A.H. Systems AK-18G User manual

A.H. Systems AK-18G Antenna Kit
©A.H. Systems inc. –May 2014
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AK-18G
Antenna Kit
Operation Manual

A.H. Systems AK-18G Antenna Kit
©A.H. Systems inc. –May 2014
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
WARRANTY
3
INTRODUCTION
4
GENERAL INFORMATION
5
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT
8
FORMULAS
9
MAINTENANCE
10

A.H. Systems AK-18G Antenna Kit
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WARRANTY INFORMATION
A.H. Systems Inc., warrants that our Antennas, Sensors and Probes will be free from
defects in materials and workmanship for a period of three (3) years. All other products
delivered under contract will be warranted for a period of two (2) years. Damage caused
by excessive signals at the product's input is not covered under the warranty. A.H.
Systems' obligation under this warranty shall be limited to repairing or replacing, F.O.B.
Chatsworth, California, each part of the product which is defective, provided that the
buyer gives A.H. Systems notice of such defect within the warranty period commencing
with the delivery of the product by A.H. Systems.
The remedy set forth herein shall be the only remedy available to the buyer, and in no
event shall A.H. Systems be liable for direct, indirect, incidental or consequential
damages.
This warranty shall not apply to any part of the product which, without fault of A.H.
Systems has been subject to alteration, failure caused by a part not supplied by A.H.
Systems, accident, fire or other casualty, negligence, misuse or normal wear of
materials.
Except for the warranty set forth above, there are no other warranties, expressed or
implied, with respect to the condition of the product or it's suitability for the use intended
for them by the buyer.
For prompt service, please contact our service department for a Return Material
Authorization Number before shipping equipment back to us.

A.H. Systems AK-18G Antenna Kit
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INTRODUCTION
SPECIFICATIONS
Model Number
Frequency
Range
Antenna Factor (dB/m)
SAS-510-2
290 MHz –2000 MHz
14 to 32
SAS-542
20 MHz –330 MHz
9 to 23
SAS-550-1B
9 KHz –60 MHz
-1 to 3
SAS-560
20 Hz –2 MHz
18 to 15
SAS-571
700 MHz –18 GHz
22 to 45
Transfer Impedance
BCP-610
20 Hz –20 MHz
-65 to –28
BCP-611
10 KHz –150 MHz
-25 to 5
Attenuation
SAC-18G-3
Up to 18 GHz
3.5 dB @ 18 GHz
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT
Gain / Attenuation
PAM-0118
20 MHz –18 GHz
33 dB
SAC-18G-0.5
Up to 18 GHz
1.5 dB @ 18 GHz

A.H. Systems AK-18G Antenna Kit
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GENERAL INFORMATION
INTENDED PURPOSES
This equipment is intended for general laboratory use in a wide variety of industrial
and scientific applications, and designed to be used in the process of generating,
controlling and measuring high levels of electromagnetic Radio Frequency (RF)
energy. It is the responsibility of the user to assure that the device is operated in a
location which will control the radiated energy such that it will not cause injury and
will not violate regulatory levels of electromagnetic interference.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
The A.H. Systems AK-18G antenna kit series consist of five E-field antennas, one
magnetic loop antenna, and two current probes. Each of the antennas and probes
are provided with calibrations when connected to a 50-ohm input receiver or
spectrum analyzer.
Each of the E-field antennas mounts directly to the tripod azimuth and elevation
head. The azimuth and elevation head allows the operator to vary the antenna
azimuth (direction) and to change the antenna polarity (vertical or horizontal).
Cables and an adapter are provided to connect each antenna and probe to either
a BNC or N type connector on the receiver. Cable calibrations are supplied.
To obtain the field strength of the signal being measured, the operator must add
the receiver reading in dBuV, the antenna factor in dB, and the cable attenuation in
dB. This yields the field strength in dBuV/m. Calibrations for the E-field antennas
are supplied at appropriate spacings (1, 3, and 10 meter) to comply with various
specification requirements.
E-FIELD ANTENNAS
SAS-510-2 Log Periodic Antenna 290 MHz - 2000 MHz
The log periodic antenna comes assembled and ready to use.
Operation: Attach the antenna to the tripod azimuth and elevation head through
the screw hole in the antenna base. Connect a cable between the antenna
connector and the receiver. The log periodic beamwidth is 65 degrees and it
should be pointed or aimed in the direction that the received signal is coming from.
SAS-530,542 Broadband Dipole Antenna 160 MHz - 500 MHz
The broadband dipole antenna consists of the SAS-530,542 balun assembly and
two dipole (2" tubular) elements.
Operation: Attach the balun assembly to the tripod through the screw hole in
balun assembly base. Screw the two dipole elements into the 'tee' end of the balun
assembly. Connect a cable between the antenna connector and the receiver. The
broadband dipole beam pattern is similar to a dipole response.

A.H. Systems AK-18G Antenna Kit
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SAS-542 Biconical Antenna 20 MHz - 330 MHz
The biconical antenna consists of the SAS-530,542 balun assembly and two
folding biconical elements.
Operation: Attach the balun assembly to the tripod thru the screw hole in the
balun assembly base. Screw the two biconical elements into the 'tee' end of the
balun assembly. Open the antenna elements completely and secure in open
position by tightening the knurled knobs in the element caps. Connect a cable
between the antenna connector and the receiver. The biconical beam pattern is
similar to a dipole response.
SAS-550-1B Active Monopole Antenna 10kHz - 60 MHz
The active monopole antenna consists of a ground plane upon which are mounted
a preamplifier with internal rechargeable battery pack for battery operation, and a
telescoping rod antenna.
Operation: Mount the antenna on the tripod. Connect an external ground to the
ground plane if called out in test specification. Attach the telescoping rod to the
connector on the amplifier top and extend fully. Connect the output on amplifier
side to the receiver using a cable. Apply power to antenna (turn battery power 'on'.
The active monopole antenna is omni-directional.
SAS-571 Double Ridge Guide Horn Antenna 700MHz - 18 GHz
The horn antenna comes assembled and ready to use. The antenna mounting
bracket is attached to the antenna backwards in order to fit in the carrying case.
The bracket must be removed from the antenna, turned over (so that the bracket
leg faces away from the antenna), and re-attached to the antenna. (The bracket is
not needed for mounting if the tripod being used has an Azimuth/Elevation Head.)
Operation: Attach the antenna to the tripod azimuth and elevation head through
the hole on the antenna bottom or the hole in the mounting bracket. The ridge
guides determine the antenna polarity: for horizontal polarity they should be
parallel to the ground, for vertical polarity they should be perpendicular to the
ground. Connect a cable between the antenna connector and the receiver. NOTE:
BE SURE TO USE A CABLE RATED FOR HIGH FREQUENCY WHEN
OPERATING ABOVE 5 GHz (for example, the SAC-18G-3).
MAGNETIC LOOP ANTENNA
SAS-560 Magnetic Loop Antenna 20 Hz - 2 MHz
The loop antenna does not require any assembly.
Operation: The loop antenna is designed to be held by hand and moved around
each surface if the EUT to measure magnetic radiation. Connect the antenna via a
cable to a receiver with either a 50 ohm input or high impedance (10 K ohm or
greater) input. Calibrations for both inputs are provided.

A.H. Systems AK-18G Antenna Kit
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CURRENT PROBES
BCP-610 LF Current Probe 20 Hz - 20 MHz
BCP-611 HF/VHF Current Probe 10 kHz - 150 MHz
The current probes come ready for use.
Operation: The two current probes measure conducted emissions when clamped
around a single conductor, cable or a bundle of conductors. Disconnect the probe
latch Position the probe around the conductor and close the probe. Reconnect the
probe latch to ensure that the probe is tightly closed. Connect the probe connector
to the receiver with a cable. The probe calibrations supplied are into a 50-ohm
receiver.
TRIPOD AND MOUNTING ADPTERS
ATU-510 Tripod
AEH-510 Azimuth and Elevation Head
The azimuth and elevation head (AEH-510) mounts to the tripod (ATU-510) top
and allows the antennas to be rotated 360 degrees and tilted between horizontal
and vertical polarization. The tripod and azimuth and elevation head come in their
own carrying case. Each tripod leg is independently adjustable in angle and length
to facilitate antenna height setting. The tripod legs have a rubber tip on one end for
indoor or hard surface use, and a metal spike on the other end for outdoor soft
surface (such as dirt) use.
TRANSIT STORAGE CASES
TCC-510 Tripod Carrying Case
TSC-542 Transit Storage Case
The antenna carrying case (TSC-542) prevents damage and loss of antennas
when storing or transporting the antenna kit. The case is constructed of lightweight
and durable polyethylene. Two case keys are provided with the case.
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT
The AK-40G case comes with three additional cutouts for optional preamplifiers.
In order to improve overall system sensitivity, the following equipment will be
required:
•PAM-0118 with an SAC-18G-0.5
•PAM-1840 with an SAC-40G-0.5
PAM-0118P Preamplifier 20 MHz –18 GHz
The preamplifier will increase the system sensitivity 37 dB and is recommend for
the SAS-510-2, SAS-530,542 and SAS-571. An optional short length cable (SAC-
18G-0.5), is required to connect the preamplifier to any 50-ohm receiver or
spectrum analyzer.

A.H. Systems AK-18G Antenna Kit
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SAC-18G-0.5 Low-Loss Cable up to 18 GHz
The Low-Loss, High Frequency cable is recommend for connecting the optional
preamplifier to any 50-ohm receiver or spectrum analyzer. Our Low-Loss High-
Frequency flexible cables are the preferred choice over standard cable types. With
improved power handling, low VSWR, and high frequency capabilities, the Low-
Loss cables can be made to your specified length and delivered in two days. The
1/2 meter SAC-18G-0.5 has a typical attenuation of 1.0 dB at 18GHz.

A.H. Systems AK-18G Antenna Kit
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ANTENNA FORMULAS AND CALCULATIONS
E-FIELD ANTENNAS
Add antenna factor plus cable loss to receiver reading in dBuV to convert to field
strength in dBuV/meter.
Field Strength(dBuV/m) = SA(dBuV) + AF(dB/m) + cable loss (dB)
LOOP ANTENNA
dBpT = dBuV + dBpT/uV + Cable Loss
dBuV/m = dBpT + 49.5 dB
BROADBAND CURRENT PROBES
A specific Transfer Impedance Factor is associated with each frequency. This number is
to be subtracted from the receiver reading in order to convert to dBuA
dBA = dBV (from Receiver) - Transfer Impedance (dB) - cable Loss (dB)
EXAMPLE:
Assume that the frequency of interest is 80 KHz and we need to find the current at this
frequency. Connect the probe per figure 1
Frequency: 80 KHz
Transfer Impedance: -2.76 dB ohms
Cable Loss: 0.1dB
Receiver Reading: -33.0dBuV
dBA = dBV (from Receiver) - Transfer Impedance (dB) - cable Loss (dB)
dBA= -33.0 - (-2.76) - - 0.1
dBA= -30.14

A.H. Systems AK-18G Antenna Kit
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MAINTENANCE
To ensure reliable and repeatable long-term performance, annual
re-calibration of your antennas, preamplifiers and current probes
by A.H. Systems experienced technicians is recommended. Our
staff can calibrate almost any type or brand of antenna.
For more information about our calibration services or to place an
order for antenna calibration visit our website at
http://www.AHSystems.com or call 1(818) 998-0223.