Anti-drone systems give the impression that they are abandon-and-go systems. This is not true. These systems are part of far more complex signal jammer systems. Each one of these integrated systems (GPS jamming, RF jamming, etc.) has its own technologies that need to be maintained.
For example, RF jammers need to operate at a stable frequency. The detection systems need the proper signal firmware and libraries to work. If one of these systems is not functioning correctly, the effectiveness of the entire anti-drone system is compromised. The best approach to addressing these challenges is to take the project and break it down into groups. Each component, including, but not limited to, the antennas, power systems, and cooling systems need to have a defined maintenance routine.
Unlike indoor systems, anti-drone systems designed for real world applications (including industrial use and outdoor use) are exposed to significant amounts of dust, water, and exterior environmental temperature changes. These conditions cause significant reductions in operational effectiveness. I have watched significant RF attenuation take place simply due to the accumulation of dirt on antennas.
Routine maintenance inspections should be done to realign antennas, wring cables, and perform cleaning in the areas where there are ventilation holes. Antenna systems designed for military applications and other uses that require reliable operation can have rugged enclosures that still require maintenance checks.
Furthermore, correct functioning of the power supply is vital. Negative impacts can occur from inconsistent voltages, so the use of surge protectors, proper monitoring of the voltage supplied, and protection of the connections to the systems are recommended.
The most valuable piece of knowledge to be gained after extensive use of sophisticated counter-drone systems is that the threats we face are ever-changing. Counteracting the threats of UAVs is done through the constant revision of communication methods used by the UAV manufacturers, thus, counter-drone systems that are unable to revise their detection systems and communication methods become useless.
The principal characteristics of the manufacturers that are presented on the website signaljammer.cc are that they are able to conduct firmware upgrades which refine the detection algorithms to improve the accuracy of detection and communication to cover new ranges. Upgrading the system's software makes new drone signatures known to the system and allows the system to counteract the new threats.
Be sure to back up the firmware on the system prior to any such upgrades. This is important because when a system is upgraded, the unique settings introduced by the user are often reset to the factory default settings, which can render the system counteracting the UAVs temporarily less effective until the user puts the settings back to that which they desired.
The key element to the unpredictable nature of the system threats is that the system needs to be recalibrated numerous times in order to achieve desired results. For the anti-drone system to be effective, it is unarguably essential that its constituent systems are routinely recalibrated.
In a typical example, an urban setting will have a dense saturation of signals that is in stark contrast to a remote location that will make claimed demands for less dense signal coverage.
Many advanced systems allow some customizable frequency bands which may enhance performance. In addition, full technical compliance with proper tuning may ensure the system’s operation within the law.
Another very useful recommendation I can give is to always test the system. Almost every organization that has an anti-drone system put in place tends to ignore the practical testing of the system until the time of an actual threat.
While using simulated intrusions of a drone, operational testing can show the primary weaknesses in a system’s detection, the time of response, and areas that are not covered. While testing operationally in a particular case, we discovered a blind zone that a obstruction from a building created. This is an example of something that may not be found with testing in the absence of operation.
The operation of the detection of the system, the jamming of the system, and the time of response of the system should be tested. Having recorded these, the system can be analyzed for requested maintenance or an upgrade.
I would argue that no matter how technical the anti-drone systems are they can easily fails if the operators are not trained properly. In my experience, the greatest part of the inefficiency of the system is the result of operator error.
The operators should have a good comprehension of how to deal with the system’s alerts, modifying the system, and how to respond to the various threats that the system is designed to counter. This includes special considerations for use of the systems, such as safety with the high power jamming equipment.
User guides and tech support help suppliers to enhance operational reliability. Supplier resources like these help operational reliability.
Finally, operational maintenance works best with a good supplier. Good anti-drone systems have good support, documentation, and spares.
Manufacturer experience helps support and tailored systems. In my experience, customers with good supplier contact have systems that fail less and issues that resolve more quickly.
Look to your provider to demand more than just the product for support, warranty, and service.
