Introduction

Introduction to
to
Antennas
Antennas for
for Wireless
Wireless

Understanding Antenna Radiation

The Principle Of Current Moments
Zero current
at each end
each tiny
imaginary slice
of the antenna
does its share
of radiating

TX

RX
Maximum current
at the middle
Current induced in
receiving antenna
is vector sum of
contribution of every
tiny slice of
radiating antenna
Width of band
denotes current
magnitude

An antenna is just a passive conductor

carrying RF current
RF power causes the current flow
Current flowing radiates
electromagnetic fields
Electromagnetic fields cause current
in receiving antennas
The effect of the total antenna is the sum
of what every tiny slice of the antenna is
doing
Radiation of a tiny slice is
proportional to its length times the
current in it
remember, the current has a
magnitude and a phase!

Different Radiation In Different Directions

Minimum
Radiation:

contributions
out of phase,
cancel

Maximum
Radiation:

TX

contributions
in phase,
reinforce

Minimum
Radiation:

contributions
out of phase,
cancel

Each slice of the antenna produces

a definite amount of radiation at a
specific phase angle
Strength of signal received varies,
depending on direction of departure
from radiating antenna
In some directions, the
components add up in phase to a
strong signal level
In other directions, due to the
different distances the various
components must travel to reach
the receiver, they are out of phase
and cancel, leaving a much
weaker signal
An antennas directivity is the same
for transmission & reception

Antenna Polarization
Antenna 1
Vertically
Polarized
Electromagnetic
Field

Antenna 2
Horizontally
Polarized

TX
current

RX
almost
no
current

RF current in a conductor causes

electromagnetic fields that seek to
induce current flowing in the same
direction in other conductors.
The orientation of the antenna is
called its polarization.
Coupling between two antennas is
proportional to the cosine of the
angle of their relative orientation

To intercept significant energy, a receiving antenna must be oriented parallel to the transmitting
antenna
A receiving antenna oriented at right angles to the transmitting antenna is cross-polarized; will
have very little current induced
Vertical polarization is the default convention in wireless telephony
In the cluttered urban environment, energy becomes scattered and de-polarized during
propagation, so polarization is not as critical
Handset users hold the antennas at seemingly random angles..

Antenna Gain
Antennas are passive devices: they do not produce
power
Can only receive power in one form and pass it on
in another, minus incidental losses
Cannot generate power or amplify
However, an antenna can appear to have gain
compared against another antenna or condition. This
gain can be expressed in dB or as a power ratio. It
applies both to radiating and receiving
A directional antenna, in its direction of maximum
radiation, appears to have gain compared against a
non-directional antenna
Gain in one direction comes at the expense of less
radiation in other directions
Antenna Gain is RELATIVE, not ABSOLUTE
When describing antenna gain, the comparison
condition must be stated or implied

Omni-directional
Antenna

Directional
Antenna

Reference Antennas
Isotropic Radiator
Truly non-directional -- in 3 dimensions
Difficult to build or approximate physically, but
mathematically very simple to describe
A popular reference: 1000 MHz and above
PCS, microwave, etc.
Dipole Antenna
Non-directional in 2-dimensional plane only
Can be easily constructed, physically practical
A popular reference: below 1000 MHz
800 MHz cellular, land mobile, TV & FM

Quantity
Gain above Isotropic radiator
Gain above Dipole reference
Effective Radiated Power Vs. Isotropic
Effective Radiated Power Vs. Dipole

Isotropic
Antenna

Units
dBi
dBd
(watts or dBm) EIRP
(watts or dBm) ERP

Dipole Antenna
Notice that a dipole
has 2.15 dB gain
compared to an
isotropic antenna.

Effective Radiated Power

An antenna radiates all power fed to it from the
transmitter, minus any incidental losses.
Every direction gets some amount of power
Effective Radiated Power (ERP) is the apparent
power in a particular direction
Equal to actual transmitter power times
antenna gain in that direction
Effective Radiated Power is expressed in
comparison to a standard radiator
ERP: compared with dipole antenna
EIRP: compared with Isotropic antenna
Example: Antennas A and B each radiate 100 watts from
their own transmitters. Antenna A is our reference, it
happens to be isotropic.
Antenna B is directional. In its maximum direction, its
signal seems 2.75 stronger than the signal from antenna
A. Antenna Bs EIRP in this case is 275 watts.

Reference
Antenna

TX

100 W

B
Directional
Antenna
ERP B

TX

100 W

A (ref)

A
B
275w

100w

Antenna Gain And ERP

Examples
Many wireless systems at 1900 & 800 MHz use omni
antennas like the one shown in this figure
These patterns are drawn to scale in E-field radiation units,
based on equal power to each antenna
Notice the typical wireless omni antenna concentrates most
of its radiation toward the horizon, where users are, at the
expense of sending less radiation sharply upward or
downward
The wireless antennas maximum radiation is 12.1 dB
stronger than the isotropic (thus 12.1 dBi gain), and
10 dB stronger than the dipole (so 10 dBd gain).

Gain Comparison
12.1 dBi
10dBd

Isotropic
Dipole
Omni

Isotropic

Dipole

Typical Wireless
Omni Antenna

Gain 12.1 dBi or 10 dBd

Radiation Patterns
Key Features And Terminology
An antennas directivity is expressed
as a series of patterns
The Horizontal Plane Pattern graphs
the radiation as a function of azimuth
(i.e..,direction N-E-S-W)
The Vertical Plane Pattern graphs the
radiation as a function of elevation (i.e..,
up, down, horizontal)
Antennas are often compared by noting
specific landmark points on their
patterns:
-3 dB (HPBW), -6 dB, -10 dB points
Front-to-back ratio
Angles of nulls, minor lobes, etc.

Typical Example

Horizontal Plane Pattern

Notice -3 dB points
0 (N)
0
-10

10 dB
points

-20
-30 dB
270
(W)

Main
Lobe

nulls or
a Minor
minima
Lobe
Front-to-back Ratio

180 (S)

90
(E)

How Antennas Achieve Their Gain

Quasi-Optical Techniques (reflection, focusing)
Reflectors can be used to concentrate radiation
technique works best at microwave
frequencies, where reflectors are small
Examples:
corner reflector used at cellular or higher
frequencies
parabolic reflector used at microwave
frequencies
grid or single pipe reflector for cellular
Array techniques (discrete elements)
Power is fed or coupled to multiple antenna
elements; each element radiates
Elements radiation in phase in some directions
In other directions, a phase delay for each
element creates pattern lobes and nulls

In phase

Out of
phase

Types Of Arrays
Collinear vertical arrays
Essentially omnidirectional in
horizontal plane
Power gain approximately equal
to the number of elements
Nulls exist in vertical pattern,
unless deliberately filled
Arrays in horizontal plane
Directional in horizontal plane:
useful for sectorization
Yagi
one driven element, parasitic
coupling to others
Log-periodic
all elements driven
wide bandwidth
All of these types of antennas are
used in wireless

Collinear
Vertical
Array

RF
power

Yagi
RF
power

Log-Periodic

Omni Antennas
Collinear Vertical Arrays
Typical Collinear Arrays

The family of omni-directional wireless

antennas:
Number of elements determines
Physical size
Gain
Beamwidth, first null angle
Models with many elements have very
narrow beamwidths
Require stable mounting and careful
alignment
Watch out: be sure nulls do not fall in
important coverage areas
Rod and grid reflectors are sometimes
added for mild directivity

Examples: 800 MHz: dB803, PD10017, BCR10O, Kathrein 740-198

1900 MHz: dB-910, ASPP2933

Number of
Elements
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

Power
Gain
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14

Gain,
dB
0.00
3.01
4.77
6.02
6.99
7.78
8.45
9.03
9.54
10.00
10.41
10.79
11.14
11.46

Angle

n/a
26.57
18.43
14.04
11.31
9.46
8.13
7.13
6.34
5.71
5.19
4.76
4.40
4.09

Vertical Plane Pattern

beamwidth

-3

d
B

Angle
of
first
null

Sector Antennas
Reflectors And Vertical Arrays
Typical commercial sector antennas
are vertical combinations of dipoles,
yagis, or log-periodic elements with
reflector (panel or grid) backing
Vertical plane pattern is determined
by number of vertically-separated
elements
varies from 1 to 8, affecting mainly
gain and vertical plane beamwidth
Horizontal plane pattern is
determined by:
number of horizontallyspaced elements
shape of reflectors (is
reflector folded?)

Vertical Plane Pattern

Up

Down
Horizontal Plane Pattern
N

Example Of Antenna Catalog Specifications

Electrical Data
ASPP2933
1850-1990
3/5.1
<1.5:1
32
Vertical
400
50
Direct Ground
N-Female
Order Sep.

ASPP2936
1850-1990
6/8.1
<1.5:1
15
Vertical
400
50
Direct Ground
N-Female
Order Sep.

dB910C-M
1850-1970
10/12.1
<1.5:1
5
Vertical
400
50
Direct Ground
N-Female
Order Sep.

Mechanical Data
Antenna Model
ASPP2933
Overall length - in (mm)
24 (610)
Radome OD - in (mm)
1.1 (25.4)
Wind area - ft2 (m2)
.17 (.0155)
Wind load @ 125 mph/201 kph lb-f (n)
4 (17)
Maximum wind speed - mph (kph)
140 (225)

ASPP2936
36 (915)
1.0 (25.4)
.25 (.0233)
6 (26)
140 (225)

dB910C-M
77 (1955)
1.5 (38)
.54 (.05)
14 (61)
125 (201)

6 (2.7)
13 (5.9)
ASPA320

5.2 (2.4)
9 (4.1)
Integral

Antenna Model
Frequency Range, MHz.
Gain - dBd/dBi
VSWR
Beamwidth (3 dB from maximum)
Polarization
Maximum power input - Watts
Input Impedance - Ohms
Lightning Protection
Termination - Standard
Jumper Cable

Weight - lbs (kg)

Shipping Weight - lbs (kg)
Clamps (steel)

4 (1.8)
11 (4.9)
ASPA320

Example Of Antenna Catalog Radiation Pattern

Vertical Plane Pattern

E-Plane (elevation plane)
Gain: 10 dBd
Dipole pattern is superimposed at scale
for comparison (not often shown in
commercial catalogs)
Frequency is shown
Pattern values shown in dBd
Note 1-degree indices through region of
main lobe for most accurate reading
Notice minor lobe and null detail!