2001 APCO/NENA

State Training Conference

January 19, 2001

An Antenna is :
An effective interface between the radio and free
space:
Free
space

Radio

Antenna

For Terrestrial Communications, antennas

must be
a
directional:

Radio

Terrestrial Microwave Antennas for

Point-To-Point Communication

Terrestrial microwave antennas generate a beam of RF

signal to communicate between two locations.

Point-To-Point communication depends upon a clear line of

sight between two microwave antennas.

Obstructions, such as buildings, trees or terrain interfere

with the signal.

Depending upon the location, usage and frequency, different

types can be utilized.

We will address the basic characteristics of these various

types

Electrical Performance
Parameters
Gain

Radiation Pattern
Envelope

Front to Back
Ratio (F/B)

Cross-Polar
Discrimination (XPD)

Interport
Isolation (IPI)

Return Loss
(VSWR)

Parabolic Antenna
Directive Gain
Ga (dBi) = 10 log10 [ 4Aa /
Where:
Ga = Antenna Directive Gain (Catalog spec)

= Aperture Efficiency (50-55%)

Aa = Antenna Aperture Area

= Wavelength (speed of light / frequency)

Typical Parabolic
Antenna Gain in dBi

Frequency

Antenna Diameter

2
4
6
8

GHz
GHz
GHz
GHz
11 G Hz
15 G Hz
18 G Hz
22 G Hz
38 G Hz

2 ft
(0 .6 m )
1 9 .5
2 5 .5
2 9 .1
3 1 .6
3 4 .3
37
3 8 .6
4 0 .4
4 5 .1

4 ft
(1 .2 m )
2 5 .5
3 1 .6
3 5 .1
3 7 .6
4 0 .4
4 3 .1
4 4 .6
4 6 .4
5 1 .1

6 ft
(1 .8 m )
2 9 .1
3 5 .1
3 8 .6
4 1 .1
4 3 .9
4 6 .6
4 8 .2
4 9 .9
NA

8 ft
(2 .4 m )
3 1 .6
3 7 .6
4 1 .1
4 3 .6
4 6 .4
4 9 .1
5 0 .7
NA
NA

1 0 ft
(3 .0 m )
3 3 .5
3 9 .5
4 3 .1
4 5 .5
4 8 .3
51
NA
NA
NA

1 2 ft
(3 .7 m )
3 5 .1
4 1 .1
4 4 .6
4 7 .1
4 9 .9
5 2 .6
NA
NA
NA

1 5 ft
(4 .5 m )
37
4 3 .1
4 6 .6
4 9 .1
5 1 .8
NA
NA
NA
NA

Radiation Pattern Concept

Antenna
Under Test

Antenna Test
Range

Source
Antenna

Radiation Pattern
about Bore sight

Cut Through Radiation Pattern at

Boresight

Front to Back Ratio

Ratio of the signal level at beam peak to
that directed behind the antenna
Considered in intra-system interference
calculation (hop overreach)
Expressed in dB

Co-Polarization and
Cross-Polarization
Co-Polarization
Co-polarized antenna
pattern

Where Transmit & Receive Antennas

have the Same Polarization

In your System, The Wanted Signal

Cross-Polarization
Where Transmit & Receive Antennas
have Different Polarizations
Either HV or VH.
In your System, The Unwanted Signal

Relative Power

Either Horizontal or Vertical (HH or VV)

XPD

X-polarized patttern
Azimuth Angle

Inter-port Isolation (IPI)

Feed
Horn

Towards
Reflector

Transmit
Signal

Leakage
Signal

Leakage of Signal Between

Antenna Ports

Internal Noise

Expressed in dB

Voltage Standing Wave Ratio

(VSWR)
Incident Signal
Reflected Signal
VSWR = 1 + (Reflection Coefficient)
1 - (Reflection Coefficient)

VSWR : 1.30

Reflection Coefficient : 13% (0.13)

VSWR : 1.20

Reflection Coefficient : 9.1% (0.091)

VSWR : 1.10

Reflection Coefficient : 4.7% (0.047)

VSWR : 1.08

Reflection Coefficient : 3.8% (0.038)

VSWR : 1.06

Reflection Coefficient : 2.9% (0.029)

Return Loss

The Amount of Energy Lost due to Reflected (Returned) Signal

RL = -20 x log (Reflection Coefficient)

RL : 17.8dB

Reflection : 13% (0.13)

VSWR : 1.30

RL : 20.8dB

Reflection : 9.1% (0.091)

VSWR : 1.20

RL : 26.7dB

Reflection : 4.7% (0.047)

VSWR : 1.10

RL : 28.4dB

Reflection : 3.8% (0.038)

VSWR : 1.08

RL : 30.7dB

Reflection : 2.9% (0.029)

VSWR : 1.06

Basic Antenna Types

Standard
Parabolic
Antenna

Focal Plane
Antenna

Shielded
Antenna

GRIDPAK
Antenna

GRIDPAK Antenna
Grid Reflector
Low Wind load
Single Polarized
Below 2.7GHz
Shipped in Flat,
Lightweight Package

Standard Parabolic Antenna

Basic Antenna
Comprised of
Reflector
Feed Assembly
Mount

Focal Plane Antenna

Deeper Reflector
Edge Geometry
Improved F/B Ratio
Slightly Lower Gain

Shielded Antenna
Absorber-Lined Shield
Improved Feed System
Planar Radome
Improved RPE

Antenna Efficiency
Well-designed antennas have
efficiency ratings of 45 - 65%
Efficiency Factor Affected By :

Feed Illumination

Aperture Blockage

Reflector Surface Tolerance

Efficiency can never be 100%

Antenna f/D Ratio

D
f/D = 0.333

Standard &
Shielded Antennas

D
f/D = 0.250

Focal Plane
Antennas

Unwanted Signals

Scattering

Spillover

Diffraction

Front to Back Ratio

Direction
of
Signal

Standard Parabolic
Antenna

Direction
of Signal

Focal Plane
Antenna

Direction
of Signal

Shielded
Antenna

Parabolic Reflector Beamwidth

3dB

Frequency

Diameter
0 .3 m

0 .6 m

1 .2 m

1 .8 m

2 .4 m

3 m

3 .7 m

4 .5 m

2 G Hz

35

1 7 .5

8 .7 5

5 .8 3

4 .3 8

3 .5

2 .8 4

2 .3 3

6 G Hz

1 1 .6 7

5 .8 3

2 .9 2

1 .9 4

1 .4 6

1 .1 7

0 .9 5

0 .7 8

8 G Hz

8 .7 5

4 .3 8

2 .1 9

1 .4 6

0 .8 8

0 .7 1

0 .5 8

11 G Hz

6 .3 6

3 .1 8

1 .5 9

0 .8

0 .6 4

0 .5 2

0 .4 2

14 G Hz

2 .5

1 .2 5

0 .8 3

0 .6 3

0 .5

0 .4 1

0 .3 3

18 G Hz

3 .8 9

1 .9 4

0 .9 7

0 .6 5

0 .4 9

0 .3 9

0 .3 2

0 .2 6

23 G Hz

1 .5 2

0 .7 6

0 .5 1

0 .3 8

0 .3

0 .2 5

0 .2

38 G Hz

1 .8 4

0 .9 2

0 .4 6

0 .3 1

0 .2 3

0 .1 8

0 .1 5

0 .1 2

Beamwidth in Degrees

Radiation Pattern Envelope

0

dB down from Main Lobe

Antenna Directivity

10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
0

10

15 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

Azimuth - Degrees from Main Lobe

Radomes
Reduce Windloading
on Tower
Protection Against
Ice, Snow and Dirt

Other Antenna Options

High XPD antennas
Dual beam antennas
Dual band antennas
Low profile antennas
Integrated antennas