The Electromagnetic Radiation Lab (ERL) is a unique facility that was designed to characterize a wide variety of antenna types over a very wide bandwidth. The system employs a total of 10 positional axes to allow near-field and far-field testing in various modes of operation with great flexibility. A Planar Near-Field (PNF) scanner is used for testing directive antennas operating at frequencies up to 110 GHz. And a single phi-over-theta positioner permits both Spherical Near-Field (SNF) testing from L-band to W-band and far-field testing down to 0.2 GHz.
The ERL measurement facility contains four near-field measurement configurations, and a dual-axis far-field scanner.
Planar Near-field
| Parmeter | Capability |
|---|---|
| Max. Scan Speed |
38 cm/s |
| Max. Scan Plane | 4 m X 4 m |
| Frequency Range | 1-110GHz |
| Ideal Usage | Large directive antenna |
Spherical Near-field (SNF)
In order to fully characterize the far-field radiation properties of antennas, one of two different SNF configurations may be used.
Phi-over-Theta SNF
| Parmeter | Capability |
|---|---|
| Max. Scan Speed | 30 degrees/s |
| Theta Span | -180° < Θ < +180° |
| Phi Span | 0 < Φ < 360° |
| Max. AUT size | A 100 Kg antenna with diameter up to 2m |
| Frequency Range | 1-110GHz |
| Ideal Usage | Characterizing low, medium and high gain antennas up to 110 GHz |
Theta-over-Phi SNF
A second SNF configuration is available in the chamber to allow testing of larger antennas, antennas with gravitational sensitivities and antennas operating at frequencies below 1 GHz.
| Parmeter | Capability |
|---|---|
| Max. Scan Speed | 30 degrees/s |
| Theta Span | -174.4° < Θ < +174.4° |
| Phi Span | 0 < Φ < 360° |
| Max. AUT size | A 2500 Kg antenna with diameter up to 2.5m |
| Frequency Range | 0.20-50GHz |
| Ideal Usage |
Measuring large, gravitationally sensitive, or low frequency antennas |
Cylindrical Near-field
This configuration is well suited for testing fan beam base station antennas that are typically very directive in one plane and very broad in the orthogonal plane.
Far-field