Antenna Measurements

Testing of real antennas is fundamental to antenna theory. All the theory in the world doesn't add up to a hill of beans if the antennas under test don't perform as desired. What exactly are we looking for when we test antennas? Basically, we want to measure many of the fundamental parameters listed on the Antenna Basics page. The most common and desired measurements are an antenna's radiation pattern including gain and efficiency, the impedance, the bandwidth, and the polarization. The procedures and equipment are described in the following sections: 1. Required Equipment and Ranges 2. Radiaton Pattern and Gain Measurements 3. Phase Measurements 4. Polarization Measurements 5. Impedance Measurements 6. Scale Model Measurements