# Creating an OATS (Open Area Test Site) for Radiated measurements (pre-CE)

When building a product with an RF transmitter inside, one of the important things is to ensure that it complies with the CE requirements. So being able to measure the radiated power, both of the carrier and the harmonics, without paying the EMC-test lab every time, would be a great tool.

So I was experimenting with measurements on the soccer field next to our office, but I'm unsure if it is even possible to do within 2-3 dB error margin.

I can see that a "real" OATS needs a metallic ground plane beneath the transmitter and the receiver.

My idea was to place the DUT and the receiver 3 meters apart and 1 meter above ground. Then follow the steps below:

1. Measure received power from the DUT.
2. Substitute the DUT with a signal generator + antenna with know gain.
3. Measure received power from substitution.
4. Calculate DUT power as difference between 1) and 3).

Does anybody have any experience with this?

• And your actual question is...? – PlasmaHH Oct 11 '17 at 9:03
• OATS is usually in some remote location far from other interference sources like radio stations and cell towers, maybe not a big problem for 3m tests, but if you have to measure at 30m it makes a difference. – Jasen Oct 11 '17 at 9:14
• you can do A/B tests of between last version and new version in a farraday room, if the numbers go down it's probably worth getting them confirmed by a certified lab. if they go up try a different approach. – Jasen Oct 11 '17 at 9:17

• Yes, or a version of it. In free space, Power density = $E^2/377=P_T/{4\pi r^2}$. With a perfect reflection, E is doubled. EMC values always seem to be +- several dB – tomnexus Oct 12 '17 at 1:45