Electric field strength measurement by reference level offset function

Electric field strength can be read directly by converting the antenna factor with the reference level offset function of MSA series.

Application

When you connect an antenna to a spectrum analyzer / signal analyzer to measure the electric field strength, the electric field strength can be converted by simply adding the antenna factor to the measured voltage in notation of decibels (dB). This note shows the method of measuring electric field strength with the MSA500 series using the reference level offset function (measurement with an input impedance of 50 Ω).

Solution

Use the reference level offset function of the MSA500/400 series.

1. [ REFER ] Switch to the following function menu.
   
2. [ F1 ] （UNIT）Select “dBμV” (the unit of electric field strength is dBμV / m).
3. [ F4 ] （OFFSET）Select “ON” to activate the reference level offset.
4. [ F5 ] （OFS STEP）The reference level offset step amount can be switched with “0.1 dB”, “1 dB”, “10 dB”.
5. [ F3 ] （OFS dB）Set the reference level offset value with the rotary encoder.
   For example, when the antenna factor is “22.0 dB / m”, the reference level offset value is “22.0 dB”.
   The function menu after setting is as follows.
   
6. [ MKR ] The electric field strength can be read directly by displaying the marker.
   
   *The antenna factor depends on frequency, so use the antenna factor that corresponds to the frequency of the marker.

System constitution

Handheld signal analyzer MSA500 series

Handheld Spectrum Analyzer MSA400 Series

Products introduction

Handheld signal analyzer MSA500 series

With Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and conventional sweep systems, each strong point of both systems is usable.

Handheld Spectrum Analyzer MSA400 Series

MSA300 series was extremely upgraded to MSA400 series.This product has large color display.