Advances in Characterizing Complex Frequency Responses of Frequency Converting Payloads in Planar Near-Field Test Ranges

Authors: Patrick Pelland, Daniël Janse van Rensburg, Edwin Barry
Publication: EuCAP 2019
Copyright Owner: EurAAP

This paper provides an overview of a planar near-field test methodology for measuring typical system level characteristics of transceiver payloads. Measuring parameters such antenna gain, equivalent isotropic radiated power, saturating flux density, group delay and channel frequency response is the objective. We describe how transfer functions are derived for the antennas in question, allowing one to compensate for the fact that measurements are being performed in the near-field of both uplink and downlink antennas. Practical implementation aspects like near-field probe selection, probe positioning and RF sub-system modification are addressed. We also present a concept simulated payload, since this is critical to system verification and facility-to-facility comparison.

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