Reflections in antenna test ranges can often be the largest source of measurement errors, dominating all other error sources. The NSI-SW-5109 MARS Reflection Suppression Software uses a new technique developed by NSI to suppress reflections from many sources in far-field ranges, and cylindrical & spherical near-field antenna test ranges. The technique, named Mathematical Absorber Reflection Suppression (MARS), is a post-processing technique that involves analysis of the measured data and a special filtering process to suppress the undesirable scattered signals. The technique is a general technique that can be applied to any spherical range. It has been used in a large hemispherical automotive antenna range implemented by NSI for Nippon Antenna in Itzehoe Germany (link), as well as for many other customers. It has also been applied to extend the useful frequency range of microwave absorber in anechoic chambers.

The MARS software can suppress and/or remove reflections from reflection sources such as a radome or gantry in a far-field, cylindrical or spherical near-field range, as well as improve on the performance of a system in a conventional anechoic chamber. There is no additional hardware required to use the technique and a 10 dB to 20 dB improvement in performance can typically be achieved. The technique and its implementation and validation is further described in a number of technical papers presented by NSI at the Antenna Measurement Techniques Association (AMTA) annual symposium listed below :

2005 - "Reflection Suppression in Large Spherical Near-field Range"
2006 - "Simplified Spherical Near-Field Accuracy Assessment"
2007 - "Mission to MARS - In Search of Antenna Pattern Craters"
2008 - "Mathematical Absorber Reflection Suppression (MARS) for Anechoic Chamber Evaluation & Improvement"
2009 - "Improving and Extending the MARS Technique to Reduce Scattering Errors"
2009 - "Reflection Suppression In Cylindrical Near-Field Antenna Measurement Systems – Cylindrical Mars"

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NSI-SW-5109 - MARS Reflection Suppression Software