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Evaluating Time Occupancy and Time-Scales in Interference Testing with Pulse-Modulated Noise
Michelle Pirrone1,2, Aric Sanders1, Adam Wunderlich1
1Communications Technology Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Boulder, Colorado, 80305 USA.
IEEE Transactions on Electromagnetic Compatibility
|April 27, 2026
Summary
Pulse-modulated noise (PMN) effectively tests interference vulnerabilities in communication systems. This artificial waveform simplifies testing and accurately predicts real-world impacts on Wi-Fi links.
Area of Science:
- Electrical Engineering
- Computer Science
- Telecommunications
Background:
- Systematic interference testing is crucial for robust communication systems.
- Existing methods often rely on complex, real-world signals that are difficult to generate and control.
- There is a need for simpler, yet effective, artificial test waveforms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utility of pulse-modulated noise (PMN) for general-purpose, systematic interference testing.
- To examine time-domain interference vulnerabilities by modifying PMN parameters.
- To compare PMN interference with real-world signals like LTE and Wi-Fi.
Main Methods:
- Experimental investigation using a conducted interference testbed.
- Utilizing a consumer off-the-shelf (COTS) IEEE 802.11n Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) Wi-Fi link as the victim system.
- Modifying PMN duty cycle (time occupancy) and period (time-scale) to assess interference impacts.
Main Results:
- Time occupancy was identified as a strong predictor of interference impacts.
- Time-scale and time correlations were found to be relevant factors in specific circumstances.
- PMN testing showed comparable results to measured LTE and Wi-Fi signals for corresponding time occupancies.
Conclusions:
- Pulse-modulated noise (PMN) is a valuable tool for systematic interference testing.
- PMN waveforms offer a simplified approach to characterizing a wide range of interference vulnerabilities.
- The findings support the use of PMN for assessing bidirectional communication link resilience.
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