Swept Versus Real-time Spectrum Analyzer Ability to Accurately Asses Electromagnetic Exposure due to Wireless Communications Signals in the Environment: An Analysis

摘要

Present study aimed to identify optimal settings of a swept spectrum analyzer (SSA) used to measure the electric field (E-field) level in the vicinity of WLAN sources by comparison to the results obtained by a real-time spectrum analyzer (RTSA), which is highly advanced but prohibitive for many metrological labs. Measurement sessions investigated both stable WLAN signals produced in the lab in ideal conditions by a vector signal generator and realistic WLAN signals produced by an access point, in various operational conditions, with the scope of protocol improvement. The major problem is that WLAN signals are pulsed, short duration and wide-banded. One of the key aspects when using a classic SSA concerns the establishment of its proper settings, main of them being the sweep time, which must be chosen according to the active durations of the signal. Analysis of settings influence upon E-field precision assessment is made. Obtained results show that SSA may be used for accurate exposure assessment of stochastic-like signals, but an adequate procedure should be applied.