ANTENNAS

ENGR. PHIL U. LOMBOY

ANTENNA
A structure that is generally a metallic
object, often a wire or group of wires,
used to convert high frequency signals
into electromagnetic waves and vice
versa.
ANTENNA

A device whose function is to

radiate electromagnetic energy
and/or intercept
electromagnetic radiation
 Basic
Consideratio
n:
Maximum
Power
Transfer
FIELDS OF
AN
ANTENNA
INDUCTION FIELD RADIATION
TRANSITION FIELD
Considered to extend Considered to
out from the antenna
ZONE extend out from a
to a distance of D
2/8 distance of 2D2/
Zone between
the two(2)
Near Field or Fresnel Far Field or
regions
Region Fraunhoffer Region
 BASIC = c/f
FORMULAS
T = 1/f Where:
wavelength
Where: T time
F frequency
F - frequency
C velocity in free
space
CHARACTERISTICS OF
ANTENNAS
 RADIATION
PATTERN
A line drawn to join points
in space which have equal
field intensity due to the
source.
 Major Lobe the
direction of maximum
radiation
Minor Lobe the
direction of minimum
radiation
Null the direction with
radiation intensity
equal to zero.
 a. Antenna
FACTORS height
WHICH
DETERMINE THE b. Power
RADIATION losses
c.
PATTERN OF AN Terminations
ANTENNA at its end
d. Thickness of the
antenna wire
 PRINCIPLE The characteristics of antennas,
OF such as impedance and
RECIPROCIT radiation pattern are identical,
Y regardless of use for reception or
transmission.
ISOTROPIC An antenna that radiates
ANTENNA uniformly in all directions in
space
DIRECTIVE GAIN The ratio of the power density in
a particular direction of one
antenna to the power density
that would be radiated by an
isotropic antenna.
HERTZIAN DIPOLE: HALF WAVE DIPOLE:
1.5 : 1 (1.76 dB) 1.64 : 1 (2.15 dB)
 The longer the antenna, the
higher the directive gain
Non resonant antennas have
NOTES: higher directive gain than
resonant antennas
The directive gain of all
practical antennas is greater
than unity
DIRECTIVITY, D

Maximum
directive gain

The gain in the

direction of one
the major lobes in the antennas radiation patte
of
POWER
GAIN
Overall gain considering
losses and efficiency

Ap = %D

Where: % - antenna
efficiency
D - directivity
 ANTENNA 1. RADIATION
RESISTANCE RESISTANCE, Rr
The ratio of the AC resistance
applied voltage The ratio of the
to the flowing power radiated by
current the antenna to the
square of the
current at the
feedpoint.
2. LOSS RESISTANCE,
Rd
Antenna and Losses in
ground imperfect
resistance dielectric very
Discharge or
near the
corona effects Eddy current
antenna
loss
 ANTENNA
EFFICIENCY
% = ( Rr / Rr + Rd) x
100%
The ratio of the power radiated by the
antenna to the power delivered at the
feedpoint
The ratio of radiation resistance to the
total system resistance
An antenna has a radiation resistance of 72 ohms, a
loss resistance of 8 ohms, and a power gain of 16.
What efficiency and directivity does it have.
a. 90% and 17.78
b. 10% and 17.78
c. 90% and 14.4
d. 10% and 14.4
To produce a power density of 1 mw/m2 in a given
direction, at a distance of 2 km, an antenna radiates
a total of 180 w. An isotropic antenna would have to
radiate 2400 w to produce the same power density at
that distance. What, in dB, is the directive gain of the
practical antenna?
a. 11.25 dB
b. 13.21 dB
c. 10 dB
d. 6 dB
EFFECTIVE RADIATED EFFECTIVE ISOTROPIC
POWER (ERP) RADIATED POWER (EIRP)

The product of the power The power radiated by an

fed to an antenna and its antenna in its favored
power gain. direction, taking the gain of
ERP = Total Radiated the antenna into account as
Power x Power Gain referenced to an isotropic
radiator
 FRONT TO BACK
RATIO
BANDWIDTH
Ratio of the power
The operating at the optimum
frequency direction of the
range of an antenna to that of
antenna the power 180
degrees from the
optimum direction
BEAMWIDTH

The degree of
concentration of the
antennas radiation

Angular separation between two half power points in a

major lobe of an antenna radiation pattern
 POLARIZATION

Space orientation of
the waves that the
antenna radiates

The electric field

vector is always
parallel to the
antenna elements.
 PHYSICAL ELECTRICAL LENGTH
LENGTH
Actual length of the Dependent upon the
antenna velocity coefficient or
L =/2; = c/f
velocity factor
L=k
/2 is the shortest length
of a conductor which will
where k is the dielectric
resonate at a given
constant
frequency
Ex. What is the wavelength of a 500 MHz signal?
a. 60 cm
b. 6 m
c. 0.06 m
d. 60 m
Ex. What is the electrical length of an antenna
operating at a frequency of 500 kHz?
a. 500 m
b. 570 m
c. 600 m
d. 630 m
GROUNDING SYSTEMS
EFFECTS OF GROUND ON
ANTENNAS

Whereas an ungrounded
antenna with its image forms an
antenna array, the bottom of
the grounded antenna is joined
to the top of the image; the
system acts as an antenna of
double size.
 EFFECTS OF GROUND ON
ANTENNAS

Whereas an ungrounded antenna with

its image forms an antenna array, the
bottom of the grounded antenna is
joined to the top of the image; the
system acts as an antenna of double
size.
 GROUND
SCREEN
A network of buried wires directly
under the antenna, consisting of
a large number of radials
extending from the base of the
tower, like spokes on a wheel,
and placed 15 and 30 cm below
the ground.
COUNTERPOIS
E
A substitute for ground screen
in areas of low conductivity,
i.e. rock, mountains and
antennas on top of buildings
ANTENNA HEIGHT
ANTENNA HEIGHT

The actual antenna height

should at least be /4, but
where this is not possible, the
effective height should
correspond to /4.
 TOP A good method of increasing
LOADING radiation resistance by having a
horizontal portion at the top of the
antenna
Effect: to increase the current at
the base of the antenna and to
make the current distribution more
uniform
EFFECTIV Antennas behave as though
E LENGTH (electrically) they were longer
than their physical length

END The result of physical antennas

EFFECT having finite thickness, instead of
being infinitely thin.
ANTENNA COUPLING AND
IMPEDANCE MATCHING
ANTENNA A network composed of reactances and
COUPLING transformers, which may be lumped or
distributed, to provide impedance matching

REASONS To tune out the reactive component of the

antenna impedance
FOR
COUPLING To provide the transmitter with the correct value
of load resistance
To prevent illegal radiation of spurious
frequencies
 ANTENNA COUPLERS

Direct Coupler The antennas are coupled directly to their

transmitters

Coupler Affords a wider reactance range, giving

adequate harmonic suppression
Symmetrical
Coupler Used for balanced lines
IMPEDANCE MATCHING

Stub
Matching
Accomplished by connecting the
coax or twin lead to the stub and
sliding the connections up or
down the stub until the proper
SWR is indicated by a meter
connected in the system.
IMPEDANCE MATCHING

Delta Matching

Accomplished by spreading
the ends of the feedline and
adjusting the spacing until
optimum performance is
reached.
IMPEDANCE MATCHING

Gamma Matching

A sliding clamp is included

in the assembly to permit
fine tuning for minimum
SWR at the time of
installation
IMPEDANCE MATCHING

Quarter A section of transmission

Wave line one quarter
Matchin wavelength long placed
g between the load and
the line
BALUN Used to connect an
unbalanced (coaxial line) to a
balanced antenna
 CURRENT FED (LOW Z
FEED)
An antenna is said to be current fed
if it is fed at the point of current
maximum
Includes all feed point impedances
below 600 ohms

Ex. Center fed half wave dipole or

Marconi antenna
VOLTAGE AND CURRENT CHARACTERISTICS
 VOLTAGE FED (HIGH Z
FEED)
An antenna is said to be voltage fed
if it is fed at the point of voltage
maximum
Includes all feed point impedances in
excess of 600 ohms

Ex. Center fed full wave dipole

REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Device that converts high frequency current
into electromagnetic waves.
a. antenna
b. loudspeaker
c. microphone
d. lightning arrester
2. A polar diagram or graph representing field
strengths or power densities at various angular
positions relative to an antenna.
a. Venn Diagram
b. Figure 8 pattern
c. Lissajous figure
d. Radiation Pattern
3. Refers to the orientation of the electric field
radiated from an antenna.
a. radiation
b. polarization
c. beamwidth
d. bandwidth
4. Pertains to a wire structure placed below the
antenna and erected above the ground which
is a form of capacitive grounding system.
a. image
b. counterpoise
c. antenna orientation
d. polarization
5. What is the technique used to electrically
increase the antenna length?
a. loading
b. using image antenna
c. using antenna arrays
d. increasing antenna height
6. Antenna supported by insulators seems
electrically longer than its physical length due
to
a. image
b. reflection
c. end effect
d. broadside effect
7. The ratio of the power radiated by the
antenna to the total input power.
a. power gain
b. directive gain
c. antenna efficiency
d. radiation efficiency
8. The ratio of the front lobe power to the back
lobe power
a. front to side ratio
b. front to back ratio
c. back to front ratio
d. minor to major ratio
9. The standard reference antenna for directive
gain
a. infinitesimal dipole
b. isotropic antenna
c. elementary doublet
d. half wave dipole
10. The gain of a hertzian dipole with respect
to an isotropic antenna
a. 1.76 dB
b. 2.15 dB
c. 1.5 dB
d. 1.64 dB
11. A half wave dipole antenna is capable of radiating
2000 watts and has a 2.15 dB gain over an isotropic
antenna. How much power must be delivered to the
isotropic antenna to match the field strength of the
directional antenna?
a. 3280 watts
b. 1640 watts
c. 4300 watts
d. 3520 watts
12. An ungrounded antenna near the
ground
a. acts as a single antenna of twice the
height
b. is unlikely to need a ground screen
c. acts as an antenna array
d. must be horizontally polarized
13. Top loading is sometimes used with an
antenna in order to increase its
a. effective height
b. bandwidth
c. beamwidth
d. input capacitance
14. Very low signal strength in an
antenna
a. minor lobes
b. nulls
c. antenna patterns
d. major lobes
15. A horizontal antenna is ______
polarized.
a. vertically
b. horizontally
c. centrally
d. circularly
16. An antenna with unity
gain.
a. rhombic
b. half wave dipole
c. isotropic
d. whip
17. What is the front to back ratio of an
antenna which radiates 500 watts in a
northernly direction and 50 watts in a
southernly direction?
a. 25000 dB
b. 10 dB
c. 100 dB
d. 20 dB
18. Good grounding is important
for
a. Horizontal antennas
b. Broadside array
c. Vertical antennas
d. Yagi Uda Antennas
19. If the radiated power increases 10.89 times,
the antenna current increases by
a. 3.3 times
b. 6.6 times
c. 1.82 times
d. 10.89 times
20. Shortening effect of an antenna that makes
it appear as if it were 5% longer
a. end effect
b. flywheel effect
c. skin effect
d. capture effect
21. If an antenna is too short for the wavelength
being used, the effective length can be
increased by adding
a. capacitance in series
b. inductance in series
c. resistance in parallel
d. resistance in series
22. Actual height of an antenna should be at
least
a. 1
b. /2
c. /4
d.
23. The directivity pattern of an isotropic
radiator
a. figure 8
b. a sphere
c. unidirectional cardioid
d. parabola
24. A Hertz antenna is operating on a frequency of
2182 kHz and consists of a horizontal wire that is
hanged between two towers. What is the frequency of
its third harmonic?
a. 727 kHz
b. 6546 kHz
c. 436 kHz
d. 6.546 kHz
25. What is the gain of an antenna over a half
wavelength dipole when it has 6 dB gain over an
isotropic radiator?
a. 6 dB
b. 8.1 dB
c. 3.9 dB
d. 10 d
BASIC TYPES OF
ANTENNAS
 ISOTROPIC ANTENNA ELEMENTARY DOUBLET
a standard reference antenna , A theoretical antenna shorter
radiating equally in all than a wavelength used as a
directions, so that the radiation standard to which all other
pattern is spherical. antenna characteristics can be
compared
 = 60 le I sin / r
Where angle of axis and point of maximum
radiation
field Le antenna
strength length
I antenna current
r distance
Ex. An elementary doublet is 10 cm long. If the 10
MHz current flowing through it is 2 A, what is the field
strength 20 km away from the doublet in a direction of
maximum radiation?
a. 6.28 uV/m
b. 62.83 uV/m
c. 15.92 uV/m
d. 1.59 uV/m
DIPOLE

An antenna made up of
two wires bent at 90
degrees to each other
so as to be in the same
line and signal is fed at
the center
 HALF WAVE
DIPOLE
Length is /2 and
radiation pattern is a
toroid (bidirectional)
NON-RESONANT ANTENNA

One in which there are no standing

waves
Radiation pattern is directional

Standing waves are suppressed by the

use of a correct termination to ensure
that no power is reflected, so that only a
forward traveling wave will exist.
 LONG WIRE ANTENNA

Lengths in the order of several

wavelengths
When an antenna is 2 or more
wavelengths long, it provides gain and a
multilobe radiation pattern.
When terminated at one end, it becomes
unidirectional.
RHOMBIC ANTENNA
Consists of non-resonant antenna elements
arranged differently, i.e. planar rhombus
Length of equal radiators = 2 to
8 s
Angle of tilt: 40 to 75
Rt = 800 ohms
Rin = 650 to 700 ohms
RHOMBIC ANTENNA

Non-resonant antenna used for long

distance sky wave transmission or
reception of horizontally polarized
waves over distances from 200 to
over 3000 miles at frequencies from
4 to 22 MHz.
RESONANT ANTENNA

Standing waves exist, caused by

the presence of both a reflected
traveling wave and the forward
wave.
Antenna whose length is a
multiple of /4s
HERTZ ANTENNA

An antenna system in which the

ground is not an essential part

Half wave antenna used for

frequencies above 2 MHz

Half Wave Dipole

MARCONI ANTENNA
Grounded Quarter
Wavelength antenna
Quarter Wavelength
antenna used for
frequencies below 2 MHz;
omnidirectional
Vertical Monopole
ANTENNA ARRAYS
ANTENNA
ARRAY
A radiating system
consisting of
individual radiators
or elements placed
close together so as
to be within each
others induction
field
 DRIVEN PARASITIC
ELEMENT ELEMENT
Element of an array Radiation not directly
connected to the connected to the output
output of the of the transmitter
transmitter
Receives energy through
the induction field of a
driven element
 REFLECTOR DIRECTOR

A parasitic element A parasitic element

longer than the shorter than the
driven element and driven one from which
close to it reduces it receives energy;
signal strength in its tends to increase
own direction and radiation in its own
increases it in the direction
opposite direction.
BROADSIDE ARRAY

Simplest array which consists of a number of

dipoles of equal size, equally spaced along a
straight line with all dipoles fed in the same
phase from the same source.
Typical antenna length: 2 to
10 s
Typical spacing: /2 or /4
Number of elements: dozens
ENDFIRE ARRAY

Physical arrangement is the

same as that of the broadside
array
The magnitude of the current in
each element is still the same as
in every other element, there is
now a phase difference between
these currents.
TURNSTILE ARRAY

Consists of two
horizontal, half wave
antennas mounted at
right angles to each
other
 YAGI UDA ANTENNA
An array consisting of a driven element and
one or more parasitic elements arranged
collinearly and close together.
FOLDED DIPOLE

Single antenna
which consists of 2
elements, one is fed
directly and the
other coupled
conductively at the
ends.
LOG PERIODIC ANTENNA

Main feature is frequency

independence for both radiation
resistance and pattern
Bandwidths of 10:1 are
achievable with ease

Radiation patterns: uni and

bidirectional
LOG PERIODIC ANTENNA

Main feature is frequency

independence for both
radiation resistance and
pattern
PYRAMIDAL ANTENNA
It looks and works in much the
same way as a standard log
periodic antenna, with one big
difference: the two halves of the
transmission line are separated
and positioned as a V, so each
half of the transmission line is in
effect a single wire transmission a type of log periodic
line. antenna
UHF AND MICROWAVE
ANTENNAS
 PARABOLIC ANTENNA

Works on the principle of a parabola

Parabola a plane curve defined as
the locus of a point which moves so
that its distance from another point
(called the focus) plus its distance
from a straight line (directrix) is
constant.
PARABOLIC ANTENNA
All waves coming from the
source and reflected by the
parabola will travel in the
same distance by the time
they reach the directrix, no
matter from what point on
the parabola they are
reflected.
 CASSEGRAIN ANTENNA

an antenna in which the radiator is

mounted at or near the surface of a
concave main reflector and is aimed
at a convex secondary reflector
slightly inside the focus of the main
reflector.
BEAMWIDTH Where:
D= mouth diameter, meters

= 70 / 0 = beamwidth between nulls,

D degrees
= beamwidth between half power
0 = 2
points, degrees
= wavelength,
meters
GAIN OF A PARABOLIC
ANTENNA
Ap = 6 ( D/)2
Where:
D= mouth diameter,
Ap =meters
Power Gain
= wavelength, meters
Ex. Calculate the beamwidth between nulls of
a 1m paraboloid reflector used at 6GHz.
a. 3.5
b. 7
c. 1.75
d. 14
Ex. Calculate the gain of the paraboloid
reflector in the previous problem.
a. 9600
b. 2400
c. 1600
d. 2800
HORN ANTENNA

Ideal as primary feed antenna

for parabolic reflectors and
lenses
 LENS
ANTENNA
Used as a collimator of frequencies
in excess of 3 GHz
 HELICAL ANTENNA
Broadband VHF and UHF antenna
which is used when it is desired to
provide circular polarization
characteristics
Consists of a loosely wound helix,
backed up by a ground plane, which
is simply a screen made of chicken
wire
DISCONE ANTENNA
A combination of a disk and a cone
in close proximity
Characterized by an enormous
bandwidth for both input impedance
and radiation pattern
A constant angle, low gain antenna;
omnidirectional
LOOP ANTENNA

Used for direction finding,

because they do not radiate
in a direction at right angles
to the plane of the loop.

For portable domestic Circular or square shaped

receivers
PHASED ARRAY
Group of antennas,
connected to one
transmitter or receiver,
whose radiation beam
can be adjusted
electronically without
physically moving
parts; used in radars.
WHIP ANTENNA

the most common example of a

monopole antenna, an antenna with a
single driven element and a ground
plane.
The whip antenna is a stiff but flexible
wire mounted, usually vertically, with
one end adjacent to a ground plane.
 SLOT ANTENNA
consists of a metal surface,
usually a flat plate, with a hole or
slot cut out.
When the plate is driven as an
antenna by a driving frequency,
the slot radiates electromagnetic
waves in similar way to a dipole
antenna.
 NOTCH
ANTENNA
An open ended slot
antenna
Since the currents are zero
at the middle of the slot,
we may cut the ground
plane here to make a
notch antenna.
ANTENNA SUPPORT
STRUCTURES
ANTENNA SUPPORTING STRUCTURES

POLE

Used to signify one piece

of structure similar to the
common telephone pole
MAST TOWER
Used to designate a Applied to a
structure made of very large, high
metal or wood structure,
which may be either which in most
in a form of a one cases, is
piece or constructed of
sectionalized metal
structure
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. A non-resonant antenna that is capable of
operating satisfactorily over a relatively wide
bandwidth, making it ideally suited for HF
transmission.
a. end-fire array
b. rhombic
c. broadside array
d. log periodic
2. Antenna that is independent of their radiation
resistance and radiation pattern to frequency. It
has bandwidth ratios of 10:1 or greater.
a. loop antenna
b. helical
c. Yagi Uda antenna
d. Log periodic antenna
3. A half wave antenna
a. Hertz
b. Marconi
c. Parabolic
d. Vertical Monopole
4. Antenna which is used very frequently but almost
entirely as a reception antenna and is usually found
at the back of table radios.
a. loop antenna
b. folded antenna
c. rhombic
d. log periodic
5. One of the special purpose antennas which has
broadband VHF and UHF that is ideally suited for
applications for which radiating circular rather than
horizontal or vertical polarized electromagnetic
waves are required.
a. loop antenna
b. phased array
c. folded dipole
d. helical
6. What are the two types of antenna elements?
a. driven and reflector
b. director and reflector
c. parasitic and director
d. driven and parasitic
7. Which one of the following terms does not
apply to the Yagi Uda array?
a. good bandwidth
b. parasitic elements
c. folded dipole
d. high gain
8. Indicate the antenna that is not
wideband.
a. discone
b. folded dipole
c. helical
d. Marconi
9. One of the following is not an omnidirectional
antenna
a. halfwave dipole
b. log periodic antenna
c. discone
d. Marconi
10. One of the following consists of nonresonant
antennas
a. rhombic
b. folded dipole
c. end fire array
d. broadside array
11. Which of the following is best excited
from a waveguide?
a. biconical
b. horn
c. helical
d. discone
12. An antenna that is circularly
polarized
a. parabolic reflector
b. Yagi Uda
c. Helical
d. Circular loop
13. What is the polarization of a discone
antenna?
a. vertical
b. horizontal
c. circular
d. spiral
14. When speaking of antennas, ____ is a section
which would be a complete antenna by itself.
a. image
b. top loading
c. bay
d. quarterwave
15. ______ is an antenna with a number of half
wave antennas in it.
a. antenna array
b. tower
c. omnidirectional
d. rhombic
16. Which antenna radiates an omnidirectional
pattern in the horizontal plane with vertical
polarization?
a. Marconi
b. Discone
c. Horn
d. Helical
17. An antenna with very high gain and very
narrow beamwidth.
a. helical
b. discone
c. horn
d. parabolic dish
18. An open ended slot
antenna
a. helical
b. rhombic
c. notch
d. cassegrain
19. Which antenna is properly
terminated?
a. Marconi
b. Rhombic
c. Dipole
d. Yagi Uda
20. What is the radiation characteristic of a
dipole antenna?
a. omnidirectional
b. bidirectional
c. unidirectional
d. hemispherical
21. An antenna which is one tenth
wavelength long.
a. hertz antenna
b. loop antenna
c. Marconi antenna
d. Elementary doublet
22. What is the minimum number of turns a
helical antenna must have?
a. 3
b. 4
c. 5
d. 6
23. An antenna made up of a number of full
wavelengths
a. elementary doublet
b. log periodic
c. long wire
d. whip
24. Which of the following improves
antenna directivity?
a. driven element
b. reflector
c. director
d. parasitic element
25. The frequency of operation of a dipole
antenna cut to a length of 3.4 m
a. 88 MHz
b. 44 MHz
c. 22 MHz
d. 11 MHz
26. Where are the voltage nodes in a half wave
antenna?
a. at the ends
b. three quarters of the way from the feedpoint
towards the end
c. one half of the way from the feedpoint towards
the end
d. at the feedpoint
27. A simple half wavelength antenna
radiates the strongest signal
a. at 45 degrees to its axis
b. parallel to its axis
c. at right angles to its axis
d. at 60 degrees to its axis
28. An antenna array which is highly directional
at right angles to the plane of the array
a. Broadside
b. End fire
c. Turnstile
d. Log periodic
29. What is the usual electrical length of a
driven element in an HF beam antenna?
a. /4
b. /2
c. 3/4
d. 1
30. The input terminal impedance at the
center of a folded dipole antenna
a. 72
b. 300
c. 50
d. 73
31. The length of a Marconi antenna to operate
with 985 kHz is
a. 200 ft
b. 500 ft
c. 250 ft
d. 999 ft
32. The purpose of stacking elements on an
antenna
a. sharper directional pattern
b. increased gain
c. improved bandpass
d. all of these
33. Which of the following antennas is used for testing
and adjusting a transmitter for proper modulation,
amplifier operation and frequency accuracy?
a. elementary doublet
b. real
c. isotropic
d. dummy
 Phil Lomboy po,
PROUD TO BE KAPUSO