Vector Network Analyzers – Key Components of Antenna Measurement Systems

Author: Derek Skousen
Publication: Rohde & Schwarz News 198/08
Copyright Owner: Rohde & Schwarz

The large variety of today’s wireless applications is also matched by the demands placed on the transmitting and receiving antennas they require. Therefore, antennas are probably the most highly varied of components in wireless communications systems, with virtually no restrictions in size, shape and structure. Yet, all of these antennas serve basically the same purpose: As transmitting antennas, they must convert conducted electromagnetic waves to free-space waves, and as receiving antennas they must convert these free-space waves back to conducted waves. To determine if the antenna properties are optimally suited for the application at hand, they are precisely analyzed using antenna measurement systems.

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