OTA Fundamentals and Testing Methods: Half-Day Technical Workshop Addressing the Basics of OTA Testing, Including a Live Demo
The IEEE EMC (Electromagnetic Compatility) Central Texas Chapter and MTT-S TAMU (IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society at Texas A&M University), in partnership with Intelligent Electromagnetic Sensor Laboratories (iEMSL), Texas A&M ECEN department and ETS-Lindgren, invite Texas A&M engineering students and IEEE Chapter members to a half-day technical OTA (Over-the-Air) workshop that unlocks the essentials of antennas and OTA testing!
From your smartphones to connected cars, antennas and OTA testing are at the heart of today’s wireless world. This workshop will consolidate key concepts from Antenna Basics and Introduction to OTA Testing to provide both a theoretical foundation and practical insights into modern wireless testing.
Date and Time
Location
Hosts
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- Wisenbaker Engineering Research Center
- 188 Bizzell St
- Bryan, Texas
- United States 77801
- Building: Wisenbaker Engineering Building (WEB)
- Room Number: Seminar room WEB 232
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- Co-sponsored by MTT-S TAMU (IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society at Texas A&M University), Intelligent Electromagnetic Sensor Laboratories (iEMSL), Texas A&M ECEN department and ETS-Lindgren
- Starts 16 September 2025 05:00 PM UTC
- Ends 16 October 2025 11:00 PM UTC
- No Admission Charge
Speakers
ETS-Lindgren
OTA Fundamentals Presentation
Biography:
Mingfei Xie is an RF/Microwave System Engineer with ETS-Lindgren based at the company’s headquarters in Cedar Park, Texas. Mingfei has developed test solutions and methodologies for OTA tests and wireless technologies such as 5G, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and UWB, as well as antenna measurement system design. Prior to ETS-Lindgren, Mingfei worked as an RF Application Engineer with National Instruments on RF front end modules validation and production tests. Mingfei has more than 10 years of experience in the RF/wireless test industry. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from Capital Normal University of Beijing, China, and Master’sDegree in Electrical Engineering from Arizona State University.
Intelligent Electromagnetic Sensor Laboratories (iEMSL)
Antenna Testing Basis & Live Demo
Biography:
Marco Iskander serves as the Managing Director of the Intelligent Electromagnetic Sensor Laboratories (iEMSL) and as an Instructional Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Texas A&M University. He earned his BSc. in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering from Ain Shams University, a graduate diploma from Nile University, and both an MASc. and an MBA from the University of Waterloo. His expertise in RF testing developed through various roles at the Centre for Integrated RF Engineering (CIRFE) and the Centre for Intelligent Antenna and Radio Systems (CIARS). Marco began his career as an RF Engineer and RF Lab Manager at the University of Waterloo, where he held various positions over a decade, culminating as Director of Electrical and Computer Engineering Labs. He is a member of the IEEE and a licensed Professional Engineer in Ontario.
IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society at Texas A&M University (MTT-S TAMU)
Biography:
Roman Venegas is the current Chapter Chair of IEEE Microwave Theory and Technology Society at Texas A&M University (MTT-S TAMU), Region 5 MTT-S Student Ambassador, and a first-year Electrical Engineering Master's Candidate at Texas A&M University. Roman founded MTT-S TAMU in February 2025 to help students be introduced to the world of microwave engineering and become confident professionals within the microwave industry. With 80 active members and a combination of 12 company, lab and society sponsors, MTT-S TAMU is paving the way for the next generation of microwave and RF engineers in Aggieland!
The IEEE EMC (Electromagnetic Compatility) Central Texas Chapter
Biography:
Tara Kellogg is Global Director of Business Development at ETS-Lindgren, where she brings over 18 years of global experience in iEMI, RF, EMP, and EMC applications across test & measurements, governmental, industrial, and medical sectors. She specializes in turnkey chamber solutions and shielding technologies.
Tara also serves as IEEE EMC Society WIE Coordinator for North America and Chair of the IEEE EMC Central Texas Chapter, championing diversity and professional development for women in STEM. She is a proud member of AFCOM and can be reached at tara.kellogg@ieee.org.
Agenda
Workshop Topics:
· Antenna Basics – Core principles, radiation patterns, polarization, and efficiency
· Introduction to OTA – Why OTA testing is essential for real-world device performance verification
· OTA Chamber Systems – Design elements, shielding, absorbers, positioning systems, and all relevant instrumentation
· TRP and TIS Tests – Standardized metrics for transmit and receive performance
· Calibration and Measurement Uncertainty – Ensuring accuracy through ripple tests, range calibration, and understanding uncertainty contributions
Why Attend?
Wireless devices today integrate multiple technologies (cellular, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, etc.), making OTA performance critical to product success. This workshop will help participants:
- Understand antenna fundamentals in the context of system performance
- Learn how an OTA chamber replicates free-space conditions for accurate testing
- Gain familiarity with TRP/TIS metrics that define link budgets
- Recognize the importance of calibration and measurement uncertainty in ensuring reliable, repeatable test results
Workshop Schedule
- 10:30am-11:00am Opening Remarks from MTT-S TAMU and IEEE EMC Central Texas Chapter (Roman Venegas & Tara Kellogg)
- 11:00am-12:00pm OTA Presentation (Tara Kellogg and Mingfei Xie))
- 12:00pm-1:00pm Lunch (Pizza and desserts provided by ETS-Lindgren)
- 1:00pm-2:00pm OTA Demo Session (Prof. Marco Iskander and Mingfei Xie)
Workshop Details:
Date: Friday, October 17, 2025
Time: 10:30am – 2:00pm CT
Location: Seminar Room WEB 232 (Presentation) and Lab WEB 160 (Live Demo Session)
Lunch: A complimentary lunch will be provided courtesy of ETS-Lindgren
Format: In-person only
Note: There is no cost to attend this workshop, all Texas A&M engineering students, IEEE members and guests are welcome! However, you MUST register in advance in order to secure seating and lunch! Please register at https://events.vtools.ieee.org/m/501238
Badges will be available onsite for all advance registrants.
Don’t miss the opportunity to expand your knowledge and get a behind-the-scenes look at how world-class wireless devices are tested!
Save your spot today and join us!