ANTENNA OVERVIEW

SYSTEM
Table of Contents
I. Frequency, Time, Wavelength X. Pattern Lobes
II. Decibel XI. Front-To-Back Ratio
III. What is an Antenna XII. Beamwidth and Directivity
IV. Polarization XIII. Effective Radiated Power
V. VSWR, Return Lost, and Transmission Loss XIV. Directional / Omnidirectional / Sectoral
Antenna
VI. Bandwidth
XV. Downtilting
VII. Isotropic Radiator
XVI. Antenna Practices
VIII. Half-Wave Dipole
IX. Radiation Pattern
I. Frequency, Time, & Wavelength
- Radio waves oscillate (alternate from plus to minus). This variation from plus to minus is called
a cycle. Since it repeats itself.

- The number of cycles that the radio wave goes through in once second is called the frequency
(f) with a unit measure of Hertz (Hz) or cycle per second (cps).
I. Frequency, Time, & Wavelength
I. Frequency, Time, & Wavelength
- Dimensions of an antenna are usually expressed in terms of wavelength (λ) expressed in meter
(m).
λ=c/f
Where: c = speed of light (3 x 108 m/s) and f = frequency (Hz)

Sample problem: What is the dimension of an antenna needed for 900MHz?

λ = (3 x 108 m/s) / 900 MHz
λ = 0.33 m or 33 cm

Sample exercise: What is the dimension of an antenna needed for 2.6GHz?

λ = ??????
II. Decibel
- Decibel is a ratio, measured in logarithm, used to measure quantity.
- It is used to compare one power (or voltage level) to another.
- A +3dB gain represents a doubling of power while a -3dB loss represents ½ of the power.
Formula: dB = 10log10 (Power Ratio)
If: power ratio is in Watt, the decibel is expressed in dBW
power ratio is in milliWatt, the decibel is expressed in dBm
referred to an isotropic antenna, the decibel is expressed in dBi
referred to a dipole antenna, the decibel is expressed in dBd

Sample exercises: What is the decibel ratio of a 20W RRU in dBm?

How about a 4x20W RRU used by Huawei?
And a 5W RRU used in small cells?
III. Antenna Defined
- Device which transforms electromagnetic signals from a transmission line, into electromagnetic
waves radiating into free space (transmit mode) and also collects electromagnetic waves,
transforming them into electromagnetic signals and sends then to the transmission line (receive
mode).
- Passive device. Do not amplify, they simply focus radio energy.
IV. Polarization
- Describes the orientation of the radiated wave’s electric field.
- Refers to how the elements are oriented or positioned.
V. VSWR, Return Loss, Transmission Loss
- VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio) is the ratio of maximum voltage along the line) expresses
the degree of match between the transmission line and the antenna. By definition VSWR can
never be less than 1.

- Return loss is another way of expressing mismatch in logarithmic ratio measured in dB that
compares the power reflected by the antenna to the power that is fed into the antenna from the
transmission line.
FORMULA: RL (in dB) = 20 log10 {(VSWR + 1)/(VSWR – 1))

- Transmission loss is transmission mismatch loss (transmitted power that is lost because of the
imperfect match between the antenna and the transmission line.
VI. Bandwidth
- Refers to the range of frequencies over which the antenna can
operate satisfactorily.
ANTENNA TYPES ACCORDING TO BANDWIDTH
- Single band antenna – operates on single set of frequency or band
- Dual band antenna – operates on two sets of frequencies or bands
- Multi band antenna - operates on three or more sets of
frequencies or bands
- Wide band antenna – operates on broad spectrum of frequencies
or bands (less than 500MHz from the center frequency)
- Ultra wide band antenna – operates on much wider spectrum of
frequencies or bands (more than 500MHz from the center
frequency)
- Narrow band antenna – operates on a specific set of frequency or
band (typically within 20MHz wide or less)
VII. Isotropic Radiator and VIII. Half-Wave Dipole
- Isotropic radiator is a reference used to describe the directive properties of practical antennas.
This is the imaginary point source which radiates equally well in all directions.
- All practical antennas will have gain when compared to an isotropic radiator expressed in dBi.
The gain is achieved by focusing the radiated energy in one or more particular directions.
- The half wave dipole is simply a straight conductor of wire, rod, or tubing that is one-half
wavelength long (electrically) and generally is fed in the middle. It radiates at maximum intensity
in the middle of the dipole at right angles to its length and at maximum intensity at its ends.
IX. Radiation Pattern
- Radiation or antenna pattern describes the relative strength of the radiated field in various
directions from the antenna at a constant distance. Also called a reception pattern since it also
describes the receiving properties of the antenna.
- Two-dimensional radiation pattern are most common to be displayed over three-dimensional
radiation pattern.
X. Pattern Lobes
- A radiation pattern consists of a major lobe (main beam) and a number of minor lobes.
- Generally, the minor lobes on each side of the main beam are referred to as the sidelobes and
the lobe directly opposite the main beam is referred to as the back lobe.
- The regions of relatively weak radiation intensity between lobes are called “nulls”.
- Minor lobes or sidelobes serve no useful purpose except to keep them in mind when doing
interference studies because they do represent gain for an interference signal on the right
frequency coming from the right (wrong) direction.
XI. Front-To-Back Ratio
- A measure of the radiation intensity at the back of a directional or sectoral antenna (back
lobe).
- If the forward and rearward gain is expressed in dB (e.g. dBi or dBd), then the front-to-back
ratio is the forward gain minus the rearward gain. The result is then expressed in dB. For
example, if the forward gain is 10dBi and the rearward gain is -3dBi, then the front-to-back ratio
is 13dB.
- Higher front-to-back ratio means greater forward gain for the antenna which normally
corresponds for greater directivity.
XII. Beamwidth and Directivity
- The main beam in a radiation pattern is the lobe containing the direction of maximum
radiation intensity.
- The half power (3dB) beamwidth is the angle between the two points on the main beam where
the radiation intensity is down to half the maximum value (3dB down on a dB scale)
XII. Beamwidth and Directivity
- The directivity of an antenna is a
measure of the extent to which the
received or transmitted energy is
concentrated in the main beam of
the antenna pattern.
- The gain of an antenna is closely
related to its directivity but takes
into consideration the losses in the
antenna (conduction [0.5dB] and
dielectric losses [1.5dB]) as well as
directional capabilities.
- As a general rule, more gain, more
directivity, less beamwidth and
more beamwidth, less gain, less
directivity of the antenna.
XIII. Effective Radiated Power
- Effective Isotropic Radiated Power (EIRP) is a figure of merit for the net radiated power in a
given direction. It is equal to the product of the power supplied to a transmitting antenna and
the antenna gain in a given direction relative to an isotropic antenna, expressed in watts (W).
- Effective Radiated Power (ERP) is similar, but is relative to a half-wave dipole.
EXAMPLE: Transmitter POUT = 4W = 36dBm; Tx line loss = 2dB; Antenna gain = 10dBd
ERP = 36 – 2 + 10 = 44dBm = 25W
- A word of caution about dBm. You cannot add dBm to dBm! The two powers must first be
converted to watts, then added and the sum reconverted to dBm.
XIV. Directional/ Omnidirectional / Sectoral Antennas
- In a directional antenna, gain is
primarily achieved by shaping the
horizontal, vertical and slant patterns.
This is done either by adding a reflector
behind the elements or by stacking
elements (dipoles) horizontally.
- Contrary in an omnidirectional antenna,
the horizontal pattern is circular and gain
is achieved by stacking dipoles vertically
in order to compress the vertical pattern.
- A sectoral antenna is a base station
antenna that focuses the radiated power
in a given sector. Sectoral antenna are
named according to their 3dB beamwidth
(the horizontal pattern of a 90⁰ sectoral
would have a 3dB beamwidth of ninety
degrees).
XV. Downtilting
- Downtilt is a term usually applied to omni and sectoral antennas. It refers to tilting the main
beam downward away from the horizon.
- MECHANIAL DOWNTILT. The main beam is tilted downward by physically tilting the antenna
away from the vertical. Applicable only to sectoral antennas.
- ELECTRICAL DOWNTILT. The main beam is tilted downwards electrically by feeding the
elements (dipoles) of the array with currents of different phase. The advantage of electrical
downtilt over mechanical downtilt is that the beam is tilted evenly over the entire bandwidth of
the antenna. Usually, the sidelobes increase as the amount of electrical downtilt is increased.
XVI. Antenna Practices
- Antenna selection and consideration during radio network design
- Antenna gain and bandwidth
- Antenna placement/location consideration
- Interference consideration (intermodulation and harmonics)
- Coaxial cable length
- Cable splicing, connector assembly and cable layout
- Antenna panning and tilting
- Antenna maintenance
- Antenna upgrade