The first vital part of the radar chain is the antenna. Possible errors in this element can be detected using the Radar Field Analyser (RFA641), the RASS-S instrument intended for antenna and RF receiver measurements of (M)SSR ATC radars and primary radars in L- and S-band (900MHz – 3.0GHz; optionally a frequency range up to 3.5GHZ or an X-band version called RFX474 can be ordered). For this purpose, the radar does not have to be taken out of operation.
The RFA641 can perform the following measurements:
- Uplink (transmission) antenna diagram: Pulse power = f(Azimuth)
- Generation of test pulses for downlink (reception) antenna diagram: Rx Pulse power = f(Azimuth)
- Receiver measurements: Rx sensitivity sweeps, Rx bandwidth sweeps and (sectorial) STC or DSTC sweeps
- Transmitter power, spectrum, pulse shape recording, timing, mode and stagger verification
- FRUIT generation for environment simulation
- ADS-B scenario generation
- Mode-S interrogation generator for transponder verification
- Transponder quality verification
- Target injection for non-pulse-compression primary radars
- Remote Field Monitor function for SSR (A/C)