Performance of DF techniques with a VHF antenna array

A description of practical data processing techniques that have been used for direction finding (DF) with a real array is presented. The measured data were collected using a DF trial "test bed", which was developed at the Defence Research Establishment Ottawa (DREO) and is based on digital beamforming (DBF) technology. The system transmitters are used to simulate a complex signal environment and can be operated in a continuum of frequencies in the VHF band. In the paper, we present (1) a signal model, (2) multipath analysis, (3) array error calibration, (4) spatio-temporal estimation using multiple snapshots, (5) multiple snapshot forward backward two-step prediction DF, and (6) performance evaluation of DF algorithm. The DF results for a wideband radio source are also included.<>