Radio Spectrum Monitoring
at the Satellite Receiving Station Ny-Ålesund
at the Satellite Receiving Station Ny-Ålesund
The system was built to support assessments, analysis and discussions on issues related to radio silence, radio usage and science at Ny-Ålesund with routine radio spectrum measurements and an easy to handle graphical user interface.
What is the location of the monitoring system, when was it started and what is monitored?The system detects and displays the strength of radio signals over frequency and time. The hardware was installed at the GFZ satellite receiving station in July 2023. Automatic collection of spectrum data started mid of September, but with a limited frequency range. The full frequency range, as described below, is monitored since 11th October 2023. This website is open to the public since 1st October 2024.
Which areas and frequencies are sensed?The monitoring system uses 3 antennas. An omni-directional broadband antenna is mounted at the GFZ satellite receiving station cabin and provides a general overview. It receives signals from all around at frequencies from 20 MHz to 3 GHz. The other two antennas are directional by design (more gain but limited viewing angle) and receive frequencies between 2.2 GHZ and 2.5 GHz. This frequency range covers the satellite downlink band (as used by GFZ, Andøya Space and NASA), the 2.4 GHz Wifi/WLAN/Bluetooth band (used e.g., by consumer electronics and drones) and the nominal frequency of microwave ovens (about 2.45 GHz). One of these directional 2.4 GHz antennas is installed in the eastward GFZ antenna radome and points to the village (distance about 1 km). The other directional 2.4 GHz antenna is installed in the westward GFZ antenna radome and points to the airport parking area (distance about 150 m).
What is the operation principle?The 3 antennas share one receiver. A time sharing is realised by an automatic antenna switch which connects the receiver to an antenna for 20 seconds, before it is connected to the next antenna, and so on. This means that all minutes of a day are probed with the same receiver and all antennas, but in different time slots of 20 seconds each. Within a 20 seconds slot the receiver repeately scans the frequency range that corresponds to the currently connected antenna (more than 50 times for 80 MHz – 3 GHz and more than 300 times for 2.2 GHz – 2.5 GHz). The produced graphics show only the signal maxima in the scanned frequency range, but not their duration. This means that a short signal like a pulse might be displayed the same as a longer or permanent signal, provided that these signals have the same signal strength.
Is the system capable to detect even short term and very weak signals?No. Short radio transmissions might not be detected, at least not at all times. But there is a high probability to detect short transmissions from time to time if they occur repeatedly. Very weak signals might not be detected at all.
What is the system resolution?The displayed frequency resolution is 0.1 MHz per pixel for the 2.2 - 2.5 GHz plots and about 1 MHz per pixel for 20 MHz – 3 GHz. A higher resolution is available from the measurement's raw data, which is also freely available (see buttons at the bottom of this website). The time axis uses UTC-time and a resolution of 1 minute (with limitations due to the receiver sharing scheme as explained above). The signal strength is presented in 1 dB steps on different relative logarithmic scales (not calibrated). The scale ranges were adjusted according to the signals and noise levels that are usually met with the different antennas. This means that very strong signals might exceed the scale maxima.
What signals are typically displayed on the 20 MHz – 3 GHz plots?It is recommended to use the NySMAC frequency list to identify possible signal sources (https://nyalesundresearch.no/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/frekvensoversikt-nya.pdf). Below 200 MHz there are entries, e.g., for the 2 local FM-broadcast programs (solid traces at about 91 and 95 MHz) and VHF-radios, such as for marine, aircraft or research stations operation tasks (dashes or dashed traces). Some traces at higher frequencies correspond to telemetry systems and other special instruments (e.g., DORIS system at about 401 MHz and 2036 MHz and a "wind instrument" at 869 MHz). Some displayed signals might be “ghost signals“ from electronic devices nearby the monitoring antennas, the monitoring system electronics or inhomogeneity of antenna gain. Such “ghost signals” can usually be assumed to be constant in time and weak, and thus to be displayed as solid traces in blue colours. An example are the thin blue lines on the 2.4 GHz plots which appear in intervals of 80 MHz, beginning at 2.2 GHz. However, there might be also real signals that just seem to be “ghost signals”.
What signals are typically displayed on the 2.2 - 2.5 GHz plots?Satellite signals (2.2 - 2.3 GHz) are usually too weak to be detected by the monitoring system. Most signals are detected in the 2.4 GHz band and the marks at the top of the plots may help to identify Wifi/WLAN- and BT-signals. Blue marks refer to the center frequencies of Bluetooth channels (2 MHz spacing) and yellow marks refer to the center frequencies of Wifi/WLAN channels (5 MHz spacing). Data traffic may produce thin traces close to channel center frequencies (BT, narrow band) or on both sides of the center frequencies (Wifi, broadband).
Does the system read, record or decode any signal contents or identifiers, e.g., such as MAC addresses?No. The system is not capable to read, record or decode any signal contents. It only detects the strength and frequency of signals.
How to navigate in and between the graphics?You may use the arrow keys on your keyboard to move the grahics on your screen and to toggle between adjacent days (shift + left/right arrow key) or weeks (shift + up/down arrow key).
Can I download graphics or raw data from the radio spectrum monitoring system?Yes, you are welcome to download and use data from the radio spectrum monitoring system. For access you may just click the corresponding buttons on this website. Please cite us as:
Falck, Carsten; Reißland, Sven (2024): Radio spectrum monitoring at Ny-Ålesund, Spitsbergen.
GFZ Data Services. https://doi.org/10.5880/GFZ.1.2.2024.003
Imprint according according to § 5 DDG (German Digital Services Act) and § 18 (2) of the State Media Treaty (Medienstaatsvertrag, MstV).
The GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences is the provider of this website.
GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences
Telegrafenberg
14473 Potsdam
Website: www.gfz.de
The GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences is a foundation under public law of the State of Brandenburg.
The GFZ is a member of the
Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres.
The GFZ is legally represented by Prof. Dr. Susanne Buiter (Scientific Executive Director and Chair of the Board) and Marco Kupzig (Administrative Executive Director (ad interim)).
VAT identification number according to § 27a of the Value Added Tax Act: DE138407750.
Editorial responsibility for this website in accordance with § 18 (2) of the State Media Treaty:
Dr.-Ing. Carsten Falck
Section 1.2: Global Geomonitoring and Gravity Field
Telegrafenberg
Building A 17, Room 00.22
D-14473 Potsdam
Phone: +49 331 6264-1736
Mail: carsten.falck(at)gfz.de
Sven Reißland
Mail: sven.reissland(at)gfz.de
Texts and photos on the GFZ website are protected by copyright. Copying these files or printing these files is only permitted for private use.
All other forms of use, such as the reproduction, modification or use of graphics, audio documents, video sequences and texts on the websites and in other electronic or printed publications for non-commercial or commercial purposes — even if they are not expressly marked as copyright-protected documents — are not permitted without the prior written consent of the copyright holder.
Content published under special licences is identified as such. It may be used in accordance with the terms of the specific licence.
The GFZ checks and updates the information available on the GFZ website at regular intervals. Despite all due care, information, data or links may have changed in the meantime. Therefore, no liability or guarantee is assumed for the validity, correctness and completeness of the information provided.
The same applies to all other websites to which reference is made via hyperlinks. The GFZ is not responsible for the content of websites accessed via such
links. The respective operator is always responsible for the content of the linked pages. When the links were first created, the GFZ checked the sites to ensure
that they were free of illegal content at the time of linking.
If you discover any errors of a content-related or technical nature, please let us know.
You can find information on data protection in our Privacy Policy. Should you have any further questions about data protection, please contact our Data Protection Officer. If you would like to find out more about the concepts and technical implementation of our IT security, please contact our Information Security Officer.
We are very delighted that you have shown interest in our Foundation. Data protection is of a particularly high priority for the executive board of GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences. If a data subject wants to use the foundation`s service via our website, a processing of personal data is necessary. If the processing of personal data is necessary and there is no statutory basis for such processing, we generally obtain consent from the data subject.
The processing of personal data, such as the name, address, e-mail address, or telephone number of a data subject shall always be in line with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and in accordance with the country-specific data protection regulations applicable to the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund". By means of this data protection declaration, our Institute would like to inform the general public of the nature, scope, and purpose of the personal data we collect, use and process. Furthermore, data subjects are informed, by means of this data protection declaration, of the rights to which they are entitled.
As the controller, the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund" has implemented numerous technical and organizational measures to ensure the most complete protection of personal data processed through this website. However, Internet-based data transmissions may in principle have security gaps, so absolute protection may not be guaranteed. For this reason, every data subject is free to transfer personal data to us via alternative means, e.g. by telephone.
The data protection declaration of the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund" is based on the terms used by the European legislator for the adoption of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Our data protection declaration should be legible and understandable for the general public, as well as our customers and business partners. To ensure this, we would like to first explain the terminology used.
In this data protection declaration, we use, inter alia, the following terms:
Controller for the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), other data protection laws applicable in Member states of the European Union and other provisions related to data protection is:
GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences
Telegrafenberg
14473 Potsdam
Germany
Phone: +49 331 6264 0
Website: https://www.gfz.de
The Data Protection Officer of the controller is:
Eva Grübel-Hoffmann
E-Mail: datenschutz(at)gfz.de
Any data subject may, at any time, contact our Data Protection Officer directly with all questions and suggestions concerning data protection.
The website of the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund" collects a series of general data and information when a data subject or automated system calls up the website. This general data and information are stored in the server log files. Collected may be (1) the browser types and versions used, (2) the operating system used by the accessing system, (3) the website from which an accessing system reaches our website (so-called referrers), (4) the sub-websites, (5) the date and time of access to the Internet site, (6) an Internet protocol address (IP address), (7) the Internet service provider of the accessing system, and (8) any other similar data and information that may be used in the event of attacks on our information technology systems.
When using these general data and information, the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund" does not draw any conclusions about the data subject. Rather, this information is needed to (1) deliver the content of our website correctly, (2) optimize the content of our website as well as its advertisement, (3) ensure the long-term viability of our information technology systems and website technology, and (4) provide law enforcement authorities with the information necessary for criminal prosecution in case of a cyber-attack. Therefore, the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund" analyses anonymously collected data and information statistically, with the aim of increasing the data protection and data security of our Institute, and to ensure an optimal level of protection for the personal data we process. The anonymous data of the server log files are stored separately from all personal data provided by a data subject.
GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences
Section 1.2: Global Geomonitoring and Gravity Field
Telegrafenberg
14473 Potsdam
Germany
The website of the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund" contains information that enables a quick electronic contact to our Institute, as well as direct communication with us, which also includes a general address of the so-called electronic mail (e-mail address). If a data subject contacts the controller by e-mail or via a contact form, the personal data transmitted by the data subject are automatically stored. Such personal data transmitted on a voluntary basis by a data subject to the data controller are stored for the purpose of processing or contacting the data subject. There is no transfer of this personal data to third parties.
The data controller shall process and store the personal data of the data subject only for the period necessary to achieve the purpose of storage, or as far as this is granted by the European legislator or other legislators in laws or regulations to which the controller is subject to.
If the storage purpose is not applicable, or if a storage period prescribed by the European legislator or another competent legislator expires, the personal data are routinely blocked or erased in accordance with legal requirements.
Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to obtain from the controller free information about his or her personal data stored at any time and a copy of this information. Furthermore, the European directives and regulations grant the data subject access to the following information:
Furthermore, the data subject shall have a right to obtain information as to whether personal data are transferred to a third country or to an international organisation. Where this is the case, the data subject shall have the right to be informed of the appropriate safeguards relating to the transfer.
If a data subject wishes to avail himself of this right of access, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the controller.
Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to obtain from the controller without undue delay the rectification of inaccurate personal data concerning him or her. Taking into account the purposes of the processing, the data subject shall have the right to have incomplete personal data completed, including by means of providing a supplementary statement.
If a data subject wishes to exercise this right to rectification, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the controller.
Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to obtain from the controller the erasure of personal data concerning him or her without undue delay, and the controller shall have the obligation to erase personal data without undue delay where one of the following grounds applies, as long as the processing is not necessary:
If one of the aforementioned reasons applies, and a data subject wishes to request the erasure of personal data stored by the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund", he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the controller. An employee of "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund" shall promptly ensure that the erasure request is complied with immediately.
Where the controller has made personal data public and is obliged pursuant to Article 17(1) to erase the personal data, the controller, taking account of available technology and the cost of implementation, shall take reasonable steps, including technical measures, to inform other controllers processing the personal data that the data subject has requested erasure by such controllers of any links to, or copy or replication of, those personal data, as far as processing is not required. An employees of the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund" will arrange the necessary measures in individual cases.
Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to obtain from the controller restriction of processing where one of the following applies:
If one of the aforementioned conditions is met, and a data subject wishes to request the restriction of the processing of personal data stored by the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund", he or she may at any time contact any employee of the controller. The employee of the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund" will arrange the restriction of the processing.
Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator, to receive the personal data concerning him or her, which was provided to a controller, in a structured, commonly used and machine-readable format. He or she shall have the right to transmit those data to another controller without hindrance from the controller to which the personal data have been provided, as long as the processing is based on consent pursuant to point (a) of Article 6(1) of the GDPR or point (a) of Article 9(2) of the GDPR, or on a contract pursuant to point (b) of Article 6(1) of the GDPR, and the processing is carried out by automated means, as long as the processing is not necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the controller.
Furthermore, in exercising his or her right to data portability pursuant to Article 20(1) of the GDPR, the data subject shall have the right to have personal data transmitted directly from one controller to another, where technically feasible and when doing so does not adversely affect the rights and freedoms of others.
In order to assert the right to data portability, the data subject may at any time contact any employee of the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund".
Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to object, on grounds relating to his or her particular situation, at any time, to processing of personal data concerning him or her, which is based on point (e) or (f) of Article 6(1) of the GDPR. This also applies to profiling based on these provisions.
The "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund" shall no longer process the personal data in the event of the objection, unless we can demonstrate compelling legitimate grounds for the processing which override the interests, rights and freedoms of the data subject, or for the establishment, exercise or defence of legal claims.
If the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund" processes personal data for direct marketing purposes, the data subject shall have the right to object at any time to processing of personal data concerning him or her for such marketing. This applies to profiling to the extent that it is related to such direct marketing. If the data subject objects to the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund" to the processing for direct marketing purposes, the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund" will no longer process the personal data for these purposes.
In addition, the data subject has the right, on grounds relating to his or her particular situation, to object to processing of personal data concerning him or her by the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund" for scientific or historical research purposes, or for statistical purposes pursuant to Article 89(1) of the GDPR, unless the processing is necessary for the performance of a task carried out for reasons of public interest.
In order to exercise the right to object, the data subject may contact any employee of the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund". In addition, the data subject is free in the context of the use of information society services, and notwithstanding Directive 2002/58/EC, to use his or her right to object by automated means using technical specifications.
Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing, including profiling, which produces legal effects concerning him or her, or similarly significantly affects him or her, as long as the decision (1) is not is necessary for entering into, or the performance of, a contract between the data subject and a data controller, or (2) is not authorised by Union or Member State law to which the controller is subject and which also lays down suitable measures to safeguard the data subject's rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, or (3) is not based on the data subject's explicit consent.
If the decision (1) is necessary for entering into, or the performance of, a contract between the data subject and a data controller, or (2) it is based on the data subject's explicit consent, the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund" shall implement suitable measures to safeguard the data subject's rights and freedoms and legitimate interests, at least the right to obtain human intervention on the part of the controller, to express his or her point of view and contest the decision.
If the data subject wishes to exercise the rights concerning automated individual decision-making, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund".
Each data subject shall have the right granted by the European legislator to withdraw his or her consent to processing of his or her personal data at any time.
If the data subject wishes to exercise the right to withdraw the consent, he or she may, at any time, contact any employee of the "Radio Spectrum Monitoring at Ny-Ålesund".
Furthermore, every data subject has the right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority if the data subject is of the opinion that the processing of their personal data breaches the GDPR.
The responsible supervisory authority is the Brandenburg Commissioner for Data Protection and Access to Information
Mrs. Dagmar Hartge
Stahnsdorfer Damm 77
14532 Kleinmachnow
Phone: +49 332 0356 0
Fax: +49 332 0356 49
E-Mail: poststelle(at)lda.brandenburg.de
Art. 6(1) lit. a GDPR serves as the legal basis for processing operations for which we obtain consent for a specific processing purpose. If the processing of personal data is necessary for the performance of a contract to which the data subject is party, as is the case, for example, when processing operations are necessary for the supply of goods or to provide any other service, the processing is based on Article 6(1) lit. b GDPR. The same applies to such processing operations which are necessary for carrying out pre-contractual measures, for example in the case of inquiries concerning our products or services. Is our institute subject to a legal obligation by which processing of personal data is required, such as for the fulfilment of tax obligations, the processing is based on Art. 6(1) lit. c GDPR. In rare cases, the processing of personal data may be necessary to protect the vital interests of the data subject or of another natural person. This would be the case, for example, if a visitor were injured in our institute and his name, age, health insurance data or other vital information would have to be passed on to a doctor, hospital or other third party. Then the processing would be based on Art. 6(1) lit. d GDPR. Finally, processing operations could be based on Article 6(1) lit. f GDPR. This legal basis is used for processing operations which are not covered by any of the abovementioned legal grounds, if processing is necessary for the purposes of the legitimate interests pursued by our institute or by a third party, except where such interests are overridden by the interests or fundamental rights and freedoms of the data subject which require protection of personal data. Such processing operations are particularly permissible because they have been specifically mentioned by the European legislator. He considered that a legitimate interest could be assumed if the data subject is a client of the controller (Recital 47 Sentence 2 GDPR).
Where the processing of personal data is based on Article 6(1) lit. f GDPR our legitimate interest is to carry out our business in favor of the well-being of all our employees and the shareholders.
The criteria used to determine the period of storage of personal data is the respective statutory retention period. After expiration of that period, the corresponding data is routinely deleted, as long as it is no longer necessary for the fulfilment of the contract or the initiation of a contract.
As a responsible institute, we do not use automatic decision-making or profiling.
This privacy policy has the status 12/2024 and is currently valid. We reserve the right to adapt this data protection notice from time to time so that it always meets the current legal requirements or to implement changes to our services in the data protection notice, e.g. when introducing new services. The new data protection notice then applies to your next visit.
This Privacy Policy has been generated by the Privacy Policy Generator of the DGD - Your External DPO that was developed in cooperation with German Lawyers from WILDE BEUGER SOLMECKE, Cologne.