The use of the in-phase synthetic method is proposed for antenna calibration using the three-antenna method (TAM) in order to make the TAM applicable even in a semi-anechoic chamber (SAC) or on an open-area test site. Suitable antenna arrangements are theoretically investigated for this improved calibration method. Experimental analyses demonstrate that the in-phase synthetic method can remarkably reduce unwanted effects of the ground-reflected wave. Therefore, even on a metal ground plane, the proposed TAM with the in-phase synthetic method can yield an accurate actual gain of a double ridged guide antenna at frequencies from 4 GHz to 14 GHz with differences of +0.16/-0.37 dB from the results of the conventional TAM performed in an fully anechoic room (FAR).

A novel technique for calibrating antenna gain in random electric fields is presented. Our technique exploits the statistical characteristics of complex electric fields in multipath environments that change with time. A reverberation chamber, consisting of a shielded enclosure equipped with mechanical stirrers, was used to determine this technique's validity experimentally. Such chambers can create, using rotating stirrers, multipath environments that change with time. A comparison of the results obtained in a reverberation chamber and those obtained by the conventional method in an anechoic chamber demonstrates the efficacy of this technique.

Theoretical analyses are carried out on the height dependence of the antenna factor of an EMI antenna to develop an antenna calibration method that can provide the free-space value of the antenna factor. It is found that the antenna factor in general varies with the antenna height in a quasi-periodic way with a period of about λ/2. Thus, the present paper proposes to take an average of the antenna factors over a height range of about λ/2 to obtain an accurate estimate of the free-space antenna factor. Effective antenna arrangements are also proposed for the antenna calibration. Deviations in the estimate from the free-space antenna factor are less than 0.1 dB for tuned dipoles in the frequency range above 50 MHz. But the errors increase up to 0.3 dB at about 35 MHz. For broadband antennas, the free-space antenna factor can be accurately estimated by taking the average of the antenna factors. Errors are estimated to be less than 0.3 dB in the frequency range from 30 MHz to 1000 MHz.

This paper reviews recent developments in small-sized broadband antennas for EMI measurements, especially in the microwave frequency region. Transient EMI measurements are also discussed by introducing complex antenna factors and conversion of frequency-domain data into time-domain data. This paper also focuses on considerable improvements achieved in calibration techniques for conventional EMI antennas in VHF/UHF bands.

Standard Site Method (SSM) is theoretically analyzed using matrix representations to examine its validity and develop an improved method. The analysis reveals that the SSM yields an antenna factor specifically related to the effective load impedance presented by the cable and associated devices which are disconnected from the antenna during the SSM site attenuation measurements. Therefore, an additional conversion is required to determine the desired antenna factor under actual load conditions. It is also concluded that the SSM is not applicable to antennas having height-dependent antenna factors. In addition, the SSM correction factors are found to be theoretically inappropriate. Uncertainty of the antenna factor obtained using the SSM is discussed and the required antenna separation distance is investigated. To improve the existing SSM, it is proposed that both transmitting and receiving antennas are placed at the same height during the site attenuation measurements. Experiments exhibit the superiority of the improved method.

Theoretical and experimental investigations of dipole antenna factors were carried out with special interest in their height patterns, since difference between them is a main cause of disagreement in EMI measurement results obtained with different antennas types. Antenna factors were expressed by matrix representation and their dependence on antenna dimensions and balun construction were numerically evaluated with the moment method. Those analyses revealed that antenna dimensions and balun characteristics have little effect on antenna factor height patterns. Slight influence was observed only at frequencies around 30MHz, when an antenna was placed less than 1.5m above a metal ground plane.