Lab #2 Dipole Antenna

OBJECTIVES: This lab will focus on design of an antenna to detect and measure cell
phone transmitted power.

PRE-LAB:

1. Research frequencies at which your cell phone operates.

2. Design a half-wave dipole antenna using wire and an RF SMA connector. The
wire and the RF connector will be provided in the lab.
3. Review Spectrum Analyzer Fundamentals:
http://literature.agilent.com/litweb/pdf/5965-7920E.pdf

PROCEDURE:
1. Using the RF spectrum analyzer first confirm your cell phone transmit frequency by
holding your cell phone near the end of a 50-ohm coaxial cable connected to the
spectrum analyzer.
a. Call your voice mail (or a friend) and watch for a response on the analyzer. This
will appear as a short duration spike on the analyzer display. After your cell
phone makes connection it goes into a receive mode when you will not see any
RF power being transmitted.
b. You may need to adjust the displayed frequency range on the analyzer to best
determine the frequency. Adjust the start and stop frequencies on the front panel.
For example, if your phone is operating in the PCS band (1.8-1.9 GHz), you may
want to set the start frequency of the display to 1GHz and the stop frequency to
3GHz. The transmitted power should be easily seen near the center of the display.
c. Set the resolution bandwidth (RBW) to 5MHz. Adjust as desired. Note that the
noise floor goes up or down depending on the bandwidth selected. The sweep
time also automatically adjusts for the choice of bandwidth. You will need a
fairly fast sweep time to see the short duration cell phone transmissions.

2. After confirming your cell phone frequency, design and build a /2 dipole antenna that
is resonant at this frequency. RF SMA connectors and wire are available in the lab. A
half-wave dipole is shown below. One wire is soldered to the center pin of the SMA
connector; the other wire is soldered to the ground plate of the connector.

/2

SMA Connector

3. Connect your antenna to the 50- coax cable (which you already connected to the
input of the spectrum analyzer). With your receive antenna a short distance from your
cell phone, again call your voice mail and observe the magnitude of the signal received
by the spectrum analyzer. Is it smaller or larger magnitude than measuring with the cable
only (when there was no antenna attached)?

4. Now build a second, identical antenna. Connect this second antenna to another 50-
coax cable and then to the signal generator. This antenna will serve as a test transmit
antenna so that you can calibrate received power from a known source.
a. Set the signal generator frequency to your cell phone frequency.
b. Adjust the RF output power to 0dBm.
c. Turn ON the RF.
d. Hold your test antenna 30cm from your receive antenna and observe the
received power on the spectrum analyzer. Note: your antennas must both be in
the same orientation (both vertical or both horizontal, for example) to receive
maximum power. Record the received power (in dBm) from the spectrum
analyzer display.
e. Move the receive antenna closer to the test antenna (20cm and 10cm separations)
and record the received power at each distance. Create a table of measurements.
f. At a 20cm separation, now change the orientation of the receive antenna by 90o
and record the measured received power. Because you are transmitting linear
polarization with these types of antennas, when you change the antenna
orientation by 90o you are now measuring the amount of power in the cross-
polarization orientation. The difference in measured power (in dB) is the cross-
polarization isolation between vertical and horizontal polarization.
g. Turn OFF the RF on the signal generator (so that it does not interfere with the
next set of measurements).

5. Determine the approximate transmit power of your cell phone by using your cell
phone as the test antenna and measuring the received power at 10, 20 and 30cm away
with your receive antenna.
a. Again, call your voice mail and note the received power (in dBm) at these two
distances. Recall, this will be a short duration (transmit) call, so you will need to
observe the power levels quickly on the spectrum analyzer. Repeat as necessary.
You may want to average several calls.
b. Note: the orientation of your phone will directly affect the received power by your
antenna. Try different phone orientations to see what gives you the best signal
strength.
c. If you have time you may also want to see if other classmates can detect your cell
phone call across the room (with the appropriate antenna, of course!). Record any
observations you make.

6. Place your antenna in one of the cabinet drawers with your name on it. When we
begin performing vector impedance measurements you will have an opportunity to re-
measure your antenna with the VNA to see how closely you designed your antenna to
your desired frequency.
ANALYSIS:

1. Record your measurements and create a table of data.

2. From the measurements you made, estimate the transmitted power (in dBm) of your
cell phone.
3. What was your measured cross-polarization isolation? Why is it important to keep
antennas aligned with the proper polarization?
4. Include photos of your antennas and measurement set-ups (cell phone transmit power
measurement, etc.)