A Single-Chamber Solution Unifying Anechoic and Reverberation Chamber-Like OTA Testing Via Electronic Test Zone Synthesis and Mode Stirring

Paper in proceeding, 2026

Over-the-air (OTA) characterization of wireless devices typically requires anechoic chambers (ACs) for directional metrics (e.g., patterns) and reverberation chambers (RCs) for integrated-power metrics (e.g., total radiated power TRP). This increases test footprint and cycle time while raising handling risk for high-power devices, such as 5G/6G base stations. We present a hybrid approach based on an overmoded waveguide that supports a discrete set of propagating plane waves (PWs) synthesized by a beamforming chamber array. A unified model integrates embedded-element-field calibration, PW synthesis, electronic stirring, and TRP evaluation, enabling measurements without moving the device under test. In AC-like mode, this yields an uncertainty in the reconstructed patterns below 1.5 dB within 60 degrees range for a DUT with 5-by-5 array antenna. In RC-like mode, electronic stirring and planar averaging produce RIMP-like statistics with Rician-K-factor below -25 dB and Rayleigh-like CDFs; agreement to a commercial RC shows a difference of approx. 1 dB across frequency.