Deployment and Coverage of Cognitive Radio Networks in TV White Space

This article presents experimental and simulation results for the use of TV band devices (TVBDs) in TV white space, considering the presence of interference by incumbent services. Digital TV (DTV) services are major incumbent services currently operating in the TV bands. With DTV service, co-channel and adjacent channel deployment scenarios of TVBD networks are introduced. To safely protect the incumbent service, a minimum separation distance from the DTV protected contour, which is called the keep-out distance, is required. We estimate the keep-out distance for different ranges of TVBD transmit antenna height by using several propagation models and measurements of ultra-high-frequency signals in Korea. We also investigate the hidden node problem for the spectrum sensing operation mode of TVBDs. According to the results of these measurements, the hidden node margin should be at least 38 dB in order to protect DTV service. Finally, the service coverage reduction of TVBD networks caused by neighboring DTV service is discussed. It is shown that the service coverage of a wireless local area network system decreases about 50 percent by co-channel interference from neighboring DTV service when the field strength of the DTV received signal is 41 dBu.