Effect of Guard Band Reduction on Marker Beacon Receiver Performance

Abstract

Aircraft Marker Beacon Receivers, which are a part of the Instrument Landing System, operate at a frequency of 75 megahertz (MHz) and until January 1, 1990, were protected by a guard band of +/- 400 kilohertz (kHz). After this date, the guard band was reduced to +/- 200 kHz. This report details testing performed at the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Technical Center to assess the effect emitters, using this new guard band, will have on Marker Beacon Receivers. The effect of the interference on the Marker Beacon Receivers was determined by performing a desensitization test, a no-desired signal test, and a selectivity measurement on five general aviation Marker Beacon Receivers. For these tests, emitters that use amplitude modulation, frequency modulation, pulse modulation, and continuous wave were simulated. It was found that emitters using these new frequencies can cause interference to Marker Beacon Receivers. Recommendations for limiting the interference effect are provided in the body of the report.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1992
Accession Number
ADA254640

Entities

People

  • Arthur Cushman
  • Martin Badinelli
  • Sam Barto
  • Y. V. Truong

Organizations

  • Federal Aviation Administration

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Airports
  • Amplitude Modulation
  • Automatic Gain Control
  • Bandwidth
  • Beacons
  • Continuous Waves
  • Cross Polarization
  • Frequency
  • Frequency Bands
  • Frequency Modulation
  • Insensitive Explosives
  • International Airports
  • Modulation
  • Plastic Explosives
  • Pulse Modulation
  • Radio Beacons
  • United States

Readers

  • Aviation Safety and Air Traffic Management
  • Electronics Engineering
  • Radio communications and signal processing.