=>

=>
=>
=>
b.=>
### Advantages of Half-Wave Dipole Antenna

1. **Simplicity**:

- Easy to design and construct, making it suitable for both amateur and professional use.

- Only requires a half-wavelength wire and a feed point at the center.

2. **Good Impedance Matching**:

- The input impedance of 73 + j42.5 Ohms is reasonably close to the typical 50-75 Ohm
impedance of most RF equipment.

- By adjusting the length slightly (e.g., to 0.48 wavelengths), it can achieve a purely
resistive impedance of 70 Ohms, ideal for matching.

3. **Predictable Radiation Pattern**:

 - Produces a figure-eight radiation pattern in free space, which is well understood and
documented.

- The directivity is 1.64 (or 2.15 dB), providing a balance between omnidirectional and
directional antennas.

4. **Wide Bandwidth**:

- When constructed with thicker material, the antenna's bandwidth increases, making it
more versatile for varying frequencies.

5. **Resonant Characteristics**:

- At resonance (0.48 wavelengths for thin dipoles), there is no reactive component,

resulting in efficient radiation and better matching with transmitters and receivers.

### Disadvantages of Half-Wave Dipole Antenna

1. **Physical Size**:

- The length of half a wavelength can be considerable at lower frequencies, making the
antenna large and cumbersome for some applications.

2. **Mounting and Space Requirements**:

- Requires adequate space for installation and proper mounting, which can be
challenging in restricted environments.

3. **Directional Limitations**:

- While it provides a good balance, it may not offer sufficient directivity for applications
requiring high gain in a specific direction.

4. **Environmental Sensitivity**:
 - Performance can be affected by nearby objects and ground proximity, necessitating
careful placement.

5. **Polarization Constraints**:

- Polarization is fixed based on the physical orientation of the antenna, limiting flexibility
in some applications.

### Applications of Half-Wave Dipole Antenna

1. **Broadcasting**:

- Commonly used in radio and television broadcasting due to its simplicity and effective
radiation pattern.

2. **Communication Systems**:

- Widely used in amateur radio, emergency communication setups, and portable radio
systems.

3. **Antenna Arrays**:

- Serves as the basic element in various antenna array configurations, including Yagi-Uda
antennas and phased arrays.

4. **RF Testing and Measurements**:

- Often used in RF testing setups and measurement systems due to its predictable
characteristics and ease of use.

5. **Wireless Networking**:

- Employed in some Wi-Fi and wireless networking systems, particularly in outdoor and
rural settings.
6. **Aviation and Maritime**:

- Used in certain aviation and maritime communication systems where space permits its
deployment.

### Summary

The half-wave dipole antenna is a fundamental and highly versatile antenna type. Its
simple design, good impedance matching, and predictable radiation pattern make it
suitable for a wide range of applications from broadcasting to RF testing. While it has some
limitations in terms of size and environmental sensitivity, its advantages make it a popular
choice for many practical scenarios.
Good to know:
NFC:

NFC stands for Near Field Communications and goes by the acronym NFC. NFC is simply a set
of standards for smartphones or whatever to establish communication with each other by
bringing them into close together (typically 0-5 centimeters). This set of standards is just like
802.11b or 802.11n for WIFI - it sets the protocols to send and receive information.

=> information exchange at small distances

=> these devices operate around 13.56 MHz.

=> The corresponding wavelength is 22 meters long - this means to get a nice half-wave dipole
antenna (that radiates well) we would need a device about 11 meters in length.
=> NFC antennas operate at low frequency (large wavelengths) on small devices. A consequence
of this is that the radiation efficiency of an NFC antenna will be about 0.
=> NFC antenna isn't an antenna at all - it is really just a big inductor. In general, the larger the
inductance of the antenna can be made, the better it will perform. A good NFC antenna is as
large of a wrapped coil of wire as possible. Recall that a loop of wire around a material gives a
strong magnetic field within the loop (and generally the more turns you have the more
inductance you create). Hence, NFC antennas are often simply loops of wire, occupying as much
surface area as the device allows.
Front-to-Back Ratio: This is a measure of how much stronger the signal is in the maximum
direction compared to the exact opposite direction (180 degrees away).

• Identify the Maximum Direction:

Find the direction in which the antenna's signal is the strongest. This is the "front."
• Identify the Opposite Direction:
Find the direction that is directly opposite (180 degrees) to the maximum direction. This
is the "back."
• Measure the Gain:
-Measure the gain (signal strength) in the maximum direction (front gain).
-Measure the gain in the opposite direction (back gain).
• Calculate the Ratio:
-Divide the front gain by the back gain.
-Convert this ratio to decibels (dB) using the formula:
The fractional bandwidth of an antenna is a measure of how wideband the antenna is. If the
antenna operates at center frequency fc between lower frequency f1 and upper frequency f2
(where fc=(f1+f2)/2), then the fractional bandwidth FBW is given by:

The fractional bandwidth varies between 0 and 2, and is often quoted as a percentage (between
0% and 200%). The higher the percentage, the wider the bandwidth.

Wideband antennas typically have a Fractional Bandwidth of 20% or more. Antennas with a
FBW of greater than 50% are referred to as ultra-wideband antennas.
 Total Radiated Power (TRP):

Total Radiated Power (TRP) is a measure of how much power is radiated by an antenna when
the antenna is connected to an actual radio (or transmitter). TRP is an active measurement, in
 that a powered transmitter is used to transmit through the antenna. The total received power is
calculated and summed up over all possible angles (hence, it is a spherical or 3d measurement)
and the result is the Total Radiated Power.

As an example, suppose that a transmitter outputs 20.0 dBm of power (or 100 mW, see
decibels) when connected to a 50 Ohm load. Suppose the total received power in the far field
is measured to be 17.0 dBm (which can be measured in an anechoic chamber, see measuring
radiation pattern. The resultant TRP is 17.0 dBm.

The wavenumber is a scalar quantity that only depends on the frequency in question, and
specifies the phase change per meter for a wave. The quantity (often denoted k or sometimes as
) is given in radians/meter:

In the above, is the wavelength of operation, f is the frequency and c is the speed of light in
the given medium.