Employees of spectrum authorities worldwide with focus on developing countries from the Europe, Middle East and Africa. The maximum number of participants is limited to 20 persons.

Basic understanding of spectrum monitoring that is typically required to become an engineer or manager with a spectrum authority.

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Describe tasks and procedures of spectrum monitoring
• Identify ITU-R Recommendations, Reports and the ITU Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring
• Explain technical basics of electromagnetic wave propagation, antennas, monitoring receivers and direction finders
• Identify antennas, monitoring receivers and direction finders in line with ITU-R Recommendations
• Distinguish between software tools used in spectrum monitoring
• Operate handheld monitoring receivers, mobile direction finders, spectrum monitoring and signal analysis software tools

The training objectives will be achieved through presentations held by subject matter experts, case studies and hands-on training in small groups.

An exam will be held at the end of the training course. Full attendance and active participation during the 5 days of training along with passing the final examination are mandatory conditions for training completion.  A total score higher than 70% is required to obtain pass the final examination.

• Day 1

  • Module 1: Introduction to Spectrum Monitoring
    • Topics Covered: Spectrum monitoring goals and strategy, tasks and techniques, types of monitoring stations, integration and automation with spectrum management.
    • Key Learning Points: Describe tasks and procedures of spectrum monitoring.
    • Training Activities Details: Discussion on spectrum monitoring objectives and methodologies.
  • Module 2: ITU Publications and International Cooperation in Spectrum Monitoring
    • Topics Covered: Introduction to the various ITU-R publications including Recommendations, Reports and the ITU Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring.
    • Key Learning Points: Identify ITU-R Recommendations, Reports and the ITU Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring; discuss international cooperation in spectrum monitoring.
    • Training Activities Details: Overview of ITU publications relevant to spectrum monitoring.

• Day 2

  • Module 3: Tasks of a Monitoring Service and Spectrum Monitoring at Major Events
    • Topics Covered: Types of major events, differences compared to usual spectrum monitoring, tasks before the event, during the event, problems to be expected.
    • Key Learning Points: Describe tasks of a monitoring service and specifics about spectrum monitoring at major events.
    • Training Activities Details: Examination of case studies and scenarios involving spectrum monitoring at large-scale events.
  • Module 4: Spectrum Monitoring in Germany
    • Topics Covered: Responsibilities of the Bundesnetzagentur (German spectrum authority), monitoring department, tasks and equipment.
    • Key Learning Points: Discuss the specifics of spectrum monitoring in Germany.
    • Training Activities Details: Presentation on the structure and responsibilities of the German spectrum monitoring authority.
  • Module 5: Practical Exercise 1
    • Topics Covered: Locating an interferer by means of a handheld monitoring receiver with handheld directional antenna.
    • Key Learning Points: Operating a handheld monitoring receiver with a handheld directional antenna.
    • Training Activities Details: Hands-on practice with handheld monitoring equipment.
  • Module 6: Technical Basics of Wave Propagation
    • Topics Covered: Characteristics of electromagnetic waves and their propagation in the frequency ranges from HF to SHF.
    • Key Learning Points: Describe wave propagation in the frequency ranges HF, VHF, UHF, and SHF.
    • Training Activities Details: Exploration of wave propagation principles across various frequency ranges.

• Day 3

  • Module 7: Technical Basics of Monitoring Antennas in line with ITU Recommendations
    • Topics Covered: Different types of monitoring antennas for the frequency range from HF to SHF, recommendations from the ITU-R on monitoring antennas.
    • Key Learning Points: Describe requirements for monitoring antennas and distinguish between different types.
    • Training Activities Details: Review of various antenna types and ITU recommendations.
  • Module 8: Basics of Spectrum Monitoring Software in line with ITU Recommendations
    • Topics Covered: Signal measurements, location tasks, evaluation, reporting, recommendations from the ITU-R on spectrum monitoring software.
    • Key Learning Points: Understand requirements for spectrum monitoring software.
    • Training Activities Details: Introduction to software tools for spectrum monitoring.
  • Module 9: Practical Exercise 2
    • Topics Covered: Locating an interferer by means of a mobile direction finder.
    • Key Learning Points: Operating a mobile direction finder.
    • Training Activities Details: Practical exercise with mobile direction finding equipment.

• Day 4

  • Module 10: Technical Basics of Radiolocation and Direction Finding in line with ITU Recommendations
    • Topics Covered: Radiolocation methods, DF methods, principle of operation of DF, recommendations from the ITU-R on DF and DF antennas.
    • Key Learning Points: Distinguish between radiolocation methods and describe requirements for direction finders (DF).
    • Training Activities Details: Study of direction finding techniques and ITU recommendations.
  • Module 11: Practical Exercise 3
    • Topics Covered: Operating spectrum monitoring software, execute various signal measurements.
    • Key Learning Points: Operating spectrum monitoring software.
    • Training Activities Details: Hands-on session with spectrum monitoring software.
  • Module 12: Technical Basics of Signal Analysis in line with ITU Recommendations
    • Topics Covered: Types of information, types of modulation, signal classifications, recommendations from the ITU-R on the measurement of digital signals.
    • Key Learning Points: Describe requirements for signal analysis.
    • Training Activities Details: Overview of signal analysis techniques and standards.

• Day 5

  • Module 13: Technical Basics of Monitoring Receivers in line with ITU Recommendations
    • Topics Covered: Different principles of operation of monitoring receivers, comparison with spectrum analyzers and recommendations from the ITU-R on monitoring receivers.
    • Key Learning Points: Describe requirements for monitoring receivers and distinguish between different receiver concepts.
    • Training Activities Details: Examination of monitoring receiver technologies and ITU recommendations.

  • Final Exam and Course Evaluation