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Analytical Deduction of the Salient Properties of a Half Wavelength J-Pole

Antenna

Conference Paper · December 2010

DOI: 10.1109/CICN.2010.17 · Source: IEEE Xplore

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 2010
2010International
InternationalConference
Conferenceon
onComputational
ComputationalIntelligence
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andCommunication
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Systems

Analytical Deduction of the Salient Properties of a Half Wavelength J-pole Antenna

Samiul Hayder Choudhury∗ , Md. Imran Momtaz∗ and Md. Abdul Matin∗
∗ Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering,
Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Email: samiulhayder@ymail.com, imranmomtaz@eee.buet.ac.bd, amatin@eee.buet.ac.bd

Abstract—In this paper, the analytical treatment of a half-

wave J-pole antenna has been carried out assuming a sinusoidal
current distribution. The important properties of this type
antenna have been compared with that of a half-wave dipole.
It is observed that a J-pole antenna has better performance in
terms of directivity. The directivity of this antenna has been
found to be 2.3 dB which is slightly greater than that of a half
wave centre fed dipole antenna. The gain of the antenna has
been found to be better than that of a half-wavelength dipole
antenna and the radiation resistance to be nearly equal to that
of half wave-length dipole antenna.
Keywords-Balun, directive gain, directivity, half wave dipole
antenna, J-pole antenna, radiation resistance.

I. I NTRODUCTION
The J-pole antenna is a half-wave, asymmetrically fed,
dipole antenna having omnidirectional radiation pattern [1].
In this configuration, the conventional end fed antenna is ele-
vated at least 1/4 wavelength above ground, thus eliminating (a) (b)
the ground losses and ”normalizing” the radiation pattern
Figure 1. (a) Basic configuration of a half-wave J-pole antenna (b) Current
[2]. The basic configuration of a half wave J-pole antenna distribution in the J-pole antenna
is depicted in Fig 1. The Impedance matching between
the low impedance feed line and the high impedance of
the end of the dipole is accomplished with an open wire
stub matching network. A shorting bar is placed at one end
advantage of the J-Pole is that it is at DC ground, so it can
of a 1/4 wavelength of open wire line, the dipole is then
be mounted just about anywhere and still work [4]. But the
connected to the open end, and the feed line is connected
pristine disadvantage of a J pole antenna is its propensity to
at the point where the impedance of the feed line matches
couple with nearby large objects or structures, so it should
the impedance of the stub [2]. Matching to the feed-line
be installed at least 6-8 feet away from buildings [4]. The
is achieved by sliding the connection of the feedline back
J-Pole has no ground radials and it is easy to construct using
and forth along the stub until a VSWR as close as possible
inexpensive materials [6]. For its simplicity and small size,
to 1:1 is obtained [1]. If Co-axial cable feed line is to be
it offers excellent performance. Its radiation pattern is close
used, a Balun (Balanced to Unbalanced) is used to match
to that of an ”ideal” dipole because it is end fed; this results
impedance. The J-Pole is easy to erect, less costly, needs
in virtually no disruption to the radiation pattern by the feed
no radials, has low angle of radiation, greater bandwidth,
line.
powerful immunity to terrestrial noise, more gain than most
Ground Planes, is great for local nets or distant repeaters, In this paper we have analyzed mathematically the basic
more durable than most Ground Planes, meets most stealth properties of a half wave J-pole antenna assuming sinusoidal
antenna restriction agreements, has less static-charge noise, current distribution. We have considered the stub current
and static-charge build-up [3]. distribution but ignored the position of the exact feed line
Many old-timers call the J-Pole an end-fed Zep, as it is matching point. We have considered that, the antenna portion
similar in design to the end-fed antennas of the 1930’s; most is 3𝜆 𝜆
4 wavelength long where the stub length is 4 wave-
notably the antennas used on the Zeppelin dirigibles [4]. length. This assumption is fair for generating mathematical
Average gain with a 2 meter J-Pole is about 3 db. The biggest model of a J-pole antenna.

978-0-7695-4254-6/10 $26.00 © 2010 IEEE 32

DOI 10.1109/CICN.2010.17
 II. D EDUCTION OF THE PROPERTIES OF A HALF - WAVE
J- POLE ANTENNA
Our analysis to derive the properties of a half-wave J-pole
antenna is based on the assumption of a sinusoidal current
distribution throughout the length of the antenna. Sinusoidal
distribution is pertinent because the antenna length is com-
parable to the wavelength. Fig. 2 exhibits the analytical con-
figuration of a J-pole antenna with current distribution. The
arrows show the direction of current flow. The bold dotted
curved line represents the current distribution throughout the
length of the antenna. The current in the wavelength long
stub branch is out of phase with the current in the other
wavelength long section shown in Fig. 2 [8].
This effectively keeps these sections from radiating. Thus
the remaining 12 wavelength section radiates electromagnetic
wave. For this reason, the current distribution is assumed to
be, Figure 2. Analysis of a half wave J-pole antenna with sinusoidal current
( ) distribution
˜ 𝜋
𝐼 = −𝐼0 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝛽𝑧 + = −𝐼0 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽𝑧 (1)
2
of vector magnetic potential:
where, 𝐼0 = maximum value of the current, and [ ( )
˜ 𝜇𝐼0 −𝑗𝛽𝑟 3𝜋 𝜋
2𝜋 𝐴𝑧 = 𝑒 {𝑐𝑜𝑠( 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 }
𝛽= = Phase constant (2) 4𝜋𝛽𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 2 2
𝜆 ( ) ( ) ]
3𝜋 𝜋
At a point P(r,𝜃, 𝜙) from the antenna, the magnetic vector +𝑗{𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 } (7)
2 2
potential is given by:
The subscript denotes that the vector magnetic potential
∫ 3𝜆/4 ˜
˜ 𝜇 𝐼 −𝑗𝛽𝑅 is along the z-axis.
𝐴𝑧 = 𝑒 𝑑𝑧 (3) Hence, the magnetic field intensity in the radiation zone
4𝜋 𝑧=𝜆/4 𝑅
can be obtained using the following formula,
Substituting the value of 𝐼˜ in (3) the vector magnetic
˜ = 𝑗𝛽 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝐴˜𝑧⃗𝑎𝜙
𝐻 (8)
potential becomes: 𝜇
∫
𝜇𝐼0 3𝜆/4 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽𝑧 −𝑗𝛽𝑅 Here, ⃗𝑎𝜙 is the unit vector along direction. Substituting the
𝐴˜𝑧 = − 𝑒 𝑑𝑧 (4) expression for the vector magnetic potential from (7) into
4𝜋 𝑧=𝜆/4 𝑅
(8), we obtain,
When the point P(r,𝜃, 𝜙) is located far away from the an- [ ( )
˜ = 𝑗𝐼0 3𝜋 𝜋
tenna, using the help of trigonometry, we can approximately 𝐻 𝑒−𝑗𝛽𝑟 {𝑐𝑜𝑠( 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 }
4𝜋𝛽𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 2 2
write: ( ) ( ) ]
3𝜋 𝜋
R=r-z cos𝜃, to account for the phase shift, and R≈r, for the +𝑗{𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 } ⃗𝑎𝜙 (9)
distance in the denominator. 2 2
To carry out the integration, the exponential formula of The electric field intensity in the Fraunhofer zone can be
cos𝛽z was used. It is given below: obtained as,
𝑒𝑗𝛽𝑧 + 𝑒−𝑗𝛽𝑧
𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛽𝑧 = (5) ˜ = 𝜂 𝐻⃗
𝐸 ˜ 𝑎𝜃
2 (10)
Substituting (5) in to (4), the vector magnetic potential can Substituting the expression for the magnetic field from (9)
be approximated as: into (10), we obtain following as the expression of electric
∫ field,
˜ 𝜇𝐼0 −𝑗𝛽𝑟 3𝜆/4 𝑗𝛽𝑧 [ ( )
𝐴𝑧 = − 𝑒 (𝑒 + 𝑒−𝑗𝛽𝑧 )𝑒−𝑗𝛽𝑧𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 𝑑𝑧 (6) ˜ = 𝑗𝜂𝐼0 3𝜋 𝜋
8𝜋𝑟 𝑧=𝜆/4 𝐸 𝑒−𝑗𝛽𝑟 {𝑐𝑜𝑠( 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) + 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 }
4𝜋𝛽𝑟𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 2 2
( ) ( ) ]
Carrying out the whole integration and other necessary 3𝜋 𝜋
+𝑗{𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 + 𝑠𝑖𝑛 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 } ⃗𝑎𝜃 (11)
calculations, the following was obtained as the expression 2 2

33
 Figure 4. Comparison of the radiation patterns of a half wave J-pole
Figure 3. Three dimensional radiation pattern of a half wave J-pole antenna antenna and that of a conventional dipole antenna

Here, ⃗𝑎𝜃 is the unit vector along 𝜃 direction. obtained by conducting the following integration [6],
Using the expressions of magnetic and electric field ∮
intensity from (9) and (11), we can obtain the average power 𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑑 = ⃗
⟨𝑆⟩.𝑑𝑆
𝑆
∫ ∫
density, that means, the average radiated power per unit area
of the antenna, = ⃗ 2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑑𝜃𝑑𝜙
⟨𝑆⟩𝑟
𝜃 𝜙
1 ∫ 𝜋 ∫ 2𝜋
⃗
⟨𝑆⟩ = 𝑅𝑒∣𝐸˜×𝐻
˜ ∗∣
2 = 𝑟2 ⃗
⟨𝑆⟩𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃𝑑𝜃 𝑑𝜙
˜2
1 ∣𝐸∣ 𝜃=0 𝜙=0
= 2 ∫ 𝜋 ∫ 2𝜋
2 𝜂
(12) 𝜂𝐼0
= 𝑠𝑖𝑛4 𝜃𝑑𝜃 𝑑𝜙 (16)
8𝜋 2 𝜃=0 𝜙=0
After performing the required calculations, we ultimately
reach to the expression, After performing the double integration, we reach to the final
( ) form,
⃗ 𝜂𝐼02 2 𝜋
⟨𝑆⟩ = 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 3𝜂𝐼02
8𝜋 2 𝑟2 𝑠𝑖𝑛2 𝜃 2 𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑑 = (17)
[ ]2 32
𝜂𝐼02 𝑐𝑜𝑠( 𝜋2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) The radiation resistance is defined by the equation,
= (13)
8𝜋 2 𝑟2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 1 2
𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑑 𝐼 𝑅𝑟𝑎𝑑
= (18)
2 0
From [7], it can be shown that,
[ ]2 Using the result obtained for we have the radiation resistance
𝑐𝑜𝑠( 𝜋2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃) for the half-wave J-pole antenna as,
≈ 𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝜃 (14)
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 3𝜂
𝑅𝑟𝑎𝑑 = (19)
16
The above approximation is valid for the range 0 < 𝜃 < 𝜋. In free space, 𝜂 =120 Ω; in that case the value of the
Therefore (13) can be approximated as, radiation resistance becomes,
⃗ 𝜂𝐼02 𝑅𝑟𝑎𝑑 = 70.69 Ω = 71 Ω
⟨𝑆⟩ = 𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝜃 (20)
8𝜋 2 𝑟2
[ ]2 We obtain the directive gain of the antenna from the
𝜂𝐼02 𝑐𝑜𝑠( 𝜋2 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃)
= (15) equation,
8𝜋 2 𝑟2 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
⃗
4𝜋 2 ⟨𝑆⟩
The total power radiated by the half wave J-pole antenna is 𝐺 = (21)
𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑑

34
 ⃗ and 𝑃𝑟𝑎𝑑 from (15) and
Substituting the values for ⟨𝑆⟩ [8] Richard Morrow, A Brief History of the J-Pole, J pole Double
Header, Website: http://www.antennax.com/hws/ws0800/dbl
(17), we decisively obtain the following as the expression jp.htm
of directive gain,
16
𝐺 = 𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝜃
3𝜋
≈ 1.7𝑠𝑖𝑛3 𝜃 (22)
Conclusively, the directivity of the J-pole antenna is found
to be,
𝐷 = 1.7 ≈ 2.3 𝑑𝐵 (23)
From the above analysis, we can deduce that the directivity
of a half-wave J-pole antenna is slightly higher than that of a
half-wave center-fed dipole antenna for which the directivity
is 1.76dB. This gives the designer of antenna a clear
advantage over traditional half-wavelength dipole antenna.
The three dimensional radiation pattern of the J-pole antenna
is depicted in Fig. 3. The comparison of radiation pattern of
a J-pole antenna with that of conventional dipole antenna is
shown in Fig. 4
III. C ONCLUSION
The analytical model is presented for a half wave end
fed J-pole antenna having sinusoidal current distribution. It
is found from the analysis that the directive gain pattern
and the radiation resistance of a half wave J-pole antenna is
similar to that of a conventional center fed dipole antenna,
but the directivity is slightly higher. Therefore it can be used
as an alternative of an asymmetrically fed dipole antenna.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors would like to acknowledge the support given
by the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering
of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology
which has been a great help to this research work.
R EFERENCES
[1] J-pole antenna - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, Website:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J-pole antenna

[2] Paul Graham, A Discussion of Antenna Theory, Website:

http://k9erg.tripod.com/theory.htm

[3] Glynn E. ”Buck” Rogers Sr, J-pole Handbook, 4th Edition,

Website: http://www.commparts.com/JPOL4EVER.html

[4] Michael Martens, The Simplified 2 meter J-pole, KB9VBR.

[5] Edison Fong, The DBJ-1: A VHF-UHF Dual-Band J-Pole,

WB6IQN, ARRL, February 2003.

[6] Simon Ramo, John R. Whinnery, Theodore Van Duzer, Fields

And Waves in Communication Electronics, 3rd Edition, John
Wiley & Sons, Inc, 1994.

[7] Constantine A. Ballanis, Antenna Theory, 2nd ed., John Wiley

& Sons, Inc, 1997.

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