NanoFarfield

What is this project about?

NanoFarfield is a portable antenna far-field measurement system designed to make antenna testing accessible to anyone.

For decades, far-field measurements have been limited to expensive anechoic chambers and specialized labs. NanoFarfield changes that by enabling accurate radiation pattern measurements using compact, affordable equipment like NanoVNA and LiteVNA — anywhere.

It combines a motorized rotation platform, an RF front-end, and software that synchronizes measurements with angular position to generate radiation patterns automatically.

Check out the project on CrowdSupply:

https://www.crowdsupply.com/antenom-antenna-technologies/nanofarfield

Why did we build it?

Vector Network Analyzers used to be expensive and inaccessible — until devices like NanoVNA changed that.

We asked a similar question:

Why is far-field antenna measurement still locked inside expensive labs?

Today, if you don’t have access to an anechoic chamber, you simply can’t measure antennas properly.

We believe this should not be the case.

NanoFarfield was built with a clear goal:

To decentralize RF measurement.

To make far-field antenna testing:

• Accessible to students
• Affordable for small teams
• Available anywhere in the world

How does it work?

NanoFarfield automates the antenna measurement process in a compact system:

• The antenna is mounted on a motorized rotating platform
• The system rotates with precise angular steps
• A connected VNA captures RF data at each position
• Software synchronizes angle and measurement data
• Radiation patterns are generated automatically

Key Features

• 50–6000 MHz frequency range (With an internal amplifier)
• 360° rotation
• ~1° angular resolution
• Works with NanoVNA / LiteVNA /LibreVNA
• Data export (PDF, XLSX)
• Open Hardware (All 3D models ready for 3D printer within a USB)
• Time-domain gating for reflection suppression
• Both amplitude and phase measurements
• Automatic far-field measurement with its included software
• Polar and cartesian plot, exported in PDF format
• The entire system weighs ~2.7 kg, fits in a backpack, and runs from a USB power bank.

Learn more / support the project:

https://www.crowdsupply.com/antenom-antenna-technologies/nanofarfield

• Data export (PDF, XLSX)

The entire system weighs ~2.7 kg, fits in a backpack, and runs from a USB power bank.o that even engineers with limited resources can measure, learn, and build.