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The laboratory work:

Automatic field measurements for EMC characterization of open spaces


1. Application purpose
Determining electric field strength in frequency domain 80 MHz 3 GHz in three areas:
inside the laboratory, in the courtyard of the institution and in a crowded area of the city,
using an automatic field measurement equipment;
Analyzing the time variation of electric field strength in a point situated in one of the three
areas;
Obtaining power density of electromagnetic field in certain frequency points for the three
areas;
Comparing obtained data with ICNIRP (International Commission on Non-Ionizing
Radiation Protection) regulation regarding maximum values for electric field strength.


2. Measurement procedure
2.1. Measurement equipment
The equipment connection diagram for open space emissions measurement is shows in Fig.1.



Fig.1. Equipment connection diagram for open space emissions measurement.

The characteristics of measurement equipment are:
Antenna: Rohde&Schwarz RSEMF30 isotropic sensor
Frequency domain: 30 MHz 3 GHz
Calibration factor: included on the iKey USB stick.
Spectrum analyzer: Rohde&Schwarz FSH 3
Frequency domain: 100 kHz 3 GHz
Resolution Bandwidth: 100 Hz 1 MHz
Displayed average noise level: typically -135 dBm (100 Hz),
Maximum power input: 20 dBm, 30 dBm (1 W) for 3 minutes
Level measurement uncertainty: < 1.5 dB, typically 0.5 dB
Laptop: Hp Compaq 6710b
Intel Centrino Duo, 1 Gb RAM
2 free USB ports; RFEX software installed.
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RFEX Software: Allows setting following parameters: antenna type and calibration
factor, connection cable type and antenna factor, measurement type, frequency range,
resolution bandwidth, reference level, minimal signal to noise ratio, detector type, report
presentation parameters and others.

2.2. Experimental determinations
The following steps are followed:
a) Three measurement areas (points) are established: inside the laboratory (A1), in the
courtyard of the institution (A2) and in a crowded area near the university (A3);
b) The components presented in connection diagram (Fig.1) are identified and their integrity
is checked;
c) The antenna is placed at 1.5 m above the ground plane. The distance is measured from
the central point of the antenna/sensor.
d) Components are connected as shown in Fig.1.
e) The iKey USB stick is connected to a USB port of the laptop and RFEX software is
initialized;
Following settings are performed:
The routines for establishing noise level and threshold calibration are run. Threshold level
is set to + 5 dB relative to the noise level;
Menu, Configuration/Packet is selected and a new measurement packet is created;
A 200 kHz resolution bandwidth is selected; dwell time 100 ms, reference level;
threshold level, antenna type: three axis, RF cable type (0 m) and the measurement points
list is generated;
Report type is set to V/m;
Settings are confirmed and Peak/Average measurement is selected;
The measurement is performed by choosing Start Measurement.
The data report consisting of an array of values {f, E} is saved on the computer. The location and
time of measurement have to be included in the report of each measurement.
The procedure is repeated in the next two locations. In the 3
rd
location, two successive
measurements are performed, with a quarter of an hour break.


3. Data processing and analyses

A. Comparative analysis for the electrical field strength for three measurement area

Steps:
- Analyzing the data report and establishing the maximum values of electric field strength
E on each sub-domain mentioned in Table 1;
- Fulfilling Table 1 with the E maximum values in V/m;
- Computing the electric field strength levels with relation (1) and fulfilling the Table 1.

0
lg 20
E
E
E
dB
(1)




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Table 1. Maximum values of electric field strength in the three measurement areas
Frequency.
domain
A1 area A2 area A3 area First data
E [V/m] E
dB
[dB
V/ m
] E [V/m] E
dB
[dB
V/ m
] E [V/m] E
dB
[dB
V/ m
]
80 105 MHz
105- 900 MHz
0.9 1 GHz
1 1.8 GHz
1.8 1.9 GHz
1.9 2.2 GHz
2.2 3.0 GHz

B. Computation of power density for three measurement areas

Computation the values of power density and levels of power density is made using the relations
(2) and (3). The obtained values are written in Table 2.

3770
2
E
P
D


[mW/cm
2
]
(2)

0
lg 10
D
D
dB D
P
P
P

[dB
mW/cm
2
] (3)

Table 2. Maximum values of power density in the three measurement areas
Frequency.
domain
A1 area A2 area A3 area First data
P
D

[mW/cm
2
]
P
DdB

[dB
mW/cm
2
]
P
D

[mW/cm
2
]
P
DdB

[dB
mW/cm
2
]
P
D

[mW/cm
2
]
P
DdB

[dB
mW/cm
2
]
80 105 MHz
105- 900 MHz
0.9 1 GHz
1 1.8 GHz
1.8 1.9 GHz
1.9 2.2 GHz
2.2 3.0 GHz

C. Comparative analysis of maximum electric field strength for the 3
rd
area, at different time
moments.

Steps:
- Analyzing the data reports of the third area at time t
1
and time t
2
, and establishing the
maximum values of electric field strength E on each sub-domain mentioned in Table 2;
- Fulfilling Table 3 with the E maximum values in V/m;
- Computing the electric field strength variation levels E and fulfilling the Table 3.

Table 3. Maximum values of electric field strength in the third area, at two different moments
of time measurement
Frequency domain A3 area
E
t1
[V/m] E
t2
[V/m] E [V/m]
80 105 MHz
105- 900 MHz
0.9 1 GHz
1 1.8 GHz
1.8 1.9 GHz
1.9 2.2 GHz
2.2 3.0 GHz

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5. Review questions and conclusions
Specify the area with highest value of electric field strength.
Specify the frequency domain corresponding to the highest electric field strength variation
for the third area. What conclusion it can be done?
Compare obtained data with ICNIRP regulation regarding maximum values for electric field
strength. Is the limit line exceeded?



Bibliography
1. Directiva 2004/104/EC din 14.10.2004;
2. M. D. Calin, C. Ursachi, E. Helerea, Electromagnetic Environment Characteristics in an
Urban Area, 2013;
3. D. Kramer, A. Matoi, Simple Summary of Several Electromagnetic Environments: Whats
really out there?. Web page: http://www.emcs.org/committees/tc03/tc03-reports.html.