Solutions to End of Chapter 24 Problems

1. What are the 4 engineering factors associated with the design of antennas?

Gain, beam pattern/beamwidth, bandwidth, and antenna size.

2. a) Calculate the length, in meters, of a dipole antenna that is designed to receive a station at AM 800 on the dial of an
AM radio.

For AM 800, the transmit frequency is 800 kHz, so wavelength is

λ = c / f = 3x108 / 800x103 = 375 m
For a dipole antenna, antenna length is λ/2 = 187.5 m

b) Calculate the length, in meters, of a monopole antenna that is designed to receive the FM station at 107.1MHz.

For FM 107.1, the transmit frequency is 107.1 MHz, so wavelength is

λ = c / f = 3x108 / 107.1x106 = 2.8 m
For a monopole antenna, antenna length is λ/4 = 0.7 m

3. Given the following radiation pattern, where each ring represents a 1 dB change in power, what is the beamwidth? The
sidelobe level? The front-to-back ratio?

Beamwidth = 40° as shown

SLLdB = Gmainlobe (dB) – Gsidelobe(dB)

= 0 dB – (−5.5 dB) = 5.5 dB

FBRdB = Gmainlobe (dB) – Gbacklobe(dB)

= 0 dB – (−5.5 dB) = 5.5 dB

4. Given the following radiation pattern, where each ring represents a 2 dB change in power, what is the beamwidth? The
sidelobe level? The front-to-back ratio?

Beamwidth = 90° as shown

SLLdB = Gmainlobe (dB) – Gsidelobe(dB)

= 0 dB – (−7 dB) = 7 dB

FBRdB = Gmainlobe (dB) – Gbacklobe(dB)

= 0 dB – (−10 dB) = 10 dB
5. The power applied to an antenna with a gain of 4 dB is 13 W. What is the EIRP?

EIRP = Pt Gt = 13 W x 100.4 = 32.65 W

6. What does it mean for an antenna to have directivity, and what are the advantages and disadvantages of a directional
antenna?

Directivity means the antenna has the ability to focus transmitted power in a certain direction, rather than all
directions like an isotropic antenna.

Advantages: Can transmit with less power for the same range, or can transmit a longer range with the same
power. Can reduce interference problems with other transmitters at the same frequency. Can reduce likelihood of
eavesdropping. Can reduce detectability of transmitting.

Disadvantages: With high gain, antennas can be very large. Also, harder to keep pointing at the receiver in a
mobile situation.

7. Name and describe the three basic elements in a Yagi antenna.

Driven element: a half-wave dipole antenna

Directors: metal rods that help point a Yagi’s antenna in a certain direction.
Reflectors: metal rods that reflect the dipole’s transmission towards the directors.

8. The length of the driven element in a Yagi antenna is 900 mm; what is its operating frequency?

λ/2 = 0.9 m, so λ = 1.8 m. f = c / λ = 3 x 108 / 1.8 = 166.67 MHz

9. The mainlobe of an antenna has a maximum gain value of +18 dB at its peak point of forward direction. The same
antenna has a gain of −5dB at the peak point of its rear lobe. Determine the front-to-back ratio of the antenna.

FBRdB = Gmainlobe (dB) – Gbacklobe(dB) = 18 dB – (−5 dB) = 23 dB

10. Why do radio waves not always follow a straight line? Explain how large scale propagation phenomena are both useful
and harmful.

11. A ship-to-ship marine-band VHF radio operates at 156 MHz and is limited to a maximum of 25 watts. The signal
propagates via space propagation, so it is limited in range to direct line-of-sight. A Coast Guard transmitting station on
shore has a monopole antenna that is 350 feet tall.

(a) If a ship is 35 miles (56,315 m) away from the CG station, how high must the ship’s monopole antenna be mounted
to ensure reception?

d  2h1  2h2 , so 35  2  350   2  h2  h2  36.5 ft

Height is 36.5 feet

(b) Using the Friis Free-Space equation, calculate the received power at the ship.

Pt = 25 W Gt = 1.45 Gr = 1.45

d = 56,315 m

λ = c / f = 3x108 / 156x106 = 1.92 m

t t Gr 
2
PG (25W)(1.45)(1.45)(1.92m)2
Pr  
 4 d   4 56,315m 
2 2

 3.87 1010 W
 Received power is 3.87 x10-10 W

(c) If someone is standing in a life raft with a hand-held VHF radio (assume antenna height of 6’), what is the maximum
range from which they could contact the ship in part a?

d  2h1  2h2  2  36.5   2  6   12 miles

Distance is 12 miles

12. In a certain communication link, the transmitted power (Pt) is 5 W and along the way to the receiver, the reduction in
power is 100 dB. What is the received power in mW?
PLdB ( d )  Pt ( dBm )  Pr ( dBm ) ( d ) so Pr ( dBm ) ( d )  Pt ( dB )  PLdB ( d )
 Pt ( mW )   5000 mW 
Pt ( dBm )  10 log10    10 log10    37 dBm
 1 mW   1 mW 
Pr ( dBm ) ( d )  37 dBm  100 dB  63 dBm

Received power is −63 dBm

Thus the power is 5  10 7 mW

13. Suppose you’re in Paris using the European cell phone system (called GSM), and a cell tower there has an antenna gain
of 10.0 dB. For GSM, your phone transmits at 900 MHz with a power level of 500 mW, and an antenna gain of 5.0 dB.
How far from the tower could you be while maintaining the capability to communicate? (Cellular “dead zone” occurs
when Pr < -110dBm.)