Getting the best out of biconical antennas for emission measurements and test site evaluation

The biconical antenna has been adopted for EMC testing because of its broadband frequency coverage, 20 MHz to 300 MHz, and compact size. Potentially the antenna works very well, but some models have poor reproducibility resulting in perceptions of excessively large uncertainties for emission measure...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alexander, M.J., Lopez, M.H., Salter, M.J.
Format: Conference Proceeding
Language:English
Subjects:
Antenna measurements
Antenna theory
Broadband antennas
Electromagnetic compatibility
Frequency
Measurement uncertainty
Performance evaluation
Predictive models
Reproducibility of results
Testing
Online Access:Request full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The biconical antenna has been adopted for EMC testing because of its broadband frequency coverage, 20 MHz to 300 MHz, and compact size. Potentially the antenna works very well, but some models have poor reproducibility resulting in perceptions of excessively large uncertainties for emission measurements and predicting pessimistic performances of test sites. The antenna can be accurately modelled, which enables normalised site attenuation (NSA) values to be based on more rigorous theoretical principles, and challenges the validity of the currently accepted practice of calibrating antennas at 3 m and 1 m distances. Antenna factor can be measured with uncertainties of /spl plusmn/0.2 dB, which together with calculability, make the biconical antenna a worthy reference antenna. The use of properly constructed collapsible elements is recommended for portability.
DOI:10.1109/ISEMC.1997.667546