MAPÚA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

School of EE-ECE-CoE

Experiment Number __5__

SOFTWARE SIMULATIONS AND HARDWARE MODELLING OF A

MONOPOLE ANTENNA
Experiment Title

Course/Section _ECE123L / E01____________

Group Number _4_

Name __DELA CRUZ, JOHN VAN RUSSEL R.____ Grade

Date of Performance ____April 13, 2020____

Date of Submission ____April 21, 2020____

______Engr. Jessie R. Balbin______

Instructor
1. Monopole Antenna Design, Function, and Performance

In 1895 Guglielmo Marconi was credited for inventing the monopole antenna, a

straight rod conductor perpendicularly connected to a ground plane. He found that he could

transmit for longer distances using the monopole antenna as opposed to the already

established dipole antenna invented by Heinrich Hertz.

Drawing from Marconi's 1896 patent showing his first monopole antennas, consisting

of suspended metal plates (u,w) attached to the transmitter (left) and receiver (right), with

the other side grounded (E). Later he found that the plates were unnecessary, and a

suspended wire was adequate.

 One of Marconi's early monopole antennas at his Poldhu, Cornwall transmitting

station, 1900, consisting of a small metal plate suspended from a wooden arm with a long

wire running down to the transmitter in the building.

Marconi's first monopole transmitter

A monopole antenna takes half of a dipole antenna and replaces the other half with

a ground plane. The length of the rod of a monopole antenna is a fourth of the wavelength,

while it acts like a diploe antenna as its length is half of a dipole but with the addition of the

ground plane, reflects as if the plane consists of an imaginary quarter wavelength rod.

A regular dipole antenna design

A monopole antenna with the imagined quarter wavelength rod being presented under the

ground plane.

Higher data rate transfers are needed to fulfill the ever-growing sector of wireless

communication and with such advancements monopole antennas are being turned to for

innovations in wideband design. Such is due to the simple characteristics of a monopole

antenna that let it be integrated into microwave integrated circuits used in high frequency

appliances. The versatility of a monopole antenna when it comes to the manipulation of its

shape and dimensions make it a desirable for research in more versatile in portable forms

of communication devices including advancements on microstrip.

2. Gain, Characteristics and Radiation Pattern of Monopole Antenna

The monopole antenna is a common antenna that is often used on vehicles and other

areas were a large conductive flat area is present (“ground plane”). The standard monopole

antenna measures 1/4 wavelength in height (λ/4); however, this antenna must be placed on

to a large conductive surface to function properly.

Dimensions of a traditional monopole antenna

The standard monopole antenna has a slanted “doughnut” shaped pattern which is

linearly polarized along the length of the monopole. The slant of the “doughnut” shaped

pattern changes as the size of the ground plane changes. The gain of the monopole antenna

also decreases as the size of the ground plane decreases.

 A ground plane which is λ/2 in size will have a pattern closely resembling that of a

dipole antenna. The gain changes depending on the size of the ground plane: 2dBi for a λ/2

ground plane, 3dBi for a 2λ ground plane, 5dBi for an infinite ground.

In order to obtain this pattern shape a circular ground plane of radius

(λ/2) should be used.

The natural input impedance of a monopole antenna is having that of a dipole

antenna measuring 36.5Ω. However, this impedance is also directly affected by the size of

the ground plane used. Below is the standard input impedance of a thin monopole antenna

centered at 2.45GHz which uses a ground plane of radius λ/2. The 50Ω bandwidth of this

2.45GHz thin monopole antenna is shown below. Slightly more bandwidth is obtainable

when a 36.5Ω feed line is used.

3. Software Simulation Procedure, Process, Plots, And Parameters

NEC-WIN Simulation Software

One way to simulate experiments on antennas is by using NEC-WIN simulation. It was

created to simulate antenna designs and testing by providing measurements and plotting

tools. With a spreadsheet like interface, inputs like dimensions of an antenna and its

properties can be inserted into the simulation parameters.

 Example of NEC-WIN Azimuth Plot

Another way of simulating antenna experiment is by using EANC simulation. EANC is

a computer-controlled antenna trainer that comes with a set of different antennas as well as

a transmitter and receiver tower that can operate automatically to feed information into a

computer for antenna analysis. Launching the EANC software will display an interface that will

require to specify the type of antenna used and the specific test needed. The EANC software

can display the azimuth plot, elevation plot, and SWR plot. The SWR plot indicates the value

of the standing wave ratio within certain ranges of frequencies.

 EANC – Computer-Controlled Antenna Trainer

4. Types of Monopole Antenna and Their Similarities and Differences

Whip Antenna

This antenna consists of a straight flexible wire or rod. While the bottom end of the

whip is connected to the radio receiver or transmitter. This antenna is designed to be

flexible so it won’t break easily.

Rubber Ducky Antenna

Also known as the rubber duck aerial, is an electrically short monopole antenna that

functions somewhat like a base-loaded whip antenna. It consists of a springy wire in the

shape of a narrow helix, sealed in a rubber or plastic jacket to protect the antenna.

Helical antenna

It is an antenna consisting of one or more conducting wires wound that forms a helix.

The directional helical antennas are mounted over a ground plane, while omnidirectional

designs may not be. The feed line is connected between the bottom of the helix and the

ground plane.
Random Wire Antenna

It’s a radio antenna consisting of a long wire suspended above the ground, whose

length does not bear a relation to the wavelength of the radio waves used, but is typically

chosen more for convenience. The wire may be straight or it may be strung back and forth

between trees or walls just to get enough wire into the air that’s why it’s sometimes called

the zigzag antenna.

Umbrella Antenna

It’s a top-loaded electrically lengthened monopole antenna, which consists a mast

fed at the ground end, to which a number of radial wires are connected at the top, sloping

downwards.
Inverted-L antenna

A wire antenna, typically a quarter to a half wavelength long on the band it is

designed for. It’s commonly used for the 160 meter and 80 meter amateur bands.

T Antenna

This type of antenna consists of one or more horizontal wires suspended

between two supporting radio masts or buildings and kept insolated. A vertical wire is

connected to the center of the horizontal wires and hangs down close to the ground,

connected to the transmitter or receiver.

Combined, the two sections form a "T" shape, hence the name. The transmitter

power is applied, or the receiver is connected, between the bottom of the vertical

wire and a ground connection.

Mast Radiator Antenna

It’s a radio mast or tower in which the entire structure functions as an antenna. This

design, first used in radiotelegraphy stations in the early 1900s, is commonly used for

transmitting antennas operating at low frequencies, in the VLF, LF and MF ranges, in

particular those used for AM broadcasting. The metal mast is electrically connected to the

transmitter. Its base is usually mounted on a nonconductive support to insulate it from the

ground. A mast radiator is a form of monopole antenna.

Ground Plane Antenna

It’s an electrically conductive surface, usually connected to electrical ground. The term

has two different meanings in separate areas of electrical engineering. In antenna theory, a

ground plane is a conducting surface large in comparison to the wavelength, such as the

Earth, which is connected to the transmitter's ground wire and serves as a reflecting surface

for radio waves. In printed circuit boards, a ground plane is a large area of copper foil on the
board which is connected to the power supply ground terminal and serves as a return path

for current from different components on the board.

5. Monopole Antenna Models

Many media platforms and devices still use monopole antennas when broadcasting and

receiving signals. Common models of such antennas are the T-antenna, Umbrella antenna,

Whip antenna, and Rubber ducky antenna. All of them relying on the working principles of a

monopole antenna and its different types.

REFERENCES:

• Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design, Constantine A. Balanis, Edition 4, ISBN:

9781119178972, Wiley Global Research (STMS), 2016

• Rodger E. Ziemer, William H. Tranter, Edition 7, ISBN: 9781118804520, Wiley Global

Education US, 2014

• Martí I Puig, Pere, Serra I Serra, Moisès, & Carrabina, Jordi. (2005). Low-cost printed

antennas design in the band of 2,4GHz. SPIE.

• J. Ramsay, "Highlights of antenna history," in IEEE Communications Magazine, vol.

19, no. 5, pp. 4-8, September 1981.

• H. H. M. Ghouz, M. F. Abo Sree and M. Aly Ibrahim, "Novel Wideband Microstrip

Monopole Antenna Designs for WiFi/LTE/WiMax Devices," in IEEE Access, vol. 8, pp.

9532-9539, 2020.

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monopole_antenna