NPL gives advice on the most appropriate calibration for a range of applications, and carries out calibration of a wide variety of antenna types, including:
These antennas are used for electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing (to meet the requirements of EMC Directive 2014/30/EU), satellite communications and Earth remote sensing. NPL has developed a comprehensive range of facilities for calibrating antennas covering the frequency range from 20 Hz up to 110 GHz. These include an open area test site, fully anechoic room (FAR), extrapolation range, spherical near-field scanner and microwave EMC chamber.
Other properties of antennas that we can measure are:
Antennas used for EMC conformance testing must be traceably calibrated to national standards for the products to be eligible to carry the CE mark. NPL holds the UK's national standard for field strength, which is based on a calculable dipole antenna that has been valildated on the national standard open field site at NPL. The open field site comprises 60 m x 30 m metal ground plane, flat within ±6 mm over 95 % of its area.
Calibrations can be performed in a fully ferrite-tiled anechoic room down to 30 MHz and in an anechoic chamber up to 18 GHz. Calibrations are UKAS accredited according to the following international Standards:
NPL advises customers on the most appropriate calibration for their application as well as offering consultancy for measurement of non-standard antennas and for antenna range design and validation.
Also see the NPL Good Practice Guide No. 73 on Antenna Calibration
The electric field strength of radiating sources can be measured, above a ground plane or in an anechoic chamber. These sources are commonly used to validate a measurement test site. Common frequency ranges are 30 - 1000 MHz and 1 - 7 GHz.
All the facilities can be hired, please contact us to discuss availability.
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Contact our Customer Services team on +44 20 8943 7070