Biconical, log-periodic, hybrid, double-ridged horn, loop, monopole and rod antennas calibrated under LAB Support Ltd.'s A2LA accredited ISO/IEC 17025 scope: on your own site if it is qualified for the method, or at LAB Support's laboratory in Japan.
Every radiated emission result is the receiver reading plus cable loss plus antenna factor. Of the three, the antenna factor carries the biggest uncertainty and drifts the most, especially for hybrid and biconical antennas with baluns that age. CISPR 16-1-6 sets out the calibration methods; CISPR 16-4-2 expects the laboratory to hold a current certificate with uncertainties it can put in its budget.
| Antenna type | Range | Common methods and standards |
|---|---|---|
| Loop antennas | 9 kHz to 30 MHz | CISPR 16-1-6 current probe method |
| Monopole and rod antennas | 5 Hz to 50 MHz | CISPR 16-1-6, SAE ARP 958, equivalent capacitance substitution |
| Biconical, hybrid, dipole, log-periodic | 20 MHz to 1 GHz | CISPR 16-1-6, ANSI C63.5 standard site method, pair antenna method |
| Horn antennas | 1 GHz to 20 GHz | SAE ARP 958 two and three antenna methods, CISPR 25 |
| Antenna symmetry and balance | 30 MHz to 1 GHz | CISPR 16-1-4 balun check |
The methods and standards shown are the ones most commonly requested. Within each parameter and range listed on the accredited scope, other calibration methods and standard editions can be supported under the flexible-scope provisions of LAB Support's A2LA accreditation. The measurement uncertainty for each parameter is stated on the certificate. Field calibration is included in the scope for every line above.
From our own calibration records. Any antenna within the scope can be calibrated; these are the ones we see most.
Antenna factor by the site methods needs a qualified test site. If your chamber or OATS meets the site requirements of the method, the LAB Support Southeast Asia team calibrates on your site. If not, the antennas are calibrated at LAB Support's laboratory in Japan and returned with the certificate.
The standard site method and the pair antenna method give the free-space antenna factor that CISPR 16-1-4 measurements require. Where a customer needs a site-specific or height-specific factor for a particular geometry, that can be added as a separate measurement.
The site must meet the requirements of the calibration method, for example the normalised site attenuation and ground-plane requirements of the standard site method in CISPR 16-1-6 and ANSI C63.5. Send us your latest site validation report and we will confirm. Where the site does not qualify, the antennas are calibrated at LAB Support Japan.
Most accredited laboratories use two years for passive antennas and one year for active antennas such as monopoles with preamplifiers. Any antenna that has been dropped or had its balun or cable replaced should be recalibrated immediately.
The certificate is issued under an A2LA accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025:2017, which is recognised through the ILAC mutual recognition arrangement.
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