Adaptive Frequency-Domain CFAR for Robust Spectrum Sensing Under Jamming and Administrator-Controlled Counter-Access

Adaptive Frequency-Domain CFAR for Robust Spectrum Sensing Under Jamming and Administrator-Controlled Counter-Access | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Adaptive Frequency-Domain CFAR for Robust Spectrum Sensing Under Jamming and Administrator-Controlled Counter-Access Mohamed Salah Shams, Ahmed A. Abouelfadl, Mohamed Samir Abdel Latif Soliman, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8735761/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Cognitive radio networks (CRN) enable secondary users (SUs) to opportunistically access under utilized licensed spectrum while protecting primary users (PUs) from interference. However, robust spectrum sensing under heterogeneous interference and noise uncertainty remains challenging. Con ventional energy detection, matched filtering, and cyclostationary approaches either require extensive prior knowledge or suffer performance degradation under interference, leading to excessive false alarms and service denial. We propose an adaptive frequency-domain constant false alarm rate (CFAR) spectrum sensing approach that dynamically sets frequency-specific thresholds based on neighboring spectral samples. This independent enhancement in SU devices requires minimal prior knowledge. To address potential security risks from untrusted SUs exploiting the proposed resilient CFAR scheme, we introduce a centralized counter-access mechanism: an administrator-controlled jammer that defeats CFAR-equipped adversaries, preventing unauthorized access during emergencies. It safeguards pri mary communications by creating strategic frequency gaps that avoid known jammed PU channels. Using APCO Project 25 waveforms for PUs and OFDMA for SUs, Monte Carlo simulations evaluate cell-averaging (CA), greatest-of (GO), smallest-of (SO), order-statistics (OS), and censored CFAR variants across different channel models combined with multiple jamming scenarios. Results show OS and censored CFAR variants best stabilize false alarm rates and enhance detection in heterogeneous conditions, outperforming CA and GO/SO schemes. The comb-sweep jammer effectively denies ser vice to CFAR-equipped SUs without impacting PUs, though at the expense of reduced spectrum availability. This work frames spectrum sensing and jamming in CRNs as a two-sided interaction between electronic protection for secondary users and administrative electronic attack for controlled denial. Technical Communication Scientific Communication Cognitive radio spectrum sensing energy detection CFAR jamming secure access Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8735761","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":582728815,"identity":"d44ffe8c-0b5b-48ad-b459-e8335cf9542a","order_by":0,"name":"Mohamed Salah Shams","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"Military Technical College","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mohamed","middleName":"Salah","lastName":"Shams","suffix":""},{"id":582728816,"identity":"77ae4793-68d5-4be6-a8ec-7d19238818c7","order_by":1,"name":"Ahmed A. 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However, robust spectrum sensing under heterogeneous interference and noise uncertainty remains challenging. Con ventional energy detection, matched filtering, and cyclostationary approaches either require extensive prior knowledge or suffer performance degradation under interference, leading to excessive false alarms and service denial. We propose an adaptive frequency-domain constant false alarm rate (CFAR) spectrum sensing approach that dynamically sets frequency-specific thresholds based on neighboring spectral samples. This independent enhancement in SU devices requires minimal prior knowledge. To address potential security risks from untrusted SUs exploiting the proposed resilient CFAR scheme, we introduce a centralized counter-access mechanism: an administrator-controlled jammer that defeats CFAR-equipped adversaries, preventing unauthorized access during emergencies. It safeguards pri mary communications by creating strategic frequency gaps that avoid known jammed PU channels. Using APCO Project 25 waveforms for PUs and OFDMA for SUs, Monte Carlo simulations evaluate cell-averaging (CA), greatest-of (GO), smallest-of (SO), order-statistics (OS), and censored CFAR variants across different channel models combined with multiple jamming scenarios. Results show OS and censored CFAR variants best stabilize false alarm rates and enhance detection in heterogeneous conditions, outperforming CA and GO/SO schemes. The comb-sweep jammer effectively denies ser vice to CFAR-equipped SUs without impacting PUs, though at the expense of reduced spectrum availability. 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