Interference hunting

Locate and eliminate all kinds of interference

Unwanted transmitters are pervasive in today’s mobile networks, degrading network capacity and reducing subscriber QoE. With the densification of cells and the deployment of emerging standards with higher-order modulation over legacy technologies, the RF environment is becoming ever-more complex making networks increasingly susceptible to interference and therefore interference hunting is a key issue for mobile network operators and regulators.

External interference can originate from a licensed or non-licensed radio transmitter. A few dBs of reduction in signal to noise ratio at the receiver dramatically impacts network capacity with subsequent loss of revenue and subscriber QoE, requiring operators to hunt down interference quickly.

Thankfully, scanners can automatically identify unwanted transmitters and spectrum analyzers or receivers, together with a direction-finding antenna and sophisticated software, can automate the process to locate interference.

Combining decades of expertise in the field with cutting-edge technology for every budget and use case, Rohde & Schwarz solutions for interference hunting allow network operators, regulators and service companies to identify and locate any source of RF interference in mobile networks fast and efficiently.

Videos

Webinar: 3 Main Radio challenges impacting the mobile network performance

This webinar discusses the main radio challenges that impact the mobile network performance and quality.

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Webinar: Interference Hunting in a 5G World

Join us for this webinar, in which our Interference Hunting expert will explain what has changed for this topic in a 5G world.

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Video: R&S®5G site testing solution

The 5G STS is providing all features to efficiently test 5G NSA networks, including all legacy technologies.

Each new installation needs to be verified to ensure correct network performance and quality of service (QoS). Discover the different phases that ensure successful 5G site testing and trouble shooting.

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Webinar: Using direction finding to locate mobile network interference in minutes

This webinar describes the process of interference hunting, examines the test tools available and identifies where DF can be used for maximum advantage.

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Webinar: Prepare your spectrum for 5G deployment

The roll out of 5G NR will initiate a worldwide deployment in an unknown radio environment where unwanted transmitters can degrade end user QoE and in some cases cause outages of critical services. Prior to deployment, operators need to ensure the radio environment is free from interference by conducting spectral clearance and interference hunting. This webinar defines the particular challenges of 5G NR, highlights a robust approach to prepare the spectrum and shares real field data at 3.5 GHz and 28 GHz.

Become a Rohde & Schwarz certified iHunter

Webinar series: interference hunting

Join Rohde & Schwarz experts for an on-demand online training program packed with a series of four webinars and materials for you to upskill your interference hunting.

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Webinar: Identifying and eliminating interference in mobile networks

Interference in the Radio Access Network is ubiquitous and becoming more critical as the deployment of the latest cellular standards bring increased sensitivity and subsequent degradation of network performance. This webinar examines the different sources of interference in mobile networks and considers their impact on capacity and subscriber Quality of Experience.

Video: Using FPH Gated Trigger Settings For a Live 5G Signal

For TDD networks, the downlink and uplink signal share the same frequency band. They are divided by time (using different time slots). When using an analyser in frequency mode, the downlink would mask any uplink activities, being the dominant signal. Hence it is quite difficult (if not impossible) to see any uplink signals and possible interference sources. With R&S®Spectrum Rider FPH or R&S®Cable Rider ZPH (v.12 model with ZPH-K1 option) gated trigger feature, it is possible to mask out the downlink signal and focus on the uplink activities.

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Further information

Video: Interference Hunting – Identifying and mitigating interference sources

Watch our video and learn more about the process of interference hunting from identification over verification to precise location and mitigation of interference sources.

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Poster: External Interference Hunting

Download or order this poster to get a comprehensive overview about the process of identifying and eliminating interference sources and the parties responsible for the dedicated process steps.

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Brochure: Interference hunting

With 5G and other wireless services new signal types with more complex modulations increasingly occupy the spectrum. This increases the risk of interference and makes it more difficult to mitigate. However, advanced equipment from Rohde & Schwarz significantly facilitates the interference hunting process.

An introduction to interference hunting white paper

White paper: An introduction to interference hunting

This white paper starts from basics, then examines the different sources of interference in mobile networks and describes a practical approach to the analysis of interferers and the tools used in the field to perform interference hunting.

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Application card: 5G NR – interference hunting in the uplink of TDD networks

The deployment of 5G NR brings new performance and applications but it also is the first global adoption of TDD networks where the downlink and the uplink use the same frequency; meaning that downlink signals can mask interference.Download this Application Card to discover how to identify and locate 5G NR interference that can significantly decrease performance and reliability.

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Application card: Interference hunting in smart factories

Smart factories rely heavily on wireless communications technology to automate production processes and increase productivity. RF interferer signals can be generated intentionally or unintentionally, appear at any time, be located anywhere on the production floor and can disrupt the production process or delay the output. This application card describes the process for determining the location of interferers so they can be eliminated.

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Application card: Automated spectrum clearance in LTE and 5G mobile networks

Interference that can degrade capacity and quality of service is becoming ever more troublesome as operators roll out 5G NR using new bands that previously contained other services. This is particularly important for the rollout of 5G NR because of its demanding use cases and high spectral density. This Application Note describes the challenges of spectral clearance and details the process of automatic detection of interference signals using a network scanner and drive test software.

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White paper: Why AOA outperforms POA in urban interference hunting

This white paper describes the AOA and POA methods applied to automatic radiolocation of RF interferers from a moving vehicle, comparing their performance with focus on cellular networks in urban areas.

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Application note: Interference hunting with R&S®FSH handheld spectrum analyzer

This application note explains how to detect, characterize, find and document interferers in cellular networks using the R&S®FSH spectrum analyzer.

The real meaning of automatic direction finding

The need for interference hunting in mobile networks is steadily increasing. And field engineers often ask us which tool we would recommend to be successful in the field. With decades of expertise, what we can say for sure is that it depends: the right tool for successful field service operations depends on the source of interference. Sources are manifold, but with the most suitable tool they are easy to locate.

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Spectrum clearence refarming application note

Application note: Automatic spectrum analysis for band refarming and network rollout

The Rohde & Schwarz network scanner R&S®TSMx plus the network problem analyzer (NPA) feature of the R&S®ROMES measurement software allows you to perform a fast drive test with a fleet of cars and collect spectrum data for your targeted or even complete network area in next to no time. Back at your office, the NPA tells you where to send dedicated interference hunting teams with an analyzer or receiver to track down the source of interference. This paper introduces the approach in detail.

Products for interference hunting