Experimental results of an x-band PARIS receiver using digital satellite TV opportunity signals scattered on the sea surface

A bistatic radar at X-band (11 GHz) using opportunity signals (Passive Reflectometry and Interferometry System (PARIS) concept implementing the interferometric technique) has been developed and tested in a coastal-based experimental setup. Digital satellite TV signals broadcast from geostationary orbit have been used as sources of opportunity, and correlation waveforms have been collected at different receiver bandwidths. Calibration algorithms to compensate instrumental errors have improved our observables and allowed us to obtain delay measurements with a precision of about 10 cm for wind speeds in the range of 3 m/s. A statistical analysis of the measurement noise is used to determine the quality of the obtained observables. This paper also discusses the opportunities of the PARIS concept applied at higher frequency band and with stronger signals. © 1980-2012 IEEE.