A brief history of the compact range and the near-field range

The author elaborates on two of innovations that created the need for the Antenna Measurement Techniques Association (AMTA), the compact range and near-field range. On a far-field antenna range the source antenna must be located at a distance such that its spherical phase front is approximately planar over the aperture of the antenna whose pattern is being measured. For electrically large antennas this can result in very large distances. The attempt to reduce the required distance has lead to the development of compact and the near-field ranges. The first attempts at reducing the required distance was the use of lenses. Metal plate lenses, as well as dielectric lenses were investigated. Lenses proved to be only moderately successful.