CALIBRATION PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES FOR FIELD INTENSITY METERS (10 KHZ TO 1 GHZ).

Abstract : The National Bureau of Standards has been calibrating many types of field strength meters and their related antennas at frequencies up to 1000 MHz for several years. Various techniques of measurement have been investigated regarding accuracy, calibration time, ease of operation, and reliability. This report discusses some of these calibration techniques in detail, and in some cases lists step-by-step procedures for performing the complete calibration. Typical calibration data are used to take the reader from the beginning of the calibration to the completed test report. All measurement setups are clearly illustrated, listing the equipment necessary to perform the calibration. Methods of calibrating two basic types of antennas are described: (1) the loop antenna at frequencies from 30 Hz to 30 MHz and (2) half-wavelength dipole antennas from 30 to 1000 MHz. Two methods of calibrating loop antennas are discussed in detail, the standard-field method and the injection method. The standard-antenna method of calibrating dipole antennas is fully described. Measurement uncertainties of various methods are discussed. (Author)