Employees of spectrum authorities worldwide with focus on developing countries from Europe, Middle East and Africa. The maximum number of participants is limited to 30 people.

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 given 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 and completion of all practical exercises along with passing  the final examination are mandatory conditions for training completion.

Activity & Weighting

• Active participation: 40%
• Competition all practical exercises: 20%
• Final examination: 40%

A total score higher than 70% is required to obtain the ITU certificate of completion.

Day 1

• Module 1: Introduction to Spectrum Monitoring
  • Sessions/Topics Covered: Introduction to Spectrum Monitoring
  • Key Learning Points: Describe tasks and procedures of spectrum monitoring
  • Training Activities Details: Spectrum monitoring goals and strategy, tasks and techniques, types of monitoring stations, integration, and automation with spectrum management
• Module 2: ITU Publications and International Cooperation in Spectrum Monitoring
  • Sessions/Topics Covered: ITU publications and international cooperation in 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: Introduction to various ITU-R publications, including Recommendations, Reports, and the ITU Handbook on Spectrum Monitoring
• Case Study: Typical Spectrum Monitoring Tasks
  • Sessions/Topics Covered: Case study of typical spectrum monitoring tasks
  • Key Learning Points: Discuss typical tasks and challenges other authorities encounter in practice
  • Training Activities Details: Group discussion / Case study of typical tasks in spectrum monitoring encountered by the participants

Day 2

• Module 3: Tasks of a Monitoring Service and Spectrum Monitoring at Major Events
  • Sessions/Topics Covered: Tasks of a monitoring service and spectrum monitoring at major events, such as the Olympic Games or similar
  • Key Learning Points: Describe tasks of a monitoring service and specifics about spectrum monitoring at major events
  • Training Activities Details: Types of major events, differences compared to usual spectrum monitoring, tasks before the event, tasks during the event, expected problems
• Module 4: Spectrum Monitoring Specifics – Germany Case Study
  • Sessions/Topics Covered: Spectrum monitoring specifics: Germany case study
  • Key Learning Points: Discuss the specifics of spectrum monitoring in Germany
  • Training Activities Details: Responsibilities of the Bundesnetzagentur (German spectrum authority), monitoring department, tasks, and equipment
• Module 5: Practical Exercise 1
  • Sessions/Topics Covered: Practical exercise 1
  • Key Learning Points: Operate a handheld monitoring receiver with a handheld directional antenna
  • Training Activities Details: Locating an interferer using a handheld monitoring receiver with a handheld directional antenna
• Module 6: Technical Basics of Wave Propagation
  • Sessions/Topics Covered: Technical basics of wave propagation
  • Key Learning Points: Describe wave propagation in the frequency ranges HF, VHF, UHF, and SHF
  • Training Activities Details: Characteristics of electromagnetic waves and their propagation in the frequency ranges from HF to SHF

Day 3

• Module 7: Technical Basics of Monitoring Antennas (ITU Recommendations)
  • Sessions/Topics Covered: Technical basics of monitoring antennas in line with ITU Recommendations
  • Key Learning Points: Describe requirements for monitoring antennas and distinguish between different types
  • Training Activities Details: Different types of monitoring antennas for the frequency range from HF to SHF, ITU-R recommendations on monitoring antennas
• Module 8: Basics of Spectrum Monitoring Software (ITU Recommendations)
  • Sessions/Topics Covered: Basics of spectrum monitoring software in line with ITU Recommendations
  • Key Learning Points: Outline requirements for spectrum monitoring software
  • Training Activities Details: Signal measurements, location tasks, evaluation, reporting, ITU-R recommendations on spectrum monitoring software
• Module 9: Practical Exercise 2
  • Sessions/Topics Covered: Practical exercise 2
  • Key Learning Points: Operate a mobile direction finder
  • Training Activities Details: Locating an interferer using a mobile direction finder

Day 4

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

Day 5

• Module 13: Technical Basics of Monitoring Receivers (ITU Recommendations)
  • Sessions/Topics Covered: Technical basics of monitoring receivers in line with ITU Recommendations
  • Key Learning Points: Describe requirements for monitoring receivers and distinguish between different receiver concepts
  • Training Activities Details: Different principles of operation of monitoring receivers, comparison with spectrum analyzers, ITU-R recommendations on monitoring receivers
• Final Exam and Course Evaluation
  • Sessions/Topics Covered: Final exam and course evaluation