WHITE PAPER

FAS FINDS INTERFERENCE… NOW WHAT?

AVIAT’S NEW SERVICE OFFERING HELPS YOU QUICKLY FIND AND ADDRESS
INTERFERENCE ISSUES TO PROTECT YOUR NETWORK.
 WHITE PAPER
Upwards of one

INTRODUCTION
billion unlicensed
6 GHz devices are
For more than two years now, the FCC has
been evaluating the necessity and feasibility expected to operate in
of opening up the 6 GHz band to unlicensed the U.S.
users of a wide variety of devices. They’ve
published multiple notices of their findings, SUMMARY OF THE FCC
and on April 2, 2020, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai DIRECTIVE
issued a draft version of the official rules, Some highlights from the fact sheet
published by the FCC:
allowing unlicensed operation in the 6 GHz
band—over the entire 1,200 MHz spectrum • Unlicensed Wi-Fi and other devices can deliver
affordable connectivity to consumers.
of that band. A final vote on April 23 opened • Lower-power, indoor-only operation without
automated frequency control (AFC) is
the door to Wi-Fi 6e. permitted.
• Unlicensed operation is permitted across the
THE REAL RISKS TO INCUMBENTS entire 1200 MHz spectrum of the 6 GHz band.
• These restrictions are seen by the FCC, new
So why are the new rules shaping up to be a major
unlicensed service providers, and consumer
problem for licensed stakeholders? Here are the product manufacturers to protect all 6 GHz
main reasons: licensed services delivered by microwave
links—and broadcast services—from
• Wi-Fi 6e is now assured as a new consumer boost, providing enhanced
significant interference.
speed and performance. Its certification process started in September
2019, so you can bet that new devices supporting it are being developed • Indoor and outdoor operation is permitted for
now. the 5.925-6.425 GHz and 6.525-6.875 GHz sub-
• Interference can directly cause outages and/or reduce the fade margin, bands, using the AFC system at power levels
so links are more susceptible to what would otherwise be minor issues. now permitted in the 5 GHz band.
• Interference is a problem in 5.8 GHz environments today. There is no
reason to believe Wi-Fi 6e, with so many devices—and untested or
hastily tested protections—will not follow suit. Plus, there are many
more 6 GHz point-to-point (PtP) links than 5.8 GHz. And there will likely
be many more Wi-Fi 6e outdoor access points, compared to 5.8 GHz
environments.
• AFC protection mechanisms may not work well. The Universal Licensing
System (ULS) data that operators use to file their applications (which
includes maps showing the geographic area covered) can be based on
inaccurate information and is often not correct.
• It’s difficult logistically and technically to regulate and control Wi-Fi 6e
deployments. Also, many of the assumptions being made on the impact
of interference to PtP links are aggressively optimistic.
• PtP systems were designed to assume interference does not exist.
That’s especially true for Wi-Fi interference. So today’s systems lack
effective controls and protections.
• The vast majority of 6 GHz links are used by utilities, public safety
networks, and mobile operators. Interference monitoring is not available
in those mission critical applications today.

2 AVIAT NET WORKS

GET PROACTIVE — GET AVIAT’S FAS EXPERT SYSTEM
Aviat’s FAS (Frequency Assurance Software) offers sophisticated, well
tested monitoring and analysis of unlicensed 6 GHz—and can trigger
corrective action to protect link stability. This software is a direct
response to the FCC rules opening up the 6 GHz band to unlicensed
users. It’s a comprehensive solution designed to protect customers
from pending radio local area network (RLAN) deployments in the 6
GHz band.
CAPEX OPEX Hosted FAS (H-FAS)

Pricing Model One time upfront $ /link $/link/yr $/link/yr

Server Yes Yes No

Software upgrades Customer Customer Provided by Aviat

Event management (Triage/
Provided by Aviat
Troubleshooting / Fault Customer Customer
Isolation)
VPN to Customer Portal via
Connectivity None – on premise None – on premise
AviatCloud
Larger networks with
Medium sized networks
resources for Capex Smaller networks without the
Customer Type concerned with CAPEX
investment oriented toward infrastructure to support
investment
their own NOC

Launch date May 2020 June 2020 July 2020

Take a right — get proactive:

Choose from one of our
purchasing options and take
advantage of FAS.
Hosted FAS is the
easiest way to get
started and get a
network baseline. AVIAT NET WORKS 3
 WHITE PAPER

AVIAT’S HOSTED FAS EXPERT SERVICE

YOUR TURNKEY SOLUTION FOR NETWORK INTERFERENCE
MANAGEMENT
Hosted FAS is based on Aviat’s patent-pending FAS Expert System, which is
custom-built to monitor and detect interference, perform trend analysis of the
network over time to track interference, and isolate problem links before notice-
able impacts occur.

In addition to providing customers with a self-service portal to view their in-

terference events and trends, Hosted FAS will also deliver analysis from Aviat
engineers on interference issues. For more complicated interference issues,
Aviat is ready to offer field investigation services for both Continuous & Intermit-
tent interference issues.

AVIAT Executive dashboard view of FAS

HOSTED FAS software in AviatCloud web portal
NOC hosted ProVision and
Provision+ servers receive FAS Alert and notification of links
related events and interference data affected by interference
over a VPN tunnel. FAS reporting
is equipped to qualify link, error, and Weekly/monthly interference
performance interference. reports
Weekly and monthly reports are
generated from the NOC and posted to Core FAS functionality available
the customer’s AviatCloud web portal as as hosted service
read only files.

RADIO NETWORK AVIAT HOSTED FAS

VPN

Customer FAS Portal Aviat Aviat

Engineer (AviatCloud) BI Engineer
4 AVIAT NET WORKS
S0, YOU GOT PROACTIVE AND HAVE HOSTED
FAS — NOW COMES AVIAT’S IDS
(INTERFERENCE DIAGNOSTIC SERVICE)
Under normal operation, without outside RF
interference, the receive signal level (RSL) of the
Eclipse receivers (Rx) with all transmitters (Tx) muted
should be < -90dBm. This result can be viewed on the
Portal performance screen.

If, when all transmitters are muted, the RSL on

the receivers are > -90dBm, there is a potential RF
interference situation present.

LET’S REVIEW AND INVESTIGATE

THE POSSIBLE IMPACT TO
INTERFERENCE LEVELS

POSSIBLE IMPACT TO INTERFERENCE LEVELS

FAS Level 1 or 2 detected – Recommend FAS Level 3 or 4 detected – Review link
further investigation for these levels of performance data. These levels may not
interference (with all transmitters muted). warrant further investigation

• If the RSL is > -60dBm: Intermittent BER or degraded • If the RSL is > -80dBm, only a small degradation of
path performance using ACM/ATPC might be seen on threshold or fade margin by 1dB to 5dB might be seen
link performance multiple times per day. on link performance. If the link does not experience
severe fading this should not impact day to day
• If the RSL is > -50dBm: High BER or degraded path operation.
performance using ACM/ATPC might be seen on link
performance many times per day. • If the RSL is > -70dBm, a larger degradation of
threshold or fade margin, by up to 10dB, might be seen
• If the RSL is > -40dBm, High BER or degraded path on link performance. If the link does not experience
performance using ACM/ATPC might be seen on link severe fading this will not impact day to day operation.
performance almost constantly.

AVIAT NET WORKS 5

 WHITE PAPER

INVESTIGATION OF SUSPECT INTERFERING

SOURCES TO VICTIM RECEIVER
This process would be repeated for each direction of the link and the victim receiver that is impacted.
Depending on the occurrence or timing of the suspected interfering signal to the victim receiver, the best option is to mute
the remote transmitters so that the suspected interfering signal can be measured and captured without being masked by
the fair end transmitting signal. This can be done be viewing the RSL of the victim receivers in Portal while the suspected
interference is occurring. The transmitters will need to be muted for the times the suspected interference is occurring.
With the remote transmitters still muted, the next step is to attach a suitable spectrum analyzer to the output of the
victim receive filter of the main receiver utilizing a low loss cable connection. The spectrum analyzer must be capable of
detecting, measuring, and capturing the center frequency of the victim receiver in question with a 100Mhz bandwidth span,
with enough sensitivity to capture the signal amplitude levels lower than -70dBm. The use of a spectrum analyzer capable
of capturing amplitude levels lower than -80dBm is recommended and will yield better results.

OPTION 1: IF MUTING TRANSMITTERS IS ALLOWED.

Note: Muting the transmitters must be done during the time frame FAS indicates the
presence of a possible interfering source.

STEPS:
1. W
ith the remote transmitters on the link muted, verify and capture the RSL (via Portal) of the local receivers. If the
RSL is higher than -90dBm proceed to step #2. If the RLS is not higher than -90dBm, then the presence of a suspected
interferer is not detected, and thus, no further action is required.
2. C
onnect the input to the spectrum analyzer (using very low loss cable qualified for the frequency range in question)
directly to either the wave guide, or best option, to the output of the Primary RX filter.

Note: Minimal loss of the cable and all connections must be maintained. If not, then very low-level signals coming
into the RX might not be seen. Insertion loss of all cables and connections must be known and minimized.

3. T
he spectrum analyzer should be set for the RX center frequency exhibiting the interference with a 100Mhz bandwidth
span.

Note: Any signal/frequency outside this range should not affect the RX performance because it falls outside of the
RX filter assembly range.

4. I f the interference is not constant and is intermittent in nature, a trace hold may need to be set on portable spectrum
analyzer to capture any possible interfering signal. Depending on timing of the interference occurring, this may need
to run for hours or days with all TXs muted.
5. O
nce an in-band suspected inference signal is detected/captured/measured it will need to be saved to the file system
of the spectrum analyzer and transferred to a suitable external media like a USB or SD card. Center frequency,
bandwidth and amplitude screens must be captured and identifiable in the saved file. This information will be needed
to inquire about any possible interfering signals through the licensing agency.
6. Submit the captured data of the spectrum analyzer and saved Portal screen shots of the victim receiver RSL
performance to Aviat for analysis.

6 AVIAT NET WORKS

OPTION 2: IF MUTING TXS AND INTERRUPTING TRAFFIC IS
NOT AN OPTION.
Note: This may not yield the best evidence of an interfering signal due to the fact the remote
transmitter is still broadcasting and in concurrence with the suspected interfering signal.

The deployment of a portable spectrum analyzer with a directional antenna system capable of detecting, measuring and
capturing the center frequency of the victim receiver in question with a 100Mhz bandwidth span and sensitive enough to
capture the signal amplitude levels lower than -70dBm. The use of a portable spectrum analyzer capable of capturing
amplitude levels lower than -80dBm is recommended and will yield better results.

STEPS:
1. U
sing a portable spectrum analyzer with an external directional antenna system set for the RX center frequency and a
100Mhz bandwidth span. Position yourself and the external directional antenna system to be as close to the Antenna
or dish of the victim RX exhibiting the interference as possible. Follow all safety precautions.
2. Using the directional antenna attached to the portable spectrum analyzer, scan 180 degrees off center, left and
right, as well as from ground level to horizon for a radio frequency signal that falls within + or – 50Mhz of the center
frequency of the victim RX experiencing the suspected interference.
3. I f an interfering signal is captured and measured, it will need to be saved to the file system of the portable spectrum
analyzer and transferred to a suitable external media like a USB or SD card. Center frequency, bandwidth and
amplitude screens must be captured and identifiable in the saved file. This information will be needed to inquire about
any possible interfering signals through the licensing agency.
4. Submit the captured data of the spectrum analyzer and saved Portal screen shots of the victim receiver RSL of the
suspected interference to Aviat for analysis.

AVIAT NET WORKS 7

 FAS FIELD INVESTIGATION OFFERING
AVAILABLE FOR CAPEX, OPEX, OR H-FAS
The Aviat Managed Services Group is standing by to
provide the following services:
Aviat’s Interference Diagnostic Services (IDS)

INCLUDED CONTINUOUS INTERMITTENT

WITH FAS INTERFERENCE* INTERFERENCE*

• Remote assistance via • Single link investigation • Single link investigation

TAC or NOC in the field – 1 day per in the field – multiple
• Troubleshooting help for link days may be required per
your staff • Spectrum analyzer link
• Interpreting FAS reports included • Spectrum analyzer
• Aviat will submit data included
• Recommendations on
next steps to Comsearch for • Aviat will submit data
interference research to Comsearch for
interference research
*services for fee (SFF)

Note: The FCC has not yet published formal guidance for remediation, so the IDS offerings may change.
As this situation evolves, Aviat Networks will work with you to adapt to the new guidance for remediation.

Aviat will research the interference for you and

engage Comsearch on your behalf.
Contact your Aviat salesperson for more details.

WWW.AVIATNETWORKS.COM
Aviat, Aviat Networks, and the Aviat logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Aviat Networks, Inc.
© Aviat Networks, Inc. 2020. All Rights Reserved. Data subject to change without notice.
_wp_H-FAS-IDS (October 24, 2020)