Antennas and Wave Propagation

Unit code EEB861

Unit title Antennas and Wave Propagation
Credit points: 15
Course coordinator: Dr. Satyanand Singh
Tutor(s) To be announced
Lectures: 3 hours per week
Small group tutorials: 1 hour per week
Labs: 3 hours per week
Self-directed learning: You are expected to spend 3-4 hours per week for this course.
Prerequisite:
Recognition of prior  Other relevant programmes or relevant work experience. It will
learning can be granted require a review of a portfolio of evidence by school’s RPL
if you have recently committee
completed:

1.0 Course Description

An antenna is a region of transition between a transmission line and space and is
usually defined as the structure associated with the region of transition between a
guided wave and free space wave. On transmission, the antenna accepts energy from a
transmission line and radiates into the space and on reception the antenna gathers
energy from an incident wave and sends it to a transmission line. The directional
pattern of a receiving antenna is identical with its directional pattern of a transmitting
antenna. A large variety of antennas have been developed to date, they range from a
simple structure such as monopoles and diploes to complex structure such as phased
array.

This course will develop knowledge and skills on particular type of antennas selected
for a certain application.

1.1 Unit Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this course, students should be able to:
1. Analyse and synthesise the concept of wireless channel.
2. Apply the specifics for channels within the EM spectrum for communication.
3. Analyse wave properties using Maxwell’s equations.
4. Use various statistical models to determine the antenna parameters.
5. Use computer application packages to analyse antenna parameters for effective
reception and transmission within the scope of this subject and interpret data
produced by these packages.
6. Analyse the loss of signals (fading) in communication and how to minimize/avoid it.

2.0 Resources
Prescribed Text
1. Balanis, C. A. Antenna Theory Analysis and Design .John Wiley & Sons Inc.4th
Edition 2005, ISBN 0-471-66782-X
2. Saunder S. R. & N-Zavala, A. A. Antennas and Propagation for wireless
communication 2nd Edition John Wiley & Sons Ltd, 2007, ISBN 978-0-470-84879-1

Reference Text
1. Blake, R. Comprehensive Electronic Communication. West Publishing Company,
 1997 ISBN 0-314-20140-8
2. Kraus, J. D. Carver K. R. Electromagnetics 2nd Edition Mc Graw Hill Book
Company.1973 ISBN 0-07-035396-4
3. Sadiku M.N.O, Principles of Electromagnetic Fields, 4th Ed. Oxford University Press,
ISBN 13-976-0-19-806229-5.

3.0 Course Outline

WEEK 1:
Review of E and H Fields associated with stationary charges, charges moving with
constant velocity.
New concept of E, H of accelerated charges - Conditions for radiation.
Radiation mechanisms – E and H fields emitted by accelerated charges.
Concept of production of EM waves.
Review of Maxell’s equations and the wave equations.
Solutions to the wave equations in an unbound media – Plane wave solutions.
Concept of wireless channel.
The electromagnetic spectrum – ranges and their applications.
Practical antenna
ANTENNA FUNDAMENTALS
WEEK 2 & 3:
Definition of Hertz dipole antenna (Theoretical).
Brief concept of retarded potential.
Near – field and Far – field regions and their properties.
Fundamental parameters of any antenna: Radiation power density, Radiation intensity,
Radiation pattern, Beam width, Directivity, Radiation resistance, Antenna efficiency,
Gain, Beam Efficiency, Bandwidth, Polarization, Input Impedance, Antenna Radiation
Efficiency.
Antenna Effective Length and Equivalent Areas, Maximum Directivity and Maximum
Effective Area, Antenna Temperature.
The reciprocity theorem.
WEEK 4:
Linear antenna: Concept of resonant and non-resonant antenna.
The wire antenna. Extension of Hertz dipole antenna to half-wave dipole antenna, power
pattern, radiation resistance.
Concept of aperture for wire antenna.
Effect increasing antenna length.
WEEK 5:
Folded dipole antenna.
Quarter wave antenna.
Yagi – Uda antenna with parasitic elements.
Helical Antenna and circular polarization.
Loop antenna: comparison of small loop and short dipole antenna.
Radiation resistance of loop antenna
WEEK 6 &7:
Antenna array.
Analysis of two element array.
Array factor, pattern multiplication.
Broad side array and End fire array.
Beam steering.
Design procedure.
Extension to N element array, directivity.
 Planar array.
Broadband dipoles – Triangular sheet, Bow-tie.
WEEK 8:
Aperture antennas: Field equivalence principle.
Radiation equations.
Rectangular and circular apertures.
Slot antenna, radiation pattern.
Horn antennas: Beam width.
E plane, H plane antenna, Patch antennas.
Microstrip antennas.
WEEK 9:
Reflector antennas: Different types – plane, corner, parabolic and spherical.
WAVE PROPAGATION
WEEK 10 & 11:
Basic modes of propagation: Ground waves, sky waves, space waves.
Sky waves: Structure of ionosphere, C, D, E, F1, F2 layers.
Critical frequency, MUF.
Faraday rotation.
Space waves: Effective Isotropic Radiated Power, Power Flux Density.
Free-Space Path Loss, Friis Equation, Basic Link Equation for Received Power.
Application: Radar equation

WEEK 12 & 13:

System Noise, Noise Figure, Noise Temperature, System Noise Temperature.
Introduction to satellite communications: Basic communications satellite system
definitions: link parameters, orbits, frequency bands.
Kepler’s law, orbital parameters, Orbits in use: LEO, MEO, HEO and GEO (GSO).
Satellite links: elevation and azimuth angles.
Earth station antennas and alignment.
Satellite pay load: Transponder and antennas

WEEK 14:
Summary & Conclusion

4.0 Assessments
This assessment
Weight relates to the
Assessment Type towards Outline of assessment following expected
Grade Point learning
outcomes
Assignments 10% 1-6
Class Tests 25% 1-6
Lab Exercises 15% 1-6
This is a summative assessment
that will test your ability to apply
Final Exam 50% 1-6
the concepts taught over the
semester