While the probes automatically assess exposures according to major standards such as EU Directive 2013/35/EU, ICNIRP or IEEE, FieldMan displays the exposure index as a percentage of the selected standard.
With the BFD-400-1, FieldMan is able to map both low and high frequencies in the range of 1 Hz (DC) to 90 GHz using a single measuring device. Furthermore, unlike the ELT-400, the BFD-400-1 can go beyond simply assessing field exposure to map the spectrum and break down the signal into individual spectral components, providing information about its exact composition.
The BFD-400-1 not only records measured values but also calculates them. This is because the active components required to process the measured values are located in the probe's connector itself. Therefore, the Narda STS digital probe also functions without the base unit.
Narda STS digital probes can also be used without the FieldMan on a PC or laptop with the appropriate software. This allows users to employ multiple probes simultaneously, as is common practice in electromagnetic field measurements in the automotive sector or in large production facilities in other industrial sectors, without having to purchase a separate base unit for each probe. Finally, and importantly, by processing the signal within the probe, Narda STS avoids a potential security vulnerability that generally arises from plug connections or screw connections during signal transmission. This is because only the measurement results are transmitted digitally to the base unit through this connection, not the received signal.
The probe used is a 100 cm² sensor that accurately detects field strength isotropically, meaning independently of the direction of the electromagnetic field. To accurately assess exposure to low-frequency fields, it is usually necessary to know the field strength and the measuring devices used. This is because the applicable limit values depend on the predominant frequency. Therefore, to analyze signals in the time domain, the BFD-400-1 employs the frequency response evaluation measurement method known as "conformal time domain evaluation," Weighted Peak, or Shaped Time Domain (STD). A
key distinction is made between Weighted Peak Magnitude (WPM) and Weighted Root Mean Square (WRM). While WPM is very useful for recording peak effects, WRM provides the user with a better understanding of the overall average load.
The BFD-400-1 features rear-mounted digital filters that handle standards compliance at the software level. This means that users can now measure multiple standards, such as ICNIRP, FCC, DIN EN 50413, VDE 0848, or EU Directive 2013/35/EU, with a single probe.
The BFD-400-1 features six operating modes: Field Strength (field strength measurement), Spatial Average (measuring the spatial average of field strength at various points distributed throughout the room), and Timer Logging (measuring field strengths continuously or at regular intervals over a defined period). Furthermore, the new probe can deconstruct and analyze the electromagnetic field into its various frequency components in real time in Spectrum/Real Time FFT mode. In Shaped Time Domain mode, the measurement technician can record signals in the time domain, taking into account frequency-dependent weightings (shaping), as required by the standard. In Scope mode, the evolution of a magnetic signal over time in the time domain can be visualized without the need for an external oscilloscope. Finally, in "Raw Data Streaming" mode, the technician can continuously record raw, unprocessed data from the BFD-400-1 in real time and transfer it to an external system, such as a PC or a data logger.
Other innovations from Narda STS
– FieldMan App
: With the FieldMan app, measurement technicians can use their smartphones to view, monitor live, and even remotely control ongoing measurements via a WLAN connection, depending on environmental conditions and at distances of up to 30 meters. All measurement results are transmitted 1:1 to the smartphone screen. The app also offers numerous features, such as screenshots, photos, and videos of measurement situations, which can be assigned to different measurement projects, making report creation much easier and more efficient.
- TSX Live Measurements Option (Software):
The Live Measurements option allows for live measurements and simultaneously expands Narda's TSX software with FieldMan functions. Connected via USB cable, it enables direct operation of a probe on a PC without the FieldMan itself (for analog probes, an A/D probe converter is required). Optical connection can be used here via the wideband digital probe repeater, which also allows its use in electromagnetic compatibility laboratories, for example. Furthermore, the FieldMan can be controlled remotely using this option.
- Wideband Digital Probe Repeater:
The wideband digital probe repeater converts the digital electrical signal into an optical signal and transmits it to the FieldMan via a fiber optic cable. This allows for safe and reliable measurements at distances of up to 50 meters without interference, for example, in a high-field radar with extremely high intensities.
- A/D Probe Converter:
The analog-to-digital probe converter allows you to continue using NBM probes with the FieldMan. The A/D probe converter transforms the analog signal from the NBM probes into a reliable digital signal. This signal is then processed directly within the converter.
Coming soon
- BFD-400-3
The new BFD-400-3 probe (3 cm2 probe), which determines the coupling factor according to IEC/EN 62233, will be available in early 2025. It is designed for locally highly variable magnetic fields and therefore allows the location of sources of interfering magnetic fields, for example, in distribution cabinets.
