Measurement uncertainties for biconical antenna calibrations using standard site method

This paper provides a complete uncertainty analysis for antenna factor (AF) measurement results obtained from use of the standard site method (SSM) in the frequency range of 30 MHz to 200 MHz, and addressing two critical issues, i.e., the applicability of the GUM approach, and the completeness of the measurement equation used. The uncertainty analysis for antenna calibrations using SSM naturally begins with a basic equation for transmission between two antennas over a ground plane. The basic SSM equation is used to derive the measurement model. We study how various parameters that are not included in the basic SSM model (such as antenna mutual couplings, near field effects, site imperfections, and reflections from antenna supports, etc.) are encompassed by the uncertainty analysis. In addition, the non-linearity of the measurement model equation raises the question whether the GUM approach is appropriate. We implement a Monte Carlo method based on Supplement 1 to the GUM (GUMS1), because it overcomes the limitations of the GUM method.