What type of interference can a spread spectrum system help mitigate?

A spread spectrum system primarily helps mitigate adjacent channel interference due to its unique method of transmitting data. Unlike traditional narrowband systems, which transmit data at a single frequency, spread spectrum technology spreads the signal across a wide range of frequencies. This approach allows the system to be more resilient against interference from other signals operating in nearby frequency channels.

Adjacent channel interference occurs when signals from neighboring channels spill over and disrupt communication in the channel in use. The spread spectrum technique minimizes the impact of this kind of interference by utilizing frequency hopping or direct sequence spreading, which enables the signal to be less susceptible to localized disruptions from adjacent channels.

While it is true that spread spectrum systems can also offer some level of resilience towards thermal noise and impulse noise, these types of noise are typically addressed through different methods and technologies, rather than the inherent advantages gained from the spread spectrum approach.