International Islamic University, Islamabad

Antennas and Wave Propagation Lab

LAB EXPERIMENT #4: Study of Pyramidal Horn Antenna.

Group Members:

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Section: ………..………………………………………………

Date of Experiment: ………………………………………..

Report submitted on: ……………………………………….

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Instructor’s Signature: ……………………………......

Lab03: Pyramidal Horn Antenna

Lab Experiment 3: Study of Pyramidal Horn Antenna.

Objective:
In this experiment, the student will observe the radiation pattern of a pyramidal horn
antenna. Upon completion of the laboratory experimentation, the student will able to:
1. Describe the type of beam produced by a Pyramidal horn antenna.
2. Determine how the design of the horn antenna determines its gain.
3. Describe the wave shape and polarization of the beam produced by a flare-type
microwave antenna.
4. Describe the difference between the E and H plane radiation patterns of flare horn
antenna.

Brief Theory:
The pyramidal horn, like other antenna horns, has directional gain and beam width depending
upon the dimensions of width and height of the horn opening. The greater the “a” dimension and
smaller the “b” dimension, the more fanlike is the radiated lobe. The fan will be greater in height
than the width. If the horn is rotated so that the “b” dimension is parallel to the horizon, then the
fan will be wider in the horizontal plane and narrower in the vertical plane. The direction of fan
depends on the application of horn.

Fig 4.1 Pyramidal Horn Antenna

Antennas and Wave Propagation Lab (EE 449 L) Page 25

Lab03: Pyramidal Horn Antenna

It must be kept in mind that if the beam is to be increased in both the vertical and horizontal
directions, then the power of beam must be increased. In the laboratory experimentation, the
beam of the antenna is determined from physical measurement made on the horn.

PROCEDURE
 Physically measure the aperture of the pyramidal horn and record the readings as below:

a1 = __________cm , b1 = ___________cm

 The gain of the horn is given by :

g = a1 × b1 × 6.4 / λ² G dB = 10 log (g)

G = ___________dB

 Next mount the horn antenna with E field in vertical plane on the turn table and connect
the horn antenna port with the receiver through a coaxial cable.

 Align the transmitting antenna with the horn and set the distance between them such both
are in far field zone. For this repeat the calculation given in experiment # 1. The D
dimension will now equal to diagonal dimension of the horn aperture.

D = __________ cm λ =__________ cm

Minimum distance between Tx and Rx=2D2/λ= _______________cm

 Switch on transmitter and receiver. Set receiver gain till you get of the meter deflection
within its scale. Readjust alignment of the antenna till you get maximum signal in the
receiver.

 Now press start to rotate the antenna on turntable automatically. After complete rotation
plot the trace and save the results with at least two different angle steps. Then record the
result by manual rotation by push switch with fix step of 2.5 degrees. For each setting
note the corresponding level of the received signal and record the results below:

 Plot the radiation pattern on polar. The radiation plot will be E plane plot of horn antenna.
Measure -3dB beam with from the plot and record the results in first table of next page:

-3dB Beam width of the horn antenna in E plane = ………. deg.

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Lab03: Pyramidal Horn Antenna

level Relative level Relative

θ˚ CW θ˚ CCW
dBm Power (dB) dBm Power (dB)
0 0

2.50 -2.50

5.00 -5.00

7.50 -7.50

10.0 -10.0

12.5 -12.5

15.0 -15.0

17.5 -17.5

20.0 -20.0

22.5 -22.5

25.0 -25.0

27.5 -27.5

30.0 -30.0

32.5 -32.5

35.0 -35.0

37.5 -37.5

40.0 -40.0

42.5 -42.5

45.0 -45.0

. - .

. - .

. - .

. - .

. - .

. - .

. - .

65.0 -65.0

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Lab03: Pyramidal Horn Antenna

 Rotate the transmitting antenna and the receiving horn antenna by 90 and repeat above steps.
Record the results according to above table with angle φ

 Plot the radiation pattern on polar. The radiation plot will be H plane plot of horn. Measure -
3dB beam with from the plot and record the results below:

-3dB Beam width of the horn antenna in H plane = ……… deg.

Answer following questions:

1. What are E-plane and H-plane horn antennas?

2. What is a conical horn?

3. For small aperture size (a1 & b1) what is effect of 50% reduction in the horn length on

a) the radiation pattern b) VSWR of the horn?

Antennas and Wave Propagation Lab (EE 449 L) Page 28