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It’s not easy to build consumer trust in emission measurements if nobody understands how to use the equipment. For better efficacy, familiarizing your staff with the tech is essential.
Imagine this scenario: you work in a car garage or as an EMC engineer. One day, a client brings their car in for an MOT. You do it but fail them because the instrument you use to test their car’s emissions says they are over the limits[1]… Now comes the hard part. If you don’t understand the figures on the display, how do you pass a negative result to the client?
As you can see, reducing skepticism over emission measurements is the key to retaining that customer. To this end, this article will explore how you can thoroughly convince the client that the readings are correct, so that you don’t lose custom over emissions readings.
How to Reduce Skepticism in Emissions Measurements
Arguably, reducing that skepticism starts with understanding your equipment. Mechanics and engineers should be put through rigorous training to try and understand their technology. Knowing the tech well will ultimately give your staff boosted confidence when it comes to measurements. When they exude confidence, customers won’t even think to ask twice.
It’s all about Confidence in your Emissions Measurements
According to studies[2], adding a low noise amplifier at the front of an RF test train will help increase the amplification. Designers also put pre-amplifiers at the top of the mast in front of the lossy feed cable to achieve the same ends. If you can bolster your equipment to give a similar strength of signal, you should be able to get clearer readings, thereby communicating results with better confidence.
Normalize the Standard Setup
It will help staff familiarize your staff with a standard bench setup so that they know their way around their emission testing lab. A network analyzer should sweep for info and store that info in the connected computer panel. The device being tested can then be hooked up to the input/output wires, which effectively creates a loop in which you receive the feedback you need.
Getting the Equations Right
The next phase of ensuring accurate readings lies in making staff familiar with the equations used in RF emissions. Different equations are used for measuring field strength, system noise optimization, Cascading Amplifier Arrangements, the noise factor of the cables used, noise in/noise out signals, and the effects of placing a pre-amplifier in there before formulas can also measure the lossy line.
We can’t recreate the scientific principles here, but you can view all the equations and layouts for yourself in a recently released paper regarding reducing emission skepticism here.
Eliminating Skepticism in Emissions Measurements
If you let your staff get familiar with the equipment setup and the standard bench in the lab, and if you also train them thoroughly in the equations, you should shortly find yourself with consumers who don’t question your emissions figures. Emissions measurements, if performed correctly, shouldn’t vary per method of measurement… So even if that consumer does take their car elsewhere, at least you have the satisfaction of knowing that they will get the same results elsewhere.
[1]https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/676700/in-service-exhaust-emission-standards-for-road-vehicles-19th-edition.pdf
[2] https://www.com-power.com/uploads/technote/ActiveHornAntenna.pdf
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