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Near-Field antenna measurements were made using a Hewlett Packard 8510 automated network analyzer. This system features measurement sensitivity better than -90 dBm at measurement speeds of one data point per millisecond in the fast data acquisition mode. The system was configured using external, even harmonic mixers and a fiber optic distributed local oscillator signal. Additionally, the time domain capability of the HP 8510, made it possible to generate far-field diagnostic results immediately after data acquisition without the use of an external computer.
Analysis and measurement activities to quantify compact range feed/subreflector time domain response are described in this paper. Reflection properties of various components are quantified and their interaction studied. Results indicate that although the feed/subreflector interaction is a factor, reverberation is dominated by instrumentation interaction particularly in the case of small compact ranges.
This paper reports the quiet zone characteristics of the Harris family of compact ranges. Field probe measurements of systems having quiet zones of 3, 6, and 40 feet are presented. The quiet zones were characterized using a two way measurement with a trihedral corner reflector target. One way CW field probe measurements with an open ended waveguide are also presented for the Model 1606 range. A Discrete Fourier Transform (DFT) is imbedded in the test set software and provides an angle domain signature of extraneous signals illuminating the quiet zone. The two way range transfer functions of the Model 1603 and 1606 ranges are verified using calibrated spherical targets with the HP-8510 network analyzer operating as a time domain reflectometer.
Modern analysis techniques of radar scattering data or radar cross section (RCS) data often include transformation to the time domain for the purpose of understanding the specific scattering mechanisms involved or to isolate or identify specific scattering points. The classic technique is to transform from the frequency domain to the time domain using an inverse (Fast) Fourier Transform (IFFT). Often, however, the scattering centers are too close together to resolve or the requirement for accuracy in the measurement of the differential time delay is too high given the IFFT inverse bandwidth. This paper presents a technique for determining the time domain response of a radar target by processing the data using modern autoregressive (AR) spectral analysis. In this technique, the scattering from a radar target in the high frequency regime is shown to be autoregressive. This paper will show examples using the maximum entropy method (MEM) of Burg.
The direct far field pattern measurement of an aperture antenna becomes more difficult as the size of the aperture increases. Recent measurements on reflector antennas with 2D2/? =1500’ at The Ohio State University ElectroScience Laboratory have demonstrated the usefulness of the compact range in obtaining the complete far field pattern of antennas with large far field distances.
This paper addresses two major issues that impact long-range outdoor antenna measurements with the HP 8510 network analyzer: using a radiated reference signal to provide phaselock reference, and using harmonic mixers with a phase locked local oscillator (LO). The measurements were made at microwave frequencies on a 700 ft outdoor antenna range using a reference antenna in antenna test configurations with the HP 8511A frequency converter and with a harmonic mixer configuration using the new HP 8510 "Remote Phaselock" option developed by Hewlett-Packard. In addition to CW antenna patterns, the use of time domain and gating to reduce the effects of ground reflections was investigated. Measurement considerations and results are discussed. The favorable outcome of this investigation is applicable to a broad variety of antenna measurements.
An automated antenna measurement system using the HP8510 is described. The system controls the HP8510, associated signal source, and antenna positioner, to provide a fully integrated, automated test facility. Automation speeds and enhances testing by implementing the following features: - Multiple frequency pattern measurements in a single cut of the pedestal. - Patterns with rotating linear polarization - Automatic pedestal control - Storage and presentation of fully documented test data. - Storage and recall of test routines These features complement the premier microwave receiver available today, the HP8510 which offers: - Continuous frequency coverage from .045 to 26.5 GHz - Unparalleled measurement accuracy - 80 dB dynamic range - Time domain gating These features are integrated through software developed using modern software management techniques to form a system which is state of the art in measurement performance, operator interface, and software life cycle supportability.
There has been much interest recently in Ka-band scattering measurements. Although Ka-band components are steadily improving, one is presently limited to narrow bandwidths (2 GHz) for higher power (more than 100 milliwatts) applications. If the whole wavelength bandwidth was useable, one could scan the target in frequency, transform to the time domain and simulate a very narrow pulse illuminating the target. With such a system, one could identify scattering centers separated by just an inch or so. * This work was supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia under Grant NSG 1613 and Sandia National Laboratories under Contract No. 58-3465.
Gating is a widely used technique of improving RCS measurements. However, the exact type of gating used has a dramatic effect on such parameters as dynamic range and clutter rejection. Time Domain Gating offers significant advantages over software gating as used in some network and spectrum analyzers. This paper explores a technique used by Scientific-Atlanta in CW and FMCW RCS measurements. With the adaptation of an external computer controlled hardware gating unit, existing RCS and antenna systems can be retrofitted for significant performance improvements.
A classical problem encountered when measuring the far-field radiation pattern of an antenna in a medium-distance range is the degradation that occurs when undesirable reflections (from the ground or nearby objects) are present. To reduce this problem, the source and test antennas are often installed on towers to remove them from the reflective objects, RF absorptive materials are used to reduce the magnitude of the reflected signals, and often the reflective objects in the range are adjusted in order to null out the reflections and “clean up” the range. These solutions are often limited in their effectiveness and can be prohibitively expensive to implement.
The experimental techniques presented here can be used to obtain the approximate time domain transfer function and pattern of underground radar antennas. These techniques provide an easy approach to obtaining relative antennas performance. The experimental setup which is used to perform these experiments consists of slanted hollow plastic pipes bored in the ground, the receiver unit, transmitter unit, controller and processor units etc. A buried antennas is used to transmit to a test antenna on the ground surface. The data obtained from two separate test antennas are presented and compared.
This paper describes a new, automated, microprocessor controlled, dual-channel microwave vector ratio measurement receiver for the frequency range 10 MHz to 18 GHz. It provides a greater than 120 dB dynamic range and resolutions of 0.001 dB and 0.1 degree. Primarily designed as an attenuator and Signal Generator Calibrator, it offers solutions to antenna measurement problems where high accuracies and/or wide dynamic measurement ranges are required such as for broadband cross-polarization measurements on radar tracking antennas, highly accurate gain measurements on low-loss reflector antennas, frequency domain characteristics measurements on wide-band antennas with resulting data suitable for on-line computer conversion to time domain transient response and dispersion characteristics data and wideband near field scanning measurements for computing far field performances. The measurement data in the instrument is obtained in digital form and available over an IEEE-488 bus interface to an outside computer. Measurement times are automatically optimized by the built-in microprocessor with respect to signal/noise ratio errors in response to the measurement signal level and the chosen resolution. Complete digital measurement data amplitude of both channels and phase, is updated every 5 milliseconds.