USING COMPACT VECTOR NETWORK ANALYZERS FOR MEASURING PERMITTIVITY OF SOIL

The results of a study of the characteristics of low-cost compact vector network analyzers in the frequency range from 100 kHz to 3-6 GHz are presented. Using these instruments, measurements of the complex permittivity of soils and solid dielectric sawdust were carried out. These data were compared with the results of measurement using the ZNB20 vector network analyzer. It is shown that at frequencies above 100 MHz, scattering of experimental points relative to the ZNB20 measurement line is observed. This drawback can be partially eliminated by modeling the frequency spectra of the complex permittivity.