ANTENNAS

ENGR. PHIL U. LOMBOY

ANTENNA
A structure that is generally a metallic
object, often a wire or group of wires, used
to convert high frequency signals into
electromagnetic waves and vice versa.
ANTENNA

A device whose function is to radiate

electromagnetic energy and/or
intercept electromagnetic radiation
 Basic
Consideration:
Maximum
Power
Transfer
FIELDS OF
AN
ANTENNA
INDUCTION FIELD RADIATION FIELD
TRANSITION
Considered to extend out Considered to extend
from the antenna to a
ZONE out from a distance of
distance of D2/8λ 2D2/λ
Zone between the
two(2) regions
Near Field or Fresnel Far Field or
Region Fraunhoffer Region
BASIC FORMULAS λ = c/f

T = 1/f Where: λ – wavelength

F – frequency
Where: T – time
C – velocity in free space
F - frequency
CHARACTERISTICS OF
ANTENNAS
 RADIATION
PATTERN
A line drawn to join points in
space which have equal field
intensity due to the source.
Major Lobe – the direction
of maximum radiation
Minor Lobe – the direction
of minimum radiation
Null – the direction with
radiation intensity equal
to zero.
 a. Antenna
FACTORS WHICH height
DETERMINE THE
RADIATION b. Power losses
PATTERN OF AN c. Terminations
ANTENNA at its end

d. Thickness of the antenna wire

PRINCIPLE OF The characteristics of antennas, such
RECIPROCITY as impedance and radiation pattern
are identical, regardless of use for
reception or transmission.

ISOTROPIC An antenna that radiates uniformly in

ANTENNA all directions in space
DIRECTIVE GAIN The ratio of the power density in a
particular direction of one antenna to
the power density that would be
radiated by an isotropic antenna.

HERTZIAN DIPOLE: HALF WAVE DIPOLE:

1.5 : 1 (1.76 dB) 1.64 : 1 (2.15 dB)
 The longer the antenna, the higher
the directive gain
Non resonant antennas have
NOTES: higher directive gain than resonant
antennas
The directive gain of all practical
antennas is greater than unity
DIRECTIVITY, D

Maximum
directive gain

The gain in the

direction of one of the major lobes in the antenna’s radiation pattern.
POWER GAIN
Overall gain considering
losses and efficiency

Ap = %D

Where: % - antenna efficiency

D - directivity
 ANTENNA 1. RADIATION
RESISTANCE RESISTANCE, Rr
The ratio of the AC resistance
applied voltage to The ratio of the power
the flowing current radiated by the antenna
to the square of the
current at the
feedpoint.
2. LOSS RESISTANCE, Rd

Antenna and Losses in imperfect

ground resistance dielectric very near
the antenna
Discharge or
corona effects Eddy current loss
ANTENNA EFFICIENCY

% = ( Rr / Rr + Rd) x 100%

The ratio of the power radiated by the antenna

to the power delivered at the feedpoint
The ratio of radiation resistance to the total
system resistance
An antenna has a radiation resistance of 72 ohms, a loss
resistance of 8 ohms, and a power gain of 16. What
efficiency and directivity does it have.
a. 90% and 17.78
b. 10% and 17.78
c. 90% and 14.4
d. 10% and 14.4
To produce a power density of 1 mw/m2 in a given
direction, at a distance of 2 km, an antenna radiates a total of
180 w. An isotropic antenna would have to radiate 2400 w to
produce the same power density at that distance. What, in
dB, is the directive gain of the practical antenna?
a. 11.25 dB
b. 13.21 dB
c. 10 dB
d. 6 dB
 EFFECTIVE RADIATED EFFECTIVE ISOTROPIC
POWER (ERP) RADIATED POWER (EIRP)

The product of the power fed to The power radiated by an

an antenna and its power gain. antenna in its favored direction,
taking the gain of the antenna into
ERP = Total Radiated Power account as referenced to an
x Power Gain isotropic radiator
 FRONT TO BACK
RATIO
BANDWIDTH
Ratio of the power at
The operating the optimum direction
frequency range of the antenna to that
of an antenna of the power 180
degrees from the
optimum direction
BEAMWIDTH

The degree of
concentration of the
antenna’s radiation

Angular separation between two half power points in a major lobe

of an antenna radiation pattern
 POLARIZATION

Space orientation of the

waves that the antenna
radiates

The electric field vector

is always parallel to the
antenna elements.
 PHYSICAL LENGTH ELECTRICAL LENGTH
Actual length of the antenna Dependent upon the velocity
coefficient or velocity factor
L =λ/2; λ= c/f
L=kλ
λ/2 is the shortest length of a
conductor which will
where k is the dielectric constant
resonate at a given frequency
Ex. What is the wavelength of a 500 MHz signal?
a. 60 cm
b. 6 m
c. 0.06 m
d. 60 m
Ex. What is the electrical length of an antenna operating at a
frequency of 500 kHz?
a. 500 m
b. 570 m
c. 600 m
d. 630 m
GROUNDING SYSTEMS
 EFFECTS OF GROUND ON
ANTENNAS

Whereas an ungrounded antenna

with its image forms an antenna
array, the bottom of the grounded
antenna is joined to the top of the
image; the system acts as an antenna
of double size.
 EFFECTS OF GROUND ON
ANTENNAS

Whereas an ungrounded antenna with its

image forms an antenna array, the bottom of
the grounded antenna is joined to the top of
the image; the system acts as an antenna of
double size.
GROUND SCREEN

A network of buried wires directly

under the antenna, consisting of a
large number of radials extending
from the base of the tower, like spokes
on a wheel, and placed 15 and 30 cm
below the ground.
COUNTERPOISE

A substitute for ground screen in

areas of low conductivity, i.e. rock,
mountains and antennas on top of
buildings
ANTENNA HEIGHT
ANTENNA HEIGHT

The actual antenna height should at

least be λ/4, but where this is not
possible, the effective height should
correspond to λ/4.
 TOP A good method of increasing radiation
LOADING resistance by having a horizontal
portion at the top of the antenna

Effect: to increase the current at the

base of the antenna and to make the
current distribution more uniform
EFFECTIVE Antennas behave as though
LENGTH (electrically) they were longer than
their physical length

END The result of physical antennas having

EFFECT finite thickness, instead of being
infinitely thin.
ANTENNA COUPLING AND
IMPEDANCE MATCHING
ANTENNA A network composed of reactances and transformers,
COUPLING which may be lumped or distributed, to provide
impedance matching

REASONS To tune out the reactive component of the antenna

impedance
FOR
COUPLING To provide the transmitter with the correct value of load
resistance
To prevent illegal radiation of spurious frequencies
 ANTENNA COUPLERS

Direct Coupler The antennas are coupled directly to their

transmitters

Coupler Affords a wider reactance range, giving

adequate harmonic suppression
Symmetrical
Coupler Used for balanced lines
IMPEDANCE MATCHING

Stub Matching
Accomplished by connecting the coax
or twin lead to the stub and sliding the
connections up or down the stub until
the proper SWR is indicated by a
meter connected in the system.
IMPEDANCE MATCHING

Delta Matching

Accomplished by spreading the

ends of the feedline and adjusting
the spacing until optimum
performance is reached.
IMPEDANCE MATCHING

Gamma Matching

A sliding clamp is included in

the assembly to permit fine
tuning for minimum SWR at the
time of installation
IMPEDANCE MATCHING

Quarter A section of transmission

Wave line one quarter wavelength
Matching long placed between the
load and the line

Used to connect an unbalanced

(coaxial line) to a balanced antenna
 CURRENT FED (LOW Z FEED)
An antenna is said to be current fed if it is
fed at the point of current maximum
Includes all feed point impedances below
600 ohms

Ex. Center fed half wave dipole or

Marconi antenna
VOLTAGE AND CURRENT CHARACTERISTICS
VOLTAGE FED (HIGH Z FEED)

An antenna is said to be voltage fed if it is

fed at the point of voltage maximum
Includes all feed point impedances in
excess of 600 ohms
Ex. Center fed full wave dipole
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Device that converts high frequency current into
electromagnetic waves.
a. antenna
b. loudspeaker
c. microphone
d. lightning arrester
2. A polar diagram or graph representing field strengths
or power densities at various angular positions relative
to an antenna.
a. Venn Diagram
b. Figure 8 pattern
c. Lissajous figure
d. Radiation Pattern
3. Refers to the orientation of the electric field radiated
from an antenna.
a. radiation
b. polarization
c. beamwidth
d. bandwidth
4. Pertains to a wire structure placed below the antenna
and erected above the ground which is a form of
capacitive grounding system.
a. image
b. counterpoise
c. antenna orientation
d. polarization
5. What is the technique used to electrically increase the
antenna length?
a. loading
b. using image antenna
c. using antenna arrays
d. increasing antenna height
6. Antenna supported by insulators seems electrically
longer than its physical length due to
a. image
b. reflection
c. end effect
d. broadside effect
7. The ratio of the power radiated by the antenna to
the total input power.
a. power gain
b. directive gain
c. antenna efficiency
d. radiation efficiency
8. The ratio of the front lobe power to the back lobe
power
a. front to side ratio
b. front to back ratio
c. back to front ratio
d. minor to major ratio
9. The standard reference antenna for directive gain
a. infinitesimal dipole
b. isotropic antenna
c. elementary doublet
d. half wave dipole
10. The gain of a hertzian dipole with respect to an
isotropic antenna
a. 1.76 dB
b. 2.15 dB
c. 1.5 dB
d. 1.64 dB
11. A half wave dipole antenna is capable of radiating 2000
watts and has a 2.15 dB gain over an isotropic antenna. How
much power must be delivered to the isotropic antenna to
match the field strength of the directional antenna?
a. 3280 watts
b. 1640 watts
c. 4300 watts
d. 3520 watts
12. An ungrounded antenna near the ground
a. acts as a single antenna of twice the height
b. is unlikely to need a ground screen
c. acts as an antenna array
d. must be horizontally polarized
13. Top loading is sometimes used with an antenna in
order to increase its
a. effective height
b. bandwidth
c. beamwidth
d. input capacitance
14. Very low signal strength in an
antenna
a. minor lobes
b. nulls
c. antenna patterns
d. major lobes
15. A horizontal antenna is ______ polarized.
a. vertically
b. horizontally
c. centrally
d. circularly
16. An antenna with unity gain.
a. rhombic
b. half wave dipole
c. isotropic
d. whip
17. What is the front to back ratio of an antenna
which radiates 500 watts in a northernly direction
and 50 watts in a southernly direction?
a. 25000 dB
b. 10 dB
c. 100 dB
d. 20 dB
18. Good grounding is important for
a. Horizontal antennas
b. Broadside array
c. Vertical antennas
d. Yagi Uda Antennas
19. If the radiated power increases 10.89 times, the
antenna current increases by
a. 3.3 times
b. 6.6 times
c. 1.82 times
d. 10.89 times
20. Shortening effect of an antenna that makes it
appear as if it were 5% longer
a. end effect
b. flywheel effect
c. skin effect
d. capture effect
21. If an antenna is too short for the wavelength being
used, the effective length can be increased by adding
a. capacitance in series
b. inductance in series
c. resistance in parallel
d. resistance in series
22. Actual height of an antenna should be at least
a. 1λ
b. λ/2
c. λ/4
d. ¾ λ
23. The directivity pattern of an isotropic radiator
a. figure 8
b. a sphere
c. unidirectional cardioid
d. parabola
24. A Hertz antenna is operating on a frequency of 2182 kHz
and consists of a horizontal wire that is hanged between two
towers. What is the frequency of its third harmonic?
a. 727 kHz
b. 6546 kHz
c. 436 kHz
d. 6.546 kHz
25. What is the gain of an antenna over a half wavelength
dipole when it has 6 dB gain over an isotropic radiator?
a. 6 dB
b. 8.1 dB
c. 3.9 dB
d. 10 d
BASIC TYPES OF
ANTENNAS
 ISOTROPIC ANTENNA
a standard reference antenna ,
radiating equally in all directions,
so that the radiation pattern is
spherical.
ELEMENTARY DOUBLET
A theoretical antenna shorter than a
wavelength used as a standard to
which all other antenna
characteristics can be compared
 = 60 le I sin θ / λr

Where θ – angle of axis and point of maximum radiation

– field strength Le – antenna length

I – antenna current
r – distance
Ex. An elementary doublet is 10 cm long. If the 10 MHz
current flowing through it is 2 A, what is the field strength 20
km away from the doublet in a direction of maximum
radiation?
a. 6.28 uV/m
b. 62.83 uV/m
c. 15.92 uV/m
d. 1.59 uV/m
DIPOLE

An antenna made up of
two wires bent at 90
degrees to each other so as
to be in the same line and
signal is fed at the center
HALF WAVE DIPOLE

Length is λ/2 and

radiation pattern is a
toroid (bidirectional)
NON-RESONANT ANTENNA

One in which there are no standing waves

Radiation pattern is directional

Standing waves are suppressed by the use of a

correct termination to ensure that no power is
reflected, so that only a forward traveling
wave will exist.
 LONG WIRE ANTENNA

Lengths in the order of several wavelengths

When an antenna is 2 or more wavelengths

long, it provides gain and a multilobe radiation
pattern.
When terminated at one end, it becomes
unidirectional.
RHOMBIC ANTENNA
Consists of non-resonant antenna elements arranged
differently, i.e. planar rhombus
Length of equal radiators = 2 to 8 ‘s
Angle of tilt: 40 to 75˚
Rt = 800 ohms
Rin = 650 to 700 ohms
RHOMBIC ANTENNA

Non-resonant antenna used for long

distance sky wave transmission or
reception of horizontally polarized waves
over distances from 200 to over 3000
miles at frequencies from 4 to 22 MHz.
 RESONANT ANTENNA

Standing waves exist, caused by the

presence of both a reflected traveling
wave and the forward wave.

Antenna whose length is a multiple of

λ/4’s
HERTZ ANTENNA

An antenna system in which the

ground is not an essential part

Half wave antenna used for

frequencies above 2 MHz

Half Wave Dipole

 MARCONI ANTENNA
Grounded Quarter
Wavelength antenna
Quarter Wavelength antenna
used for frequencies below 2
MHz; omnidirectional
Vertical Monopole
ANTENNA ARRAYS
ANTENNA ARRAY
A radiating system
consisting of individual
radiators or elements
placed close together so
as to be within each
other’s induction field
DRIVEN ELEMENT PARASITIC ELEMENT

Element of an array Radiation not directly

connected to the output connected to the output of the
of the transmitter transmitter

Receives energy through the

induction field of a driven
element
 REFLECTOR DIRECTOR

A parasitic element A parasitic element

longer than the driven shorter than the driven
element and close to it one from which it
reduces signal strength receives energy; tends to
in its own direction and increase radiation in its
increases it in the own direction
opposite direction.
BROADSIDE ARRAY

Simplest array which consists of a number of dipoles

of equal size, equally spaced along a straight line with
all dipoles fed in the same phase from the same source.
Typical antenna length: 2 to 10 ‘s
Typical spacing: λ/2 or λ/4
Number of elements: dozens
ENDFIRE ARRAY

Physical arrangement is the same as

that of the broadside array

The magnitude of the current in each

element is still the same as in every
other element, there is now a phase
difference between these currents.
TURNSTILE ARRAY

Consists of two
horizontal, half wave
antennas mounted at
right angles to each
other
 YAGI UDA ANTENNA
An array consisting of a driven element and one
or more parasitic elements arranged collinearly
and close together.
FOLDED DIPOLE

Single antenna which

consists of 2 elements,
one is fed directly and
the other coupled
conductively at the
ends.
LOG PERIODIC ANTENNA

Main feature is frequency independence

for both radiation resistance and pattern

Bandwidths of 10:1 are

achievable with ease

Radiation patterns: uni and bidirectional

LOG PERIODIC ANTENNA

Main feature is frequency

independence for both
radiation resistance and
pattern
PYRAMIDAL ANTENNA
It looks and works in much the same
way as a standard log periodic
antenna, with one big difference: the
two halves of the transmission line are
separated and positioned as a V, so
each half of the transmission line is in
effect a single wire transmission line.
a type of log periodic antenna
UHF AND MICROWAVE
ANTENNAS
 PARABOLIC ANTENNA
Works on the principle of a parabola
Parabola – a plane curve defined as the
locus of a point which moves so that its
distance from another point (called the
focus) plus its distance from a straight
line (directrix) is constant.
 PARABOLIC ANTENNA
All waves coming from the
source and reflected by the
parabola will travel in the same
distance by the time they reach
the directrix, no matter from
what point on the parabola they
are reflected.
 CASSEGRAIN ANTENNA

an antenna in which the radiator is

mounted at or near the surface of a
concave main reflector and is aimed at a
convex secondary reflector slightly inside
the focus of the main reflector.
BEAMWIDTH Where:
D= mouth diameter, meters
Ф = 70λ / D Ф0 = beamwidth between nulls, degrees

Ф0 = 2 Ф Ф = beamwidth between half power

points, degrees
λ = wavelength, meters
GAIN OF A PARABOLIC ANTENNA
Ap = 6 ( D/λ)2
Where:
D= mouth diameter, meters
Ap = Power Gain
λ = wavelength, meters
Ex. Calculate the beamwidth between nulls of a 1m
paraboloid reflector used at 6GHz.
a. 3.5˚
b. 7˚
c. 1.75˚
d. 14˚
Ex. Calculate the gain of the paraboloid reflector in
the previous problem.
a. 9600
b. 2400
c. 1600
d. 2800
HORN ANTENNA

Ideal as primary feed antenna for

parabolic reflectors and lenses
LENS ANTENNA
Used as a collimator of frequencies in
excess of 3 GHz
 HELICAL ANTENNA
Broadband VHF and UHF antenna which
is used when it is desired to provide
circular polarization characteristics
Consists of a loosely wound helix,
backed up by a ground plane, which is
simply a screen made of chicken wire
DISCONE ANTENNA
A combination of a disk and a cone in
close proximity
Characterized by an enormous
bandwidth for both input impedance and
radiation pattern
A constant angle, low gain antenna;
omnidirectional
 LOOP ANTENNA

Used for direction finding,

because they do not radiate in a
direction at right angles to the
plane of the loop.

For portable domestic receivers Circular or square shaped

 PHASED ARRAY
Group of antennas,
connected to one
transmitter or receiver,
whose radiation beam can
be adjusted electronically
without physically moving
parts; used in radars.
 WHIP ANTENNA

the most common example of a monopole

antenna, an antenna with a single driven
element and a ground plane.

The whip antenna is a stiff but flexible wire

mounted, usually vertically, with one end
adjacent to a ground plane.
 SLOT ANTENNA
consists of a metal surface, usually a
flat plate, with a hole or slot cut out.
When the plate is driven as an
antenna by a driving frequency, the
slot radiates electromagnetic waves in
similar way to a dipole antenna.
NOTCH ANTENNA
An open ended slot antenna

Since the currents are zero at

the middle of the slot, we may
cut the ground plane here to
make a notch antenna.
ANTENNA SUPPORT
STRUCTURES
ANTENNA SUPPORTING STRUCTURES

POLE

Used to signify one piece of

structure similar to the
common telephone pole
MAST TOWER
Used to designate a Applied to a very
structure made of large, high
metal or wood which structure, which
may be either in a form in most cases, is
of a one piece or constructed of
sectionalized structure metal
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. A non-resonant antenna that is capable of operating
satisfactorily over a relatively wide bandwidth, making it
ideally suited for HF transmission.
a. end-fire array
b. rhombic
c. broadside array
d. log periodic
2. Antenna that is independent of their radiation
resistance and radiation pattern to frequency. It has
bandwidth ratios of 10:1 or greater.
a. loop antenna
b. helical
c. Yagi Uda antenna
d. Log periodic antenna
3. A half wave antenna
a. Hertz
b. Marconi
c. Parabolic
d. Vertical Monopole
4. Antenna which is used very frequently but almost entirely
as a reception antenna and is usually found at the back of
table radios.
a. loop antenna
b. folded antenna
c. rhombic
d. log periodic
5. One of the special purpose antennas which has broadband
VHF and UHF that is ideally suited for applications for
which radiating circular rather than horizontal or vertical
polarized electromagnetic waves are required.
a. loop antenna
b. phased array
c. folded dipole
d. helical
6. What are the two types of antenna elements?
a. driven and reflector
b. director and reflector
c. parasitic and director
d. driven and parasitic
7. Which one of the following terms does not apply to the
Yagi Uda array?
a. good bandwidth
b. parasitic elements
c. folded dipole
d. high gain
8. Indicate the antenna that is not wideband.
a. discone
b. folded dipole
c. helical
d. Marconi
9. One of the following is not an omnidirectional antenna
a. halfwave dipole
b. log periodic antenna
c. discone
d. Marconi
10. One of the following consists of nonresonant antennas
a. rhombic
b. folded dipole
c. end fire array
d. broadside array
11. Which of the following is best excited from
a waveguide?
a. biconical
b. horn
c. helical
d. discone
12. An antenna that is circularly polarized
a. parabolic reflector
b. Yagi Uda
c. Helical
d. Circular loop
13. What is the polarization of a discone antenna?
a. vertical
b. horizontal
c. circular
d. spiral
14. When speaking of antennas, ____ is a section which
would be a complete antenna by itself.
a. image
b. top loading
c. bay
d. quarterwave
15. ______ is an antenna with a number of half wave
antennas in it.
a. antenna array
b. tower
c. omnidirectional
d. rhombic
16. Which antenna radiates an omnidirectional pattern
in the horizontal plane with vertical polarization?
a. Marconi
b. Discone
c. Horn
d. Helical
17. An antenna with very high gain and very narrow
beamwidth.
a. helical
b. discone
c. horn
d. parabolic dish
18. An open ended slot antenna
a. helical
b. rhombic
c. notch
d. cassegrain
19. Which antenna is properly terminated?
a. Marconi
b. Rhombic
c. Dipole
d. Yagi Uda
20. What is the radiation characteristic of a dipole
antenna?
a. omnidirectional
b. bidirectional
c. unidirectional
d. hemispherical
21. An antenna which is one tenth wavelength long.
a. hertz antenna
b. loop antenna
c. Marconi antenna
d. Elementary doublet
22. What is the minimum number of turns a helical
antenna must have?
a. 3
b. 4
c. 5
d. 6
23. An antenna made up of a number of full wavelengths
a. elementary doublet
b. log periodic
c. long wire
d. whip
24. Which of the following improves antenna
directivity?
a. driven element
b. reflector
c. director
d. parasitic element
25. The frequency of operation of a dipole antenna cut
to a length of 3.4 m
a. 88 MHz
b. 44 MHz
c. 22 MHz
d. 11 MHz
26. Where are the voltage nodes in a half wave antenna?
a. at the ends
b. three quarters of the way from the feedpoint towards
the end
c. one half of the way from the feedpoint towards the end
d. at the feedpoint
27. A simple half wavelength antenna radiates the
strongest signal
a. at 45 degrees to its axis
b. parallel to its axis
c. at right angles to its axis
d. at 60 degrees to its axis
28. An antenna array which is highly directional at
right angles to the plane of the array
a. Broadside
b. End fire
c. Turnstile
d. Log periodic
29. What is the usual electrical length of a driven
element in an HF beam antenna?
a. λ/4
b. λ/2
c. 3/4 λ
d. 1 λ
30. The input terminal impedance at the center of a
folded dipole antenna
a. 72 Ω
b. 300 Ω
c. 50 Ω
d. 73 Ω
31. The length of a Marconi antenna to operate with
985 kHz is
a. 200 ft
b. 500 ft
c. 250 ft
d. 999 ft
32. The purpose of stacking elements on an antenna
a. sharper directional pattern
b. increased gain
c. improved bandpass
d. all of these
33. Which of the following antennas is used for testing and
adjusting a transmitter for proper modulation, amplifier
operation and frequency accuracy?
a. elementary doublet
b. real
c. isotropic
d. dummy
 Phil Lomboy po,
PROUD TO BE KAPUSO