Probe Detects Electric Fields from 100 kHz to 6 GHz

Narda Safety Test Solutions (Germany) has just unveiled a new probe for the NBM series of wideband field strength meters. It can be used for safety measurements on the electric fields emanating from transmitting equipment, covering the entire range from long wave up to the latest generation of mobile phone base station frequencies.

With its frequency range from 100 kHz to 6 GHz, the new probe detects the high frequency electric fields output by radio and TV transmitters, telecommunications equipment, and industrial installations. The dynamic range covers 65 dB without any need to switch measurement ranges when used with the NBM basic unit. The sensitivity of 0.35 V/m means that fields emanating from WLAN and WiMAX installations can be measured reliably. The probe exceeds the requirements of EN 50492 for safety assessments of mobile phone base stations and is ready for the forthcoming IEC 62232 standard. The probe is isotropic, which means it gives the correct

measurementregardless of the direction of the field. The sensors comprise three dipoles with detector diodes arranged in an orthogonal configuration. The NBM basic unit automatically calculates the field strength resulting from the three spatial components measured by the sensors. The probe is calibrated at several frequencies. The individual calibration data are stored in an EPROM in the probe and are taken into account automatically by the NBM basic unit. Calibrated accuracy is thus guaranteed with every combination of probe and NBM basic unit. This applies to a further twelve probe types that are offered by Narda for the NBM series of field strength meters, covering applications with frequency ranges up to 60 GHz.