I want to start experimenting and tinkering with antennas, starting with ½ wave dipoles. I will be measuring the AC voltages on both the transmitter and the reciever antennas simultaneously. And by changing the distance between them, I will observe the phase angle and delay time (of the EM waves) between them.

As I started planning with no practical experience, I stumbled at each step.

I found this calibrated signal generator (https://www.rf-consultant.com/calibrated-signal-generator/) and Rigol DS1102E so that I will be able to work with 100 MHz. I know the scope is rated for 100 MHz but after reading this thread (https://hackaday.io/project/4327-stretching-the-limits-of-a-rigol-ds-1102e-scope), I was convinced that it could work well even at higher frequencies (only if we are measuring with one channel).

First problem is how to connect the transmitter antenna to the signal generator. I will use a 50 ohm coax cable of small length. Since the waveform and directivity is not critical, could I get away without adding a balun? Or would there be a risk of damaging the signal generator with signal reflections (it has 50 ohms and +10 dBm (0.01 Watts) output) ?

If no baluns is ok, I will simply split the coax inner wire and braid apart into a dipole antenna. Soldering would maybe introduce abrupt impedance changes.

Second and biggest problem is how to probe the antennas to see the voltage waveforms? Could I attach the probe directly on the transmitting antenna center? While measuring on the reciever antenna, could I attach the probe on the other end of the coax cable (because the probe cables could fall short of the distance between the antennas while making simultaneous measurements) ?

If I attach the probe to the inner wire of the coax, should I attach the ground clip to the braid? Or at 100MHz should I completely remove the ground clip to eliminate the inductive coupling of the “ground clip-antenna-probe” loop (see under the title “Beware using ground clips...” in http: //www.radio-electronics.com/info/t_and_m/oscilloscope/using-oscilloscope-scope.php)? Or should I probe like this (http ://www.gorferay.com/pic/Mifare_4k_1_49.jpg)?

I want to start experimenting and tinkering with antennas, starting with ½ wave dipoles. I will be measuring the AC voltages on both the transmitter and the reciever antennas simultaneously. And by changing the distance between them, I will observe the phase angle and delay time (of the EM waves) between them.

As I started planning with no practical experience, I stumbled at each step.

I found this calibrated signal generator (https://www.rf-consultant.com/calibrated-signal-generator/) and Rigol DS1102E so that I will be able to work with 100 MHz. I know the scope is rated for 100 MHz but after reading this thread (https://hackaday.io/project/4327-stretching-the-limits-of-a-rigol-ds-1102e-scope), I was convinced that it could work well even at higher frequencies (only if we are measuring with one channel).

First problem is how to connect the transmitter antenna to the signal generator. I will use a 50 ohm coax cable of small length. Since the waveform and directivity is not critical, could I get away without adding a balun? Or would there be a risk of damaging the signal generator with signal reflections (it has 50 ohms and +10 dBm (0.01 Watts) output) ?

If no baluns is ok, I will simply split the coax inner wire and braid apart into a dipole antenna. Soldering would maybe introduce abrupt impedance changes.

Second and biggest problem is how to probe the antennas to see the voltage waveforms? Could I attach the probe directly on the transmitting antenna center? While measuring on the reciever antenna, could I attach the probe on the other end of the coax cable (because the probe cables could fall short of the distance between the antennas while making simultaneous measurements) ?

If I attach the probe to the inner wire of the coax, should I attach the ground clip to the braid? Or at 100MHz should I completely remove the ground clip to eliminate the inductive coupling of the “ground clip-antenna-probe” loop (see under the title “Beware using ground clips...” in http://www.radio-electronics.com/info/t_and_m/oscilloscope/using-oscilloscope-scope.php)? Or should I probe like this (http://www.gorferay.com/pic/Mifare_4k_1_49.jpg)?