TRANSMISSION LINES AND ANTENNAS Displacement is PERPENDICULAR to the

direction of propagation (E.g. Electromagnetic

Block Diagram Waves)
Communication
channel or Transverse Electromagnetic Waves
Transmitter Transmission
Receiver (TEM)- has two Spatial Quadrature: E-fields
medium (electrical fields) and H-fields (magnetic fields).
Source Destination  Incident Waves
Source -> Tx. Lines -> Destination
Transmission Media
 Guided Media  Reflected Waves
 Copper Wire Source <- Tx. Lines <- Destination
 Optical Fiber
(Wired; Physical Facility) Sound waves: 1100 ft/sec (air)
TEM @ vacuum: is = to speed of light (3x10^8)
 Unguided Media Wave velocity: v=vfc
 Via Air
 Via Free Space Tx line > λ/16
(Wireless; Earth’s Atmosphere or Vacuum)
Types of Transmission Lines
Cable Transmission Medium Wired Transmission lines
 Physical Facility  Metallic Conductor Transmission Lines
 Metallic Cables (Cooper)  Parallel Wire Line
Open wire  Coaxial Line
Twin Lead  Stripline
Twisted Pair  Microstrip
Coaxial Cable  Higher Order Transmission Line
 WaveGuides
 Optical Cables (Plastic and glass core  Optical Fiber
fibers)
Single Mode Balanced Transmission Lines- Also known
Multimode as differential line.

Metallic Transmission Lines- a metallic Unbalanced Transmission lines- Also

conductor system used to transfer electrical energy
from one point to another using electrical current flow.
Few inches to several thousand miles.
Used to propagate dc or low frequency
ac or to propagate very high frequency.
Transmission line behavior at lower
frequencies and high frequencies.
 Parallel-conductor Transmission Lines
 Coaxial Transmission Lines
Electromagnetic Waves
 Longitudinal Waves
Displacement is ALONG the direction of
propagation. (E.g. Surface wave of water,
sound waves)
 Transverse Waves
known as single-ended line.
Balun (BALanced to Unbalanced)- a
circuit device used to connect a balanced
transmission line to an unbalanced load.
 Narrowband
 Choke
 Sleeve
Parallel-conductor transmission lines-
comprised of two or more metallic conductors
(usually copper) separated by a nonconductive
insulating material called DIELECTRIC.
Common Type:
 Open Wire transmission Line
 Twin lead
 Twisted-pair transmission line
1
 Two types of Coax Cables:
Open wire transmission line- consist of  Ring Air-filled
two parallel wires, closely spaced and separated by  Solid Flexible
air.
The distance between two conductors Coaxial cable connectors:
generally between 2 and 6 inches.  BNC (Bayonet Neill Concelman)
The dielectric is AIR. Z=600 ohms  N-type Connector

Twin Lead- essentially the same with open
wire transmission line except that it is separated by
solid dielectric than air.
The distance between two conductors
is 5/16 inch for television transmission cable.
Z=300 ohms.
Rigid Air-filled- has a center conductor
surrounded coaxially by a tubular outer conductor
and the insulating material is air.
Some rigid coax lines are pressurized
with an inert gas to prevent moisture from entering.
Z= 50 ohms

Twisted-pair transmission line- formed Solid Flexible- consist of a flexible inner

by twisting together two insulated conductors. conductor and a concentric outer conductor of metal
braid.
Twisted pair configurations: The two are separated by a
 Pair continuous insulating material.
 Units Z= 75 ohms
 Cores
RJ (Registered Jack) Connector-
Two types of twisted-pair: standard for Twisted Pair Cables. RJ-45- common for
 UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair)-common used LAN, RJ-11 common for telephone lines.
for computer connections; more flexible Standardized physical network
compared to STP. interface used to connect a telecom or a data
 STP (Shielded Twisted Pair) – with metal equipment.
shield for external noise. Used for business
RG (Radio Government)- standard for
Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)- Coaxial cables. For military specifications.
also known as CROSSTALK. 2 twist/ft needed to twist.
Category Impedance Use
When: RG-59 foam 75 Ω Cable TV
Category ↑ = Data Rate ↑ RG-59/A-AU 73 Ω
Category ↑ = Frequency ↑ RG-58 foam 50 Ω Thin Ethernet
Category ↑ = Number of twist ↑ RG-58/A-AU 53 Ω
DATA COMMS: Higher category = Higher data rate RG-11 50 Ω Thick Ethernet
Attenuation ↑ = Frequency ↑ = Length ↑ RG-8A/U foam 50 Ω
American Wire Gauge (AWG) ↑ = Diameter ↓ = RG-8/A-AU 52 Ω
Resistance ↑
⍴𝑙 𝜋𝑑2 Electrical Degree Separation Formula:
𝑅= 𝐴=
𝐴 4 𝜆 𝐿
AWG 19 = most common =
360 ° Ɵ
Coaxial (Concentric) Transmission Line-
coaxial cables are used extensively for high-
frequency applications to reduce losses and and to
Metallic Line Equivalent Circuit
isolate transmission paths.
Provides excellent shielding against
Primary Constants- are uniformly
external interference.
distributed throughout the length of the line and,
2
therefore, are commonly called DISTRIBUTED  Propagation Constant/Coefficient- is used to
PARAMETERS. express the attenuation and the phase shift
 Series Resistance per unit length of a transmission line.
 Series Inductance
 Shunt Conductance 𝛾 = 𝛼 + 𝑗𝛽
 Shunt Capacitance Where:
γ= propagation constant (unit less)
Secondary Constants- the transmission α= attenuation coefficient (nepers/unit length)
characteristics of a transmission line. β= phase shift coefficient (nepers/ unit length)
 Characteristic Impedance- also known as
SURGE IMPEDANCE. It is an impedance seen Complex Quantity:
looking into the INFINITELY LONG LINE.
The impedance seen looking through
a FINITE LEGNTH OF LINE that is terminated 𝛾 = √(𝑅 + 𝑗𝜔𝐿)(𝐺 + 𝑗𝜔𝐶)
in a PURELY RESISTIVE LOAD with a
resistance equal to the CHARACTERISTIC Series Impedance
IMPEDANCE of the line. Shunt Admittance
Series impedance
Attenuation Coefficient:

𝑅 + 𝑗𝜔𝐿 𝑅 𝐺𝑍𝑜
𝑍𝑜 = √ 𝛼= +
𝐺 + 𝑗𝜔𝐶 2𝑍𝑜 2

Phase Shift Coefficient:

Shunt Admittance
@ Radio Frequencies, R=G=0. Therefore:
360 ° 2𝜋
𝛽= =
𝜆 𝜆
𝐿
𝑍𝑜 = √ 𝛽 = 𝜔√𝐿𝐶
𝐶
Additional Equation for IDEAL Characteristic
@ Audio Frequencies, ωL= ωC=0. Therefore: Impedance:

𝑅 𝑍𝐿 + 𝑗𝑍𝑜 tan(𝛽𝑙)
𝑍𝑜 = √ 𝑍𝑖𝑛 = 𝑍𝑜 [ ]
𝐺 𝑍𝑜 + 𝑗𝑍𝐿 tan(𝛽𝑙)

For Parallel-wire Conductor:

Wave Propagation on a Metallic Transmission
276 25 Line
𝑍𝑜 = log
√𝜀𝑟 𝑑 Velocity Factor- Sometimes called as
VELOCITY CONSTANT. It is the ratio of the actual
For Coaxial Cable: velocity of propagation through a given medium to
the velocity of propagation through free space.
138 𝐷
𝑍𝑜 = log 𝑣𝑝
√𝜀𝑟 𝑑 𝑣𝑓 = =
1
=
1
𝐶 √ 𝜀𝑟 √𝐿𝐶

𝑣𝑝 = 𝑣𝑓 𝐶
3
 Delay Lines- are transmission lines designed
to intentionally introduce a time delay in the path of
electric wave.
The amount of time delay is a function
of the transmission line’s inductance and capacitance.
transmission line when the difference of
potential between them exceeds the
breakdown voltage of the dielectric insulator.
Additional Information:

𝑡𝑑 = √𝐿𝐶 1
𝑣𝑓 =
𝑐 √𝐿𝐶
𝑡𝑑 = 1.016√𝜀𝑟
Typical VALUES of Velocity factor:
 Physical Length(E.g. s=10km)
 Length in terms of λ (E.g. s=0.25λ)  For Coaxial Cable: 𝑣𝑓 = 0.66
 Electrical Length (E.g. l° = 120°)
 Parallel (Open Wire); 𝑣𝑓 = 0.8
𝑙° = 𝛽𝑠
Incident and Reflected Waves
360°
𝛽=  Incident Wave:
𝜆
*Electrical degree separation can be used
Source Transmission line Destination
Transmission Line Losses Incident Waves

 Conductor Loss- it is the inherited and

unavoidable power loss because of the finite
resistance of the transmission line.
Sometimes called the CONDUCTOR
HEATING LOSS or I2R LOSS.
 Dielectric Heating Loss- Loss caused by
heating of the dielectric material between
conductors, taking power from the source.
Increase with frequency for solid
dielectric lines because of gradually
worsening properties with increased
frequency.
 Radiation Loss- of the separation between
the conductors in a transmission line is an
appreciable fraction of a wavelength, the
electrostatic and electromagnetic fields that
surround the conductor causes the line to act
as an antenna.
 Coupling Loss- can occur whenever a
connection is made to or from a transmission
line are connected together.
 Corona- is a luminous discharge that occurs
between the two conductors of a
 Reflected Wave:
Source Transmission line Destination
Incident Waves
Standing Waves- destructive interference
between the new incident signal and the reflected
signal.
Nonresonant Transmission Line-
sometimes called as MATCH LINE or FLAT LINE.
Voltage and Current are equal throughout the line
and no reflected power. ZL=Zo: Lossless line
Resonant Transmission Line- sometimes
called as MISMATCHED LINE. Voltage and Current
are not equal throughout the line and there is
reflected power since reflection occurs.
Reflection Coefficient- sometimes called
COEFFICIENT OF REFLECTION. It is a vector
quantity that represents the ratio of the reflected
4
voltage to the incident voltage or reflected current 1 + |𝛤 |
to the incident current. 𝑆𝑊𝑅 =
1 − |𝛤 |
𝑉𝑟𝑒𝑓 𝐼𝑟𝑒𝑓
𝛤= =
𝑉𝑖𝑛𝑐 𝐼𝑖𝑛𝑐 Standing waves on an Open line:
where: 𝑍𝐿 = ∞
Γ = reflection coefficient SWR = ∞
𝑉𝑟𝑒𝑓 = Reflected voltage (V) @ Quarter wavelength (λ/4):
𝑉𝑖𝑛𝑐 = Incident voltage (V) V=min
𝐼𝑟𝑒𝑓 = Reflected current (A) I=max
𝐼𝑖𝑛𝑐 = Incident current (A) Z=V/I=0
@ Half wavelength (λ/2):
*Reflection causes loss, therefore the ideal V=max
must be =0. For purely reactive load it must I=min
be =1; Open load =+1; and for Shorted Load Z=V/I= ∞
=-1.
𝑍𝐿 − 𝑍𝑂 Standing waves on a shorted line:
𝛤= 𝑍𝐿 = 0
𝑍𝐿 + 𝑍𝑂
SWR = ∞
@ Quarter wavelength (λ/4):
𝑃𝑟 = 𝛤 2 𝑃𝑖 V=max
I=min
𝑃𝑟𝑒𝑓 Z=V/I= ∞
𝛤=√ @ Half wavelength (λ/2):
𝑃𝑖𝑛𝑐 V=min
I=max
𝑆𝑊𝑅 − 1 Z=V/I=0
|𝛤 | =
𝑆𝑊𝑅 + 1
Transmission Line Input impedance
Where: SWR= standing wave ratio  Behavior of transmission line
𝑍𝐿 = load impedance (Ω)  Less than λ/4
𝑍𝑜 = characteristic impedance (Ω) Shorted: INDUCTIVE
Open: CAPACITIVE
Standing Wave Ratio
 = λ/4
Shorted: PARALLEL RESONANT
Standing Wave Ratio- is the ration of the
Open: SERIES RESONANT
maximum voltage or current to the minimum voltage
or current of a standing wave in a transmission line.
 More than λ/4 but less than λ/2
Shorted: CAPACITIVE
𝑉𝑚𝑎𝑥 𝑉𝑖 + 𝑉𝑟
𝑉𝑆𝑊𝑅 = = Open: INDUCTIVE
𝑉𝑚𝑖𝑛 𝑉𝑖 − 𝑉𝑟
 = λ/2
𝐼𝑚𝑎𝑥 Shorted: SERIES RESONANT
𝐼𝑆𝑊𝑅 = Open: PARALLEL RESONANT
𝐼𝑚𝑖𝑛

Ideal: 1 Transmission Line Impedance Matching

Worst: ∞
𝑍𝐿 𝑍𝑜  Quarter-Wave transformer matching-
𝑆𝑊𝑅 = 𝑜𝑟 used if 𝑍𝐿 is purely resistive.
𝑍𝑜 𝑍𝐿
5
  Characteristic impedance of a λ/4 60 4𝑑
transformer: 𝑍𝑜 = ln [ ]
𝜀 0.67𝜋𝑤(0.8 + ℎ𝑡 )
𝑍′𝑜 = √𝑍𝑜 𝑍𝐿
where:
𝑍𝐿 = load impedance
𝑍𝑜 = characteristic impedance of 𝜀 = dielectric constant
transmission line d = dielectric thickness
𝑍′𝑜 = characteristic impedance of λ/4 w = width of the conducting copper trace
transformer t = thickness of the conducting copper trace
h = distance between the copper trace and the
 𝑅𝐿 = 𝑍𝑜 : λ/4 act as a transformer with
ground plane.
a 1:1 turns
 𝑅𝐿 > 𝑍𝑜 : λ/4 act as a step-down
Directional coupler- used to measure the
transformer
power being delivered to a load or an antenna
 𝑅𝐿 < 𝑍𝑜 : λ/4 act as a step-up through a transmission line.
transformer
Reflectometer- device used to measure
Stub Matching- when the load is complex standing waves.
impedance, it is necessary to use STUB to remove the
reactive component to match the transmission line to Smith chart- a polar impedance diagram
the load line. which consist of two sets of circles, or arcs of circles,
 Stub-matching Combinations which are so arranged that various important
 Parallel-short quantities connected with mismatched transmission
 Parallel-open lines may be plotted and evaluated fairly easily.
 Series-short
 Series-open
Antenna Fundamentals 1
* In terms of CONNECTION Parallel is
recommended or preferred than series. In
Basic Antenna Operation
terms of TERMINATION Shorted is preferred
 Wavelength of propagation is 2L
than open.
 Antenna as transmitter:
Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR)- is a 𝑓𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑛𝑎 = 𝑓𝑖𝑛𝑝𝑢𝑡
technique that can be used to locate an impairment
in a metallic cable. 𝐶 = 𝑓𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒 × 𝜆𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒
 For perfect transmission:
𝑣 ×𝑡 L=λ/2
𝑑=
2
Antenna Equivalent Circuit
Microstrip- flat conductor separated from a Transmit
ground plate by an insulating dielectric material. Transmitter Antenna

87 5.98ℎ 𝑍𝑠
𝑍𝑜 = ln ( ) 𝑍𝐴
√𝜀 + 1.41 0.8𝑤 + 𝑡
𝑉𝑠
where:
𝜀 = dielectric constant Transmit antenna equivalent circuit
w = width of the copper trace Receive
Receiver
t = thickness of the copper trace Antenna
h = distance between the copper trace and 𝑍𝐴
the ground plane 𝑍𝑅
𝑉𝐴
Stripline- a flat conductor sandwiched
between two ground planes. Receive antenna equivalent circuit
6
 Radiation Patterns- this is a polar diagram
representing field strength or power densities at
various angular position relative to an antenna.
 Major Lobe (Front Lobe) - direction of
maximum radiation
 Minor Lobe (Side & Back Lobe) – direction
of minimum radiation
 Null –blank space of the polar diagram.
Direction with radiation intensity equal to zero.
 Front to back ratio- ratio of front lobe
power to back lobe power
 Front to side ratio- ratio of front lobe power
to the side lobe power
 Line of shoot- also known as point of shoot
The line bisecting the major lobe. Line
that directs the maximum radiation.
Absolute Radiation Pattern- radiation
pattern that is plotted in terms of field strength or
power density. Variable distance, fixed power.
Relative Radiation Power- it plots the field
strength or power density with respect to the value
at a reference point. Variable power, fixed distance.
Near Field- field pattern that is closest to the
antenna. Also called Induction field.
Radius is within D2/λ.
Far Field- field that is far from the antenna.
Also called as Radiation Field.
Radius is beyond D2/λ.
Radiated outward or never returned.
Radiation Resistance- unreal. It is an
antenna resistance. Loop radiation resistance.
𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑑
𝑅𝑟 =
𝑖2
Where:
𝑅𝑟 = radiation resistance (ohms)
𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑑 = power radiated by the antenna (watts)
𝑖 2 = antenna current at the feedpoint (amperes)
Antenna Efficiency- it is the ratio of the
power radiated by the antenna to the power delivered
to the feedpoint.
𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑑
𝜂= × 100
𝑃𝑖𝑛
𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑑
𝜂=
𝑃𝑖𝑛 + 𝑃𝑑
𝑅𝑟
𝜂=
𝑅𝑟 + 𝑅𝑒
Where:
𝜂 = antenna efficiency
𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑑 = radiated power (W)
𝑃𝑑 = power dissipated in antenna (W)
𝑅𝑟 = radiation resistance (ohms)
𝑅𝑒 = effective antenna resistance (ohms)
𝑃𝑖𝑛 = input power (W) = 𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑑 + 𝑃𝑑
Antenna Gain- Directive gain vs. Power gain
Directivity- is the ability of an antenna to
focus energy in the particular direction.
Directive Gain- ratio of the power density in
a particular direction of one antenna to the average
power density that would be radiated by the
omnidirectional antenna.
𝑃𝐷
𝐷=
𝑃𝐷𝑟𝑒𝑓
Where:
𝐷 = directive gain (unitless)
𝑃𝐷 = power density with a given antenna (W/m2)
𝑃𝐷𝑟𝑒𝑓 = power density with a reference antenna
(W/m2)
For half-wave Dipole: 1.64:1(2.15dB)
For Hertzian Dipole: 1.5:1(1.76dB)
With respect to dipole: dBd (2.54dB)
With respect to isotropic antenna: dBi (0dB)
Power Gain- it is the same as directive gain
except that the total power fed to the antenna is used.
Antenna Efficiency is taken into account.
𝐺𝑝 = η𝐷
𝑃𝐷
𝐺𝑝 = η
𝑃𝐷𝑟𝑒𝑓
7
 Effective Isotropic Radiated Power
(EIRP)- defined as an equivalent transit power.
𝐸𝐼𝑅𝑃 = 𝑃𝑖𝑛 𝐴𝑡
Where:
𝑃𝑖𝑛 = transmit antenna input power (W)
𝐴𝑡 = transmit antenna power gain (unitless)
Power Density at a given Point Distance R:
𝑃𝑖𝑛 𝐴𝑡
𝒫=
4𝜋𝑅2
𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝐷𝑡
𝒫=
4𝜋𝑅2
Isotropic Radiators- it radiates energy
equally well in all directions.
Sun and stars.
Used as analytical tools.
Isotropic Gain in terms of dBi
𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝐷𝑡
𝒫=
4𝜋𝑅2
Antenna Fundamentals 2
Captured Power Density- is the power
density (W/m2) in space.
𝑃𝑖𝑛 𝐴𝑡 𝐴𝑟
𝐶=
4𝜋𝑅2
Where:
C = captured power density (W/m2)
𝑃𝑖𝑛 = transmit antenna input power (W)
𝐴𝑡 = transmit antenna power gain (unitless)
𝐴𝑟 = receive antenna power gain (unitless)
R = distance between transmit and receive antenna
(meters)
Antenna Capture Area- if the antenna is
placed in an electromagnetic field of a certain
intensity, a certain amount of power will appear in
the load at the antenna terminals. The area of space
around the antenna that provides this amount of
power is EFFECTIVE APERTURE.
𝐴𝑟 𝜆2
𝐴𝑐 =
4𝜋
Where:
𝐴𝑐 = effective capture area (m2)
λ = wavelength of received signal (m)
𝐴𝑟 = receive antenna power gain (unitless)
Capture Power:
𝑃𝑐𝑎𝑝 = 𝒫𝐴𝑐
Where:
𝑃𝑐𝑎𝑝 = captured power (W)
𝒫 = power density (W/m2)
𝐴𝑐 = capture area (m2)
Antenna Polarization- polarization of an
antenna refers simply to the orientation of the electric
field radiated from it.
 Vertical
Linear
 Horizontal
 Circular
Non-Linear
 Elliptical
Antenna Beamwidth- is the angular
separation between the half-power (-3dB) points on
the major lobe of an antenna’s plane radiation pattern.
Beamwidth and antenna gain are
inversely proportional with each other.
The lower the value of the angular
Beamwidth, is much desired.
Antenna Bandwidth- is defined as the
frequency range over which antenna operation is
satisfactory.
It is taken as the difference between
the half-power frequencies (difference between the
highest and the lowest frequencies of operation).
Antenna Input Impedance- is the ratio of
the antenna’s input current.
𝑉𝑖
𝑍𝑖𝑛 =
𝐼𝑖
Where:
𝑍𝑖𝑛 = antenna input impedance (ohms)
𝑉𝑖 = antenna input voltage (Volts)
𝐼𝑖 = antenna input current (Amperes)
Dummy Load- a device used to simulate an
electrical load. In radio, this device is also known as
a dummy antenna or a radio frequency termination
since it is used in place of an antenna in a certain
8
radio transmitter. It is substituted for the antenna
while adjusting the transmitter.
Basic Antenna Types
Hertzian Dipole- referred to as a basic
antenna. An electrically short linear antenna shorter
than a wavelength.
A dipole that is less than one tenth
wavelength long is considered electrically short.
 Short Dipole
 Elementary Dipole
 Elementary Doublet
Half-wave dipole- it is the type of resonant
antenna with total nominal length of half-wave at the
carrier frequency.
Also called as HERTZ ANTENNA.
Bidirectional Antenna. Z=73 ohms.
End Effect Factor: 0.95 needed to
multiply in calculating the length.
Marconi antenna- the quarter wavelength
antenna combines with its image to act as an exactly
the same manner as the doublet or a dipole, with the
radiator vertical to the ground surface.
Requires proper grounding. Z=36.5Ω
Antenna Grounding system
 Ground screen or Earth mat- consist of a
metal screen or wire mesh buried 15-30 cm
below the ground.
The screen should be extended at
least half wavelength in every direction from
the antenna.
 Counterpoise- it means obtaining of radio-
frequency ground or ground plane without the
direct earth-ground connection.
 Folded Dipole- single BIDIRECTIONAL
antenna consisting of two elements. The first
is fed directly while the second element is
coupled inductively at the end. Z=288Ω
Antenna Arrays
Antenna Array- radiating system consisting
of individual radiators or elements placed close
together so as to be within each other’s induction
field.
The purpose of an array is to increase
the directivity of an antenna system and concentrate
the radiated power within a smaller geographic area.
Antenna Element- an individual radiator,
such as a half or quarter-wave dipole.
 Driven Element
 Parasitic Element
Driven Element- is one supplied with power
from the transmitter usually through a transmission
line.
Driven Array- an array which all elements
are supplied with power or fed directly from the
transmission line.
Parasitic Element- one that obtains power
solely through coupling with another element in the
array.
 Reflector
 Director
Parasitic Array- an array in which one or
more elements obtain power through mutual coupling
with another element in the array.
Reflector- a parasitic element that is longer
than the driven element from which it receives energy.
Director- a parasitic element that is shorter
than its associated driven element.
Broadside Array- it is made by simply
placing several resonant dipoles of equal size (both
length and diameter) in parallel with each other and
in a straight line (Collinear).
End-fire array- it is essentially the same
element configuration as the broadside array except
that the transmission line is not crisscrossed between
elements.
Yagi-Uda Antenna- is a linear array
consisting of a dipole and two or more parasitic
elements: one reflector and one or more directors.
Commonly used for VHF television
reception.
Log-Periodic Antenna- consist of several
dipoles of different length and spacing that are fed
from a single source at the small end. The
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transmission line is crisscrossed between the S = Pitch (vertical separation between turns)
feedpoints of adjacent pairs of dipoles. λ = wavelength
Wide bandwidth, less directional, for
HF and VHF communications. Parabolic Reflector Antenna- this provides
extremely high gain and directivity and are very
Other Array Antenna popular for microwave radio and satellite
 Collinear Array - a linear array of communication links.
radiating elements with their axes arranged in
a straight line. Parabolic Reflector Gain:
 Phased Array- group of antennas connected
to one transmitter or receiver whose radiation 𝜋𝐷 2
beam can be adjusted electronically without 𝐺𝑝 = 𝜂 ( )
physically any moving parts.
𝜆
Parabolic Reflector Beamwidth:
UHF and Microwave Antennas
70𝜆
Helical Antenna- a broadband VHF or UHF Ɵ=
antenna that is ideally suited for applications for 𝐷
Where:
which radiating circular rather than horizontal or
vertical polarized electromagnetic waves are required. 𝐺𝑝 = antenna gain
D = antenna diameter
15𝑁𝑆(𝜋𝐷)2 η = antenna efficiency (55% or 60% assumed)
𝐺𝐻𝑙 = λ = wavelength
𝜆2 Ɵ = beamwidth
15𝑁
S = λ/4 𝐺𝐻𝑙 = Horn Antenna- used for transmission and
4 reception of microwave signals. Usually Fed with a
waveguide.
D = λ/𝛑
Horn Antenna Gain:
Where:
𝐺𝐻𝑙 = antenna power gain
D = helix diameter (m)
7.5𝑑𝐸 𝑑𝐻
N = number of turns 𝐺𝐻𝑜𝑟𝑛 =
S = Pitch (vertical separation between turns) 𝜆2
λ = wavelength

Helical Antenna Beamwidth Horn Antenna Beamwidth:

52 70𝜆 56𝜆
Ɵ𝐻𝑙 = Ɵ𝐻 = Ɵ𝐸 =
𝜋𝐷 √𝑁𝑆 𝑑𝐻 𝑑𝐸
( )
𝜆 𝜆
Where:
104 𝑑𝐸 = E-plane aperture
S = λ/4 Ɵ𝐻𝑙 = 𝑑𝐻 = H-plane aperture
√𝑁
D = λ/𝛑

Where:
Ɵ𝐻𝑙 = beamwidth
D = helix diameter (m)
N = number of turns

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