Railway Emissions Test Antennas - Antenna Selection by Application
Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) testing in the railway industry requires a range of specialized antennas to measure both radiated emissions and immunity across various frequency ranges, ensuring compliance with standards such as EN 50121 and IEC 61000. Biconical antennas, typically covering 20 MHz to 300 MHz, are used for radiated emissions and immunity tests in the lower frequency range due to their wideband performance and omnidirectional characteristics. Log-Periodic Dipole Array (LPDA) antennas, operating from approximately 200 MHz to 1 GHz, provide high gain and directional properties, making them ideal for emission and immunity tests in the VHF and UHF bands. For higher frequencies, horn antennas, which generally cover 1 GHz to 18 GHz or beyond, offer high directivity and efficient power handling, making them essential for immunity testing and emission measurements.
At lower frequencies, loop antennas, covering 9 kHz to 30 MHz, are used to assess magnetic field emissions and immunity, particularly in railway signaling and power systems, while rod (monopole) antennas serve a similar role in measuring electric field emissions in the same frequency range. Additionally, hybrid antennas, such as Biconilog antennas, combine biconical and log-periodic designs to provide a broad frequency range from 30 MHz to 3 GHz, offering a single-antenna solution for multiple EMC tests. These antennas are critical for ensuring railway systems meet electromagnetic compatibility requirements, preventing interference with onboard electronics, signaling equipment, and infrastructure.
Railways EMC Test Antenna Solutions
SAS-550-1B
9 KHz - 60 MHz
A.H. Systems Active Monopole Antenna is an active, general-purpose, broadband monopole antenna.
SAS-563B
1 KHz - 30 MHz
A Loop Antenna with preamplifier is an excellent solution for shielding effectiveness or emissions testing.
SAS-565H
9 KHz - 30 MHz
This Passive Shielded Loop Antenna is an excellent solution for both emissions and immunity testing at high frequencies.
SAS-540
20 MHz - 330 MHz
This Biconical antenna is the standard workhorse of any EMC test house for emissions testing.
SAS-510-2
290 MHz - 2 GHz
This directional Log Periodic Antenna is an ideal solution for radiated emissions and normalized site attenuation.
AK-521F-7
25 MHz - 7 GHz
For rapid deployment along with the mobility of small package, this Bilogical Antenna Kit provides an inexpensive solution.
SAS-521-2
25 MHz - 2 GHz
Simplify testing with this hybrid antenna providing an inexpensive solution to wide band applications.
SAS-571
700 MHz - 18 GHz
SAS-571 Double Ridge Guide Horn Antenna is a broadband antenna that offers excellent performance over the range of 700 MHz to 18.0 GHz.
Tripods and Mounting Adapters
Our tripods and antenna mounting adapters are specificly designed to meet the needs of any Test lab
EN 50121 Test Standard for Railway Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)
EN 50121 is a European standard that specifies the Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) requirements for railway applications. It ensures that railway equipment operates without causing or being affected by electromagnetic interference (EMI), ensuring the safe and reliable performance of electronic systems in railway environments. The standard is part of the broader EN 50121 series, which defines EMC limits and test procedures for various railway subsystems, including rolling stock, signaling equipment, and trackside infrastructure.
EN 50155 Test Standard for Railway Applications
EN 50155 is a European standard that defines the requirements for electronic equipment used in railway applications. It ensures that onboard electronic devices, such as control systems, data communication modules, and monitoring equipment, can withstand the harsh environmental and electrical conditions encountered in railway operations. The standard covers various aspects of performance, reliability, and durability to guarantee safe and uninterrupted railway operations.
IEC 61000 Test Standard for Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC)
IEC 61000 is an international standard developed by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to define Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) requirements for electrical and electronic equipment. It ensures that devices can operate reliably in electromagnetic environments without causing or suffering from interference. The standard covers electromagnetic emissions and immunity to ensure compliance across various industries, including industrial, commercial, transportation (such as railways), and consumer electronics.
Articles
The Importance of Antenna Beamwidth in RF Testing
Article
Understanding antenna beamwidth and how it influences a test environment is critical to accurate and repeatable tests. This article defines antenna beamwidth, explores the antenna beamwidth properties and explains it's importance for compliance testing.
A primer on antenna near-field and far-field
Article
This paper aims to educate those new to the concepts of antenna field regions and help readers to understand the calculations involved in determining the boundaries between the various regions.
Antenna Factor Calculations and Deviations
Article
The term "Antenna Factor" is used in EMC/EMI testing to convert received voltage to the radiated field intensity. This article explains the terms definition and it's deviations.
Related Equations
Half Power Beamwidth Coverage Calculations
Formulas and Calculations
This tool will calculate the maximum coverage that the antenna will cover from a specified distance and antenna's half-power beamwidth.
Received Field Intensity and Power Density Calculation
Formulas and Calculations
Below is a calculation tool to help determine the received field strength (in V/M or dBµV/m) and convert that result into power density (µW/m2, mW/m2, W/m2, or µW/cm2 ).
Magnetic Field Conversions
Formulas and Calculations
Download our easy to use conversion tables for common magnetic field measurement units. With magnetic field testing sometimes it becomes necessary to convert from one unit of measure to another. This magnetic field conversion chart provides the conversion relationship between different types of magnetic field units.
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Additional Resource
Practical overview of antenna parameters
Understanding key antenna parameters is essential for selecting and using antennas in virtually all applications. There are a variety of standardized methods for describing antenna parameters, and this article aims to provide an overview of key antenna parameters and relevant background. [more...]
Product Showcase
Bilogical Antenna
- 25 MHz to 7 GHz
- Compact, Lightweight Antenna
- FCC, MIL-STD, VDE and TEMPEST Testing
For rapid deployment along with the mobility of small package, this Bilogical Antenna Kit provides an inexpensive solution to broadband applications.
Additional Resource
Near-field, far-field Calculator
This tool that will calculate the near-field and far-field distances based on the antenna dimension and wavelength. [more...]
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Contact Details
A.H. Systems, inc.
9710 Cozycroft Ave.
Chatsworth, CA 91311
P: (818) 998-0223
F: (818) 998-6892
E: Email