100%) 

Saint Louis 24 64 3 -

Kansas City 0 74 15 2

Chicago 15 68 7 1

 Zero Low (0-23%) Substantial (24-59%) Very High (60-100%) 

Saint Louis 24 66 1 -

Kansas City 0 85 5 1

Chicago 15 72 4 -

4. CONCLUSION 

Spectrum utilization measurements were made in the frequency range from 160.215- to 161.565 

MHz; this band is exclusively assigned to the railroad land mobile radio service. Each of the 

channels is 15-kHz wide. Three different sites were surveyed; these sites were expected to have 

high radio traffic and to allow for varying conditions such as the different types of traffic over 

the channels, propagation environments, line-of-sight conditions, and electromagnetic 

interference. The spectrum usage surveys spanned two states and three cities. The measurements 

were made to determine the usage of each channel over 24-hour periods, to evaluate diurnal 

variations, and to determine message length statistics. 

Significant findings are: 

1. From observations made at the measurement sites, there appear to be four categories of 

usage: 

• Voice—dispatch channels had high measured usage (about 40% on some channels 

during a busy hour). 

• Voice—telephone interconnect channels also had high measured usage (about 40% 

on some channels during a busy hour). 

• Voice—point-to-point communication channels had moderate measured usage 

(usually between a few percent to 20% over a 24-hour period). 

• Data channels had low measured usage (around 5% during the busy hour). 
27

2. Typical results at three railroad measurements sites for 91 channels in the 160.215- to 

161.565-MHz railroad-land-mobile-radio-service band include: 

• 60,000-130,000 messages per 24-hour period. 

• 2,000-7,000 messages per hour. 

• Diurnal variation of three to four fold increase between least and most busy hour. 

• Median message length of 2 s. 

At all three measurement locations, characteristics of the message length statistics were similar. 

The message lengths of different channels (voice, data, or mixed) all had a large number of short 

messages (1 to 2 s long) such that the median message length was usually around 2 s long. At all 

three sites, the message length statistics could be approximated by a straight line when plotted on 

a log-log scale. The fraction of messages versus message length could be approximated by the 

following probability density function: 

 y=A / (C+xB)

where: x is the message length in seconds (discrete), 

 y is the fraction of messages with length X; and 

 A = 1.46, B = 2.31, C = 1.99. 

Voice channels with dispatch and telephone interconnect traffic seem to have the most usage. 

For these channels, one person may be the primary communicator on the channel, and that 

person is the one that is controlling the traffic. For dispatch or telephone interconnect cases, it 

seems reasonable that the channel would show relatively high usage. The data channels do not 

appear to be used as much as the voice channels. Since data channels are expected to be able to 

carry up to about 40-50% loads without major performance problems, these channels have much 

room for growth. 

Typical results over all 91 channels varied from between about 2000-7000 messages per hour 

and between about 60,000-130,000 messages per day. Diurnal variations show approximately a 

three to four fold difference between the busy hour and the least busy hour. Many of the channels 

show usage above 1% over a 24-hour period, with some channels showing over 50% usage 

during a 1-hr period. In the telephone industry, a maximum blockage of 1% is engineered for 

their systems during the busiest time of year. Blockage means that a person who tries to make a 

call cannot complete the call because the communication network is busy and cannot handle 

another call. For the radio system used by the railroad industry, blockage by 50% or more may 

be somewhat acceptable since the person trying to use the channel may be able to wait for the 

channel to clear, or use another channel. 
28

5. REFERENCES 

[1] Larry D. Reed, Keith A. Larson, and William V. Tranavitch, “Land mobile spectrum 

utilization Chicago, Illinois—Categorization of long-term data,” Federal 

Communications Commission, Washington, D.C., 1977 

[2] Larry D. Reed, Keith A. Larson, and William V. Tranavitch, “Land mobile spectrum 

utilization Detroit, Michigan,” Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C., 

1978. 

[3] Larry D. Reed, “Land mobile spectrum utilization Los Angeles and San Diego, CA,” 

Federal Communications Commission, Washington, D.C., 1979. 

[4] Larry D. Reed, “Land mobile spectrum utilization Washington, D.C.,” Federal 

Communications Commission, Washington, D.C., 1981. 
29

APPENDIX: DATA ACQUISITION SOFTWARE 

The measurement system uses software developed by the Institute for Telecommunication 

Sciences (ITS) to control all measurement system functions via computer. This control program, 

called Data Acquisition (DA), runs on any DOS-based computer with sufficient memory. It 

interfaces with the measurement system via general-an IEEE-488 bus at rates limited only by the 

computer’s operating speed and functional speed of the managed hardware (interfaces, switches, 

components, etc.). DA will support any available combination of RF front-ends, spectrum 

analyzers, and auxiliary analysis equipment. 

The DA program is basically four control subroutines that direct operation of multiple subroutine 

kernels that in turn control every function of the measurement system. This appendix includes 

descriptions of the three control subroutines used for the railroad land mobile radio 

measurements (receiver algorithm, spectrum analyzer, and RF front-end) and the resultant 

system functions. As DA program development continues to meet new measurement demands, 

these functional descriptions may change with time. 

1. RECEIVER ALGORITHM SUBROUTINE 

The DA receiver algorithm subroutine provides software management for up to 32 measurement 

algorithms (called program kernels in DA or band events). Any one of these algorithms, when 

coupled with spectrum analyzer and front-end selections (described later in this appendix), 

becomes a customized measurement system for receiving certain signals or signal types. Because 

the characteristics of emitters and the requirements for data on those emitters vary considerably, 

many different algorithms have been developed. However, all of the algorithms are based upon 

either a frequency sweep across the spectrum of interest, or a series of discrete steps across that 

spectrum. Since the railroad land mobile radio measurements used only the swept mode, the 

stepped mode is not discussed below. 

Swept: This algorithm controls a conventional spectrum analyzer1

 sweep across a 

selected portion of spectrum. Any type of detection available in the analyzer (i.e., 

positive peak, sample, etc.) can be used. Repeated sweeps may be programmed, and 

multiple sweeps incorporating the maximum-hold spectrum analyzer mode may also be 

performed. This algorithm also allows for sweeping a spectral band in several subbands (scans). This feature is important if a narrow bandwidth (e.g., 10 kHz) must be 

used to measure a spectral band that is more than 1000 times the width of the 

measurement bandwidth, e.g., measuring 900-930 MHz with a 10-kHz bandwidth 

requires at least three scans to ensure no loss of data. 

 1

 For spectrum surveys and most operations with DA software control, any IEEE-488 interfaced 

spectrum analyzer that processes at least 1000 points (frequencies) per display sweep may be used. 
30

1.1 Receiver Parameters 

The following are brief descriptions of the DA program input parameters needed to run the 

above subroutines (algorithms). 

Start and Stop Frequencies: The value in MHz of the first and last frequency point to 

be measured. These numbers must be equal to or fall outside the event frequency band 

range. 

Sweeps: The number of sweeps in each scan. DA processes each sweep so increasing 

this number can add greatly to measurement time; however, increasing this value also 

increases the probability of intercept for intermittent signals. 

2. SPECTRUM ANALYZER SUBROUTINE 

The DA spectrum analyzer subroutine manages configuration control strings (via the IEEE-488 

bus) for the spectrum analyzer. The operator selects spectrum analyzer parameters (listed in the 

following subsection) from menus in the DA program. Generally, parameters are selected that 

will configure the analyzer to run with a receiver algorithm for a desired measurement scenario. 

DA protects against out-of-range and nonlinear configurations but the operator can control the 

analyzer manually for unusual situations. 

2.1 Spectrum Analyzer Parameters 

When the DA program sends command strings to the analyzer, all signal path parameters are 

reset according to the operator selections for the measurement scenario. The following are brief 

descriptions of the analyzer parameter choices controlled by DA. 

Attenuation: May be adjusted from 0-70 dB in 10-dB increments. The spectrum 

analyzer subroutine determines whether or not measurement system front-end 

attenuators are available and if so will set them to the selected value. Spectrum analyzer 

attenuation is set to zero when measurement system attenuation is active, if however, 

measurement system attenuators are not available the spectrum analyzer attenuation will 

be set to the selected value. 

IF Bandwidth: May be selected from 0.01-3000 kHz in a 1, 3, 10 progression. 

Detector: Normal, positive peak, negative peak, sample, maximum hold, and video 

average modes are available. 

Video Bandwidth: May be selected from 0.01-3000 kHz in a 1, 3, 10 progression. 
31

Display: Amplitude graticule choices in dB/division are: 1, 2, 5, and 10. This 

parameter selection applies to both the analyzer and the system console displays. 

Reference Level: May be adjusted from -10 to -70 dBm in 10-dB increments. 

Sweeps: Number of analyzer processed sweeps per scan. This parameter is only used 

with maximum hold or video averaged detection. 

Sweep Time: This parameter (entered in seconds) specifies sweep (trace) time if used 

with swept algorithms, or specifies step-time (dwell) if used with a stepped algorithm. 

3. RF FRONT-END SUBROUTINE 

The DA software handles the RF front-end path selection differently than other routines. Most of 

the RF-path parameters are predetermined by the measurement algorithm so operators need only 

select an antenna and choose whether preamplifiers are turned on or off. Preselection is also 

controlled by the antenna selection. 

The antenna selection is made from a list of antenna choices that is stored in a separately 

maintained library file called by the RF Front-end Subroutine. Antenna information stored in the 

file includes: 

• antenna type (omni, cavity-backed, etc.); 

• manufacturer (may include identification or model number); 

• port (tells the computer where signals enter the measurement system and includes 

particulars on any external signal conditioning such as special mounting, additional 

amplifiers, or extra path gain or loss); 

• frequency range; 

• vertical and horizontal beam widths; 

• dB gain; 

• front to back ratio; and 

• side lobe levels.