The far-field antenna test range consists of two signal towers, source and receive, situated 1300' apart. It features a heavy-duty, three-axis positioner, capable of handling antennas up to 30' in diameter. It ensures extreme precision of measurements, polarization, and millimeter wave patterns through its exceptionally massive towers and stable platforms at both ends. The length of the range may be extended through the use of remote transmitting sites.

By taking advantage of the natural terrain, the midpoint of the line of sight between the two towers is over 110' above ground. The range has been designed to minimize any reflections from surrounding objects. The combination of

tower rigidity and low reflection levels results in a very "clean" range designed for low sidelobe measurements, accurate cross-polarization, and measurement of millimeter-wave antennas with narrow beamwidths.

The 91' source tower also has applications for systems tests of radars, direction finding systems, and radar warning receivers. This tower can be used for boresight testing of precision tracking radar systems through the millimeter wave region. The control room near the top of the tower is also an excellent location for testing direction finding systems, especially in the millimeter wave region where vibrational stability is a necessity.

The antenna range receiver provides frequency coverage from 20MHz to 107GHz using an assortment of mixers and down converters. The receiver is capable of making high-speed phase and amplitude measurements over a 90dB dynamic range with a maximum sensitivity of -120dBm. Programmable pre- and post-detection bandwidth selection allows compromise between measurement speed and sensitivity.

The standard antenna range signal source provides frequencies from 10MHz to 26.5GHz, with an output level of at least +1.0dBm at 26.5GHz, and up to 16dBm for lower frequency ranges. Accuracy is exceptional with an aging rate of less than 1x10-9/day and 2.5x10-7/year. Accuracy is enhanced by an on-site calibration facility capable of precision on the order of 1x10-12. Other capabilities include pulse and amplitude modulation, swept frequency, fast cw switching, and IEEE-488 programmability. Remote control of the source from the receive site is via fiber-optic link.