The National Monitoring Center (NMC) established by CRA, is the central command and control center for integrated network of Fixed and Mobile Monitoring stations in Qatar. NMC is equipped with customized software clients/ tools, integrated with servers of the monitoring sites, for performing operations of all Monitoring sites. The NMC encompass the following functions:
- Access and intercommunication to all Fixed / TDOA and Mobile monitoring stations;
- Real time spectrum monitoring and recording;
- Geo-location of sources of wireless transmissions;
- Offline data retrieving and analysis;
- Report generating and printing capabilities, and
- Backup and archive data.
The NMC is the eyes to the Automated Spectrum Monitoring System (ASMS) that enables monitoring, investigation of interference, measurement of technical parameters; direction finding and location identification of wireless emissions in the radio frequency spectrum MF/HF/VHF/UHF/ SHF range (9 kHz to 40 GHz) per International Telecommunication Union (ITU) recommendations.
It facilitates the unmanned remote controlled stations strategically located in North, South, West and Central Qatar for efficient monitoring and geolocation results. The NMC also facilitates online surveillance and recording of remote security cameras installed at all the sites. In addition, the NMC also house the Quality of Service Analysis Center.
Core elements of the ASMS
The system comprise of the following elements:
- 4 x Fixed Monitoring Stations (FMS)
- 2 x Time Difference on Arrival (TDOA) Monitoring Stations
- 2 x Mobile Monitoring Stations (MMS)
- National Monitoring Center (NMC)
The client-server architecture makes similar future stations easy to integrate in ASMS i.e. the system is a scalable highly advanced ITU compliant monitoring system.
ASMS Features
- Measurements of frequency, field strength, occupancy, bandwidth, modulation, direction finding, as per ITU recommendations.
- Dual bandwidth configuration offers reliable operation under different spectrum conditions: 40 MHz instantaneous bandwidth (IBW) allows rapid detection and location of spread spectrum, short duration signals; 4 MHz instantaneous bandwidth allows reliable detection of weak signals in a spectrum that is crowded with strong, nearby signals.
- Multi-channel DF system intercepts and locates analogue as well as complex digital signal modulations.
- Advanced monitoring analysis tools facilitates the complex analysis of digital / analog signals.
- All stations are provided with advanced tools of safety and security, surveillance cameras, fire protection systems and sophisticated online / real time warning systems.
Technical Specifications
Fixed Monitoring Stations
- Spectrum monitoring from 9 kHz to 8 GHz and direction finding of emissions within 300 kHz to 8 GHz.
- North & South sites are capable of Medium Frequency and High Frequency Direction Finding (HF-DF) based on the elaborate interferometry antenna with 9-element array and having Single Site Locator (SSL) capability.
- West and Central sites are configured with crossed loop antenna with HF-DF based on Watson-Watt technique.
TDOA Monitoring Stations
20 MHz to 6GHz monitoring and DF with hybrid geo-location capability on integration with other stations in proximity.
Mobile Monitoring Stations
- VHF/UHF/SHF antenna arrays for monitoring and DF capabilities in a single structure dome antenna, mounted on a pneumatic operated 6 meter telescopic mast, for monitoring and DF from 20 MHz - 8Ghz in two vehicles.
- Active monopole antenna (9kHz – 30 MHz) along with crossed loop HF DF antenna (500kHz – 30 MHz), are also installed in two vehicles for monitoring and direction finding in MF/HF range.
- Extended monitoring DF capability of 40 GHz with portable monitoring systems (handheld spectrum analyzer and multiple frequency dependent directional antenna).
