Analysis of MIL-STD-461E and MIL-STD-461F RE102 Test setup configurations below 100 MHz

Radiated emissions testing below 100 MHz in a semi-anechoic chamber presents a measurement repeatability challenge. In 2007, the Department of Defense revised MIL-STD-461, its electromagnetic interference standard. Among the changes, MIL-STD-461F introduced a new RE102 test configuration, where the rod antenna base is bonded to the ground plane through the cable shield and the height of the antenna is lowered. This RE102 setup is used for testing both bench-top and floor-standing equipment. No change was made to the biconical antenna test setup. With the proliferation of electromagnetic field analysis software, it is now possible to model, compare, and analyze the RE102 setups from MIL-STD-461E (two configurations) and from MIL-STD-461F (one configuration). It is also possible to investigate the impact of many undefined variables, including the chamber size, the test bench size, and the type of absorber used in the chamber. This paper compares and analyzes the results from computer simulations of the MIL-STD-461E and MIL-STD-461F RE102 test configurations from 10 kHz to 100 MHz.