AR · laser-powered field probes

AR FL8000 series field probes

Five laser-powered electric field probes covering 5 kHz to 60 GHz. Every one of them measures pulsed fields as well as CW, and all of them are read through one interface box with four remote interfaces. Plug it in and it is ready to use.

Request a quotation Spec sheets at ar.ametek-cts.com
Why the FL8000

Four reasons laboratories choose it

5 kHz to 60 GHz

The widest frequency coverage we know of in a laser-powered field probe family. One family, one interface and one command set take a laboratory from conducted-immunity frequencies to 60 GHz.

Four remote interfaces in one box

The FI8000 interface has GPIB, Ethernet, USB and RS-232 together, as standard. It fits an older GPIB rack and a new networked system equally well, with no option to order.

Pulse measurement on every probe

Pulsed-field measurement is not a special model or an upgrade. Every FL8000 probe samples at 2 million samples per second and reads CW, AM and pulse-modulated fields.

Plug and play

Connect the interface, send a short text command and read the field. Nothing needs to be installed on the PC first, which suits sensitive sites, such as military laboratories, where software on a test PC has to be approved.

The range

Five probes, 5 kHz to 60 GHz

Choose the probe by the highest frequency on your test plans. The interface, the fibre cables, the commands and the way of working stay the same.

Frequency coverage of the five FL8000 probes (logarithmic scale) 1 kHz 10 kHz 100 kHz 1 MHz 10 MHz 100 MHz 1 GHz 10 GHz 100 GHz FL8200 5 kHz to 200 MHz FL8009 20 MHz to 9.3 GHz FL8018 20 MHz to 18 GHz FL8040 20 MHz to 40 GHz FL8060 20 MHz to 60 GHz Every probe measures CW, AM and pulsed fields. Figures from the AR FL8000 series specification sheet.
ProbeFrequency rangeField strength, per axisShortest pulseCW damage level
FL82005 kHz to 200 MHz0.3 to 500 V/m1 ms1000 V/m
FL800920 MHz to 9.3 GHz0.5 to 800 V/m1 µs1000 V/m
FL801820 MHz to 18 GHz2 to 1000 V/m2 µs1200 V/m
FL804020 MHz to 40 GHz2 to 1000 V/m2 µs1200 V/m
FL806020 MHz to 60 GHz2 to 1000 V/m2 µs1200 V/m

Each field range is a single continuous range with no range switching. Isotropic deviation ±0.5 dB and resolution better than 0.1 dB on all models. The FL8018, FL8040 and FL8060 are usable down to 1 µs pulses above 70 V/m. Figures from the manufacturer's specification sheet; the spec sheet governs. Quotations on request.

Contents of an AR FL8000 series field probe kit
Each kit is complete

What arrives in the case

  • The field probe, with separable X, Y and Z axes
  • FI8000 laser probe interface with GPIB, Ethernet, USB and RS-232
  • 20 m fibre-optic cable set, mating adapters and a 0.5 m jumper cable; up to 100 m of fibre can be used
  • Calibration report from an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory, with correction factors at the standard frequencies for that probe
  • Mini-tripod and carrying case
  • Laser power over the fibre: no batteries to charge or replace, and the probe runs for as long as the test does

The FM7004A field monitor, which displays the readings and applies the correction factors, is available separately.

Pulse by default

Why pulse measurement matters

Military, aerospace and automotive immunity tests do not stop at a steady carrier. MIL-STD-461 RS103 and RTCA/DO-160 Section 20 apply pulse modulation, and ISO 11452-2, ISO 11451-2 and the vehicle manufacturer specifications add radar pulse tests with pulses a few microseconds long. A conventional field probe reads too slowly to follow them, so the pulsed level is often set by calculation instead of being measured.

Every FL8000 probe samples all three axes at 2 million samples per second and reports the peak field, so the pulsed level is measured where the EUT stands. Because this is how the whole family works, a laboratory that buys a probe for IEC 61000-4-3 today already owns the capability when a radar pulse requirement arrives.

AR FL8000 series field probes and fibre connectors

Typical standards

MIL-STD-461 RS103RTCA/DO-160 Section 20ISO 11452-2ISO 11451-2Vehicle manufacturer radar pulse testsIEC 61000-4-3IEC 61000-4-21
Plug and play

A good fit for laboratories with strict software policies

Defence, aerospace and government laboratories often run test PCs that are locked down, kept off the network, or subject to software approval. The FL8000 fits in easily, because it needs nothing added to the PC.

Nothing to installThere is no application to install and no licence key to manage. The interface answers plain text commands.
Six commandsRead the field, read the three axes, identify the probe and the interface. Any test software, script or terminal that can send text can use it.
Works without a networkGPIB, RS-232 and USB connect directly to an isolated PC. Ethernet is there when the site allows it.
A key, not a loginThe laser supply is enabled with a key switch and a button on the interface, a physical control that a safety officer can see and hold.

The correction factors from the calibration report are applied in your own test software or in the FM7004A monitor, so the values in use are always the ones you can see and audit.

Related

Goes with the FL8000 probes

AR 10000SP2G4 pulsed amplifier →AR 450S6G18C, 6 to 18 GHz →AR ATR26M6G-1 antenna →Nexio BAT-EMC software →Frankonia EMC chambers →All AR models →
Frequently asked

AR FL8000 field probes in Malaysia

Which AR FL8000 probe do I need?

Choose by the highest frequency you test to: the FL8009 to 9.3 GHz, the FL8018 to 18 GHz, the FL8040 to 40 GHz and the FL8060 to 60 GHz. The FL8200 covers 5 kHz to 200 MHz for low-frequency work. All of them use the same FI8000 interface and the same commands.

Can every FL8000 probe measure pulsed fields?

Yes. All five sample at 2 million samples per second and read CW, AM and pulse-modulated fields. The shortest pulse is 1 µs for the FL8009, 2 µs for the FL8018, FL8040 and FL8060, and 1 ms for the low-frequency FL8200.

Does the FL8000 need special software on the PC?

No. The FI8000 interface answers six plain text commands over GPIB, Ethernet, USB or RS-232, so it works with your existing EMC test software, your own program or a terminal. There is nothing from the manufacturer to install.

Is the FL8000 battery powered?

No. Power reaches the probe as laser light over the fibre, so there is no battery to charge or replace and the probe runs continuously. Up to 100 m of fibre can be used.

Does the probe come calibrated?

Yes. Each kit includes a calibration report from an ISO/IEC 17025 accredited laboratory with correction factors at the standard frequencies for that probe. The manufacturer recommends a one-year interval.

Where can I buy AR FL8000 field probes in Malaysia?

ICX Lab Services in Penang is the authorised distributor of AMETEK CTS products, and AR is one of the brands under AMETEK CTS, together with EM TEST and Teseq. Send us the model number through the contact page or WhatsApp and we reply with a configuration and a quotation. Quotations on request.

AR RF/Microwave Instrumentation is part of AMETEK Compliance Test Solutions. Product names, specifications and images are taken from ar.ametek-cts.com.

Need a quotation for an FL8000 probe?

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