In-Person Short Course

In this session, we provide an introductory look at the relevant theory, terminology and parameters associated with antenna measurements. This gives the viewer an understanding of the different field regions around an antenna, defines some basic antenna polarization parameters, explains the Friis transmission equation, describes the commonly used spherical coordinate system, and more.

This 2-part lecture will provide a high-level overview of near-field theory and measurement techniques. We will introduce concepts, key variables, and sampling requirements in the process. Then will go over the scattering matrix formulation and the critical probe correction process of near-field analysis.

In this 2-part session, some basic antenna range design concepts are presented. First, the need for RF absorbers in antenna measurement ranges is discussed. A variety of absorber types are presented along with some information about the reflectivity performance and power handling of the available options. A discussion on the need, or lack thereof, for proper shielding of the anechoic environment is also included.

Selecting the right antenna measurement facility depends on many factors, including the available budget, throughput requirements, accuracy considerations, available space, and more. In this module, we guide you through the process used by NSI-MI experts to select the right range configuration to ensure our customers get the right range for their needs.

This presentation starts with a discussion about the relevant coordinate systems for the various near-field systems under consideration. The theoretical concepts that these near-field systems are based on are compared to how systems are implemented in practice. The three most common near-field geometries (planar, cylindrical, spherical) are described.

Coming soon.

This session provides students with a detailed overview of NSI-MI’s Advanced Antenna Acquisition and Analysis (A4) software. The various software menus, features and options will be explored in detail. Instructions for basic measurement setup, near-field pre-processing and far-field data processing are presented. Using real measurement examples, attendees will better understand how to adjust settings to view and export data in your desired format.

Like any other type of measurement, near-field data acquisition and processing are subject to several sources of error. This module outlines the main contributors to measurement uncertainty and describes the techniques used to quantify the uncertainty. Several terms are described in detail and error reduction techniques are presented.

The RF sub-system is a fundamental building block for any antenna measurement solution. This module will discuss the need to maximize the available dynamic range for antenna measurements. Some RF link budgets are shared and analyzed, and a comparison of various RF sub-system solutions is shared.

Coming soon.

Determination of an antenna’s absolute gain is one of the most common requirements for all antenna measurement systems. In this module, antenna gain, and other associated parameters are presented. Various gain measurement techniques are described in detail and some of the main sources of gain measurement uncertainty are discussed.

This module brings our students into the lab to witness a live demonstration of measurement setup, data acquisition, near-field to far-field transformation, and data processing. This provides an excellent opportunity to learn about best practices and ask our experts questions relevant to your measurement needs.

In this session we explore AESA (Active Electronically Steered Array) antennas and the unique problems they pose for the test engineer. Our attention will be focused primarily on AESA control issues: test plan complexity, measurement timelines, and optimizing test efficiency. A practical discussion of beam steering interfaces and how they affect range timing and antenna performance will give the audience a baseline for understanding their own AESA integration challenges. Finally, some practical error-checking techniques are presented that will help verify coordination between the range controller and the AESA being tested, for trustworthy and efficient testing.