At European Microwave Week (EuMW) 2026, everything RF visited the MilliBox booth, where Jean-Marc Laurent, Founder of MilliBox, showcased the company’s latest over-the-air (OTA) antenna and radar test solutions. Held from 4-9 October at ExCeL London, EuMW 2026 brought together the RF and microwave industry to highlight the latest advances in wireless communications, radar, aerospace, defense, and test and measurement technologies.
At its booth, MilliBox showcased its MBX02K over-the-air (OTA) antenna test system, MBX02 compact anechoic chamber, and GIM06 (Gimbal6) antenna positioner. Designed for mmWave and sub-THz antenna and radar measurements, the platform combines a modular chamber architecture, direct far-field testing capabilities, and an open Python-based software environment that can be customized to suit a wide range of measurement and automation requirements.
MBX02K OTA Antenna Test System
The demonstration was built around the MBX02K, MilliBox’s entry-level OTA antenna test system. Designed as a compact benchtop solution, it combines the MBX02 4-foot anechoic chamber with the GIM06 antenna positioner and a Python-based control platform. The system is popular with universities, research organizations, startups, and teams beginning new mmWave or sub-THz antenna and radar development programs. The compact chamber offers approximately 60 cm of direct far-field measurement capability while maintaining a small laboratory footprint, making it suitable for day-to-day engineering use.
GIM06 Antenna Positioner
MilliBox also showcased the GIM06 (Gimbal6) antenna positioner. The system incorporates laser-assisted alignment capabilities and supports devices under test (DUTs) up to 16 cm wide. The positioner works alongside the chamber’s antenna mounting hardware and alignment targets to simplify DUT setup and improve measurement repeatability. An integrated instrument base was also demonstrated, providing convenient cable routing and instrument placement while allowing engineers to easily switch between measurement operation and DUT handling.
BFx-02 Integration for mmWave and Sub-THz Measurements
An interesting demonstration at the booth was the integration of the BFx-02 Frequency Extension Base from Copper Mountain Technologies with the MilliBox OTA platform. In the video, Jean-Marc explains how the device takes a different approach to high-frequency vector network analysis. Instead of requiring a conventional high-frequency VNA, the platform directly drives external frequency extenders, providing a more compact and cost-effective solution for mmWave and sub-THz measurements.
At EuMW 2026, the system was demonstrated with frequency extenders from Eravant, while also supporting extenders from Virginia Diodes (VDI). Together, the solution provides measurement capabilities from 18 GHz up to 330 GHz, enabling OTA characterization of antennas and radar systems operating at millimeter-wave and sub-terahertz frequencies. The setup highlighted how engineers can perform advanced high-frequency measurements without the complexity and cost associated with traditional high-frequency VNA architectures.
The MilliBox platform uses a modular chamber architecture that can be scaled to suit different measurement requirements. By combining different chamber sections, users can achieve direct far-field measurement distances of up to three meters. Unlike systems that rely on near-field measurements and mathematical transformations, MilliBox performs measurements directly in the far field, enabling antenna and radar characterization under realistic operating conditions.
The company also provides its control software in Python with full source code access. This allows users to customize measurement workflows, integrate proprietary features and radar drivers, and develop their own automated test routines. The software’s open architecture gives engineers greater flexibility when adapting the platform to specific research, development, and production requirements.
At EuMW 2026, MilliBox focused on making advanced OTA antenna and radar measurements more accessible through modular hardware, open software, and strategic partnerships. By combining the MBX02K test system, GIM06 positioner, and integration with the BFx-02 Frequency Extension Base and frequency extenders from Eravant and Virginia Diodes, the company demonstrated a flexible platform for antenna and radar characterization across mmWave and sub-THz frequencies. The showcase highlighted how engineers can build scalable measurement systems that support everything from academic research to next-generation wireless, radar, and sensing applications.
Click here to learn more about direct far-field antenna measurements.