A Wireless Spectrum Analyzer in Your Pocket

Abstract

We propose Snoopy, a system that can translate one's mobile phone or tablet into a low-cost, yet effective RF spectrum analyzer. Since typical spectrum analyzers are specialized hardware that is both expensive to acquire and cumbersome to carry around, they are rarely available for quick-and-easy spectrum sensing while on the go. To address this challenge, Snoopy augments popular mobile devices with a small attachable hardware unit (RF frequency translator) that can provide a reasonable view of the wireless spectrum across different frequency bands. It achieves this by leveraging the spectral scan functionality available in certain 802.11 NICs (e.g., the Atheros 9280 family of chipsets), which provides an unique lens towards the WiFi spectrum (2.4 GHz). Through the use of suitable frequency translators, such a view can be flexibly shifted to other spectrum bands. Although such a construction might not match the precision of the most sophisticated but expensive spectrum analyzers, we show that by leveraging some carefully designed spectral features, Snoopy can achieve decent accuracy in determining TV whitespaces (512 -698 MHz) -it can detect primary signals at up to -90dBm with an error rate of <15%, while achieving a median error of < 4dB in estimating the power of these signals. These promising results suggest that Snoopy is an intriguing option in bringing the ability of spectrum sensing to the masses, thereby truly enabling crowdsourcing options in this domain.

Efficient and Low-cost Localization of Radio Signals with a Multirotor UAV

“…Because each dongle can analyze 2.4 MHz at once, it can serve as a makeshift spectrum analyzer. 22,23 Thus, our measurement device doubles as a troubleshooting or exploratory device. For example, cell phones radiate at many frequencies and it is not always clear which frequency is used in which region.…”

Designing a Secure Exam Management System (SEMS) for M-Learning Environments

“…Use a spectrum analyzer [65] to detect the source of disturbance in the problematic region. Small attachable hardware units that turn off-the-shelf smartphone devices into low-cost, but effective RF spectrum sensors also exist [66]. Enforce deterrent and strict laws to prevent someone from doing so.…”

Analysis of radio frequency spectrum usage using cognitive radio

“…The cognitive radios technology can eliminate artificial spectrum scarcity due to its ability to use the spectrum for communication whether licensed or not licensed, so long it does not interfere with other licensed users. Several studies [6]- [10] have established the potential of cognitive radio for automatically detection of available channels in a wireless spectrum but usually ignore the monitoring and the utilization of spectrum holes without interference. The technology is conscious of its internal state and environment and can decide its radio operating behavior to realize the predefined objectives.…”