Feasibility analysis of utilizing the ‘8k mode’ DVB-T signal in passive radar applications

One non-cooperative illuminator recently considered for passive radar applications is the DVB-T (Digital Video Broadcasting-Terrestrial) signal. The thumbtack ambiguity function of the DVB-T signal, in addition to being stationary over time, makes such a signal a good candidate for such applications. However, certain ambiguities in its ambiguity function necessitates certain issues to be carefully considered when the DVB-T signal is to be utilized in these scenarios. Methods have been already proposed to resolve them. In this paper, after studying the origins of these ambiguities, we propose special processing schemes to reduce the complexity of the parts associated with resolving these ambiguities efficiently. Then, the DVB-T’s Cross Ambiguity Function (CAF) processing gain is carefully studied, and it is shown that its noisy nature results in a high processing gain and resolution. Finally, the detection range of the DVB-T based passive radar is examined, besides simulations, to show the practical feasibility of this signal for cases of passive coherent location.