AIR UNIVERSITY

DEPARTMENT OF ELECTRICAL AND COMPUTER ENGINEERING

EXPERIMENT NO 3

Lab Title:

Student Name: Reg. No:

Objective:

LAB ASSESSMENT:

Excellent Good Average Satisfactory Unsatisfactory

Attributes
(5) (4) (3) (2) (1)
Ability to Conduct
Experiment
Ability to assimilate the
results
Effective use of lab
equipment and follows
the lab safety rules

Total Marks: Obtained Marks:

LAB REPORT ASSESSMENT:

Excellent Good Average Satisfactory Unsatisfactory

Attributes
(5) (4) (3) (2) (1)

Data presentation

Experimental results

Conclusion

Total Marks: Obtained Marks:

Date: Signature:
Experiment No 3

Radiation Pattern of a λ/2, λ and 3 λ/2 Dipoles at 1 GHz

OBJECTIVE:
When you have completed this exercise, you will be familiar with the radiation pattern of a half-wavelength
(λ /2) dipole antenna in the E and H planes.

DISCUSSION
An antenna is a device for radiating or receiving radio waves. Antennas are the transition devices
between waveguides or transmission lines and free space. In general, a given antenna can be used to
transmit or receive a signal. The orientation of the antenna is important. When receiving, the strength of
the received signal will be stronger in some directions than in others. If the same antenna is used to
transmit a signal, the radiated power will be greater in some directions than in others. It turns out that, for
the same antenna, the direction of maximum power transmission coincides with the direction of maximum
power reception. An isotropic source is a hypothetical antenna which is non directional, that is, which
has equal radiation intensity in all directions. Although a perfectly isotropic antenna does not exist in
practice, the concept is very useful in the study of antennas. This concept gives a convenient reference
for discussing the directional properties of antennas.

The dipole antenna and the ideal dipole

The dipole antenna is a simple type of antenna consisting of two rods or wires aligned as shown in
Figure 1-1. The length of this antenna is L. The dipole is connected at the center to the transmitter
through a transmission line. The transmitter supplies an alternating current signal to the antenna. At a
given instant, the current I flows into one terminal of the dipole and out of the other, as shown in the
figure. The direction of current is then reversed. The current distribution, that is, the magnitude of the
alternating current along the length of the dipole antenna, is not uniform. Instead, it is zero at the ends,
and may be highest at the center or at other points, depending on the length of the dipole and
The frequency of the signal from the transmitter.
An ideal dipole is another hypothetical antenna which is useful in the study of antennas. It can
be considered to be a dipole of infinitesimal length with a uniform current distribution. The
theoretical characteristics of an ideal dipole approximate those of electrically small dipole
antennas.

Radiation patterns
A radiation pattern is a three-dimensional, graphical representation of the far-field radiation
properties of an antenna as a function of space coordinates. The far-field region is a region far
enough for the radiation pattern to be independent of the distance from the antenna. The
radiation pattern of a particular antenna can be measured by experiment or can be calculated, if
the current distribution is known.

A radiation pattern represents the energy distribution as a function of direction of the signals
transmitted by the antenna. It indicates the relative level of transmitted power as a function of
direction. Although the term "radiation" pattern is used, it applies just as well to receiving
antennas. The reception pattern of an antenna is identical to its radiation pattern. This is a general
rule, known as the reciprocity theorem.

Although the complete radiation pattern is a three-dimensional function, two two- dimensional
patterns are usually sufficient to characterize the directional properties of an antenna. In most
cases, the two radiation patterns are measured in planes which are perpendicular to each other. A
plane parallel to the electric field is chosen as one plane and the plane parallel to the magnetic
field as the other. The two planes are called the E-plane and the H-plane, respectively (see
Figure 1-2).

The radiation pattern in one plane can be measured by rotating the antenna in that plane while
measuring the level of received power as a function of the antenna orientation. To obtain a valid
pattern, the surrounding environment should be free from objects which could reflect the
transmitted signal towards the antenna being tested and cause errors in the results.
Figure 1-3 shows the E-plane radiation pattern of an ideal dipole. This pattern shows that the
ideal dipole is directional because the radiation is stronger in some directions than in others.
The H-plane pattern is shown in Figure 1-4. In this plane, the radiation is uniform.

90
°

Figure 1-3. Theoretical E-plane radiation pattern of an ideal dipole

The half-power beamwidth (HPBW) of an antenna is the angular separation of the points in the
main beam where the power equals one-half (-3 dB) the power radiated in the direction of
maximum power.

HPBW = |0 HPBW left - 0HPBW right|

The HPBW of an ideal dipole in the E plane is 90°, as indicated in Figure 1-3.

A practical dipole antenna has a finite length L. Common lengths are λ /2, λ, and 3 λ /2, where h
is the wavelength of the signal. The current distribution in /2 dipole has a half-sinusoidal shape,
as shown in Figure 1-5. The current is highest at the center, tapering off to zero at the ends.

Antenna polarization

The polarization of an antenna describes the direction in space of the electric field of the
electromagnetic wave transmitted by the antenna, in the far field. More exactly, it describes the
direction where the field intensity is maximum.
Many antennas are linearly polarized, that is, during one cycle, the displacement of the electric
field vector describes a straight line in space. Such antennas are referred to as being horizontally
or vertically polarized. There are also polarizations called circular or elliptical. These will be
seen in a later exercise.

It is often possible to deduce the polarization of an antenna from its geometry. In the case of wire
antennas composed of one or several elements aligned parallel to each other (dipoles and Yagi
antennas, for example), one can assume that the electric field is linearly polarized and is parallel
to the elements. Other types of antennas are also linearly polarized although this is not obvious
from their geometry. This is the case for horns, loops, and slits.

Figure 1-4. Polarization of a dipole antenna

In order to obtain a received signal of the highest quality possible, it is important that the
reception antenna have the same polarization as the incoming signal. When a signal loss occurs
because of poor alignment of the polarizations (for example, a vertically polarized signal
received by a horizontally polarized antenna), we speak of cross-polarization isolation.
Procedure Summary
In this exercise you will set up a 1 GHz λ /2 dipole and measure its radiation pattern in the E and
H planes. You will become familiar with the concept of polarization for the Yagi and the dipole
antennas. Using the cursors option of the LVDAM-ANT program, you will calculate the half-
power beam width of the λ /2 dipole antenna.

PROCEDURE

Setting up the equipment

1. The main elements of the Antenna Training and Measuring System, that is the Data Acquisition Interface/
Power Supply, the RF Generator, the Antenna Positioner and the computer, must be properly set up before
beginning this exercise. Refer to Section 4 in the User Manual for setting up the Antenna Training and
Measuring System, if this has not already been done.

2. Place the antenna mast with horizontal clips on the transmission support and clip the Yagi antenna onto it.
Orient the elements so they are horizontal; the transmission antenna is horizontally polarized, as shown in
Figure 1-5.

Figure 1-5. Set-up of the Yagi antenna horizontally polarized

Install the long SMA Cable on the 1 GHz OSCILLATOR output of the RF Generator, then
connect the Yagi antenna.

3. using the following equation, calculate the length of λ /2 dipole at 1 GHz. Note that the exact transmission
frequency of the RF Generator is 915 MHZ.

λ
= c/f
Then

λ /2 = m
To correctly evaluate the antenna length, the ratio of the length of the conductor to its diameter,
the end effect (a loading effect at the end of the wires), and the impedance mismatch resulting
from the presence of the balun should be considered. To respect these considerations, the
antenna length must be shortened. In the present case, a length of 0.45 λ, rather than 0.50 λ is a
good approximation.

Then

0.45 λ = m

4. using the answer of your calculation as a reference, choose the appropriate pair of wires to set up the λ /2 dipole.
Adjust the dipole length in accordance with your last result, as shown in Figure 1-6.

Figure 1-6. λ /2 dipole assembly

5. Place the antenna mast with vertical clips on the sliding support of the Antenna Positioner, then clip on the λ /2
dipole; the antenna is horizontally polarized. Using the sliding support, ensure that the antenna is in line with the
rotation center of the Antenna Positioner. Refer to Figure 1-10 to check your set-up.
 ANTENNA POSITIONER

Figure 1-7. Set-up of the receiving antenna horizontally polarized.

7. Make the following adjustments:

On the RF Generator

1 GHz OSCILLATOR MODE..............1 kHz

1 GHz OSCILLATOR RF POWER…...OFF
10 GHz OSCILLATOR RF POWE …...OFF

Power up the RF Generator and the Power Supply.

Turn on the computer and start the LVDAM-ANT software.

8. Set the 1 GHz OSCILLATOR RF POWER switch on the RF Generator to the ON position.

Start the first acquisition.

9. When the acquisition is completed, turn OFF the RF POWER on the RF Generator.

Store the radiation pattern as the E plane of antenna1. Use the Information box to clearly identify the
pattern. Orient the pattern so that the MSP (maximum signal position) is at 0°.

10. Rotate the transmission antenna so it is perpendicular with respect to its initial position.
 Figure 1-8 Rotation of the transmission antenna

Keep the same attenuation level. Start a new acquisition and store this pattern as the E plane
of antenna2.

ANTENNA POSITIONER
 Figure 1-9. Set-up of the dipole

11. Remove the dipole antenna, and change the receiving mast for the one with horizontal clips. Install the λ /2
dipole on the mast.

Using the intermediate SMA Cable, connect the antenna to the attenuator on top of the Antenna
Positioner.

12. using the same attenuation level, perform another acquisition and store the pattern as the H plane of antenna1.
Orient the pattern so that the MSP is at 0°.

Half-power beamwidth
13. Click the Cursors button on the tool bar. Two cursors appear, one on each side of the 0° angle. The values
displayed on the right part of the screen will also change. These now include two power levels (in dB), the
maximum value of the main beam (in dB) and, at the bottom right of the window, the positions of the cursors
and the difference between these positions (in degrees).

Select and drag the green cursor. When you move this cursor around the window, the Curs2
value changes. This is the difference (in dB) between the maximum of a pattern and the position
where the cursor crosses the pattern. You can do the same with the other cursor.

14. using these two cursors, find the angles where the power level of the main beam drops to one half on the E-plane
pattern of the antenna1 data box.

Note: Remember that a power decrease of one half is equivalent to an attenuation of 3 dB: 10 log 0.5 = -3 dB

Using the following equation, calculate the E-plane half-power beamwidth

(HPBW) of the h/2 dipole antenna.
Note: If the left and right HPBW points are positioned on each side of the 0 ° angle, you should add
360° to the 8HPBW right in the following equation.

HPBWE = |0HPBW left - 0HPBW right|

HPBWE = °
15. Repeat Step 16 with the radiation pattern of the third data box.

HPBWE = °

16. Close the cursor option (the window returns to the initial display). Compare your answers with the values given
by LVDAM-ANT (you will find the HPBW value of each antenna in the third column of the antenna data box). If
your results do not agree with those values (i.e. the difference exceeds 7°), redo the procedure steps and your
calculations.

Note: The half-power position estimated by LVDAM-ANT may sometimes differ slightly from the exact -3 dB point. To observe
the cursor positions selected by the software, open the cursors option, then select the pattern you wish to evaluate. Click the
 Options, Set Cursors at -3 dB command; the cursors will be positioned automatically. In the next exercises, you can use this
command for a rapid approximation of the half-power beam- width. This can then be adjusted with more accuracy if necessary.

Save the antenna1 and antenna3 data, then print your results. Your printout should show the radiation patterns of
these two data boxes with the main display.

17. Repeat the procedure for λ and 3 λ/2 dipole antennas and save the radiation patterns.