Classification of Transient EM Noises Depending on their Effect on the Quality of GSM-R Reception

Abstract

The Global System for Mobile communications— Railways (GSM-R) is being deployed in different countries to develop an efficient communication-based train control (CBTC) system. GSM-R participates to achieve railways interoperability, replacing noninteroperable CBTC on existing networks and, thus, facilitating cross-border train circulations. GSM-R ensures voice and data transmissions between trains and control centers and also between trains. As any radio equipment, it is subject to electro- magnetic (EM) disturbances present in the railway environment. Therefore, the quality of GSM-R transmissions can deteriorate. It is then important to evaluate and predict the effect of these dis- turbances in order to avoid any loss of train operational capacity. After an overview of the methods used for the characterization of the EM environment, we describe the GSM-R and the EM distur- bances that can affect its operation. The reasons why the existing characterization methods are not fully adapted to the GSM-R are highlighted. The general principle of classification is briefly re- called. The rest of this paper develops the methodology proposed to perform the classification of transient EM noises and the pre- sentation of a test bench and its associated experimental results. Finally, an application to an add-on electromagnetic compatibility supervising equipment installed on board the train is described

Improved Electromagnetic Compatibility Standards for the Interconnected Wireless World

“…In 2018, we are still using the QP detector to measure EMI with the aim to protect the modern communication systems. Hence, for instance, it is not feasible to measure EMI with QP detector and predict the degradation over a Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DVB-T) system which employs 7.2 MHz channels with OFDM modulation or a GSM digital communication system employing GMSK modulation [8], [9]. Up-to-date digital communications, used by the IoT or 5G devices, are further away from those narrowband communication channels when the QP detector was developed.…”

Wideband analysis of railway catenary line radiation and new applications of its unintentional emitted signals

“…Signals still exist at higher frequencies, for example at 1 GHz, where they can be of the same order of magnitude than the received signal used for train-to-ground radio communication, i.e. -90 dBm or less [25]. Using the monopole antenna, the measurements were continued up to 1 GHz, but no useful signals for our two proposed applications were detected in this higher frequency range.…”

Evaluation of the Impact of Transient Disturbances on Railway Signaling Systems Using an Adapted Time-Frequency Analysis Method

“…This result is concordant with the measured BER of 1% since it indicates that the detected transient disturbances impact the communication quality. Indeed, previous research works indicate that transient disturbances directly affect the quality of a GSM communication once their power equals or exceeds the power level of this communication [19].…”