Harmonization of Noise Measurement Methods: Measurements of radio impulsive noise from a specific source

This article describes a procedure for measuring and evaluating radio impulsive noise (IN) from a specific source. A good knowledge of the noise caused by different sources is essential to plan radio services and to ensure good quality of service. Moreover, it is necessary to harmonize noise measurement methods to achieve results that can be mutually compared. This article not only provides steps that should be followed to make proper measurements, but also specifies appropriate parameters to characterize the IN when it is generated by a principal source. A detailed description of parameter calculation is presented, based on the recommendations of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). This answers the request made in an ITU-R 214-4/3 question, which suggests determining the appropriate parameters to describe the noise when it has an impulsive characteristic.