Time-Frequency Energy Spectral Analysis of Broadband PLC Channel Impulsive Noise

Abstract

In this work, we introduce the field of time-frequency ($t, f$) spectral analysis for energy spectral analysis of Power Line Communication (PLC) impulsive noise. This analysis is done in the broadband frequency range of 1–30 MHz. ($t, f$) spectral analysis concerns the analysis and processing of signals with time-varying frequency content. PLC impulsive noise being such a signal is best represented by a time-frequency representation (TFR) through a time-frequency distribution (TFD). This is intended to show how the energy of the signal is distributed over the two-dimensional ($t, f$) space. As such, this will allow exploitation of the features produced by the concentration of signal energy in two dimensions (time and frequency) instead of only one (time or frequency). This analysis is based on measurement data collected from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.