Intra-volume, centralised array concept for improved public-safety communications

Published

August 20, 2013

Author(s)

Christopher L. Holloway, William F. Young

Abstract

Here we report on the testing and measurements of an intra-volume ad hoc array concept suitable for public-safety communications in buildings. The term ad hoc array refers to the use of several small communication devices that are randomly placed in an area and hence creating real time communication network. The overall concept is to use randomly located (or arbitrarily placed) wireless devices in a coordinated manner in order to increase the radio-frequency signal level at otherwise unreachable locations. A typical ad hoc network is limited to a coverage area achieved by the useable coverage of single nodes (a node refers to one communication device). We seek to extend the radio-frequency coverage by using two or more nodes as elements of an ad hoc phased array. The measurements results presented here, collected in real-world environments, along with simulations, based on real-world data, demonstrate that the ad hoc array technique can provide useful gain, up to 10 dB with only four elements. Both the measurements also indicate a typical gain of 2 dB to 6 dB using only two elements. Analysis of the phase indicates a phase alignment of ± 45° achieves within 1 dB of the maximum.

Citation

IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation

Volume

7

Issue

11

Pub Type

Journals

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DOI Link

Keywords

ad hoc phased array, wireless arrays, emergency responders, multipath, radio communications, radio propagation experiments, weak-signal detection, public-safety communications

Citation

Holloway, C. and Young, W. (2013), Intra-volume, centralised array concept for improved public-safety communications, IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, [online], https://doi.org/10.1049/iet-map.2012.0717 (Accessed January 13, 2025)