Antenna for EMC testing
Antenna for EMC testing
(OP)
Hello all. I would appreciate your help with an antenna question. I am a not a serious radio guy, but I am the closest thing to that on our project team. I have been tasked with doing some pre-EMC testing and need help selecting the correct antenna(s).
We need to test some materials for EMI attenuation rate, then assemble the materials and check the EMI attenuation inside the assembly. The test assembly can be of a reasonable size to house the spectrum analyzer and the antenna.
The testing needs to check EMI attenuation from 100 kHz to 1 GHz. I am hoping that there would be one directional-type antenna that would cover that range, but I'm having a difficult time finding a match.
So, I'm hoping there is an expert in this group who would be willing to give me some advice. Can you help by suggesting what antenna(s) I need to conduct the test? I need to know antennas for both the transmit and receive side.
Thanks in advance,
Scott
We need to test some materials for EMI attenuation rate, then assemble the materials and check the EMI attenuation inside the assembly. The test assembly can be of a reasonable size to house the spectrum analyzer and the antenna.
The testing needs to check EMI attenuation from 100 kHz to 1 GHz. I am hoping that there would be one directional-type antenna that would cover that range, but I'm having a difficult time finding a match.
So, I'm hoping there is an expert in this group who would be willing to give me some advice. Can you help by suggesting what antenna(s) I need to conduct the test? I need to know antennas for both the transmit and receive side.
Thanks in advance,
Scott
RE: Antenna for EMC testing
http://www.com-power.com/antennas.html
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RE: Antenna for EMC testing
Typically one would need a collection of E3 antennas to cover that sort range.
To answer the next obvious question, by referencing the "Antenna Factor" data included with a calibrated E3 antenna, one may translate the measured signal level into actual field strength.
RE: Antenna for EMC testing
RE: Antenna for EMC testing
RE: Antenna for EMC testing
But I don't believe that they make very good EMC antennas. And certainly not for transmit mode!
RE: Antenna for EMC testing
The thought is to have a small, thin antenna that you can place close to your leaking box and pick up more energy than getting a larger antenna away from the box.
Placing your box inside another metal box is a good way to "pseudo amplify" any leakage from your box. Place your hand-made antenna sniffer inside the home made metal box and you can measure leakage more readily.
RE: Antenna for EMC testing
Here are some ideas:
3103 conical log spiral, or 3143B Biconilogic antenna.
http://www.ets-lindgren.com/DefenseAntennas
If you do not have the bux to buy one of these, I would get a cheapo discone antenna, like:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/DISCONE-BROAD-BAND-ANTENNA...
And when you find a spur that seems close to failing your leakage level, double check the level with a quarterwave monopole over a ground plane (sma connector soldered to a FR4 pcb ground plane in the middle, and a length of stiff wire long enough to resonate at that one frequency. You know the theoretical gain of such an antenna.
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