International Islamic University, Islamabad

Antennas and Wave Propagation Lab

LAB EXPERIMENT # 3: Study of Dipole Antenna and its Radiation

Pattern.

Group Members:

Name: ………………………………………………. Registration#: ………………………………….

Name: ………………………………………………. Registration#: ………………………………….

Name: ………………………………………………. Registration#: ………………………………….

Name: ………………………………………………. Registration#: ………………………………….

Section: ………..………………………………………………

Date of Experiment: ………………………………………..

Report submitted on: ……………………………………….

Marks obtained: ……………………………………

Remarks: ……………………………………………..

Instructor’s Signature: ……………………………......

Lab03: Dipole Antenna and its Radiation Pattern

Lab Experiment 3: Study of Dipole Antenna and its Radiation

Pattern
Objective:
In this experiment, the student will measure the E and H planes radiation patterns of a dipole
antenna. Upon completion of the laboratory experimentation, the student will able to:
1. Know about the construction and feeding details of a dipole antenna when fed from a coaxial
cable.
2. Describe the wave shape and polarization of the beam produced by a dipole type microwave
antenna.
3. Describe the difference between the E and H plane radiation patterns of dipole antenna.

Brief Theory:

Fig 3.1 Current and Voltage distribution on λ/2 dipole Antenna

Dipole is the most commonly used antenna which consists of a thin wire of length equal to λ/2 and
excited by a voltage source from the center as shown in Fig 3.1 above. The current on the dipole
is approximately sinusoidal distribution of current with nodes at the open ends and current maxima
at the center. The input impedance of λ/2 dipole is about 73 + j43 ohms. The dipole can be made
resonant (with input impedance pure real and reactance equal to zero) by slightly reducing its
length from 0.5λ. The reduction in the length depends upon the diameter of the dipole wire,
however. The dipole is to be fed from a balanced line for sinusoidal current distribution.
At microwave frequencies we prefer to use coaxial line which is an unbalanced line. A BALUN is
used to convert an unbalanced line to a balanced line. In this experiment the dipole is fed from a
coaxial port using a BALUN.

POLARIZATION
Consider the electric field in free space, in the vicinity of a ½ - wave dipole in Fig 3.2. It can be
established that at the dipole ends, electric field strengths are produced (CW and CCW), which
leave the antenna, anti – phase to each other. Thus the fields cancel each other and for this reason,
no wave propagation can take place from the ends of a dipole.

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Lab03: Dipole Antenna and its Radiation Pattern

Fig 3.2 E and H Field along λ/2 dipole Antenna

However, radial to the generator, in an imaginary equatorial plane, all E-field strengths are of the
same phase and open to the surrounding area. The fast changes in the E-fields produce magnetic
lines of flux as shown below and the main source of energy is propagated radially outwards from
the dipole.

Fig 3.3 Wave between Tx and Rx antenna

Further away from the center of the antenna, the electric field E (as shown in Fig 3.3 and Fig 3.4)
is vertical, with the magnetic field H horizontal, in phase with the E-field. These components move
away radially, from the location of the transmitter.

Fig 3.4 E and H field strengths at some distance away from the antenna

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Lab03: Dipole Antenna and its Radiation Pattern

PROCEDURE

 Mount the dipole antenna with E field in vertical plane on the turn table and connect the
dipole antenna port with the receiver through a coaxial cable.

 Mount horn antenna with E field in vertical plane and connect it to the transmitter through
a coaxial cable. The Horn antenna will act as transmitting antenna.

 Set distance between the transmitting and dipole antenna such that both are in far field
zone. This can be done by calculating the far field range which is equal to 2D2/λ where D
is the maximum dimension of the antenna (in the case of the dipole antenna it is equal to
the dipole length).
D = __________ cm λ =__________ cm

Minimum distance between Tx and Rx = 2D2/λ = _______________cm

 Align both the antennas both facing towards each other. Switch on transmitter and receiver.
Readjust alignment of the antenna till you get maximum signal in the receiver. Note down
signal level in millivolts (mV) from the digital display and convert it into power using the
calibration graph. Record the result below:
Maximum receive signal power (Prmax) = _________________dBm

 Connect the USB cable provided with equipment between PC and ATCR-5000. Now
switch ON the receiver. The “start” button will be enabled as shown below. Now the
software is ready to use. Now select antenna type and field plane of under test antenna.
This information is just for data entry record. Also select angle resolution from step angle
of 1.25°, 2.5° and 5.0° form pop down menu according to pattern requirement.

 Initially the antenna is at 0 degree position for alignment purpose. After the selection of
angle now press start button.

 Under test dipole antenna will start to rotate on turntable from starting angle +85° to -85°
automatically. This complete rotation progress will be with all status monitoring as shown
below with

 Instant signal level in dBm and mV at

each angle step
 Complete record of total sweep with
selected angle step

 After complete rotation the Trace 1

option will be enabled to see the results.
So click Trace 1 button to plot the
radiation plot of dipole antenna.

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Lab03: Dipole Antenna and its Radiation Pattern

 Now select another angle step and press start button. Up to four traces can be plot and store.

 Optionally, Now rotate the dipole antenna with steps of “2.5” degrees by manual push
button and note received signal for each step till it reaches at 0 degree again.

 The Radiation Pattern can be seen by software provided. The receiver unit will rotate from
+85 to -85 deg with a step of 2.5 deg and record signal received for each step.

 Plot the radiation pattern on polar chart. The radiation plot will be E plane plot of dipole.
Measure -3dB beam width from the plot and record the results below:

-3dB Beamwidth of the dipole antenna in E plane (manually) = ……....deg

-3dB Beamwidth of the dipole antenna in E plane (GUI) = ......…deg

θ˚ level Relative θ˚ CCW level Relative

CW dBm Power (dB) dBm Power (dB)
0 0
2.50 - 2.50
5.00 -5.00
7.50 -7.50
10.0 -10.0
12.5 -12.5
15.0 -15.0
17.5 -17.5
20.0 -20.0
22.5 -22.5
25.0 -25.0
27.5 -27.5
30.0 -30.0
32.5 -32.5
35.0 -35.0
37.5 -37.5
40.0 -40.0
42.5 -42.5
45.0 -45.0
47.5 -47.5
50.0 -50.0
52.5 -52.5
55.0 -55.0
57.5 -57.5
60.0 -60.0
62.5 -62.5
65.0 -65.0

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Lab03: Dipole Antenna and its Radiation Pattern

 Rotate the dipole and horn antenna by 90˚ and repeat above steps. Record the results according
to above table with angle φ

 Plot the radiation pattern on polar. The radiation plot will be H plane plot of dipole. Measure -
3dB beam with from the plot and record the results below:

-3dB Beam width of the dipole antenna in H plane = ………….deg.

Answer following questions:

1. What is the input impedance of a ½ wavelength dipole antenna?

2. What is a resonant dipole antenna?

3. The measured pattern of the given dipole antenna can be termed as directional
or Omni-directional pattern?

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