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MONOPOLE ANTENNA
The experiment will focus on the high frequency end of the radio frequency spectrum.
This top end range where the wavelength of the radio waves is small, typically
centimeters to millimeters, is known as the microwave range (1GHz – 100 GHz). The types
of antenna that can be utilized within this region are, microwave horn antenna, antenna
with parabolic reflectors and lens antenna. These can be further categorized as primary
and secondary antenna. Primary antenna is already complete by itself, it does not
require ancillary devices in order to enhance its performance, whereas the latter requires
auxiliary devices in order to radiate properly; an example is an antenna with parabolic
reflector wherein a dipole, a horn antenna and a monopole can be used as a primary
antenna.
The monopole antenna is introduced on the first part of the experiment. It will be found
that the characteristics of the monopole is the same as that of the dipole except for its
size which turned out to be quarter wavelength long. Radiation patterns will be analyzed
using both NEC-Win software and hardware modeling. Monopole phasing will be
investigated and the effect to its individual radiation pattern.
The microwave antenna to be used in this experiment are horn antenna using a
monopole as the primary element and a parabolic dish using a dipole feed.
Objectives
When you have completed this part of the experiment, you will:
Understand how a monopole performs over both perfect and real ground,
Have determined its gain relative to a dipole.
Introduction
In earlier experiments, you have seen how the reflections due to ground give rise to an
image antenna, and how the reflections interact with the direct radiation to modify the
antenna patterns.
There is effectively a mirror image of the real antenna the same distance below the
ground. Because there is only half the ‘hardware’ up in the air (compared with the true
two-dipole system), the single dipole above perfect ground produces only half the gain
(-3dB).
It would seem reasonable to assume that an effective dipole could be produced by only
having hardware of half of the dipole, with the other half reflected by ground. This system
is shown in Figure 1. Because the antenna is half a dipole, it is called a monopole and,
because the ground is horizontal, the monopole must be vertical!
Monopole Antenna
Perfect Ground
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Figure 1: The Monopole
A. Software Simulation of the Monopole
Run the NEC – Win and click New File on the toolbar.
Enter the co-ordinates of the two ends of the monopole into the table as (0,0,0) and
(0,0,0.05) meters.
Enter 7 segments.
Ensure that the perfect ground is set and that the frequency is set to 1500MHZ.
Click on the Run NEC button and then examine the azimuth and elevation plots
produced.
Question 1
Question 2
Do you get radiation below ground with the theoretical simulation? ____________________.
Question 3
Question 4
How does this compare with the gain of a dipole (in free space)? ______________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
The dipole in free space is radiating at all vertical angle, whereas the monopole above a
perfect ground theoretically only radiates in directions above ground.
Question 5
Could this account for the extra gain associated with the monopole? ___________________
C. Real Ground
Go back to the main NEC-Win table and change the ground to Real Ground and select
the Urban and Industrial Area preset.
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Question 6
Thus the monopole has an omni-directional azimuth pattern with a gain over a free
space dipole 3dB when operated over perfect ground.
In any practical set-up the ground would not be perfect, so there will be a lowering of
gain and an increase in vertical angle of the lobes.
Identify the four main elements of the unit: interface, transmitter and receiver towers and
antenna kit.
Take a look at the interface and observe the connector for each element (RF generator,
stepper motor and spectrum analyzer). The RF generator will be used to set up the
transmission frequency, the stepper motor to move the antenna and the spectrum
analyzer to measure the different parameters.
Now, take a look at the transmitter and receiver towers. Observe the two holders to fix
the antenna of the transmitter tower to be characterized. Observe the logarithmic
antenna mounted on the receiver antenna.
Take the monopole antenna with ground plane from the antenna kit and mount it on
vertical position
Check that the transmitter and receiver tower are 1.5 meters distance from each other.
Verify that both antennas are aligned. Check that the degrees indicator is over the
degree disc in the 0º position.
Connect the elements to each connector. The transmitter antenna to the RF generator
output connector, the stepper motor to the motor controller connector and the receiver
antenna to the RF input connector. Verify that the circuit breaker at the back of the unit
is in the “ON” position, switch on the unit.
Choose in the “Antenna test” the “Antenna Radiation Pattern”. Choose in the “Antenna
Type” the “Monopole Antenna with ground plane”
Push the “START TEST” button to start the antenna radiation pattern procedure. Wait until
the software indicates that the test is finished (the unit has to make the 360º Radiation
Pattern and go back to the original position).
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Question 7
Question 8
How do the plots compare with those obtained by software simulations? _______________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
Repeat the “Antenna Radiation Pattern for “Monopole Antenna” and “Dropping
Monopole Antenna” and sketch the generated radiation pattern for each antenna and
sketch the plots obtained for the three types of monopole antenna of EANC.
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Question 9
Give your observations on the differences between the three plots? ___________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
Choose antenna bandwidth test. Click Start Test and wait until the test is finished
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Question 10
Based on the graph, what range of frequencies does the antenna have a relatively low
SWR? _______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
Question 11
Based on the graph, what range of frequencies does the antenna have a relatively high
SWR? _______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
Perform a bandwidth test for other types of monopole antennas in the trainer.
A. Antenna Type: Dropping Monopole
B. Antenna Type: Monopole Antenna
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Question 12
Compare all three bandwidth graphs, which antenna do you think has relatively the
lowest SWR in its range of frequencies?
____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
Objectives
When you have completed this part of the experiment, you will:
Appreciate that changes in spacing between two driven monopoles affects the
polar pattern.
Appreciate that changes in-phase between two driven monopoles affects the
polar patter.
Introduction
In this experiment, two monopoles will be combined and the changes due to different
spacing and feeding the monopoles in different phases will be investigated.
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Software Simulation of Two Monopoles
Azimuth Plot
Run NEC-Win and click Open File on the toolbar. Open mono1.
Now put in another monopole, spaced by 5mm from the first. To do this, enter the
coordinates of the two ends of the second monopole onto the table as (0.05,0,0) and
(0.05,0,0.05) meters.
Enter 7 segments.
Question 13
Go back to the main NEC-Win table and click on the Src/Ld box of Wire 2.
Click on the green icon for the source and change the phase of the source to 90˚.
Click on the Run NEC button and then examine the azimuth plot produced.
Question 14
How does this plot compared with the single monopole simulations in Part 1
?____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
Go back to the main NEC-Win table and click on the Src/Ld box Wire 1.
Click on the green icon for the source and change the source to Current Source.
Click on the Run NEC button and then examine the azimuth plot produced.
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Question 15
How does the new azimuth plot compare with the previous plot?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________.
From this experiment you should have found that changes in spacing between two
driven antennas, of changes in the relative phases by which they are driven, has a
significant effect on the radiation pattern for the system.
The ability to get more directivity, or to ‘beam’ the radiation in a specific direction, is an
important property of many antenna systems in practice.
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