DIY Chambers for antenna testing

Did you know a Faraday cage is only required for 20% of antenna measurement facilities? In order to reduce costs for the other 80% of the users, we developed the DIY chamber: a cost-efficient do-it-yourself solution for antenna measurements.

“A lot of people still think they need expensive RF-shielded rooms for all antenna testing”, says technical consultant Marc Le Roy. “We have been selling and improving this concept for almost ten years. The new generation DIY chambers we put on the market are now equipped with our new closed-cell Javelin Tip absorbers, which improve performance, are free of chemicals and mechanically installed without toxic glue.”
 
How easy is the installation of a Comtest DIY chamber? Marc: “It’s straightforward since you do not need the large and heavy cage construction. To prove it, I asked my colleagues in the sales department to install one with me in our office, and it was done in 12 hours without any problems.
 
If you want to know if a DIY chamber is the perfect solution for your needs, answer the five questions in the Chamber Finder on our website. If you answer NO to all the questions, you can save a lot of money by installing your own antenna test chamber. Money you can spend on your antenna and positioning equipment for example. The link to the website page is in the comments.

Share This Post

More To Explore

Upgrading an EMC chamber with new absorbers on old tiles

Can you upgrade an EMC chamber and keep the old, glued ferrite tiles? “It’s possible”, says Uliana Trucchi, one of our technical consultants. “Say you want to replace your old absorbers because you need to meet performances over 1GHz, and you wish to keep the ferrite tiles because they are glued to the chamber’s walls and ceiling. That is exactly what the people from Nemko in Germany asked us for the chamber upgrade in the photo.”

The number of stirrer positions vs power

Testing time is valuable, so this post provides tips on optimising the number of stirrer positions in your reverberation chamber to fit your budget and test requirements. “There is a delicate balance between the number of stirrer positions and the amplifier power for a given reverberation chamber,” explains our R&D Consultant, Dimitrios Barakos. By collaborating with EMC test solution provider Rohde & Schwarz, we aim to find the most efficient solution for our clients. “

Our services include maintenance and validated testing. We recommend that both are executed by authorized personnel only. Our expert teams can perform preventive maintenance on RF-shielded doors, mode-stirrer systems, and positioning equipment such as turntables. We also offer validation services to see if your EMC test chamber or RF-shielded room still functions within its intended limits and avoiding unexpected down-time or product recalls at the same time.

Our services include maintenance and validated testing. We recommend that both are executed by authorized personnel only. Our expert teams can perform preventive maintenance on RF-shielded doors, mode-stirrer systems, and positioning equipment such as turntables. We also offer validation services to see if your EMC test chamber or RF-shielded room still functions within its intended limits and avoiding unexpected down-time or product recalls at the same time.

A shielded room can perform conducted emission and immunity EMC measurements, eliminating harmful external influences, leading to more accurate and consistent test results. Being a Faraday cage, a shielded room will not only improve test results but will also form an excellent aid in protecting information and essential hardware. Comtest can assist governments, the military, financial institutions, and large corporations in protecting what matters most in critical situations. We offer the highest quality, sensitivity, and security before, during and after working with you.

A shielded room can perform conducted emission and immunity EMC measurements, eliminating harmful external influences, leading to more accurate and consistent test results. Being a Faraday cage, a shielded room will not only improve test results but will also form an excellent aid in protecting information and essential hardware. Comtest can assist governments, the military, financial institutions, and large corporations in protecting what matters most in critical situations. We offer the highest quality, sensitivity, and security before, during and after working with you.

Comtest has been building high-quality antenna test ranges for more than 20 years. We are dedicated to putting our experience to work for you, turning any problem you might have into a customized test solution. As for researching and developing your products, we know speed and return on investment are very important. That’s why we ensure your project is delivered on schedule, on budget and exactly as ordered.

Comtest has been building high-quality antenna test ranges for more than 20 years. We are dedicated to putting our experience to work for you, turning any problem you might have into a customized test solution. As for researching and developing your products, we know speed and return on investment are very important. That’s why we ensure your project is delivered on schedule, on budget and exactly as ordered.

Comtest offers semi and full anechoic chambers that shield almost 100% of ambient emissions and reflect minimal internal radiation. We deliver or build your custom test chamber at your location, depending on what size chamber you need. If you tell us your challenges, we’ll offer a tailored turnkey solution from design to installation, including upgrades and yearly certifications.

We are committed to helping you achieve the best EMC testing possible. 

Comtest offers semi and full anechoic chambers that shield almost 100% of ambient emissions and reflect minimal internal radiation. We deliver or build your custom test chamber at your location, depending on what size chamber you need. If you tell us your challenges, we’ll offer a tailored turnkey solution from design to installation, including upgrades and yearly certifications.

We are committed to helping you achieve the best EMC testing possible.