RadiMation Application Note 145

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How to perform a MIL-STD RE102 Radiated Emission test[edit]

This application note explains how the MIL-STD RE102 Radiated Emission test can be performed with RadiMation®.

The "RE102, radiated emissions, electrical field" test is applicable to equipment, subsystem enclosures and all interconnecting cables and is used to verify that the electrical field emissions from the EUT and cabling do not exceed the specified requirements. Other standards are based on this test (for example DO160) and those tests are very comparable to this test.

The exact requirements and test methods for the RE102 are specified in the MIL-STD-461.

Necessary equipment[edit]

The following devices should be configured:

  • Receiver
  • One or more antennas
  • Cables

Depending on the frequency range that should be measured, up to four different antennas may be needed.

Antenna Frequency range
Rod antenna 10 kHz to 30 MHz
Biconical antenna 30 MHz to 200 MHz
Double ridge horn 200 MHz to 1 GHz
Double ridge horn 1 GHz to 18 GHz

Optionally[edit]

  • Antenna polarizer / tower, because above 30 MHz both vertical and horizontal polarizations should be measured.

Configuration of the testsites[edit]

The configuration of the equipment is just an antenna connected with a cable to the spectrum analyser/receiver.

RE102 Test layout.png

The configuration of the testsite should thus contain the following devices:

Device name Tab in testsite configuration window note
Antenna Devices 1 Antenna for the required frequency range
Antenna tower Devices 1 Optional antenna tower
Spectrum Analyser Devices 2 The receiver used for the test
Cable preamp -> analyser Cables Cable with a correction file specified for the loss

As different antennas are used for each frequency range, it is best to also create and configure multiple separate testsites. Each testsite will use a different antenna, and to make the distinction between the testsites, it is best to give them different names. For example like:

Testsite Antenna
MIL-STD RE102 10 kHz - 30 MHz Rod antenna
MIL-STD RE102 30 MHz - 200 MHz Biconical antenna
MIL-STD RE102 200 MHz - 1 GHz Horn antenna
MIL-STD RE102 1 GHz - 18 GHz Horn antenna

Perform the test[edit]

To perform the actual RE102 test, start a Radiated Emission Multiband test:

   Menu.svg Tests
      Menu.svg Radiated Emission
         Menu.svg Multiband

The complete test from 10 kHz up to 18 GHz has different settings for different frequency bands. All these different bands can be configured. The test can be configured with 6 bands each using their applicable frequency range, bandwidth, polarization and used testsite (antenna).

When it is not possible to automatically switch and or position the antenna, multiple tests can be created and executed separately.

Band Frequency range RBW Step size Measure time receiver Measure time FFT receiver Polarisation Testsite Antenna
Band 1 10 kHz - 150 kHz 1 kHz 500 Hz 0.15 s 1 s Vertical MIL-STD RE102 10 kHz - 30 MHz Rod antenna
Band 2 150 kHz - 10 MHz 10 kHz 5 kHz 0.015 s 1 s Vertical MIL-STD RE102 150 kHz - 30 MHz Rod antenna
Band 3 10 MHz - 30 MHz 10 kHz 5 kHz 0.015 s 0.15 s Vertical MIL-STD RE102 150 kHz - 30 MHz Rod antenna
Band 4 30 MHz - 200 MHz 100 kHz 50 kHz 0.015 s 0.15 s Both MIL-STD RE102 30 MHz - 1 GHz Biconical antenna
Band 5 200 MHz - 1 GHz 100 kHz 50 kHz 0.015 s 0.15 s Both MIL-STD RE102 30 MHz - 1 GHz Horn antenna
Band 6 1 GHz - 18 GHz 1 MHz 500 kHz 0.015 s 0.015 s Both MIL-STD RE102 1 GHz - 18 GHz Horn antenna

For more information regarding antenna distances, heights and required antenna positions refer to section 5.18.3.3 c. EUT testing, of the RE102 standard see page MIL-STD-461.

RE102 Test Configuration.png


ScreenElementDescription.svg Start The start frequency of the test. For example 10 kHz.
ScreenElementDescription.svg Stop The stop frequency of the test. For example 150 kHz.
ScreenElementDescription.svg Reference Level The reference level set in an analyser, not used in a receiver
ScreenElementDescription.svg Attenuation The attenuation set in the receiver
ScreenElementDescription.svg RBW The RBW set in the receiver
ScreenElementDescription.svg Step size The step size set in the receiver
ScreenElementDescription.svg Measure time The measure time set in the receiver
ScreenElementDescription.svg Preamplifier The preamplifier setting set in the receiver
ScreenElementDescription.svg Traces The type of trace set in the receiver
ScreenElementDescription.svg Test Equipment The equipment used for the measurement
ScreenElementDescription.svg Location type Set this to Antenna height, distance, polararization and angle
ScreenElementDescription.svg Max Height The max height for the antenna tower
ScreenElementDescription.svg Min Height The min height for the antenna tower
ScreenElementDescription.svg Steps The number of height positions to measure
ScreenElementDescription.svg Move during measurement If the antenna tower can move during the measurement
ScreenElementDescription.svg Optimize Height Find the optimal emission around a certain height
ScreenElementDescription.svg Distance The used antenna distance
ScreenElementDescription.svg Antenna Polarization Which polarization is used, Vertical, Horizontal or both
ScreenElementDescription.svg Start Angle The min turn table angle`
ScreenElementDescription.svg End Angle The max turn table angle
ScreenElementDescription.svg Steps The number of angles to measure
ScreenElementDescription.svg Turn during measurement If the turn table can move during the measurement
ScreenElementDescription.svg Optimize Angle Find the optimal emission around a certain angle
ScreenElementDescription.svg EUT Angle Offset The offset of the EUT on the table
ScreenElementDescription.svg Limit Lines The applicable limit lines can be added
ScreenElementDescription.svg All peaks above x below the limit line No peaks should be measured in RE102
ScreenElementDescription.svg Peak detection No peaks should be measured for RE102
ScreenElementDescription.svg Final peak measurement No final peak measurement is needed for RE102


When all parameters are configured for the RE102 test, press Start Test to perform the emission measurement.

Review the test result[edit]

After performing the test it is possible to review the test data. RE102 Test Result.png

Conclusion[edit]

The MIL-STD RE102 test has a variety of different settings. All these settings can be easily configured in a "Test Setup File" and tested with RadiMation®.