A Radiometric Method for Measuring the Insertion Loss of Radome Materials

Though radomes have been used for years as a means of protecting antennas from the elements, little appears in the Iiterature to aid the engineer in his choice of the radome material to use in a particular installation. This may be due to the fact that many radome materials are adequate when used with a receiving system having a mixer (i.e., relatively hot) front end. However, an improper choice of radome material can seriously degrade a receiving system that employs a maser or other low-noise front end. A radiometric technique for the measurement of insertion loss is described, and a sample calculation, including error analysis, is presented.