12:00
Registration and networking over lunch
13:00
Introduction to Radio Technology SIG from John Haine, University of Bristol
13:10
Welcome from Adrian Woolard, Head of R&D North Lab, BBC
13:20
Welcome from Alison Barber, Account Manager, Rohde & Schwarz
13:30
Multi-octave radio frequency systems: Developments in antenna technology in radio astronomy and imaging systems; Anthony Brown, Professor of Communication Engineering, University of Manchester
Research in radio astronomy instrumentation and related imaging systems is causing the development of extremely wide bandwidth antenna technologies suitable for large scale deployment. This talk discusses some of these solutions, including the overall system designs using digital beamforming techniques to produce multiple simultaneous high gain beams to provide a wide field of view with high sensitivity and dual polarisation capability.
13:50
Q&A
13:55
An Adaptive Broadcast System for the UK Digital TV Network; Peter Bagot, Research Associate, University of Bristol
Adaptive TV broadcast is a way of further improving the energy efficiency of broadcast TV by adapting the broadcast powers and beam patterns based on user feedback. Here, a distributed monitoring network consisting of user TVs and professionally run calibrated nodes would feedback Quality of Service data to the broadcaster in order to build up a more accurate view of the coverage and field strengths. Based on this information, beamforming techniques can be used to adapt the broadcast powers to provide the most energy efficient solution.
14:15
Q&A
14:20
Real-time Experiments using a 128-antenna Massive MIMO Testbed; Paul Harris, Wireless Communications Researcher, University of Bristol
In a recent collaborative experimental trial with Lund University using the Bristol is Open 128-antenna massive MIMO tesbed, 22 users were served on the same time-frequency resource in an indoor atrium environment. Utilising an asymmetric frame schedule, this equates to a spectral efficiency figure of 145.6 bits/s/Hz. This talk will provide an overview of the massive MIMO testbed design, recent experimental trials and some initial results
14:40
Q&A
14:45
Refreshments and networking
15:15
A brave new world for Satcom terminals; Paul Winter, Programme Manager and RF engineer, TTP
Satcom data and voice terminals are undergoing a revolution in design and integration in a bid to access new markets and onboard more subscribers. The design of a lightweight, low cost, low power terminal that can talk to a base station thousands of kilometres away, whilst meeting regulatory requirements is a tough challenge. This talk will focus on the key technical issues at system architecture and component level highlighting areas where the industry needs to respond if we are to disrupt the market and generate new products and services.
15:35
Q&A
15:40
Scalable, Decentralised and Distributed Massive MIMO for Massive Wireless Connectivity; Gerard Borg, Research Scientist and Lecturer, Australian National University
In cellular networks, both the mobile wireless spectrum and the connection from the base station to the backhaul are shared between hundreds of clients in a cell. This approach can never be scalable or spectrally efficient. Cellular roll-outs to remote areas will normally be uneconomical: especially in developing countries. If our aim is to bring broadband to the unconnected who are living in regional / remote areas, then a different approach is required. We propose a novel wireless access network based on a scalable, distributed and decentralised massive MIMO architecture. This network can be deployed cost-effectively by successively connecting base stations to a broadband IP point-of-interconnect as clients are added to the network. Long range links requiring sub-GHz bands can be economically deployed and can provide each client with full access to the wireless spectrum and a dedicated connection to the backhaul. Given the increasing numbers of urban and regional townships connected to fibre, such an approach could empower local communities to wirelessly extend their networks to isolated populations.
16:00
Q&A
16:05
Panel session with all speakers chaired by SIG Champion, John Haine, University of Bristol
16:30
Event closes