Antenna Basics

Theory Basic terms Basic antenna types

Kathrein/Scholz 07/04

Antenna Basics / Theory

What is an antenna ?

An antenna is the converter between two kinds of electromagnetic waves : cable bounded waves free space waves

Kathrein/Scholz 07/04

Antenna Basics / Theory

antenna principle shown by bending a coax cable open

the pulsing electrical field, created by the transmitters high frequency power, cannot leave the cable

the field lines become longer and are orthogonal to the wires

Kathrein/Scholz 07/04

Antenna Basics / Theory

the field lines have reached the maximum length and allow a wave to free itself from the cable basic radiating element : /2 dipole

4m band dipole (68-87 MHz) side-mounted on a pipe mast

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Antenna Basics / Theory

The resonance frequency of the dipole is determined by its mechanical length, which is half of the corresponding wave length

Max.
Frequency : Number of cycles per second Wavelength : Length of one cycle

+
Zero
wavelength

t [sec]

Relation between frequency and wave length :

300 [m] = f [MHz]

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Example : f =935 MHz = 0.32 m dipole length ~ 160 mm

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Antenna Basics / Theory

Electrical and magnetical field on a dipole

maximum voltage is between the ends of the dipole; the electrical field lines occur between these two charge centers

voltage (U)

current (I)

the current on the dipole causes a magnetical field with an opposite amplitude distribution (max. at the feeding point, min. at the dipole ends
electric field (E) magnetic Field (H)

Kathrein/Scholz 07/04

Antenna Basics / Reality

Electrical and magnetical field on a dipole (Simulation of the original dipole)

Voltage (e-plane)

Current (h-plane)

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Antenna Basics / Theory

Wave propagation : Permanent conversion from electrical into magnetical energy and vice versa

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Antenna Basics / Impedance

For an optimized system performance, all components have to be matched professional applications use a nominal impedance of 50 Ohms exact value only for one frequency; over the operating band deviations from 50 Ohms are specified by the VSWR

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Antenna Basics / VSWR

A generator will generate a frequency and send it to a termination.

Input signal
Generator Termination

Reflected signal

The termination may not accept the entire input power (green line), and therefore will reflect some of the input power (red line) back to the generator.

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Antenna Basics / VSWR

The forward running signal together with the return running signal create a standing wave (VSWR = voltage standing wave ratio)

Reflection Factor

Uv r= Ur
(range 1 to )

VSWR s =

U max 1 + r = U min 1 r

Return loss attenuation

ar[dB ] = 20 log r
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Antenna Basics / VSWR

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Kathrein/Scholz 07/04

Antenna Basics / VSWR

Standard values for mobile communication networks VSWR < 1.5 return loss < 14 dB

mismatch loss The loss which is effecting the system performance due to the reflected/ returned power

VSWR Missmatch loss (dB)

1.5 0.18

1.3 0.08

1.2 0.04
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Antenna Basics / VSWR

7 Sep 2000 15:38:18

CH1 S11 SWR 100 m / REF 1 1 : 1 . 5450 1 690 . 000 000 MHz

PRm

CH1

Markers

2 : 1 . 2869 1 . 71000 GHz 3 : 1 . 2455 1 . 79500 GHz 4 : 1 . 0848 1 . 88000 GHz Cor 5 : 1 . 1922 1 . 90000 GHz

Example : VSWR measurement GSM 1800 antenna 739 494 (65 18 dBi 1710-1880 MHz)

VSWR 1.4

2 3 5

START

1 690 . 000

000

MHz

STOP

1 900 . 000

000

MHz

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Antenna Basics / VSWR

comparison of measurements directly at the antenna and at the end of the feeder cable The attenuation of the feeder cable seem to improve the VSWR On the other hand the VSWR of the cable and connectors is not 1 ! In reality a VSWR of roughly 1.2 has to be considered which increases the total VSWR
r
total

0 dB

-14 dB (VSWR 1.5)

-2 dB

-16 dB

r1 = 0.2 (VSWR 1.5)

Jumper cable 0.5 dB loss

= r1 + r2 = 0,29
VSWR = 1.82 return loss = 10.8 dB + 4 dB loss 14.8 dB VSWR = 1.46

Feeder line 1.5 dB loss

r2 = 0.09 (VSWR 1.2)

VSWR limit at the BTS should not be set lower than the antenna spec.

0 dB

-18 dB (VSWR 1.3)

rtotal = 0.29 (VSWR 1.82)

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Antenna Basics / Polarization

The polarization is defined as the direction of oscillation of the electrical field vector dipole orientation vertical : vertical polarization mainly used for mobile communication dipole orientation horizontal : horizontal polarization mainly used for broadcasting dipole orientation +/-45 slanted : cross polarization used for polarization diversity with digital cellular networks

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Antenna Basics / Radiation Pattern

for symmetrical antennas the 3-dimensional pattern can be described by a vertical and horizontal cut vertical polarization : horizontal pattern = H-plane (magnetic field) vertical pattern = E-plane (electric field) half power beam width opening angle of the beam determined by the half power points (reduction by 3 dB)
Vertical pattern

Half power beam width

Horizontal pattern

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Antenna Basics / Antenna Gain

to concentrate the radiated power into the area around the horizon, half wave dipoles are arranged vertically and combined in phase with every doubling of the dipoles number - the half power beam width approx. halves - the gain increases by 3 dB in the main direction
Power increase 3 dB 6 dB 9 dB 10 dB 20 dB factor 2 4 8 10 100 Kathrein/Scholz 07/04 18

Antenna Basics / Antenna Gain

gain references
Vertical pattern Horizontal pattern

half wave dipole (dBd)

isotropic radiator (dBi)

relation : dBi = dBd + 2.15

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Antenna Basics / Antenna Gain

Standard omni gain antenna for cellular application (gain 11dBi / 9 dBd)

Horizontal pattern

Vertical pattern

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Kathrein/Scholz 07/04

Antenna Basics / Antenna Gain

accordingly also in the horizontal plane a beam can be created with each halving of the beam width the gain is increased by 3 dB (the shown patterns are theoretically) the resulting gain of an antenna is the sum of the vertical and horizontal gain

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Antenna Basics / Panel Antenna

Standard directional panel antenna for cellular networks 65 / 15.5 dBi gain benefit from both planes

Horizontal pattern

Vertical pattern

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Antenna Basics / Panel Antenna

Three-dimensional radiation pattern of a directional antenna

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Antenna Basics / Panel Antenna

Horizontal cut : horizontal pattern (magn. field)

Vertical cut : vertical pattern(electr. field)

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Antenna Basics / Near-Far Field

spezified patterns and gain are only provided in the far field of the antenna far-field (F) : plane wave front at the antenna antenna small antennas (dimensions below one wave length) :

F [m ] > 10
bigger antennas :

F [m ] >

2 L

Near field position

Example : 900 MHz Omni L = 2,8m = 0,325m F = 48,25m

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Antenna Basics / Panel Construction

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Antenna Basics / Yagi Antenna

Yagi antenna only one active dipole, low side lobe suppression, low front-to-back-ratio, mainly used for inexpensive receiving applications
F/B ratio

Side lobes

Vertical pattern

Horizontal pattern

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Antenna Basics / Log.per. Antenna

Log. Per. Antenna (logarithmic periodic) all the dipole structures are active, excellent side lobes, specific application in cellular networks

Horizontal pattern

Vertical pattern

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Antenna Basics / Patch Antenna

Patch antenna mainly printed board technology; instead of a dipole, a patch above a ground plane creates the electrical field lines

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Kathrein/Scholz 07/04

Antenna Basics / Patch Antennas

Printed boards are a good solution for high quantity production because of only a few soldering points, but face the following problems : high internal losses The smaller cross-section of printed board strip lines create higher losses with respect to coaxial cables limited band width The dialectric material makes the radiating elements smallband

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