Table of Contents

Radio Frequency Qualification Facilities

The David Florida Laboratory's (DFL) Radio Frequency Qualification Facilities (RFQF) consist of -

• the Antenna Test Facilities

• an Electromagnetic Compatibility Facility

• a Passive Intermodulation (PIM) / Multipaction Facility.

The Antenna Test Facilities comprise the Antenna Test Facility 1 (6x6), Antenna Test Facility 2 (12x12), Cylindrical Near-Field Facility, Spherical Near-Field Facility, Planar Near-Field Facility, and the Rooftop Antenna Range. Far-field measurements are performed using the 400 m (1,300 ft) outdoor range to a 62 m high (200 ft) source tower where three-axis positioners and synthesized sources are controlled using a fibre-optic link. Spherical near-field radiation patterns are acquired indoors and with subsequent data processing, far-field antenna characteristics are derived.

The EMC and PIM / Multipaction Facilities provide a means of evaluating emissions, susceptibility PIM, and multipaction characteristics of spacecraft components and subsystems.

All of the RFQF's measurement computers are networked. In-house developed data acquisition and instrument control software is maintained for the analyzers/receivers and positioner controllers.

• Antenna Test Facility 1 (6x6)
• Antenna Test Facility 2 (12x24)
• Cylindrical Near-Field Facility
• Spherical Near-Field Facility
• Rooftop Antenna Range
• EMC Facility
• PIM / Multipaction Facility
• PIM Test Sets, Instrumentation, And Probes
• INMARSAT Aeronautical Antenna Testing

Antenna Test Facility 1 (6x6)

• Capabilities: radio frequency (RF) and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing for system, subsystem, and component level
• Chamber size: 6.1 x 6.1 x 6.1 m high (20 x 20 x 20 ft)
• Chamber door size: 3 by 6.1 m high (10 x 20 ft); double-leaf
• Characterization of scale model targets for precision radar cross section (RCS)
• Crane: monorail, 454 kg (1,000 lb) hoist
• Frequency band of operation: 45 MHz to 50 GHz
• Indoor range: 6 m (20 ft) using 3 m (10 ft) pyramidal horn
• Network analyzer/receiver: HP 8530A, 45 MHz to 26.5 GHz
• Outdoor ranges (2): 400 m (1,300 ft) range with 7º source inclination to 62 m high (200 ft) tower, and 15 m (50 ft) range with 8.8 m high (29 ft) mobile source tower
• Data acquisition using state-of-the-art PCs on an automated network
• Positioner controller: Flam and Russell 8502
• Reflection coefficient: -30 to -55 dB from 0.5 to 20 GHz
• Roll positioner: Orbit 560
• Azimuth/elevation/azimuth positioner: Scientific Atlanta 5524.

Antenna Test Facility 2 (12x24)

• Capabilities: RF, near-field, far-field, radar cross section (RCS), EMC, and passive intermodulation (PIM) testing for satellite, system, subsystem, and component level
• Chamber size: 12 x 24 x 20 m high (40 x 80 x 65 ft)
• Agilent network analyzers, receivers, and synthesizers
• Bridge cranes (2): 9,000 kg (20,000 lb)
• Indoor range: 13 m (40 ft) with 6 m (20 ft) mobile probe tower
• Outdoor ranges (2): 400 m (1,300 ft) range with 8º source inclination to 62 m high (200 ft) tower, and 12 m (40 ft) range with 7 m high (23 ft) mobile source tower
• Automated data acquisition system is on a secure local area network
• Positioner controller: Orbit 4806
• Reflection coefficient: -30 to -55 dB from 0.25 to 20 GHz
• Relocatable azimuth/elevation positioner for indoor and outdoor measurements: Scientific Atlanta 53450
• Roll positioner: Scientific Atlanta 56260
• Roll/azimuth positioner system for indoor measurements: Orbit L-bracket
• Seismic piers (2): 1 sq m (10 sq ft) and 3 sq m (30 sq ft)
• Approved by INMARSAT for aircraft earth station (AES) assessment.

Cylindrical Near-Field Facility

• Chamber size: 6.1 x 6.1 x 6.1 m high (20 x 20 x 20 ft); walls lined with absorber
• Cylindrical near-field scanner: NSI, 3.7 m (12 ft)
• Frequency band of operation: open-ended waveguide probe assemblies covering bands from 0.75 to 40 GHz
• Measurement system: NSI 60001D-20 (Panther 6000/7020) system
• PC: NSI-licensed workstation and software components including data acquisition and processing
• Probe and axis stage: NSI-SC-5621
• Positioner: azimuth, NSI
• Positioner: roll stage, NSI-SC-5631.

Spherical Near-Field Facility

• Capabilities: RF near-field testing for system, subsystem, and component level
• Chamber size: 7.3 x 4.9 x 3.6 m high (24 x 16 x 12 ft)
• Positioner controller: Orbit 4806
• Agilent network analyzers, receivers, and synthesizers
• Indoor range: up to 4 m (13 ft) with rail slide mechanism
• Roll/azimuth positioning system

Rooftop Antenna Range

• Accurate antenna performance characterization from 0.25 to 18.0 GHz
• Azimuth/elevation positioner: Orbit 4306
• Capabilities: boresighting, low-level multipath reflections
• Positioner programmer: Scientific Atlanta 2012
• Range length: 370 m (1,200 ft) with 5º source inclination to a 62 m high (200 ft) tower
• Receiver: Scientific Atlanta 1770/HP8530/HP8753.

EMC Facility

• Chamber shielding: calibrated according to Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers 299-1997
• Chamber size: 4.9 x 5.5 x 3.6 m high (16 x 18 x 12 ft); shielded room lined with absorber
• Chamber access door size: 1.83 x 2.13 m high (6 x 7 ft)
• Chamber anteroom: 4.3 x 2.4 x 2.4 m high (14 x 8 x 8 ft); shielded
• Chamber anteroom access door size: 0.91 x 2.13 m high (3 x 7 ft)
• Copper ground plane size: 3.4 x 0.76 m (11 x 2.5 ft)
• Deliverable documentation: formal reports according to MIL-STD-831
• Electromagnetic interference (EMI) measurement software: Rohde and Schwarz ES-K1 and in-house developed susceptibility test software
• • Radiated emission: 30 Hz to 40 GHz
  • Conducted emission: 20 Hz to 550 MHz
  • Radiated susceptibility: 30 Hz to 40 GHz
  • Conducted susceptibility: 20 Hz to 400 MHz.
• Power availability: 208 V, 60 Hz, 20 and 30 A, plus 115 V, 60 Hz, 15 A
• Power line filters (AC power): 100 dB attenuation, 10 kHz to 10 GHz
• Test accessories: extensive inventory of amplifiers, analyzers, antennas, generators, meters, and power supplies
• Testing standards:
  • AC/DC H-field emission (test methods include using a GAUSS meter)
  • AC/DC H-field susceptibility (test methods include using HELMHOLTZ coils)
  • DEF-STAN 59-41, IEC 1000-4-2 (ESD), MIL-STD-461 MIL-STD-462
  • MSFC SPEC 521B (U.S. Space Shuttle), RTCA/DO-160
  • SSP 30237/30238 (International Space Station).

PIM / Multipaction Facility

• Chamber sizes:
  • TP1: 2.7 x 3.7 x 2.7 m high (8 x 12 x 8 ft)
  • TP2: 3.7 x 3.7 x 4.9 m high (12 x 12 x 16 ft).
• Temperature range:
  • TP1: +120 to -73 degrees C (+248 to -100 degrees F)
  • TP2: +93 to -73 degrees C (+200 to -100 degrees F).
• Construction: non-ferromagnetic materials, absorber-lined
• Foam box: 1.8 x 1.2 x 1.2 m high (6 x 4 x 4 ft)
• Approved by INMARSAT for aircraft earth station (AES) assessment.

PIM Test Sets, Instrumentation, And Probes

• Thermal PIM chambers (2) and various thermal vacuum chambers in the DFL's Thermal Qualification Facilities are used for PIM, power, and multipaction tests.

PIM Test Sets (4)

• UHF (2)
  • Set 1
    • Transmit: 242 to 267, and 275 to 330 MHz
    • Receive: 288 to 317, and 370 to 406 MHz
    • High-power amplifiers (HPAs) (2): 200 to 500 MHz ( 500 W CW).
  • Set 2
    • Transmit: 862 to 873 MHz
    • Receive: 818 to 828 MHz
    • HPAs (2): 0.7 to 1.0 GHz, (500 W CW).
• L-Band
  • Transmit 1511 to 1578 MHz
  • Receive 1626 to 1661 MHz
  • HPAs (2): 1 to 2 GHz (500 W CW).
• X-Band / Ku-Band
  • Transmit mode operation
  • Transmit combiners (3):
    • 10.9 to 11.0 and 12.5 to 12.8 GHz
    • 11.6 to 11.8 and 12.4 to 12.6 GHz
    • 11.6 to 11.8 and 12.0 to 12.2 GHz
  • Bandpass filters (4):
    • Transmit (2): 9.0 to 13.0 and 10.2 to 13.2 GHz
    • Receive (2): 13.95 to 14.6 and 17.2 to 18.4 GHz
    • HPAs (2): 6 to 18 GHz (300 W CW).

Instrumentation

• HPAs for multipaction detection tests (4):
  • 250 to 260 MHz (2,500 W maximum CW/pulse / 2,500 to 5,000 W pulse)
  • 1 to 2 GHz (500 W CW)
  • 2 to 8 GHz (250 W CW)
  • 6 to 18 GHz (300 W CW).
• Spectrum analyzers: HP 8566B and Agilent PSA E4440A
• Test accessories: couplers, data management systems, generators, LNAs, power meters, sensors, and data acquisition systems.

Probes

• L-Band probes: 1526 to 1566 MHz, 1624 to 1666 MHz
  Polarization: left-hand circularly polarized or right-hand circularly polarized
• X-Band / Ku-Band probes (3): 10.9 to 14.5 GHz
  Polarization: linear.

INMARSAT Aeronautical Antenna Testing

The Canadian Space Agency/INMARSAT agreement designates the DFL as INMARSAT's sole authorized aeronautical antenna assessment organization.

The DFL performs RF and environmental measurements on installations to verify their compatibility with INMARSAT's satellite communication access approval requirements. The INMARSAT Aircraft Earth Station Assessment (AESA) system is a suite of software packages and is available at the DFL to process raw antenna measurement data into suitable formats for quantitative and qualitative analysis. The DFL has developed test procedures and analysis tools and has the necessary competency to fully test INMARSAT aeronautical antennas.