The MegiQ Radiation Measurement System is a turnkey product for measuring Antenna patterns and sweeps. Until now these patterns were done around 3 axes (X,Y,Z) for a semi-3D radiation pattern.

MegiQ has now launched a 2-axis turn table for measuring full 3D patterns, the RMS-3DTT (patent pending). The table rotates around the Z-axis (Phi) and around the X-axis (Theta), giving a radiation pattern of the full sphere instead of three separate cuts. These results give complete information about maximum gain and TRP. They are also more appropriate when comparing a simulated pattern to the actual real world pattern.

The table consists of an open drum that rotates on a set of rollers. The drum holds the Device Under Test and rotates around the X-axis. The whole construction rotates around the Z-axis. Because of the open drum design objects can be longer than the drum itself.

The table can hold objects up to Width x Height 21 x 25 cm or 16 x 30 cm, depending on the shape. The inner length of the rotation drum is 32 cm, but objects can protrude from the sides.

The time for a full 3D measurement depends on object size, grid resolution and the test signal. A rotation of a small device can be measured in 15 minutes with a resolution of 5 degrees.

Beside Horizontal and Vertical polarizations there is a technique called Circular Polarization. This article explains what that is, how it behaves and how it can be measured.

This article was also published in Microwave & RF magazine.

This application note describes a case study of the power and radiation pattern measurements on a Wifi Access Point. It shows several ways of using the RMS-0660 to measure antenna radiation and power properties.

"Using two completely different methods, with only 0.4dB difference, the radiated and conducted results were nearly identical."

MegiQ RMS

The RMS system is a turnkey system for measuring radiated properties of wireless devices and antennas. It consists of a turn table, dual polarized measurement antenna, dual channel receiver and PC software. There are several RMS types with frequency ranges between 400MHz and 6GHz, covering most popular communication bands of wireless and IoT devices.

The RMS allows measuring radiation patterns of wireless devices that transmit their own signal, as well as measuring standalone antennas by feeding a signal from the built-in RMS generator.

Both methods were used to reconcile the results of the two measurements.

Explore the intricacies of wireless signal propagation in indoor environments through detailed measurements and insightful observations.

Oscar Appelman, oscar.appelman@aptab.nl

This article was also published in Microwave & RF magazine.

1.    Introduction

In a world where wireless devices have become an integral part of daily life, the guarantee of reliable wireless networks is more crucial than ever. Accurately predicting the propagation characteristics of wireless signals is highly desirable.

However, due to the complex nature of wireless signal propagation in volatile environments, simulating such scenarios is notoriously difficult and lacks accuracy [1]. As a result, characterizing wireless signal propagation is often neglected and wireless networks are set up based on intuition and simple measurements.

For many Wireless Devices the Total Isotropic Sensitivity (TIS) can be derived from Total Radiated Power (TRP) together with the transceiver properties.

RMS measures antenna patterns, harmonic levels and multifrequency antenna patterns.

Learn about VNA concept and operation, measurement calibration, measuring and matching antennas and circuits

Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) functions in our VNA software can be used to analyze local impedances in networks. This is useful to analyze both cable networks as PCB trace impedances.

After more than six years in business, it was time for a new styling and a new website.

After a steady growth over the past years we were growing out of our old office.

Now MegiQ has moved to a new and much bigger office at the edge of Eindhoven, the Netherlands.

From here we will be able to serve our growing customer base better and faster.

RMS-0640 review in Microwave and RF

"Measuring antenna radiation is no longer in the exclusive domain of high-end test laboratories—it can be performed with a compact system that has all of the hardware."

By professor Miroslav Joler

Get 4x more speed, enhanced graphics and more with the latest VNA software and firmware

MegiQ Seminar on Antenna Measurement technology

Microwave and RF magazine tested our VNA0460e with our VNA Sandbox and SMA calibration kit.

"Another company recently provided me with its own PC-controlled VNA as part of a demo kit. That company, MegiQ, is one that may be unfamiliar to some. However, MegiQ is a company that certainly deserves to be recognized among today’s VNA suppliers. This article presents a closer look at the company’s VNA capabilities based on my experience with the demo kit."

By Chris DeMartino.

Developing wireless products can have pitfalls if you don’t know what to look for. Antennas are not just components, they need to be implemented with attention to their application and environment. Not only should the antenna impedance be matched but also the radiation pattern should meet certain criteria.

MegiQ has developed a new cabinet for their series of 4GHz and 6GHz VNAs

With their professional performance and affordable price, MegiQ VNAs are perfect for setting up microwave labs and training courses at universities. The Complutense University of Madrid has a good experience and is now expanding their capacity with more MegiQ equipment.

By Professor Luis Ángel Tejedor.

Get 3x more speed, calkit manager and more with the latest VNA software and firmware

Measuring radiation patterns from wireless designs with antennas normally requires a rack of test gear, but this system does the job in a moderate-sized room without an anechoic chamber.

This article discusses how the MegiQ RMS-0740 can be an asset in wireless development, without the hefty investment in an anechoic chamber.

Developing wireless products can have pitfalls if you don’t know what to look for. Antennas are not just components, they need to be implemented with attention to their application and environment. Not only should the antenna impedance be matched but also the radiation pattern should meet certain criteria.

These are some of the approaches to make sure that a wireless product works to full satisfaction.

New affordable 6GHz Vector Network Analyzer from MegiQ

Developers of wireless products that need to push to the higher communication bands now have access to an affordable VNA for operation up to 6GHz. The new MegiQ VNA-0460 VNA measures impedances and other S-parameters from 400MHz up to 6GHz.

The MegiQ VNA software has a built-in match calculator. This function now allows for manual adjustment while the software shows the 10dB return loss bandwidth in realtime.

[press release]

MegiQ introduces a portable, compact Radiation Measurement System that allows wireless developers to measure (antenna) radiation patterns and TRP of their RF device from 700MHz to 4GHz.

[press release]

MegiQ introduces an Application Programming Interface (API) for their popular series of VNAs. With this API, programmers control the measuring process and data flow to integrate RF testing in production tests or specialized VNA measurements. This makes it possible to implement a very cost-effective solution to S-parameter verification in production testing.

Although a very good design will help to achieve high yield on antenna performance, batch to batch tolerances in PCB and components can suddenly influence resonance frequencies of on-board antennas.
There is an easy way to determine the resonance frequency by wireless without having to probe electrically. Just as with the old grid-dippers

Most VNA manufacturers focus on using the best possible connectors and accessories for test setups: N-connectors, phase stable cables and golden calibration standards. These are so bulky that it is almost impossible to get to a real-life circuit board. On the other end of the spectrum are the small and cheap UFL connectors and cables. Are they suited for VNA measurements and circuit optimization?

Sometimes it is desirable to test or verify the operation of an antenna without physically connecting to it. This can be useful for verifying a series of products, in production, or to avoid disturbing the ground current in its ‘natural’ state. This article describes a technique for measuring antennas without physically contacting it.

Everything goes wireless, also luminaires, mostly using mesh-kind of RF communication for control. There are all kinds of off-the-shelf RF electronics available for the Luminaire Designer. This leaves the Luminaire Designer with a big question mark: “How to design a luminaire for reliable RF communications in the field.”

Connectors can be vulnerable. In your RF test set-up you make use of connectors like SMA, UFL or WFL. These connectors have a limited amount of mating actions, they wear down. Specially in T&M setups, there where you want to be sure of reliably & repeatable connections, you should take good care of connectors