Near-field field strength measurements using the RFPM1

Review of Boswell et al paper “Performance of a small loop antenna in the 3-10 MHz band” discussed measurement of near-field field strength for measurement of performance of a small transmitting loop (STL).

This article describes a method of performing near-field field strength measurements using a portable RF power meter (rfpm1) and a small untuned square loop.

Equipment

Power meter

VK3AQZ RF power meter (RFPM1) described my build and calibration  of the RFPM1.

RFPM00Above is the RFPM1, shown with two probes, but only one probe is required for this procedure, the other is disconnected. The RFPM1 directly reads input power in dBm.

Loop antenna

Clip 071

The loop antenna used was described at (Duffy 2007). It is a small square loop (600mm sides) fed in one corner with a 1:1 voltage balun.

The important calibration constant is the Antenna Factor (AF) which is the ratio of the electric field strength to the voltage developed at the antenna terminals (loaded with 50+j0Ω).

Clip 073

Above is the calibration curve for the measurement loop.

Screenshot - 19_12_2014 , 18_29_47

Above, the result of spot frequency calculation using Calculate small loop Antenna Factor.

Measurement / calculation

The power developed in the loop's 50+j0Ω load is a function of the incident  field strength:

E(dBµV/m)= P(dBm)-30+10*log(50)+AF+120;

which reduces to:

E(dBµV/m)= P(dBm)-13.0+AF+120.

So, in this case if the power meter indicates -40.0dBm, the field strength is -40.0-13.0+34.6+120=101.6dBµV/m. For this antenna at 7.0MHz, field strength in dBµV/m is simply 141.6dB higher than shown on the RFPM1 meter (as shown in the Calculate small loop Antenna Factor results.

Conclusions

  • It is possible to make reasonably accurate measurement of near-field strength using relatively simple equipment.
  • The sensitivity and direct dBm reading of the RFPM1 makes it very convenient as addition of a single factor converts dBm power readings into dBµV/m field strength.

References / links