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The National Science Foundation

    Radio Frequency Interference (RFI)


    by Susan Dunn and Jason Brown

    RFI.



    Introduction to the Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) Unit

    This unit was created under the Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program at MIT Haystack Observatory, summer 2003 and updated summer 2004, and funded by the National Science Foundation.

    This unit introduces radio frequency interference into the high school classroom to help students understand the concepts behind electromagnetic radiation, matter and energy in the Earth system, the origin and evolution of the universe, and wavelength vs. frequency. These are difficult concepts for students to grasp and the activities in this unit are intended as added tools for the high school Earth Science, Astronomy, or Physics teacher. Some of these activities are stand alone units and others will require some background set-up, electronics, and software. The electronics used were two different radio communications receivers, one used in 2003 and the other in 2004. The receiver used in 2003 is the AR-3000A communications receiver along with the SEARFE scanning software, developed in Australia. This software is available for free from the SEARFE website at www.searfe.atnf.csiro.au. The second receiver used was the WiNRADiO WR-1550e, which comes with the scanning software. For a complete evaluation of both receivers, see www.haystack.mit.edu.

    The activities in this unit include:

    • Investigating the Radio Environment, where students will use a communications receiver to scan various frequencies of the radio spectrum to determine areas of high and low usage
    • Time Variation of Background Signal Strength, where students will investigate how the radio environment changes with the time of day or night
    • Signal Strength vs. Location, students will explore how topographical features affect radio transmission and reception
    • Detecting Meteors Using a Communications Receiver, students will use a communications receiver to listen to and graph meteor intensities
    • Mapping the Radio Frequency Environment of Your School, students will map the radio frequency interference of electronic items around their school.

    Table of Contents
16 August 2004