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25 | antenna test configurations, some of which involve highly advanced and complex testing setups. These systems use multiple probes and motion mechanisms to generate detailed 3D scans of the entire antenna radiation pattern. The level of testing needed for a given antenna often depends on its performance goals, research data goals, and available budget. Typically, more rigorous testing produces results that can be used to enhance an antenna design or even a complex RF system design. But this comes at a premium and requires an RF design team with advanced expertise for the full extent of usefulness. Some more modern test systems produce results that can be used within simulation software suites (to optimize a design further) or alongside circuit simulations of the rest of the RF system. To properly test an RF antenna, the environment must be electromagnetically isolated from external interference, noise, and objects within the vicinity of the near-field regions of the antenna. This is why organizations often use open-air test ranges in remote areas with minimal outside interference. Another method is to construct a shielded chamber, sometimes with an absorptive interior structure, to isolate an antenna from the external environment. Installations like these are called anechoic chambers, test chambers, or test cells, depending on the type of structure. Some chambers specifically designed for antenna testing are simply called antenna test chambers. Most global regions have spectrum regulations—known as electromagnetic compliance (EMC) and electromagnetic interference (EMI) testing—that limit the use of certain portions of the spectrum from interference or hazardous RF signal energy. Hence, it is vital to account for antenna gain and efficiency when designing or selecting an antenna for an application in a regulated spectrum, as the antenna performance can impact the signal's output power, frequency accuracy, and phase accuracy. In addition to EMC and EMI, most regions have spectrum regulations based on frequency, application, and end-use environment. Additionally, most wireless protocols have specifications that must be met to attain certification, and antenna selection is often a critical aspect of meeting these. Many countries and regions around the world will not allow products to be sold or even shipped into their region without proper certification by approved testing facilities. Conclusion The nuances and complexity of RF antenna design, testing, and verification often lead organizations to outsource antenna development to dedicated RF antenna design houses instead of developing them internally. Overcoming challenges to antenna design and selection while meeting regional regulations and certifications is often the difference between quickly bringing a competitive product to market and exceeding budgets and delaying development. To meet these needs, dedicated antenna design organizations specialize in one or more of the many antenna types and applications.