Analysis of Antenna Height-Gain Factor in Wireless Communications 10/25/2023

Antennas characterization in both far- and near-field regions have been studied in absence of all obstacles
which implies free-space. However, in wireless communications, regardless of the “generation” (4G/5G/6G
etc.), the physical layer topology remains fundamentally the same for all generations. Using image theory
and planar earth approximation, the analysis for free-space can be extended to understand the behavior of
antennas in presence of earth. This implies that the free-space situation is replaced by a “half-space”
environment and the effects of the half-space are included in the antenna radiation behavior. This means
that the reflections from the earth are included in the calculations of the antenna gain and radiation
patterns. The basic influence of the half-space topology on the antenna are its height above the ground and
the (local) electrical properties of the earth - 𝜎𝜎, 𝜀𝜀 and 𝜇𝜇. The generalized calculations are extremely
involved and substantial details can be found elsewhere. The general topology with relevance to wireless is

Fig. 1: Physical layer of a wireless communication system. The transmitting antenna is at a vertical height hT = 𝑑𝑑 above
the earth. The receiver is located in the far-field of the transmitter, and is horizontally separated by a distance R. The reflected
ray from the earth contributes to the multipath effects in the wireless system. (It is emphasized that hT = 𝑑𝑑. )

shown in Fig. 1. The analysis of antenna gain can be effected to a first order approximation by assuming
that the earth can be modeled as a perfect electric conductor (PEC). To that end, if the transmitting
antenna is considered as a Hertzian dipole, the gain can derived exactly using the image theory that reads:

2{1+cos(2𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 cos 𝜃𝜃 )}
𝒢𝒢(𝜃𝜃, 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 ) = 1 3 cos(2𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘) 3 sin(2𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘)
− +
3 (2𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘)2 (2𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘)3
The angle 𝜃𝜃 depends on the heights of the transmitter and receiver and for this homework project can be
taken as 0 ≤ 𝜃𝜃 ≤ 1800 . The computer homework then requires to generate the following results to
specifically study the approximation of the PEC ground as opposed to “lossy” ground. In generating the
results analytical approach and a RF CAD s.oftware such as FEKO needs to be used.

SUGGESTED GUIDELINES

1. Choose a specific value of the angle 𝜃𝜃. Now plot the gain as a function of the height 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘. Repeat
the same for some other values. Specifically take 𝜃𝜃 = 450 , 900 , 1350 and choose 0 ≤ 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 ≤
200 for each of these three values of the angle 𝜃𝜃. Plot the gain at each of these three values vs. kd
and choose about 200 datapoints. (Use MATLAB to do the calculations.) You can choose any
frequency between 1 and 5 GHz which shall determine wavenumber 𝑘𝑘.

2. Model the geometry in FEKO. To do so, take the same frequency as in question 1, and select the
𝜆𝜆
dipole length to be ≤ 10 and carrying a constant current. Repeat the case of question 1 but now
the full-wave solver FEKO is used which is assumed to be more accurate than the analytical model.
Now present your results for part 1 and 2 (analytical vs. full-wave FEKO) and comment on the
accuracy of the analytical results.

3. Use the “Sommerfeld ground” option in FEKO and choose some specific values of the parameters
for the lossy ground. You can use a value for the conductivity 10−03 ≤ 𝜎𝜎 ≤ 12 × 10−03
Siemens/meter, and, the relative permittivity as 𝜀𝜀𝑟𝑟 = 15; the permeability is 𝜇𝜇0 = 4𝜋𝜋 ×
10−07Henries/meter. (These are the data one needs to enter when using the Sommerfeld ground
option in FEKO.) Repeat the results of part 1 using the lossy ground option and compare your
results in part 3 against the ones obtained in parts 1 and 2.

4. Generate a PowerPoint document that demonstrates the limitation and validation of the analytical
formulations in the antenna height-gain factor. (For your analysis you can benchmark the FEKO
results as accurate.)