Log Periodic Antenna

• Log periodic antenna is another broadband VHF and UHF

antenna capable of providing large bandwidth.

• It is a driven array and is made in a very large variety of

shapes and configurations.

• One of the most commonly

used type is a driven array

of dipoles as shown.

• The array is driven by a feeder line that is transposed between

adjacent elements so that the feed to a given element is 180 degrees
out of phase with that to the adjacent elements.

• The lengths of the dipoles and the inter-dipole spacing is

governed by the following relationship:

R1 / R2 = R2 / R3 = R3 / R4 ............. (5.4)

= L1 / L2 = L2 / L3 = L3 / L4 .......= k (constant)
(5.5)

• The typical values for the convergence angle and constant ‘k’
are 30o and 0.7.

• The lowest and highest frequencies of operation are respectively

determined by the longest and the shortest dipoles.

• The cut-off frequencies are the ones for which the length is l/2.

• Straight dipoles are usually used for the UHF band and the
dipoles are bent like

V-antennas as shown for operation in the VHF band.

The salient features of log periodic antenna are:

♦ It is a frequency independent antenna.

♦ The input impedance variation of the antenna with the

log of the frequency is periodic and hence the name.

♦ It is an array of non-identical dipoles which are all

excited equally.
 ♦ It is a non-uniform array where the spacing between the
elements is unequal

♦ Its impedance, directional patterns and directivity are constant with

frequency.

♦ The gain of a well designed antenna lies between 7.5 and

12 dB.

♦ It is a broad-band antenna.

♦ It has uni-directional characteristics.

♦ These antennas are used in VHF and UHF bands.

♦ They are used for TV reception and can receive a number

of channels.

♦ It is more efficient than rhombic antenna.

Helical Antenna

• The Helical antenna is a broadband VHF and UHF antenna.

• It produces circularly polarized waves.

• VHF and UHF propagation undergoes a random change in its

polarization as it propagates through the atmosphere.

• This, is due to various factors like earth’s magnetic field,

ionization of different regions of the atmosphere, Faraday’s rotation etc.

• The propagation gets more severely affected in case of trans-

ionospheric communications such as those involving satellites.

The salient features of helical antenna are:

♦ The helical antenna is a simple antenna for circular

polarization.

♦ It is used in the VHF and UHF bands.

♦ It is most popularly used in the axial mode.

♦ In normal mode, the beam width and efficiency are small.

♦ It is a wide band antenna in axial mode.

 ♦ It is used for extra terrestrial communications,
satellite and space probe communications, radio astronomy and so
on.

♦ It is simple in construction and has a high directivity.