Superior University Lahore

TRANSPONDER
Communication & navigation
Fazeel Ahmed – BAT-F15-016
 Contents

TRANSPONDER ................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2
What is transponder? ...................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
DESCRIPTION:................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 2
MODES ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 2
Civil aircraft may be equipped with transponders capable of operating in different modes: ........................................................................................................ 2
Why antenna generates bubble like patterns?................................................................................................................................................................................ 2
TRANSPONDER

What is transponder?
“A transponder is a wireless communications, monitoring, or control
Device that picks up and automatically responds to an incoming signal. ”

DESCRIPTION:

 The term is a contraction of the words transmitter and responder.

 Transponders can be either passive or active. Transponders are used in satellite communications and in location, identification and
navigation systems.

MODES

Civil aircraft may be equipped with transponders capable of operating in different modes:

 Mode A equipment transmits an identifying code only.

 Mode C equipment enables the ATCO to see the aircraft altitude or flight level automatically.
 Mode S equipment has altitude capability and also permits data exchange.
 Mode C or S equipment is a mandatory requirement for many busy areas of controlled airspace.

Why antenna generates bubble like patterns?

When the top positive and bottom negative voltage pulse arrive at the antenna, there is a buildup of positive electric charges on the top wire
of the antenna and negative electric charges on the bottom wire.

As the next voltage pulse arrives, this time negative electric charges gradually push out the previously present positive electric charges form
the electric field lines in the reverse direction on the antenna. Hence the bottom antenna wire is progressively charged and the top is
progressively negatively charged. During this time, the previous collection of electric field lines going from the wire to the bottom wire all get
pushed out and crowded on the edge of the wires.

When the next voltage pulse arrives the electric field lines of phase I and phase II join together at both ends of the antenna conductor and
forms one whole loop of displacement current in free space. Now these closed electric field packet pushed into space and travel out as
radiation field. This roughly pictured as a bubble pattern.