Characterizing and Tuning Antennas Using an Automated Measurement System and a VNA

As the number of devices featuring wireless connectivity grows, ensuring their performance specifications while staying within regulatory requirements becomes even more important. Antenna pattern measurement is a critical step in the design process of antennas and wireless devices. Compact antenna measurement systems combined with a high performance VNA are necessary to characterize parameters such as pattern, gain, VSWR, and efficiency. These results are used to validate simulated designs and identify possible performance issues before final testing. By using an in-house measurement system, multiple design revisions can be tested and pre-certified without the high cost of using an accredited or certified measurement facility for each test. Other considerations like portability and low cost are important to engineers in various environments like defense or education, respectively.