Network parameter measurements of antenna arrays

A new method is developed for determining the admittance or the scattering parameters of an antenna array considered as a multiport network. The technique requires the use of a hybrid junction to provide two different modes of excitation at the antenna ports taken in pairs. It is shown that by measuring the reflection coefficients at each port, for both modes of excitation, the desired parameters can be obtained. The inherent errors of the method are analyzed and discussed. Experimental results are presented which illustrate the theory and demonstrate the practicality of the procedure.