DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING

MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, JAMSHORO

ANTENNA AND WAVE PROPAGATION
(First Semester, Third Year) LAB
EXPERIMENT # 04

Name: Roll No:

Signature of the Lab Tutor: Date:

OBJECTIVES

#. Of Taxonomy level
# CLO
Topic Lectures
Observe the directional diagram of basic 3 2 Perception – P1
1
configuration of dipole antenna (half-wave dipole)

OUTCOME(S)

a. an ability to identify, formulate, and solve (Complex) engineering PLO4: Investigation

problems
b. an ability to use the techniques, skills, and modern engineering PLO5: Modern Tool Usage
tools necessary for engineering practice. PLO11: Project Management
c. an ability to function on multi-disciplinary teams PLO9: Individual and Team
Work

RUBRICS:

Performance Exceeds Meets expectations Does not meet Score

Metric expectation (4-5) (2-3) expectations (0-1)
Engineering problem Executes calculation Minor errors in Calculations not performed or
solving correctly by hand calculations by hand performed totally incorrectly by
or and/or using using math/engineering hand or does not know how to use
math/engineering software software math/engineering software

Use of modernComputer and software Computer and software Computer and software are not
engineering tools are extensively used in are somewhat utilized, utilized, no attempt was made
the effort was put into course learning at learning new software
new software
 DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, JAMSHORO
ANTENNA AND WAVE PROPAGATION
(First Semester, Third Year) LAB
EXPERIMENT # 04
Teamwork Actively engages and Cooperates with other Distracts or discourages other
cooperates with other group members in a group group members from conducting
members in an reasonable manner. effective the experiment.
manner.
Total Score
TOTAL Norm. SCORE (out of 0.5)

Equipment:

For setting up the antenna measurement station, the following material is required:

1 Rotating Antenna Platform 737 405

1 Gunn Oscillator 737 01
1 Isolator 737 06 (recommended)
1 PIN modulator 737 05 (recommended)
1 Large Horn Antenna 737 21
2 stand rods 301 21
1 stand rods 30126
(L = 25 cm, D = 10 mm)
1 set of absorbers 737 390

Additionally required:
1 PC with Windows 95/98/NT or higher version

Additionally recommended:
1 printer

Test antennas, e.g.:

1 Dipole antenna kit 737 412
1 Yagi antenna kit 737 432
Details
Experiment procedure

Safety notes:
Due to the low power of the Gunn oscillator (approx. 10 mW), there can be no danger to experimenters during
antenna measurements. However, if stronger HF sources are used, the following rules should be kept to:
Under no circumstances "looks” directly “into” the transmitting antenna while it is radiating. This also applies
to free ends of hollow conductors and horn antennas.
 DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, JAMSHORO
ANTENNA AND WAVE PROPAGATION
(First Semester, Third Year) LAB
EXPERIMENT # 04
When components of waveguides are exchanged during changes to the experimental setup, the supply voltage
of the Gunn oscillator has to be switched off.

Experiment description
Antennas serve to transmit or receive electromagnetic waves. For this they have to convert the conducted
wave of the supply line into a free-space wave. Antennas therefore are transition structures, which connect the
lines and free space to one another. The radiation characteristics of an antenna are of particular interest. They
can vary considerably, depending on their use in broadcasting, microwave transmission or radar. A
widespread type of antennas is given e.g. by antennas with a strong directivity. Here the use of the antenna
measuring station T 7.6.1 in conjunction with the rotating antenna platform (737 405) is explained. A λ/2
dipole antenna serves as an example of how to record a directional diagram. Readers who are interested in
measurements with other test antennas (sets T 7.6.2 to T 7.6.5) are referred to the experiment manual T 7.6
Antenna Technology (568 701).
Additional remarks are obtained from the instruction sheet 737 405.

Equipment list
1 Rotating antenna platform 737 405
1 Gunn oscillator 737 01
1 Isolator (recommendable) 737 06
1 PIN modulator (recommendable) 737 05
1 Large horn antenna 737 21
2 Stand bases MF 301 21
1 Set of absorbers 737 390
1 Dipole antenna kit 737 411
1 PC with Windows XP/Vista/7/8

Experiment setup drawing

 DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, JAMSHORO
ANTENNA AND WAVE PROPAGATION
(First Semester, Third Year) LAB
EXPERIMENT # 04

Experiment setup (see drawing)

Set up the experiment as shown in the drawing. Use the 345 mm stand rods supplied with the rotating antenna
platform for setting up the transmitter (microwave components). For further remarks see instruction sheet 737
405. As a rule, the distance r0 between the transmitting and the test antenna should fulfil the far-field
condition. For dipole antennas this is fulfilled for r 0 > 100 cm in most cases. The Far- field computer to be
found in the Settings A determines the minimum distance r 0 for the transition to the far field after D T has been
entered.

Insert the test antenna (λ/2 dipole) in the central mounting for plug-in axles in the rotating antenna platform so
that the axis is aligned with the reference lines on the rotary plate. Connect the BNC output socket of the test
antenna to the BNC socket TEST ANTENNA IN in the rotary plate via a coaxial cable. Align the antenna so
that its main-beam direction is in the 0° position. Switch the rotating antenna platform on by connecting the
plug-in unit. The rotary plate moves to the starting position -180°.

Carrying out the experiment

In the Settings Angle A enter the interface at which the rotating antenna platform is connected to the
computer. If necessary, change the settings of the rotating antenna platform in Settings A. If the dipole
antenna is used, the bias current has to be switched on. If no PIN modulator is available, you have to switch
over to Gunn modulation.
Start the measurement with . After a short break, the rotary plate starts to run in the forward direction,
whereby the actual measurement of the directional diagram takes place. Immediately after reaching the set
final angle, the rotary plate begins to return to its starting position.
Normalize A(ϑ) with Normalize Level in Settings A so that it is 1 in the maximum.

Evaluation

The measurement example shows the horizontal directional diagram of a λ/2 dipole. In Settings A the
maximum of the measured curve was rotated to 0°. The black curve represents the measured curve whereas
the theoretical directional diagram is given by the red curve. The theoretical curve was obtained by means of a
Free fit (see below).

Notes
The axis of symmetry of the test antenna and the center of the rotary plate has to be in line. If the antenna has
been inserted in the central mounting of the rotary plate, this is in general fulfilled. However, there are test
antennas which are mounted by means of stand material. In this case, the antenna has to be aligned carefully
over the center of the rotary plate in order that during rotation no eccentric motion occurs (which would lead
to asymmetries in the directional diagrams).
 DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, JAMSHORO
ANTENNA AND WAVE PROPAGATION
(First Semester, Third Year) LAB
EXPERIMENT # 04
If the main lobe of the test antenna is to be located at 0° in the directional diagram, the test antenna has to be
aligned so that its main-beam direction points into the 0° direction. Furthermore, it has to be aligned with the
transmitting antenna. That means its "back" "looks over" to the exiting source antenna. The reason for this lies
in the nature of the process: the main-beam direction is thus measured in one run instead of being divided into
two halves. Environmental influences on the system thus have less effect on the important region of the main
lobe.

Depending on the test antenna, the measurement can be made at various degrees of angular resolution. In
principle complicated antennas with many or narrow lobes have to be measured at high resolution. The
measurement process can be observed simultaneously on the measuring instruments (e. g for the angle,
voltage and level), which can be inserted/hidden, and in the graphical display. In the graphical display, the
directional diagram is constructed step by step (Cartesian co-ordinates or polar diagram with freely selectable
axes). Scaling can be shifted with the left mouse button and it can be changed with the right mouse button.
The actual antenna signal A from the detector cannot be measured directly. Only the voltage drop U generated
by detector current at the measuring amplifier is measurable. In general, U is not proportional to A but

The exponent m describes the detector characteristic. If the antenna signal A(ϑ) is normalized with Normalize
Level in Settings A so that it is 1 in the maximum, we have:

where Umax is the maximum voltage U measured.

The exponent m depends on the power of the incoming microwaves. In the low-power range it is m=2, i.e.

Experience has shown that the assumed quadratic behavior only applies at very low microwave powers or
received voltages U < 5 mV. However, the antenna measurement system makes it possible to enter other
detector characteristics. Strictly speaking, the selected characteristic has to be checked. For this a variable
attenuator (73709) is required which enables the antenna signal in front of the detector to be attenuated in a
well-defined way.

Results
1. Polar diagrams (Y and X axis) of the /2-dipole
 DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, JAMSHORO
ANTENNA AND WAVE PROPAGATION
(First Semester, Third Year) LAB
EXPERIMENT # 04

H-plane H-plane
Polar coordinates Polar Coordinates
Linear representation: A() Logarithmic representation a()

3 dB-width: 2 X 50° (theory: 78°)

The directional diagram of a /2-dipole in the E-plane has, in polar representation, the form of an
even, symmetrical eight. If the dipole were tested in an inhomogeneous field, then the recorded
directional diagram would deviate (asymmetrical form) from the theoretical form. Inhomogeneous
fields in the vicinity of the test antenna are caused by standing waves. They are formed by the
superimposing of progressive and reflecting waves, which are arriving from different directions.
They can arise longitudinally or laterally to the measurement path. The asymmetry of the
directional diagram increases when, during measurement in an inhomogeneous field, the test
antenna also carries out eccentric movements. These kinds of directional diagram distortions are
especially noticeable in the case of small antennas like, for example, the /2-dipole.

2. Cartesian diagram of the ⅄/2-dipole

H-plane H-plane
Polar coordinates Polar Coordinates
Linear representation: A() Logarithmic representation a()
 DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, JAMSHORO
ANTENNA AND WAVE PROPAGATION
(First Semester, Third Year) LAB
EXPERIMENT # 04

Discussion:

Please write the appropriate answers to following questions,

1) What was the reason to use a horn antenna as a source antenna in the experiment? What do you
think?

since they have no resonant elements, they can operate over a wide range of frequencies, a wide bandwidth.

2) How do we define the distance between source and test antennas, what should be value for this
experiment and why?
 DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATION ENGINEERING
MEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY, JAMSHORO
ANTENNA AND WAVE PROPAGATION
(First Semester, Third Year) LAB
EXPERIMENT # 04
The distance between source and test antennas is the physical separation between the two antennas. The
value for this distance depends on the experiment or application, but it should be large enough (typically
2-3 wavelengths) to minimize near-field effects and avoid coupling or interference between the two
antennas.

3) How does the radiation pattern (Horizontal) of half-wave dipole antenna look like? How does it
compare to the measured radiation pattern?
The radiation pattern (horizontal) of a half-wave dipole antenna is approximately bidirectional, with maximum
radiation perpendicular to the axis of the antenna and nulls in the plane of the antenna. The measured radiation
pattern may deviate from the theoretical pattern due to factors such as the environment, nearby objects, and
imperfections in the antenna itself. However, the general shape of the pattern should still be similar to the
theoretical pattern.

4) Please discuss a few reasons that cause the measured radiation pattern to be different from the
actual (theoretical).
There are several reasons why the measured radiation pattern of an antenna can be different from the theoretical radiation pattern.
Some of the most common reasons are:

Environmental factors: The presence of nearby objects, such as buildings, trees, and hills, can cause reflections, diffraction, and
scattering of the electromagnetic waves, which can affect the measured radiation pattern.

Imperfections in the antenna: Manufacturing imperfections, such as irregularities in the shape, size, or position of the antenna
elements, can cause deviations from the ideal radiation pattern.

Signal interference: The presence of other electromagnetic signals in the environment, such as noise or interference from other
electronic devices, can distort the measured radiation pattern.

Measurement errors: The accuracy of the measurement equipment and the measurement setup can affect the accuracy of the
measured radiation pattern. Factors such as calibration errors, inaccurate measurement distances, and non-uniform measurement
setups can all contribute to differences between the measured and theoretical radiation patterns

5) Add the summary of your understandings from the lab lecture/demonstrations.

A dipole antenna is a type of radio antenna that consists of two conductive elements, typically a wire or a pair of rods, which
are oriented in parallel and separated by a small gap. It is one of the simplest and most commonly used types of antennas,
and is widely used in radio and communication systems for transmitting and receiving signals. A dipole antenna is also known
as a half-wave antenna, because its length is equal to half the wavelength of the signal it is designed to operate on. When an
electromagnetic wave passes through the dipole antenna, it induces an electrical current in the conductive elements, which in
turn generates a corresponding electromagnetic field. This field radiates outwards from the antenna and can be detected by a
receiver or used to transmit signals to other antennas.