Antenna Measurements Using Portable Spectrum Analyzers

With continuous improvements in wireless products, there is an increasing demand for radio frequency (RF) measurement equipment. Wireless communication relies heavily on antennas, and measuring their performance when deployed in the field is essential to understand the coverage provided. To analyze the performance of the antenna when deployed in the field, the radiation patterns of the antenna were measured. Measuring the radiation patterns of an antenna involves measuring the strength of the electric field in the far-field Fraunhofer region. Spectrum analyzers are widely used to measure the strength of an electric field. Standard spectrum analyzers are heavy and bulky. On the other hand, we propose portable and lightweight spectrum analyzers, such as the Tiny SA Ultra, and the Signal Hound SA44B. The performance of both these small size spectrum analyzers was validated using a signal generator. The performance of SA44B was validated by measuring the radiation patterns of a Printed Log-Periodic Antenna (PLPDA). Measurements were performed at ground level in a sports hall at 800 MHz while maintaining a far-field distance of 30 m. The radiation patterns of the PLPDA were measured with a good accuracy.