Barnes, Simon DanielBotha, P.R. (Philippus Rudolph)Maharaj, Bodhaswar Tikanath Jugpershad2016-08-162016-11Barnes, SD, Botha, PR & Maharaj, BT 2016, 'Spectral occupation of TV broadcast bands : measurement and analysis', Measurement, vol. 93, pp. 272-277.0263-2241 (print)1873-412X (online)10.1016/j.measurement.2016.07.020http://hdl.handle.net/2263/56340The findings of a TV broadcast spectrum measurement campaign, performed at six different locations on the Hatfield campus of the University of Pretoria, are presented. Since the use of television white spaces (TVWS) could help to alleviate the impending spectrum crunch, the motivation for the study was to identify possibly unused bands for use by emerging technologies, such as cognitive radio, and also to address the hidden node problem associated with spectrum sensing (SS). This was achieved by comparing measured data to both actual TV channel allocations and a geo-location database (GLDB) for the Tshwane metropolitan area (city of Pretoria). Localised measurements indicated that a number of TVWS opportunities existed, with between 216 and 376 MHz of spectrum found to be potentially available for secondary usage. However, a comparison with TV channel allocations (256 MHz free) and the GLDB (96 MHz free) highlighted the effect of the hidden node problem.en© 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Notice : this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Measurement. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Measurement, vol. 93, pp. 272-277, 2016. doi : 10.1016/j.measurement.2016.07.020.Cognitive radio (CR)Detection thresholdHidden node problemSpectrum measurementsSpectrum occupancyTelevision white spaces (TVWS)Spectrum sensing (SS)Postprint Article