PRINCIPLES OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS (4th Edition)

By LOUIS E. FRENZEL JR.

CHAPTER 14

Antennas and Wave Propagation

An RF signal produced by a transmitter is sent into free space and gradually

picked up by a receiver in wireless communication systems. The antenna serves as a

link between the transmitter and free space, as well as between free space and the

receiver. A few main ideas underpin the enormous number of antenna types used in

radio communication. In HF, VHF, and UHF applications, we have all of the most

common and commonly used antennas. The properties of free space, as well as its

ability to send messages over long distances. Understanding how radio signals are

influenced by the earth and space as they travel from transmitting antenna to receiving

antenna is crucial to ensuring efficient transmission over the desired distance at specific

frequencies.

Since it contains both electric and magnetic fields, a radio pulse is considered an

electromagnetic wave. A magnetic field is a force field that is formed by a magnet. An

electromagnet is a kind of antenna. As current flows through a conductor, a magnetic

field is generated around it. A potential difference between two conductors produces an

electric field, which is an intangible force field. An antenna connects a transmitter or

receiver to the rest of the world. An electric field is either emitted or sensed by it. The

electric and magnetic fields formed by the antenna are perpendicular to the wave's
propagation path and are at right angles to each other. The near field and the far field

are the two sets of fields generated by antennas. The electric and magnetic fields are

distinct in the near field, which is the region immediately around the antenna. The radio

wave with the composite electric and magnetic fields is in the far field, which is about 10

wavelengths from the antenna. While the near field is seldom used, it is used in

applications such as radio-frequency identification (RFID) and near field communication

(NFC).

The direction of magnetic and electric fields with respect to the earth is referred

to as polarization. The electromagnetic pulse is said to be horizontally polarized if the

electric field is parallel to the earth; the wave is said to be vertically polarized if the

electric field is perpendicular to the earth. Horizontal polarization is produced by

antennas that are horizontal to the ground, while vertical polarization is produced by

antennas that are vertical to the earth. The most popular types of antennas used in the

communications industry are all built on a simple dipole, with the majority of them being

modified versions of the one-half wavelength dipole. The half-wave dipole is one of the

most common antenna types. The Hertz antenna is named after Heinrich Hertz, who

was the first to explain the presence of electromagnetic waves. A dipole antenna, also

known as a doublet, is made up of two quarter-wavelength bits of wire, rod, or tubing at

the working resonant frequency. Glass, acrylic, or plastic insulators are used to protect

wire dipoles at their ends and in the center.

The one-quarter wavelength vertical antenna, also known as a Marconi antenna,

is another commonly used antenna. It works exactly the same way as a vertically

mounted dipole antenna. However, since it is half the length of a dipole antenna, it has
significant advantages. Antennas with omnidirectional characteristics, that is, antennas

that can transmit and receive messages from any direction, are ideal in many forms of

communication systems. In certain cases, it's better to limit the direction in which signals

are transmitted or received. This necessitates the use of a directivity antenna. The

power of an antenna to transmit or receive signals over a narrow horizontal directional

range is referred to as directivity.

After being radiated by an antenna, a radio signal passes or propagates through

space until it meets the transmitting antenna. With the distance from the transmission

antenna, the signal's energy level drops rapidly. Things it meets along the way, such as

trees, houses, and other significant structures, have an effect on the electromagnetic

wave. Furthermore, the direction an electromagnetic signal follows to a transmitting

antenna is influenced by a number of factors, including the signal's wavelength, ambient

conditions, and time of day. All of these considerations should be considered when

predicting radio wave transmission from transmitter to receiver.