Evaluation of aperture efficiency of a radiofrequency electric field strength meter antenna

With present-day rapid increases in the applications of radiofrequency microwave radiation in research, medicine, defense, communications, and industry, it has become necessary to have simple inexpensive portable radiofrequency microwave field strength meters for health and safety surveys around operating equipment. This paper presents the results of a study conducted at Trombay calibrating grid to evaluate the receiving aperture efficiency of the 1-m long antenna of a simple narrow band electric field strength meter, with frequency response centered around 27.12 MHz. An aperture efficiency of 0.47 with a coefficient of variation of +/- 3.46% is considered adequate for field use.