Com-Power AB-100 User manual

BICONICALANTENNA
30 - 300 MHz
MODEL AB-100 / AB-900
rev: 022702

WARRANTY
All equipment manufactured by Com-Power Corporation is warranted against defects in
material and workmanship for a period of two (2) years from the date of shipment. Com-
Power Corporation will repair or replace any defective item or material if notified within the
warranty period.
You will not be charged for warranty service performed at our factory. You must, however,
prepay inbound shipping costs and have a return authorization.
This warranty does not apply to:
a) products damaged during shipment from your plant or ours.
b) improperly installed products.
c) products operated outside their specifications.
d) improperly maintained products.
e) products which have been modified.
f) normal wear of material.
g) calibration.
Any warranties or guarantees, whether expressed or implied, that are not specified set forth
herein, will not be considered applicable to any equipment sold or otherwise furnished by
Com-Power Corporation. Under no circumstances does Com-Power Corporation recognize
or assume any liability for any loss, damage or expense arising either directly or indirectly
from the use or handling of products manufactured by Com-Power Corporation, or any
inability to use them separately or in combination with other equipment or material.
The warranty is void if items are shipped outside the United States, without prior approval
of Com-Power Corporation.
Warranty Limitations
The above warranty shall not apply to defects resulting from improper or inadequate main-
tenance by the buyer, unauthorized modification or misuse, operation exceeding specifica-
tions, or improper site preparation.

AB-900 Biconical Antenna
The model AB-100 and model AB-900 Biconcial antennas were designed for
use in an EMI laboratory to measure and / or generate electric (E) field strength.
Test Operator and Test Location:
The Model AB-900 antenna should be operated by trained personnel in the
field of EMC for the purpose of generating electromagnetic fields. The Test
location should be selected to avoid interference to other equipment and
exposure of personnel to high electromagnetic fields.
Maintenance and Service:
There are no user serviceable parts inside the balun. Do not remove the instru-
ment cover. Com-Power provides calibration service for all equipment sold.
Call the factory if calibration or other service is required.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

AB-900 Biconical Antenna
About this Manual
ThismanualprovidesinstructionsfortestingandusingtheBiconicalAntennas
modelAB-900.
Information contained in this manual is the property of Com-Power Corpo-
ration. It is issued with the understanding that none of this material may be
reproduced or copied without written permission from Com-Power.
If you encounter problems while using the ModelAB-100 or ModelAB-900,
contact Com-Power Corporation at [phone].
If You Need
Assistance
iv

AB-900 Biconical Antenna
Contents
v
List of Figures
Section Page
1 General Information ...................................................................... 1-1
1.1 Introduction ..............................................................................................1-1
1.2 General Description ................................................................................. 1-1
1.3 EquipmentSpecifications ......................................................................... 1-1
1.4 Equipment,Accessories, and Documents Supplied.................................. 1-3
2 Connecting Procedures .................................................................. 2-1
2.0 Introduction ..............................................................................................2-1
2.1 Antenna Setup.......................................................................................... 2-1
.
3 Theory of Operation....................................................................... 3-1
3.0 Overview .................................................................................................3-1
3.1 Theory of Operation................................................................................. 3-1
1.1 BiconicalAntenna w/ tripod (picture) ...................................................... 1-2
1.2 Antenna Factors (typical) ......................................................................... 1-5
1.1 EquipmentSpecifications ......................................................................... 1-4
List of Tables

AB-900 Biconical Antenna
General Information 1
This section includes the following:
a) Introduction
b) General Description
c) Specifications
d) Equipment Supplied
1-1
1.1 Introduction
Thissectioncontainsgeneraldescriptionofthe biconical antennasModelAB-
900. Thissectionalsocontainsgeneralperformance,background information
andtechnicalinformationabout theantennas.
1.2 General Description
TheBiconicalAntennaisabroadbandtransducerwhichconvertsElectric field
strengthindBuV/m toVolts.The Model AB-900biconicalantennnawas
specificallydesignedforradiatedEMImeasurementoverawide frequency
range.Itcanalsobeusedfortransmittingduringsusceptiblitytesting.
Further information on the BiconicalAntenna is given in Section 3.
1.3 EquipmentSpecifications
Thefunctionalandoperationalcharacteristicsof the ModelAB-900biconcial
antennaarelisted inTable1.1
1.4 Equipment,Accessories, and Documents Supplied
Equipment,accessories,and documents suppliedwiththeModelAB-100/
AB-900BiconicalAntennasareasfollows:
a) One(1)BiconicalAntennabalun
b) Two (2) Conical Elements
c) User'sGuide
d) Calibrationinformation

AB-900 Biconical Antenna
1-2
Figure 1.1 BiconicalAntenna (w/ tripodAT-100)

AB-900 Biconical Antenna
1-4
Model: AB-100/AB-900
Frequency Range: 30 - 300 MHz
Impedance: 50 ohms, nominal
Connector: BNC type (female)
Power Handling: 50 Watts CW (AB-900 only)
Operating Temp: 0°- 40°C (ambient)
Weight: 7 lbs.
Dimensions:
Length 57 inches max. end-to end
Diameter 22 inches
Table 1.1 Equipment Specifications

AB-900 Biconical Antenna
Figure 1.2
1-5
Biconical Antenna Factors (typical)
5.0
7.0
9.0
11.0
13.0
15.0
17.0
19.0
21.0
23.0
25.0
Frequency (MHz)
AB-100
AB-900

AB-900 Biconical Antenna
This section explains the following:
a) Introduction
b) Setup
Setup Procedure 22-1
2.0 Introduction
This section describes antenna setup and mounting for EMI measurement.
2.1 AntennaSetup
2.1.1 Connecting
The ModelAB-100 and ModelAB-900 biconical antennas have BNC (f) connec-
tors. TheAB-100 connector is for antenna output only; the BNC connector in
ModelAB-900 biconical antenna is used for both signal input and output.
2.1.2 Antenna setup for receiving signals
The ModelAB-100 or ModelAB-900 antenna can be used to measure EMI from
an equipment under test (EUT). The antenna is mounted on either an antenna mast
(ModelAM-400) or an antenna tripod. The antenna balun has 1/4 inch x 20
threaded hole for mounting onAT-100 tripod or any similar tripod. Acable is used
to connect the antenna to the a measureing instrument. If a long cable is used, cable
loss must be measured and used in calculating the field strength.
2.1.3 Antennasetupfor transmitting signals
The ModelAB-900 antenna can be used to receive and transmit signals. The
antenna is mounted on either on an antenna mast (ModelAM-400 antenna mast ) or
antenna tripod (ModelAT-100). To transmit signals, the antenna is connected to a
signal generator and power amplifier.The ModelAB-900 biconical antenna can
transmit up to 50W continious power. The field generated by the antenna can be
measured by using a field strength meter.

AB-900 Biconical Antenna
2.1.3 Test location
The biconical antenna must be mounted and placed in area away from other con-
ductive objects or materials when in use. Large conductive building, structures and
electrical cables, can reflect emissions of the equipment under test, causing errors in
the test data. In addition, care should be taken to keep measuring intruments and test
personnel away from the test area to avoid interference to the test, and exposure of
testpersonnel to electromagnetic fields.
2-2

AB-900 Biconical Antenna
Theory of Operation 3
This chapter explains the following:
a) Overview
b) Theory of Operation
3-1
3.0 OverviewThis sectiondescribes thetheory ofoperation of theAB-100/AB-900
BiconicalAntennas.
3.1 Theory of Operation
Broadbandantennasallowmeasurementofsignalsover a widefrequency
range. Theseantennasdonotrequireanytuningorbalunswitching during
measurement. Itisveryusefulfor sweep measurementoverthefrequency
rangeof operation. ModelAB-900 andAB-100 BiconicalAntennasare
broadbandantennas thatoperate inthe frequencyrange of30 MHzto 300
MHz.
ModelAB-100antenna is areceiveonlyantenna.It cannottransmitsignals.
However,ModelAB-900 antennacanboth receiveandtransmitsignals over
thefrequency rangeof operation. Model AB-900antennas areused for
susceptibilityandemissionstesting inEMCLaboratories.
BeforetheBiconical antennas areusedfor measurement theyhaveto be
calibrated.Typicallyantennacalibrationisperformedin an open fieldtestsite(
OATS).Duringcalibrationaknownfieldstrength(dBuV/m) is generated
aroundthe antenna ateach frequency(30 -300 MHz).The differencebetween
fieldstrength(dBuV)receivedbytheantennaandknownfield strength
generated( dBuV) isthe antenna factor(dB) forthat frequency. During EMC
testingthe antenna factorfor thefrequency of interest is addedback toreading
ontheEMImeter orspectrumanalyzertomeasure fieldstrength.
dBuV/m(fieldstrength)=dBuV(outputmeasured)+AntennaFactor