March 23, 2026
Originally published April 26, 2023
Large lawns next to buildings and sports fields need water to stay green and healthy. Sprinklers distribute water to the lawn, focusing on areas to receive water through the sprinkler’s design and by adjustment of its settings.
Antennas can be thought of in a similar way. The difference is that instead of water, antennas distribute radiofrequency (RF) energy. Transmitting antennas launch RF signals into the air, and their design is optimized to focus that energy toward the intended receiver. Receiving antennas, in turn, are designed to detect incoming signals so they can be processed by the receiver.
Typical antenna pattern measurement result
A well-designed transmitting antenna radiates nearly all the energy from the transmitter into free space as electromagnetic (EM) waves. To assure an antenna is performing as designed, antenna testing is done to check efficiency, gain, directivity, and its associated patterns.
Why Antenna Testing Is Important
Antenna performance plays a critical role in many modern wireless technologies. Cellular devices, IoT systems, wireless sensors, and communication equipment all rely on antennas to transmit and receive RF signals reliably.
RF antenna testing helps engineers verify that an antenna performs correctly within its intended operating environment. Measurements of gain, efficiency, and directivity allow engineers to evaluate how effectively an antenna converts electrical signals into electromagnetic waves and how well it focuses energy in specific directions.
Antenna testing is especially important in cellular wireless devices. Small dimensions and low power levels make it critical to maximize antenna performance. Antennas are passive devices, not generating energy of their own. They are only useful when connected to an RF device that generates the energy for transmission or has the means to decode signals for reception. Because of this, the characteristics of an antenna can be carefully measured through controlled RF antenna testing procedures.
Cutaway showing typical antenna locations in mobile device
Passive Antenna Testing
Passive antenna testing evaluates the antenna itself, independent of the active electronics in the device. Testing under laboratory conditions requires isolating the antenna from its device for repeatability.
For passive testing in Elite’s lab, the device under test (DUT) antenna port is connected to a vector network analyzer (VNA) at a desired frequency and amplitude. The turntable-mounted DUT is rotated 360 degrees (the azimuth). A receiving antenna, typically a horn or patch-type with dual polarization, is placed on a boom moving from zero to 165 degrees (the elevation). Measurements are taken at several elevation and azimuth angles to provide 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional plots of the radiation pattern. Software algorithms use the data to calculate efficiency, gain, directivity, and equivalent isotropic radiated power (EIRP).
Active Antenna Testing
Active antenna testing evaluates the entire system, meaning the antenna together with the RF front-end circuitry. Instead of measuring the antenna alone, this approach evaluates how the antenna performs when integrated into the device.
Total radiated power (TRP) and total isotropic sensitivity (TIS) are measured as figures of merit to qualitatively evaluate the antenna system. Active antenna tests are typically performed in a fully anechoic antenna chamber for data-collection consistency. These numerical measurements can also be done in a reverberation chamber, though they are not useful for antenna pattern tests.
TRP is the power radiated by the antenna averaged over a 3-dimensional sphere. TIS applies to receiving antennas and is the average sensitivity over a 3-dimensional sphere. Cellular carriers pay close attention to these measurements, as they have specific TRP and TIS requirements for reliable performance in portable telecom devices.
Elite’s John Peters preparing an antenna test
Elite’s status as a CTIA Authorized Testing Lab (CATL) gives us insight into this industry’s requirements. Our wireless specialists actively participate in CTIA working groups advancing testing methods and support international standards aligning with the latest technology.
Through advanced antenna testing capabilities, Elite helps manufacturers evaluate antenna performance, optimize wireless device designs, and verify compliance with industry requirements.
Learn More About Antenna Performance Testing
Contact the experts at Elite if you have questions about antenna testing or evaluating your wireless device antenna performance. Our team can help you measure key antenna characteristics and ensure your device meets the demands of modern wireless communication.
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