> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.motus.org/en/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.motus.org/en/stations/station-inspection/antenna-inspection.md). # Antenna Inspection Antennas are finely-tuned instruments that can easily be damaged without noticing. Proper inspection of antennas at the time of installation during regular maintenance checks ensures your antennas operate the expected frequency and sensitivity. Both the antenna and coaxial cable are passive devices, meaning they do not require power to operate and instead are designed to carry radio energy from the environment to the receiver. ## About Antenna Tuning Antennas used in the Motus are tuned to listen to a narrow band of frequencies near the 'nominal' frequency (the frequency at which tags are manufactured to emit a signal). This helps reduce the amount of environmental noised being received. A poorly-tuned antenna will receive more noise and as a 'louder' signal than the real tag pulses they are built to detect. ## About coaxial cable Coaxial cables carry the signal from the antenna to the receiver with two conductors: central core and a coaxial shield, separated by an insulator. The coaxial shield protects the central core from interference. A damaged coax cable or connector can result in loss of the signal from the antenna and/or increased noise. ## Assessing Tuning Frequency using the NanoVNA {% embed url="" %} --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://docs.motus.org/en/stations/station-inspection/antenna-inspection.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.