Biconical antennas are used for electromagnetic compatibility test applications including emission testing, immunity testing, measuring the efficiency of RF shielding, and more. A biconical antenna has a broad frequency range that varies from 20 MHz to 18 GHz. Having a broad frequency bandwidth within the compact size of the biconical antenna is an advantage due to the increased accuracy of results when conducting tests. Advanced Test Equipment Corporation has biconical antennas available to rent from top industry manufacturers including
A.H. Systems,
Com-Power Corporation,
ETS-Lindgren,
PMM Narda, and
Schwarzbeck.
What is a biconical antenna?
A biconical antenna is a broadband dipole antenna that is made up of two conical conductive objects that touch at majority of the points on the unit. Biconical antennas have characteristics similar to a dipole antenna with a wider bandwidth attained by a double cone elements structure. The appearance of the cones gives it the nickname of a "bowtie antenna" as well as a "butterfly antenna." Biconical antennas simplify bipolar conductive emission testing compared to previous iterations like half-wave dipoles, which do not allow for continuous sweeps as biconical antenna do.
With a biconical antenna, time can be saved during application time because the tuning of antenna elements to the half-wavelength is not needed. Biconical elements can be mounted and dismounted within seconds to provide contact repeatability due to special clamping features. Additionally, a biconical antenna can produce continuous sweeps to have site anomalies much easier to discover. The radiation pattern of a biconical antenna is similar to the radiation pattern of a half-wave dipole as biconical antennas have an omnidirectional response in the H-plane and a figure-eight shape in the E-plane. Having the H-plane bandwidth pattern ensures that biconical antennas are well equipped for field survey and spectrum monitoring.
Biconical Antenna Advantages
A biconical antenna is used in a variety of testing applications as its shape, power capabilities, and frequency range makes the biconical antenna ideal for immunity testing and emissions testing. There are many advantages when using a biconical antenna to be used in emissions testing and EMI testing.
- Biconical Antenna Shape
- An advantage of the biconical antenna is the bowtie shape which is used for short-range UHF television reception.
- Frequency Range
- Biconical antennas are a great choice for emission testing as the frequency ranges vary from 20 MHz up to 18 GHz.
- Clamping Features
- Biconical elements can be mounted and dismounted within a small timeframe which provides precise contact repeatability.
Biconical Antenna Applications
Relevant applications of a biconical antenna include:
- Spectrum Monitoring
- Spectrum monitoring uses a biconical antenna in its application as it requires a wide operating range and an omnidirectional pattern. Spectrum monitoring is also known as radio surveillance and is used to cover a broad operating range.
- Emissions Testing
- Because it requires measuring the field strength of equipment types in the 30 MHz to 1 GHz range, radiated emissions testing is a very common test type when it comes to compliance testing and a biconical antenna is well suited for the measurements.
- Radiated Immunity Testing
- Radiated immunity testing subjects equipment to high amounts of radiated electromagnetic fields and certain biconical antennas are beneficial components of this testing type. The use of element extensions in radiated immunity testing can be used to create higher fields.