Population density effect on Radio Frequencies Interference (RFI) in radio astronomy

• Published in: AIP Conference Proceedings
• Main Author: Umar R.; Abidin Z.Z.; Ibrahim Z.A.; Hassan M.S.R.; Rosli Z.; Hamidi Z.S.
• Format: Conference paper
• Language: English
• Published: American Institute of Physics Inc. 2011
• Online Access: https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84867394502&doi=10.1063%2f1.4730683&partnerID=40&md5=cc8dc13c8283b4cde39fc0d6f9805cf6

Radio astronomical observation is infected by wide range of Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). We will also use information gathered from on-site RFI level measurements on selected 'good' areas generated by this study. After investigating a few suitable sites we will commence to the site and construct the RFI observation. Eventually, the best area we will be deciding from the observations soon. The result of this experiment will support our planning to build the first radio telescope in Malaysia. Radio observatories normally are located in remote area, in order to combat RFI from active spectrum users and radio noise produced in industrial or residential areas. The other solution for this problem is regulating the use of radio frequencies in the country (spectrum management). Measurement of RFI level on potential radio astronomical site can be done to measure the RFI levels at sites. Seven sites are chosen divide by three group, which is A, B and C. In this paper, we report the initial testing RFI survey for overall spectrum (0-2GHz) for those sites. The averaged RFI level above noise level at the three group sites are 19.0 (±1.79) dBm, 19.5 (±3.71) dBm and 17.0 (±3.71) dBm and the averaged RFI level above noise level for without main peaks are 20.1 (±1.77) dBm, 19.6 (±3.65) dBm and 17.2 (±1.43) dBm respectively. © 2012 American Institute of Physics.