Roid Rage We Built Our Own Chamber
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Mar 12, 2026 A deep dive into an end-to-end RF test that did not go exactly as planned. They explain why the team built an in-house anechoic chamber and how it keeps everyone safe during high-power tests. The conversation covers crosstalk problems, pin-mapping surprises, antenna placement tradeoffs, and practical setup details like cable feedthroughs and safety meters.
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OTA RF Test Validates Full Communication Loop
- End-to-end over-the-air (OTA) RF test verifies the full loop from ground transmit through spacecraft flight computer back to ground.
- Chris emphasized the test exposed differences between the plan and outcomes, which is precisely why they run integrated tests.
Built An Anechoic Chamber To Enable Daily RF Tests
- Astroforge built its own anechoic chamber because driving 40 minutes to an external facility with expensive gear blocked rapid iterative testing.
- Max described renting a 20-foot U-Haul and the pain of transporting racks, which drove the decision to have an in-house chamber for daily tests.
Why Anechoic Spike Size Matters For Frequency
- Anechoic chambers both block RF leakage and suppress reflections; the foam spikes absorb signals to reduce return power.
- Max explained spikes are carbon-loaded foam and that spike geometry and size relative to wavelength determine reflection loss.