NPL's Wireless Communications research covers both theoretical and experimental aspects of wireless, optical and antenna systems. Research generally covers either:

• Measurements relating to individual components or subsystems of the physical layer of a communications system
  or
• Whole system performance of a system or sensor network

Particular areas of interest include:

• Quantification of the resilience and reliability of wireless networks in a dense radio environment
• Signal propagation and interference
• Characterisation of small and smart antennas
• Measurements of digital waveform parameters such as jitter and EVM, Bit-Error-Rate (BER)

NPL is a world-leading NMI in rf and Microwave metrology with a number of key facilities and capabilities.

Major facilities include:

• Spherical Near-field Range housed in a temperature controlled 7.5 m by 7.5 m by 15 m anechoic chamber
• 6.55 x 5.85 x 3.50 m Reverberation Chamber
• 60 x 30 m Open Area Test Site
• EMC antenna calibration range, GTEM cells and several other anechoic chambers
• Fully and partially screened rooms housing unique guided wave standards and equipment
• A comprehensive range of network analysers (to 110 GHz), fast sampling and digital storage oscilloscopes (to 80 GHz)
• An electro-optic sampling system for precise EM field mapping
• An automated probe station for on-wafer measurements