The Agilent 8530A is microwave receiver designed for both manual and automated antenna measurement and radar cross-section (RCS) measurement applications. It basically provides capability to make angle scan and frequency scan measurements of antennas and for making RCS measurements using the time domain features. The 8530A operates in conjunction with a positioner on which the antenna under test is to be mounted and provides rotation and pattern scan in the phi and theta direction. We have been able to acquire through a generous donation by Raytheon the positioner and its controller, and the proposed set of equipment will provide us with a complete antenna test and measurement capabilities. It should also be emphasized that while the synthesized sweeper (83651B) determines the operating frequency band of the system, all signal (microwave, millimeter wave, test, and reference) need to be down-converted to 20MHz using the frequency converter (8511B) to provide accurate data processing and help in extending the distance range (far field) of these measurements.

The antenna range, on the other hand, is to be used for measuring radiation patterns of the wide variety of the proposed antennas and antenna arrays designs including the multiband coaxial CTS antennas, and the performance of the retrodirective array. In addition, the antenna range will be used to conduct controlled testing and verification for some of the propagation modeling and simulation research in areas such as transmission through windows and metal framed structures, and in confirming observations such as those related to transmission through walls of complex structures.