Base band data for testing interference mitigation algorithms

Digital signal processing is one of many valuable tools for suppressing unwanted signals or interference. Building hardware processing engines seems to be the way to best implement some classes of interference suppression but is, unfortunately, expensive and time consuming, especially if several mitigation techniques need to be compared. Simulations can be useful, but are not a substitute for real data. The CSIRO Australia Telescope National Facility has recently commenced a 'software radio telescope' project designed to fill the gap between dedicated hardware processors and pure simulation. In this approach, real telescope data are recorded coherently, then processed off-line. This paper summarises the current contents of a freely available database of base band recorded data that can be used to experiment with signal processing solutions. It includes data from the following systems: single dish, multi-feed receiver; single dish with reference antenna; and an array of six 22-meter antennas with and without a reference antenna. Astronomical sources such as OH masers, pulsars and continuum sources subject to interfering signals were recorded. The interfering signals include signal from the US Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Russian equivalent (GLONASS), television, microwave links, a low Earth orbit satellite, various other transmitters, and signals leaking from local telescope systems with fast clocks. Data are available on compact disk allowing use in general purpose computers or as input to laboratory hardware prototypes.