Diamond Microwave Chambers Ltd, 15 Fitzgerald Road, Suite 200, Ottawa, ON (2026)

10/06/2026

OATS or Indoor Anechoic Chamber — which one should engineers choose?

Both are established approaches for radiated RF and EMC measurements, but they create controlled test environments in different ways.

An Open Area Test Site (OATS) uses an outdoor controlled area, typically with a conductive ground plane and defined measurement geometry.

An indoor anechoic chamber combines RF shielding and absorbers to create a controlled electromagnetic environment with reduced external interference and reflections.

But there is one important point:

The facility name alone does not determine measurement quality.

Engineers should evaluate:

✔ Applicable test standard
✔ Frequency range
✔ Measurement distance
✔ Equipment dimensions
✔ Antenna configuration
✔ Site validation
✔ Measurement uncertainty
✔ Future testing requirements

A properly validated OATS can provide reliable measurements. A properly designed anechoic chamber can provide a highly controlled and repeatable environment.

The right decision starts with the measurement requirement—not simply the construction type.

Diamond Microwave Chambers Ltd helps organisations evaluate and develop RF and EMC test environments around their actual testing requirements.

Read blog: https://www.dmcrf.com/oats-vs-indoor-anechoic-chambers/

10/05/2026

⚡ EV Fast-Charging Systems & Electromagnetic Compatibility: Why EMC Matters

EV fast-charging technology is moving toward higher power, faster charging and increasingly sophisticated electronics.

But delivering more charging power also makes EMC design and testing an important part of product development.

A modern DC fast charger can contain:

🔹 High-speed power switching
🔹 DC output cables
🔹 Communication electronics
🔹 Cooling and auxiliary systems
🔹 Sensors and control circuits

These elements can contribute to electromagnetic emissions while also needing sufficient immunity to external disturbances.

A strong EMC strategy should consider:

✅ Radiated emissions
✅ Conducted emissions
✅ Radiated immunity
✅ Conducted immunity
✅ Filtering and shielding
✅ Grounding and bonding
✅ Cable routing
✅ Controlled EMC test environments

IEC 61851-21-2 provides EMC requirements for off-board EV charging equipment, while IEC 61851-21-1 addresses EMC requirements for on-board charging units.

The key lesson?

Don't treat EMC as a final-stage problem. Design for electromagnetic compatibility from the beginning.

Diamond Microwave Chambers Ltd supports RF and EMC chamber solutions for controlled electromagnetic testing environments.

Read blog: https://www.dmcrf.com/ev-fast-charging-systems-electromagnetic-compatibility/

10/01/2026

🚀 Is your 5G base station performing as expected — in the air, not just at the connector?

As 5G systems become more complex with massive MIMO, active antenna systems, and beamforming, conducted measurements alone may not tell the complete RF performance story.

That’s where 5G Base Station OTA Testing becomes essential.

🔬 Key parameters manufacturers need to evaluate include:

✅ TRP – Total Radiated Power
✅ EVM – Modulation Quality
✅ Beamforming – Antenna & beam performance
✅ ACLR & Unwanted Emissions – Radiated signal quality
✅ 3GPP Requirements – Applicable RF performance criteria

A properly engineered OTA test environment helps manufacturers obtain controlled, repeatable measurements while evaluating the complete radio + antenna system.

📡 From chamber design and absorber performance to positioning accuracy and calibration, every element can influence measurement reliability.

Building or upgrading your 5G OTA testing facility?

Diamond Microwave Chambers Ltd can help you plan the right RF chamber environment for demanding antenna and OTA measurement applications.

Read blog: https://www.dmcrf.com/5g-base-station-ota-testing/

09/29/2026

🚨How often should your product be re-tested for EMC compliance?

The answer may surprise you: there is no single fixed re-testing interval that applies to every product.

EMC re-testing becomes important whenever changes to your product could affect its electromagnetic performance or compliance status.

🔧Consider re-testing after:
• Hardware or PCB design changes
• New components, cables, or enclosure modifications
• Software or firmware updates that introduce new operating modes
• Changes to applicable EMC standards or regulations
• Entering a new country or market with different requirements
• Customer complaints or field-related EMC issues

Even a small design change can sometimes influence emissions, immunity, grounding, shielding, or overall EMC performance.

A proactive EMC testing strategy can help identify potential compliance issues before they become costly redesigns, certification delays, or market-entry problems.

At DMCRF, we support reliable EMC and RF testing solutions to help businesses validate product performance and stay prepared for changing requirements.

📩Planning a product change or new certification? Let's discuss your EMC testing requirements.

Read blog: https://www.dmcrf.com/how-often-products-re-tested-emc-compliance/

09/28/2026

🚨Your Product Passed Every Design Check… So Why Did It Fail EMC Testing?

An EMC failure doesn’t mean starting from scratch. It means finding the source, fixing the issue, and verifying the solution.

🔍Identify → Investigate → Correct → Retest → Compliance

Common causes:
• Excessive emissions
• PCB layout issues
• Poor shielding or grounding
• Cable coupling
• Inadequate filtering

💡Pro Tip: Pre-compliance EMC testing can help identify issues early—before costly redesigns and testing delays.

Planning an EMC test facility or facing EMC testing challenges?

📩Contact Diamond Microwave Chambers Ltd today to discuss your testing requirements and find the right chamber solution for your application.

Read blog: https://www.dmcrf.com/product-fails-emc-testing/

09/25/2026

Can predictive analytics make chamber maintenance more proactive?

RF and EMC test chambers depend on consistent performance, accurate measurements, and well-maintained systems. Predictive analytics can help laboratories identify performance trends, investigate unusual changes, and plan maintenance based on historical data.

A practical approach is:

📊 Collect chamber and equipment data
🔍 Analyse performance trends
🛠️ Investigate unusual changes
⚙️ Maintain critical systems
✅ Verify performance after maintenance

The goal isn't to replace calibration or chamber validation. It is to use reliable historical data to support better maintenance decisions and reduce unexpected issues.

Smarter data. Better maintenance planning. More reliable testing environments.

Read blog: https://www.dmcrf.com/predictive-analytics-chamber-maintenance-calibration/

09/24/2026

Renting vs. Buying an RF/EMC Chamber — Which Approach Fits Your Testing Needs?

Choosing between renting chamber access and investing in your own RF or EMC chamber depends on more than the initial cost.

🔹 Renting a Chamber
• Lower upfront investment
• Pay only when testing is required
• Access to specialized equipment and expertise
• Suitable for occasional testing

🔹 Buying a Chamber
• Long-term infrastructure investment
• Greater testing availability
• Greater customization
• Can make sense for frequent testing

Before making a decision, consider your testing frequency, product development plans, facility requirements, equipment needs, maintenance, and long-term costs.

The right approach depends on your specific testing requirements—not a one-size-fits-all calculation.

Diamond Microwave Chambers Ltd provides solutions for demanding RF, EMC, antenna, and microwave testing environments.

Read blog: https://www.dmcrf.com/renting-vs-buying-chamber/

09/23/2026

ADAS systems are becoming increasingly dependent on multiple sensors working together.

Radar, cameras and LiDAR can provide different types of environmental information, but combining those inputs requires controlled testing, synchronization and careful validation.

An RF anechoic chamber can provide a controlled environment for investigating automotive radar and related electronic systems while reducing unwanted RF reflections and external interference.

In this carousel, we explore:

🔹 How ADAS sensor fusion works
🔹 Why controlled RF environments matter
🔹 Radar, camera and LiDAR testing considerations
🔹 Sensor synchronization challenges
🔹 Key sensor-fusion validation areas
🔹 The relationship between sensor performance and SOTIF
🔹 Why chamber testing should complement real-world validation

ISO 21448:2022 addresses SOTIF for intended functions where safety-relevant situational awareness depends on complex sensors and processing algorithms.

For automotive radar radiated measurements, ETSI guidance also describes anechoic chambers as controlled test environments for applicable measurements.

Diamond Microwave Chambers Ltd develops RF and microwave testing environments for demanding engineering applications.

Read blog: https://www.dmcrf.com/adas-sensor-fusion-testing-anechoic-chambers/

09/21/2026

Common Chamber Design Mistakes Can Skew Your Test Results

In EMC and RF testing, even small chamber design oversights can create significant measurement errors. From incorrect absorber selection to antenna placement and shielding issues, every detail matters when accuracy and repeatability are critical.

🔍6 common issues to watch for:
• Wrong chamber dimensions
• Poor absorber selection
• Uncontrolled internal reflections
• Floor & turntable issues
• Incorrect antenna placement
• Shielding & cabling problems

💡Pro Tip: Design the chamber around the measurement requirements—not simply around the room.

A well-designed anechoic chamber helps create a controlled testing environment, improve measurement confidence, and support reliable RF/EMC results.

Looking to design or optimize an EMC Anechoic Chamber or RF Test Chamber?

Read blog: https://www.dmcrf.com/common-chamber-design-mistakes-test-results/

09/18/2026

How to Budget for EMC Testing in Product Development? ⚡

EMC testing shouldn’t be treated as a last-minute compliance expense. Building EMC considerations into your product development budget early can help teams identify potential issues before formal testing and plan for the costs associated with engineering changes and retesting.

A practical EMC testing budget should consider:

🔹 Define — Test scope & applicable standards
🔹 Plan — Target markets & regulatory requirements
🔹 Test — Pre-compliance evaluation
🔹 Develop — Prototypes, shielding, filters & PCB changes
🔹 Allow — Retesting and design modifications
🔹 Finalize — Formal testing & compliance documentation

💡 Pro Tip: Budget for testing + engineering changes + retesting, not just the laboratory fee.

Early planning can make the EMC compliance process more predictable and help development teams manage both technical and project requirements effectively.

Read blog: https://www.dmcrf.com/how-to-budget-for-emc-testing-in-product-development/

Diamond Microwave Chambers Ltd

10/06/2026

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10/01/2026

09/29/2026

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