RF self-interference canceller prototype for 100-W full-duplex operation at 225-400 MHz

Abstract

Military applications require more and different characteristics from in-band full-duplex radio technology than what the research prototypes developed for civil/commercial applications can offer. While the challenge of cancelling the strong transmit-receive coupling, i.e., self-interference (SI), in a full-duplex radio has been largely resolved at higher ultra high frequency (UHF) bands for low-power transmission, tactical communication and electronic warfare applications require major research efforts toward supporting lower military-relevant frequencies and significantly higher transmission power levels. In this paper, we present a prototype of a radio-frequency SI cancellation circuit for the lower UHF band at 225-400 MHz and transmit power of up to 100-200 W. The experimental results demonstrate that the canceller can suppress SI by 40-50 dB depending on the operation frequency within the band. It is targeted for the military application of simultaneous full-duplex jamming and interception of communications, where we can estimate that a 5-W signal-of-interest could be intercepted from 10 km away when simultaneously jamming with 100 W power.