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Our Antenna and RF Testing capabilities provide access to equipment and expertise to help you innovate and accelerate the development of new products and services.
Designing and testing effective antennas and associated RF systems is a challenging task. To simplify this for organisations with bespoke needs, we offer Compact, Near-Field, and Far-Field Test Ranges for fast and highly accurate characterisation of a wide variety of antennas.
Typical Use Cases of our capabilities include Antenna radiation pattern amplitude, phase, and gain measurements. Plus dynamic over-the-air beam pointing and tracking tests to satellite/base station while the device-under-test moves through variable azimuth/elevation paths.
Near-Field Range
Our purpose-built spherical Near-Field Range is housed in a 4 m × 4 m × 4 m anechoic chamber. This facility includes:
- NSI-MI Spherical Near-Field Range measurement system (360° Phi and 270° Theta sweep)
- Rohde & Schwarz ZNB40 Vector Network Analyser
- High-precision measurements in the 700 MHz–40 GHz range
- Analysis outputs: 3D far-field co-polar & cross-polar patterns, axial ratio, multi-frequency directivity, gain, efficiency, phase centre/group delay vs frequency, microwave holographic projection, and S-parameters
Additional RF testing equipment includes signal & spectrum analysers, vector signal generators, channel emulator, programmable attenuators, and amplitude & phase shifters.
Additional industry-leading capabilities for RF testing of satellite communication systems and components include: signal & spectrum analysers; vector network analysers; vector signal generators; channel emulator; programmable step attenuators; and programmable amplitude & phase shifters.
Far Field Range
The Far-Field Antenna Test Range, part of DISC, restores the UK’s capability for long-range satellite antenna testing (previously lost with Cobham’s closure in 2015). Located on the Harwell campus, it features:
- A 400 m antenna test range
- Support for C, Ka, Ku, and X bands
- Ideal for development, characterisation, and type approval of satellite telecommunications terminals
This national facility is attracting international interest and creating new opportunities within the UK space community.
Compact Antenna Test Range
Our Compact Antenna Test Range is particularly suitable for dynamic over-the-air performance testing of electronically steerable antennas and terminals for Satcom or 5G applications, covering the 10 GHz to 31 GHz frequency range.
Key Specifications
- Chamber Dimensions: 1803 mm (L) × 1570 mm (W) × 2002 mm (H)
- Frequency Range: 10 GHz to 31 GHz
- Quiet Zone: up to 42 cm
- Serrated Reflector: 1020 mm × 1020 mm
- Polarisation: Circular & Linear (10 GHz–15 GHz) / Circular (17 GHz–31 GHz)
- Azimuth/Elevation Positioner: Max speed 30 deg/s in both axes
- Integrated Equipment: Rohde & Schwarz 4-port ZNB40 Vector Network Analyser, SMW200A Vector Signal Generator, and FSW50 Signal & Spectrum Analyser
- Capable of simultaneous co-pol and cross-pol measurements
Radio Frequency Equipment
The facility houses advanced RF tools, including:
- R&S® SMW200A Vector Signal Generator (100kHz to 40GHz)
- R&S® FSW50 Signal Analyser (2Hz to 50GHz)
- R&S® ZNB40 Vector Network Analyser (up to 40GHz)
- Keysight FieldFox Handheld Microwave Test System (up to 32GHz)
- Keysight PROPSIM Channel Emulator (220MHz to 4GHz)
- Agilent Technologies MSO-X 4154A Mixed Signal Oscilloscope (1.5GHz)
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Get in touch
We can help you identify where you are on your development journey, connect you with industry experts, and highlight relevant equipment – facilities@sa.catapult.org.uk
