DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, JAMSHORO

ANTENNA AND WAVE PROPAGATION
(First Semester, Third Year) LAB
EXPERIMENT # 06

Name: Roll No:

Signature of the Lab Tutor: Date:

OBJECTIVES

#. Of Taxonomy level
# CLO
Topic Lectures
1 Set-up Yagi-Uda antenna to measure radiation 3 2 P4
characteristics and effect of parasitic elements as Mechanism
reflector, director and feeder.

OUTCOME(S)

a. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve (Complex) engineering PLO4:

problems Investigation
b. an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering PLO5: Modern Tool
tools necessary for engineering practice. Usage
PLO11: Project
Management

RUBRICS:

Performance Exceeds Meets expectations Does not meet Score

Metric expectation (4-5) (2-3) expectations (0-1)
Engineering problem Executes calculation Minor errors in Calculations not performed or
solving correctly by hand calculations by hand performed totally incorrectly by
or and/or using using math/engineering hand or does not know how to use
math/engineering software software math/engineering software

Use of modern Computer and software are not

Computer and software Computer and software
engineering tools utilized, no attempt was made
are extensively used in are somewhat utilized,
at learning new software
the effort was put into course learning
 DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, JAMSHORO
ANTENNA AND WAVE PROPAGATION

new software
Total Score

TOTAL Norm. SCORE (out of 0.5)

(First Semester, Third Year)

LAB EXPERIMENT # 06
Equipment:

737 01 Gunn Oscillator

737 05 PIN Modulator
737 06 Isolator
737 03 Coax Detector
737 12 Waveguide 200 mm
737 20 Small Horn Antenna
737 21 Large Horn Antenna
737 035 Transition Waveguide / Coax
737 135 3-Screw Transformer
737 390 Set of Microwave Absorbers
737 405 Rotating Antenna Platform
737 415 Wire Antenna Set

Accessories
301 26 Stand Rod, 25 cm
501 02 BNC Cable, 1 m
648 07 Storage Tray S24-FN
737 15 Support for Waveguide Components
648 08 Partition ZW 24
301 21 Stand Base MF

Details:

Yagi antennas
Yagi antennas are probably one of the most popular form of antennas because of its world-wide application as
a TV-reception antenna. The Yagi antenna represents a form of the multi-element antenna. Only one single
active element is used for feeding; the dipole. All other elements are radiation coupled or parasitic. Thus, they
do not require any feed lines and matching elements, the realization of which would be of considerable
expense. Radiation coupling means that the parasitic elements are only excited by the electromagnetic field of
the dipole. Here, the parasitic elements influence both the input impedance of the active element - the dipole -
as well as the directional diagram of the entire antenna system. By selecting suitable dimensions for the
parasitic elements, it is possible to shape the directional diagram of the antenna. Behind the dipole we have a
 DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, JAMSHORO
ANTENNA AND WAVE PROPAGATION
(First Semester, Third Year) LAB
EXPERIMENT # 06
slightly longer element, which reflects the power radiated from the dipole in the direction of the major lobe.
Using optics as an analogy, this is called a reflector. The director is, in comparison to the dipole, a shorter,
parasitic element which concentrates the radiated energy in the major lobe direction. its counterpart in optics
is the focusing lens.

Directiona

Passive elements form the directional diagram

a) Dipole only

b) Dipole with passive element

 DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, JAMSHORO
ANTENNA AND WAVE PROPAGATION

Directional diagram of a 2-element antenna in the H-plane and E-plane.

The antenna system consists of an active, fed element (DIP) and a passive (parasitic) element (P).

The directional properties of the simplest of Yagi antennas can be improved by combining the two passive
elements R and D. We then obtain a system with a reflector behind the dipole and a director in front of it.

Yagi antenna with three elements and its optical

analogy

(1) Reflector
(2) Dipole
(3) Director
(4) Mirror
(5) Source

(6) Lens
 DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, JAMSHORO
ANTENNA AND WAVE PROPAGATION
When the length of the parasitic elements and the distances between them have been suitably selected, it is
possible to alter the shape of the directional diagram. Thus the gain or the front-to- back ratio of the antenna
can be optimized. The possibilities of optimization are increased with the number of reflectors, and in
particular with the number of directors. A larger number of directors causes an increased flattening off of the
wave fronts in the direction of the major lobe. Directly at the dipole the wave fronts are still extremely
curved. At the outer directors the waves have almost reached the transition to plane waves and in this manner
a more focused beam is achieved. Thus, the waves can reach greater distances without being weakened.
Therefore, a larger number of directors provides a significant increase in antenna gain. On the other hand,
increasing the number of reflectors behind the radiator only contributes slightly to an improvement in the
directivity of the Yagi antenna.

The principle of the Yagi

antenna
(1) Reflector
(2) Dipole
(3) Series of directors
(4) Front of the spherical wave,
after passing through the Yagi
structure
c: Speed of light
v: Phase velocity of wave delayed
by the directors (v < c)

Yagi antennas operate with linear polarization. The polarization vector runs parallel to the dipole axis (Y-
axis). The radiation properties as well as the input impedance are dependent on the current distribution in all
the elements of the antenna (meaning also the parasitic elements).

Experiment procedure
Schematic experiment set-ups.
 DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, JAMSHORO
ANTENNA AND WAVE PROPAGATION
(First Semester, Third Year)

LAB EXPERIMENT # 06

LAB EXPERIMENT # 06

Experiment set-up for excitation with a horizontally-polarized wave (partial view, E-plane)

Experiment set-up for excitation with a vertically-polarized wave (partial view, H-plane) Rotation of the test antenna takes
place in the H-plane of the exciting source field.
 DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, JAMSHORO
ANTENNA AND WAVE PROPAGATION
(First Semester, Third Year)

1. Horizontal diagrams of the Yagi-R antenna

• Assemble the experiment set up as shown. Carefully mount the Yagi element with one reflector only
(= long wire) on the antenna rod.
• Mount the antenna rod (this contains the dipole and the detector diode) with the holder provided.
Insert the holder into the central mounting bore for the stand rods in the rotating antenna platform.
• Connect the plug of the antenna output to the BNC input socket of the amplifier with the coaxial
cable (1 m).
• Record the directional diagram:
Angular range: -180° up to +180°. Step
size: 1°
• generate and save the plots for horizontal and vertical directional diagram.
• Determine the 3 dB width and the front / back ratio of the Yagi antenna.
• Note your results in the table.

2. Horizontal diagrams of the Yagi-D antenna

• Carefully mount the Yagi element with one director (= short wire) on the antenna rod.
• Proceed as in step 1.

3. Horizontal diagrams of the Yagi-DR antenna

• Carefully mount the Yagi element with one director and one reflector on the antenna rod.
• Proceed as in step 1.

4. Horizontal diagrams of the Yagi-4DR antenna

• Carefully mount the Yagi element with four directors and one reflector on the antenna rod. •
Proceed as in step 1.

Note
• Avoid the direct viewing into the radiating horn antenna of the transmitter. If this is inevitable for
alignment, switch of the Gunn oscillator.
 DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, JAMSHORO
ANTENNA AND WAVE PROPAGATION
(First Semester, Third Year)

LAB EXPERIMENT # 06
1. Horizontal diagrams of the Yagi-R antenna
2. Horizontal diagrams of the Yagi-D antenna

E-plane E-plane
Polar coordinates Polar coordinates
Linear representation: A() Logarithmic representation a()

3. Horizontal diagrams of the Yagi-DR antenna

E-plane E-plane
Polar coordinates Polar coordinates
Linear representation: A() Logarithmic representation a()

With a single director in front of the dipole (or a single reflector behind it), the front-to-back ratio is
significantly increased in comparison to the dipole. In contrast, the shape of the major lobe remains practically
unchanged. It merely becomes somewhat more slender. The effects of the reflector and director are nearly
identical.
1. Horizontal diagrams of the Yagi-4DR antenna
 DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, JAMSHORO
ANTENNA AND WAVE PROPAGATION
(First Semester, Third Year)

LAB EXPERIMENT # 06

E-plane E-plane
Polar coordinates Polar coordinates
Linear representation: A() Logarithmic representation a()

By increasing the number of directors to four and utilizing a reflector, a six element Yagi antenna is
produced. Its front-to-back ratio increases even more considerably than in the case of the three- element
antenna. The shape of the major lobe is considerably more distinct. Here we have a real directional antenna,
which operates primarily in the direction of the major lobe. Two small secondary lobes appear in the forward
direction. In comparison to the measurement carried out on the /2-dipole, the sensitivity is considerably
increased (by factor 3).

Antenna 3 dB-width Front-/ back ratio

Yagi-R ° dB
Yagi-D ° dB
Yagi-DR ° dB
Yagi-4DR ° dB

Discussion:
Please write the appropriate answers to following questions,

1) How are the structure and properties of a Yagi antenna different from that of a dipole antenna?
 DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, JAMSHORO
ANTENNA AND WAVE PROPAGATION
(First Semester, Third Year)

LAB EXPERIMENT # 06
A Yagi antenna is a directional antenna that consists of a driven element (often a dipole), a reflector, and one or more directors. The directors and
reflector are parasitic elements that are arranged in front of and behind the driven element to create a directional radiation pattern. The Yagi
antenna has a higher gain and a narrower beamwidth compared to a simple dipole antenna. Additionally, the Yagi antenna has a more complex
structure due to the addition of the parasitic elements.

2) What is the purpose of a director or a reflector in a Yagi antenna?

The purpose of a director in a Yagi antenna is to increase the forward gain of the antenna by focusing the
radiation pattern in the forward direction. The purpose of a reflector is to reflect energy back towards the driven
element, increasing the directivity of the antenna by decreasing the radiation in undesired directions.

3) What difference in the radiation pattern of Yagi antenna with one reflector (YAGI-R) and Yagi
antenna with one director (YAGI-D) do you observe? If any, please discuss you opinion on the
cause.

Yagi antenna with one reflector (YAGI-R) and a Yagi antenna with one director (YAGI-D) have
different radiation patterns. The YAGI-R has a wider beamwidth and a slightly lower gain compared to
the YAGI-D. The reason for this is that the reflector element in the YAGI-R reflects energy back
towards the driven element, which reduces the radiation in the backward direction and widens the
beamwidth. The YAGI-D, on the other hand, has a director element that focuses the radiation in the
forward direction, increasing the gain and narrowing the beamwidth.

4) What is front-to-back ratio? Who is it affected by increasing the Yagi antenna elements (either
directors or reflectors)?

Front-to-back ratio is a measure of the directivity of an antenna and is defined as the ratio of the maximum radiation in the forward direction to the maximum
radiation in the backward direction. Increasing the number of directors or reflectors in a Yagi antenna can improve the front-to-back ratio by increasing the directivity
of the antenna. This is because the parasitic elements (directors or reflectors) help to focus the radiation pattern in the forward direction, while reducing the radiation
in the backward direction.

5) What is the sidelobe level for 6-element Yagi (YAGI-4DR) do you observe any difference in
sidelobes compared to other configuration of Yagi?

The sidelobe level for a 6-element Yagi (YAGI-4DR) can vary depending on the design and operating
frequency of the antenna. Generally, a well-designed Yagi antenna should have sidelobes that are at least 10-
15 dB below the main lobe.

The sidelobes of a Yagi antenna can be affected by the number and placement of parasitic elements (directors
and reflectors). Adding more directors can increase the gain and narrow the main lobe, but it can also increase
the sidelobe levels. Similarly, adding more reflectors can decrease the sidelobe levels, but it can also reduce
 DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, JAMSHORO
ANTENNA AND WAVE PROPAGATION
(First Semester, Third Year)

LAB EXPERIMENT # 06
the gain and widen the main lobe. Therefore, the design of a Yagi antenna involves a trade-off between gain,
directivity, and sidelobe levels.