An Antenna Characterization Demo System Using an RFID Hemispherical Dome [Education Corner]

Antenna measurement is crucial for characterizing the performance of an antenna. This article proposes a measurement technique that can be used for demo purposes in a class or laboratory for characterizing ultrahigh frequency (UHF) antennas. This approach measures the antenna under test (AUT) semispherical pattern simultaneously without any mechanical rotation as commonly applied. The measured data are then processed using a laptop connected to a radio-frequency identification (RFID) reader (transceiver) to identify various antenna properties. The setup limitations, considerations, and measurement demonstration are presented in detail. The system was successful in characterizing several antenna properties, including antenna polarization, frequency of operation, and efficiency, as well as constructing a 2D and full 3D radiation pattern for different test antennas. The in-class measurements were verified with simulations and anechoic chamber measurement data.