GTEM Cell Chambers
Compact broadband chamber for radiated emissions and immunity pre-compliance screening.
A full semi-anechoic chamber represents a substantial investment in space and cost, and for pre-compliance screening — checking a design early, before committing to formal certification testing — that level of investment often isn't necessary. GTEM (Gigahertz Transverse Electromagnetic) cell chambers address this gap directly: a compact, broadband chamber for radiated emissions and immunity pre-compliance screening, at a fraction of a full anechoic chamber's footprint and cost.
A GTEM cell works on a different principle than an anechoic chamber's free-space radiated field — the device under test sits inside a tapered transmission-line structure that generates a defined, broadband electromagnetic field internally, without needing the absorber-lined walls and larger physical volume a traditional chamber requires to control reflections. This makes GTEM cells well suited to small-to-medium equipment, where the device under test fits comfortably within the cell's working volume.
As a pre-compliance tool rather than a full formal-test replacement, a GTEM cell lets a design team catch and fix radiated emissions or immunity issues early in development, before committing to the time and cost of formal chamber testing for final certification — a lower-cost, smaller-footprint way to build confidence in a design ahead of that final test.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a GTEM cell replace a full semi-anechoic chamber for final compliance testing?
Generally no — GTEM cells are positioned as a pre-compliance screening tool, useful for catching issues early in development at lower cost and smaller footprint. Formal compliance certification testing typically still needs to be performed in a properly calibrated semi-anechoic chamber to the specific standard's requirements.
What size of equipment is a GTEM cell suited to testing?
Small-to-medium equipment that fits within the cell's working volume — GTEM cells are not sized for large equipment or full vehicle testing, which requires the larger physical volume a semi-anechoic chamber provides.
How does a GTEM cell generate a test field differently from an anechoic chamber?
A GTEM cell uses a tapered transmission-line structure to generate a defined broadband electromagnetic field internally around the device under test, rather than radiating a free-space field across an open chamber volume the way a standard anechoic chamber does — this different approach is what allows the GTEM cell's more compact footprint.
