Evaluation of array antenna systems for global navigation satellite system applications using wave-field synthesis in an over-the-air laboratory

Antenna characterisation is usually performed by antenna pattern measurements in an anechoic chamber. Subsequently, a conducted test, the radiated two-stage or the wireless-cable method can be used for an overall system evaluation considering the measured patterns. In this study, the authors present a method to perform device tests for antenna arrays/smart antennas with and without the need of radiation pattern measurements, and they validate it experimentally. By using over-the-air tests in a virtual electromagnetic environment and wave-field synthesis, the propagation environment can be realistically recreated in the region around a device-under-test. This allows for reproducible performance comparisons of different antennas or systems under identical propagation environment conditions. As a special application, they consider the controlled reception pattern antenna in a global navigation satellite systems environment in the presence of interferer signals.