Español
Français
Italiano
Deutsch
РусскийDrone detection: RF traces with PROMAX ATLAS NG
Drones have become essential assets in a variety of operations in many sectors embracing both civil and military use. They are very useful tools for so many different applications but they also pose a significant, growing and crucially evolving security threat. Detection of foe drones, not friends in the form of enemy threats or simply just unauthorized drones, is every time more difficult as the will of not being detected and the technologies to achieve so also evolve.
With this in mind a number of drone detection technologies have been developed, but among them, PROMAX is specialised specifically in the RF detection.
ATLAS NG providing real-time detection and monitoring of a drone in flight.
RF Monitoring: How drone detection works
Drone detection was originally based exclusively in passive RF signal monitoring. Drones are typically controlled remotely using radio links with downlink signals (air to ground) which can be passively detected (eavesdropped) utilising proper radio signal analysers. Downlink signals can be found in the following sub-6 GHz frequency bands:
| Frequency band | Pros | Cons | Supported by ATLAS NG? |
| 2.4 GHz | High indoor coverage | Congested, high traffic | Yes |
| 5.8 GHz | Higher bandwidth | Low signal penetration | Yes |
| 433 to 915 MHz | Excellent indoor coverage | Lower bandwidth | Yes |
| 1.2 / 1.3 GHz | Higher penetration than 5.8 GHz | May require licensing | Yes |
| LTE / 5G | Extensive reach | Infrastructure (cell towers) dependent | Yes |
| 6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E) | Cleaner RF environment | Emerging technology | Yes |
- 2.4 GHz. Telemetry, control and Video. It is the most commonly used band offering high range and good signal penetration performance. This band is used for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth applications as well as a myriad of other things and therefore it is very crowded at times.
- 5.8 GHz for telemetry, control and video as well. It offers higher bandwidth with less interference probabilities than 2.4 GHz but struggles with obstacles like trees or walls.
- 433 MHz 868 MHz, 900 MHz, 915 MHz is also used for long-range control with excellent penetration and range but lower bandwidth. No drone RF traces below 400 MHz to our knowledge.
- 1.2 GHz / 1.3 GHz is sometimes used for long-range FPV video. It penetrates obstacles better than 5.8 GHz, though is not always license free.
- LTE / 5G: Many commercial drones now use cellular networks (4G/5G) for their downlink. This provides virtually unlimited range as long as there is cell tower coverage.
- 6 GHz (Wi-Fi 6E): Some newer systems are exploring the 6 GHz band in search for less congested spectrum.
Precision detection with ATLAS NG
The Atlas NG delivers our broadest detection range, designed to capture signals across every one of these critical bands (from 5 MHz up to 6 GHz), and features a couple of tools extremely useful to detect the RF trace of a drone: the Heatmap spectral mode and the Spectrogram.
Detailed view of the Spectrogram mode used to identify drone signal activity.
Detailed view of the Spectrogram mode used to identify drone signal activity.
You can find below a couple of videos showing how to use both features within the analyzer:
PROMAX is a company that has been serving its customers for over 60 years, not only by offering advanced measuring equipment but also by providing tailored solutions.
CONTACT US FOR A TAILORED SOLUTION ›PROMAX is a leading manufacturer of test and measurement systems, broadcast and TV signal distribution equipment. Our product lines include measuring instruments for cable TV, satellite TV, broadcast, wireless and fibre optics networks, FTTH and GPON analyzers. DVB-T modulators, IP streamers or IP converters (ASI, DVB-T) are among the company’s latest developments.