Sensitivity and Uncertainty Analysis for Calculable Antenna Factor of the Direct-feed Biconical Antenna

Antennas calibrations are required for EMC measurements that determine the radiated disturbance of a communications product, as well as household electronics and automotive equipment. Usually, the EMC test laboratory employs equipment calibrated by calibration laboratories. The important parameter during the antenna calibration is the Antenna Factor (AF). Basically, AF was determined and calibrated by measurement techniques. Measurement methods to determine the AF require a great deal of time and expensive facilities, such as an anechoic chamber, network analysers and high precision cables. Any measurement can lead to uncertainty and worsen the calibration results. To overcome this difficulties, a calculable wideband biconical antenna has been introduced. Therefore, in this paper, the sensitivity analysis for calculable AF has been done to ensure which parameter give the most sensitive changes to the AF results. Based on the analysis, it is show that the directivity (D) is the highest contributor to the sensitivity analysis. In addition, uncertainties in the calculable AF are on average ±0.56 dB which is smaller than ±4.1 dB obtained using the measurement method. Therefore, any factors that contribute to the change in directivity must be taken into consideration and can be references to other researcher for AF determination in future.