Expected Changes and Additions to the Antenna Measurement Standard IEEE Std 149™

Abstract

The IEEE Standard 149 has not been revised since 1979. Over the years the Standard was reaffirmed without anychanges. Recently the IEEE Standards association stopped the practice of reaffirming standards. This change in policy by the IEEE has been the “medicine” that this standard needed. A working group was organized and a project authorization request (PAR) was approved by IEEE for the document to be updated. In this paper, the expected changes to the document are described. The main change is to convert the standard to a recommended practice document. Additionally, some new techniques to measure antennas such as the use of reverberation chambers and compact ranges is discussed in more detail. Most importantly, a discussion on uncertainty is included. The result will be a very useful document for those designing and evaluating antenna test facilities, and those performing the antenna measurements.