Measurement of Antenna Radiation Patterns: Laboratory Manual

Measurement of Antenna Radiation Patterns
Laboratory Manual
Written by:
Vishal Bhavsar
Nicholas Blas
Huy Nguyen
Under the Guidance of:
Professor Alexander Balandin
Funding Provided By:
TRW Corporation
Vishal Bhavsar, Nicholas Blas, Huy Nguyen, Alexander Balandin, EE117 Laboratory Manual, UC-Riverside, 2000
Background
by Nicholas Blas
Antennas are a fundamental component of modern communications systems. By

definition, an antenna acts as a transducer between a guided wave in a transmission line and an
electromagnetic wave in free space. Antennas demonstrate a property known as reciprocity, that
is an antenna will maintain the same characteristics regardless if it is transmitting or receiving.
When a signal is fed into an antenna, the antenna will emit radiation distributed in space a certain
way. A graphical representation of the relative distribution of the radiated power in space is
called a radiation pattern. The radiation pattern of the antenna is of principle concern when
engineering a communications system. Let’s assume that a signal needs to be sent from an
antenna on the ground to a satellite in orbit. This would require a radiation pattern with the
majority of its radiated power focused into orbit. If the antenna is not engineered to do so,
contact cannot be established between the signal source and its target. There are many different
ways to manipulate a radiation pattern to meet the demands of a specific task. These concepts
are the principle focus of this lab assignment. Implementing this lab assignment, students will
examine the radiation patterns of several antennas by hands on field testing. Only the most
fundamental antennas were chosen for this lab assignment. This allows us to see visually how
the most common types of real-world antenna designs function.
The following is a glossary of basic antenna concepts.
Antenna
An antenna is a device that transmits and/or receives electromagnetic waves.

Electromagnetic waves are often referred to as radio waves. Most antennas are resonant
devices, which operate efficiently over a relatively narrow frequency band. An antenna must
be tuned to the same frequency band that the radio system to which it is connected
operates in, otherwise reception and/or transmission will be impaired.
Wavelength
We often refer to antenna size relative to wavelength. For example: a half-wave dipole,
which is approximately a half-wavelength long. Wavelength is the distance a radio wave will
travel during one cycle. The formula for wavelength is shown on the next page.
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Note: The length of a half-wave dipole is slightly less than a half-wavelength due to end
effect. The speed of propagation in coaxial cable is slower than in air, so the wavelength in
the cable is shorter. The velocity of propagation of electromagnetic waves in coax is usually
given as a percentage of free space velocity, and is different for different types of coax.
Impedance Matching
For efficient transfer of energy, the impedance of the radio, the antenna, and the
transmission line connecting the radio to the antenna must be the same. Radios typically
are designed for 50 ohms impedance and the coaxial cables (transmission lines) used with
them also have a 50 ohm impedance. Efficient antenna configurations often have an
impedance other than 50 ohms, some sort of impedance matching circuit is then required to
transform the antenna impedance to 50 ohms.
VSWR and Reflected Power
The Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR) is an indication of how good the
impedance match is. VSWR is often abbreviated as SWR. A high VSWR is an indication that
the signal is reflected prior to being radiated by the antenna. VSWR and reflected power are
different ways of measuring and expressing the same thing. A VSWR of 2.0:1 or less is
considered good. Most commercial antennas, however, are specified to be 1.5:1 or less over
some bandwidth. Based on a 100 watt radio, a 1.5:1 VSWR equates to a forward power of
96 watts and a reflected power of 4 watts, or the reflected power is 4.2% of the forward
power.
Bandwidth
Bandwidth can be defined in terms of radiation patterns or VSWR/reflected power.

The definition used in this book is based on VSWR. Bandwidth is often expressed in terms of
percent bandwidth, because the percent bandwidth is constant relative to frequency. If
bandwidth is expressed in absolute units of frequency, for example MHz, the bandwidth is
then different depending upon whether the frequencies in question are near 150, 450, or
825 MHz. A mathematical analysis of bandwidth is provided on the next page.
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Directivity and Gain
Directivity is the ability of an antenna to focus energy in a particular direction when

transmitting or to receive energy better from a particular direction when receiving. The
relationship between gain and directivity: Gain = efficiency/Directivity. We see the
phenomena of increased directivity when comparing a light bulb to a spotlight. A 100 watt
spotlight will provide more light in a particular direction than a 100 watt light bulb, and less
light in other directions. We could say the spotlight has more "directivity" than the light
bulb. The spotlight is comparable to an antenna with increased directivity. An antenna with
increased directivity is hopefully implemented efficiently, is low loss, and therefore exhibits
both increased directivity and gain.
Gain is given in reference to a standard antenna. The two most common reference
antennas are the isotropic antenna and the resonant half-wave dipole antenna. The isotropic
antenna radiates equally well in "all" directions. Real isotropic antennas do not exist, but
they provide useful and simple theoretical antenna patterns with which to compare real
antennas. An antenna gain of 2 (3 dB) compared to an isotropic antenna would be written
as 3 dBi. The resonant half-wave dipole can be a useful standard for comparing to other
antennas at one frequency or over a very narrow band of frequencies. To compare the
dipole to an antenna over a range of frequencies requires an adjustable dipole or a number
of dipoles of different lengths. An antenna gain of 1 (0 dB) compared to a dipole antenna
would be written as 0 dBd.
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Gain Measurement
One method of measuring gain is by comparing the antenna under test against a
known standard antenna. This is technically known as a gain transfer technique. At lower
frequencies, it is convenient to use a 1/2-wave dipole as the standard. At higher
frequencies, it is common to use a calibrated gain horn as a gain standard, with gain
typically expressed in dBi.
Another method for measuring gain is the 3 antenna method. Transmitted and
received power at the antenna terminals is measured between three arbitrary antennas at a
known fixed distance. The Friis transmission formula is used to develop three equations and
three unknowns. The equations are solved to find the gain expressed in dBi of all three
antennas.
Antenna Placement
Correct antenna placement is critical to the performance of an antenna. An antenna

mounted on the roof will function better than the same antenna installed on the hood or
trunk of a car. Knowledge of the vehicle may also be an important factor in determining
what type of antenna to use. You do not want to install a glass mount antenna on the rear
window of a vehicle in which metal has been used to tint the glass. The metal tinting will
work as a shield and not allow signals to pass through the glass. When installing antennas
at a base station, a stainless steel mast should be used to properly pass stray RF current
away from the antenna and provide proper support.
Radiation Patterns
The radiation or antenna pattern describes the relative strength of the radiated field
in various directions from the antenna, at a fixed or constant distance. The radiation pattern
is a "reception pattern" as well, since it also describes the receiving properties of the
antenna. The radiation pattern is three-dimensional, but it is difficult to display the three-
dimensional radiation pattern in a meaningful manner, it is also time consuming to measure
a three-dimensional radiation pattern. Often radiation patterns are measured that are a slice
of the three-dimensional pattern, which is of course a two-dimensional radiation pattern
which can be displayed easily on a screen or piece of paper. These pattern measurements
are presented in either a rectangular or a polar format.
Absolute and Relative Patterns
Absolute radiation patterns are presented in absolute units of field strength or power.
Relative radiation patterns are referenced in relative units of field strength or power. Most
radiation pattern measurements are relative pattern measurements, and then the gain
transfer method is then used to establish the absolute gain of the antenna.
Near-Field and Far-Field Patterns
The radiation pattern in the region close to the antenna is not exactly the same as
the pattern at large distances. The term near-field refers to the field pattern that exists
close to the antenna; the term far-field refers to the field pattern at large distances. The
far-field is also called the radiation field, and is what is most commonly of interest. The
near-field is called the induction field (although it also has a radiation component).
Ordinarily, it is the radiated power that is of interest, and so antenna patterns are usually
measured in the far-field region. For pattern measurement it is important to choose a
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distance sufficiently large to be in the far-field, well out of the near-field. The minimum
permissible distance depends on the dimensions of the antenna in relation to the
wavelength. The accepted formula for this distance is:
When extremely high power is being radiated (as from some modern radar antennas),
the near-field pattern is needed to determine what regions near the antenna, if any, are
hazardous to human beings.
Beamwidth
Depending on the radio system in which an antenna is being employed there can be
many definitions of beamwidth. A common definition is the half power beamwidth. The peak
radiation intensity is found and then the points on either side of the peak represent half the
power of the peak intensity are located. The angular distance between the half power points
traveling through the peak is the beamwidth. Half the power is —3dB, so the half power
beamwidth is sometimes referred to as the 3dB beamwidth.
Antenna Pattern Types
Omnidirectional Antennas
For mobile, portable, and some base station applications the type of antenna needed
has an omnidirectional radiation pattern. The omnidirectional antenna radiates and receives
equally well in all horizontal directions. The majority of the antennas measured in the
laboratory experiment are of this type, because of they are common-place in the real world.
The gain of an omnidirectional antenna can be increased by narrowing the beamwidth in the
vertical or elevation plane. The net effect is to focus the antenna’s energy toward the
horizon.
Selecting the right antenna gain for the application is the subject of much analysis
and investigation. Gain is achieved at the expense of beamwidth: higher-gain antennas
feature narrow beamwidths while the opposite is also true.
Omnidirectional antennas with different gains are used to improve reception and
transmission in certain types of terrain. A 0 dBd gain antenna radiates more energy higher
in the vertical plane to reach radio communication sites that are located in higher places.
Therefore they are more useful in mountainous and metropolitan areas with tall buildings. A
3 dBd gain antenna is the compromise in suburban and general settings. A 5 dBd gain
antenna radiates more energy toward the horizon compared to the 0 and 3 dBd antennas to
reach radio communication sites that are further apart and less obstructed. Therefore they
are best used in deserts, plains, flatlands, and open farm areas. A picture demonstrating
gain on a mobile antenna is provided on the next page.
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Directional Antennas
Directional antennas focus energy in a particular direction. Directional antennas are

used in some base station applications where coverage over a sector by separate antennas
is desired. Point to point links also benefit from directional antennas. Yagi and panel
antennas are directional antennas. This lab experiment will demonstrate the principle of
directionality through the use of a Yagi antenna.
Antenna Polarization
Polarization is defined as the orientation of the electric field of an electromagnetic

wave. Polarization is in general described by an ellipse. Two often used special cases of
elliptical polarization are linear polarization and circular polarization. The initial polarization
of a radio wave is determined by the antenna that launches the waves into space. The
environment through which the radio wave passes on its way from the transmit antenna to
the receive antenna may cause a change in polarization.
With linear polarization the electric field vector stays in the same plane. In circular
polarization the electric field vector appears to be rotating with circular motion about the
direction of propagation, making one full turn for each RF cycle. The rotation may be right-
hand or left-hand.
Choice of polarization is one of the design choices available to the RF system

designer. For example, low frequency (< 1 MHz) vertically polarized radio waves propagate
much more successfully near the earth than horizontally polarized radio waves, because
horizontally polarized waves will be canceled out by reflections from the earth. Mobile radio
systems waves generally are vertically polarized. TV broadcasting has adopted horizontal
polarization as a standard. This choice was made to maximize signal-to-noise ratios. At
frequencies above 1 GHz, there is little basis for a choice of horizontal or vertical
polarization, although in specific applications, there may be some possible advantage in one
or the other. Circular polarization has also been found to be of advantage in some
microwave radar applications to minimize the "clutter" echoes received from raindrops, in
relation to the echoes from larger targets such as aircraft. Circular polarization can also be
used to reduce multipath. The majority of the antennas utilized in this experiment are
vertically polarized because of their predominance in antenna applications.
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Description of Antennas Available for this Laboratory Assignment
In order to place emphasis on the fundamental background information just provided,

five antennas were selected to experiment with: the half-wave dipole, 3 element Yagi, quarter
wave ground plane, 5/8 wave ground plane, and omni-angle antennas. The following is a
detailed description of each of the antennas used in the experiment.
Half Wave Dipole
The half wave dipole is perhaps the simplest and most fundamental antenna design
possible. Hertz used a dipole antenna during his initial radio experimentation. This is why a
dipole is often referred to as the “hertz dipole” antenna. The dipole is so practical that it is
utilized (in some form) in at least half of all antenna systems used today. Here are some key
principles of the dipole antenna:
1.) A dipole antenna is a wire or conducting element whose length is half the transmitting
wavelength.
To calculate the length of a half wave dipole in free space, one may use the following equation:
length (ft) = 492 / frequency (MHz)
2.) A dipole antenna is fed in the center.
By using a piece of coaxial cable transmission line, one may feed the center conductor of a
transmission line to a ¼ wavelength piece of wire. The outer shield or ground of the cable may
be connected to the remaining ¼ wavelength piece of wire. Thus, you have a dipole antenna, fed
in the center, with an overall length of ½ wavelength. The total ½ wavelength of wire is to be
stretched out evenly, being perpendicular to the transmission line. How exactly does the signal
come out of the cable and emanate from the wires into space? The ¼ wavelength wire which is
fed by the center conductor of the transmission line is known as the hot portion. One quarter of
the wave leaks from the attached wire, and the remaining quarter of the wave “hops” over to the
grounded second ¼ wavelength wire. Since these two pieces of ¼ wavelength wire work
together to emit the wave, we often refer to a dipole as a perfect resonant antenna. Why is this
important? If an antenna is resonant, it will be matched to the transmission line and/or
transmitter and the bulk of the signal will actually be transmitted, not reflected back and wasted
as heat ( i.e. Standing Wave Ratio SWR ). It should be noted that a dipole has an impedance of
75 ohms, not 50 ohms. Ordinarily a mismatch could cause a problem, but the mismatch of 50
ohm cable feeding a 75 ohm antenna is minimal with a resultant SWR of 1.5:1. This
corresponds to roughly a 5% waste of power.
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3.) The dipole antenna has a unique radiation pattern.
The radiation pattern of a dipole antenna in free space is strongest at right angles to the wire.
This pattern, when the antenna is positioned horizontally over the ground, resembles a figure
eight. This figure eight pattern will be verified during the experiment. Let’s assume we shift the
antenna around and make it vertical (perpendicular to the ground). The ends of the wire which
emit the least amount of energy are now directed towards both the earth and the sky. This results
in a vertically polarized signal which is focused quite evenly across the reception zone. This
brings up an important concept: antenna radiation patterns can be quite different horizontally and
vertically. This concept will be verified when the dipoles are tested. Also, it is important to note
that for a signal to be received effectively, the receiving antenna must be in the same plane as the
transmitting antenna. If these are mismatched, a large portion of the signal will be lost or
distorted. This concept will be verified as well.
4.) The dipole antenna is extremely flexible.
What changes can one make to a dipole to subsequently alter its radiation pattern? There
are limitless modifications that can be made. For instance: Instead of keeping the ½ wavelength
elements perpendicular to the transmission line, let’s bend them or “slope” them by 45 degrees.
This simple change will modify the radiation pattern. What happens when we stack two dipoles
on top of each other, separated by one full wavelength of space, and feed them in phase? This is
known as a stackable phased array. This focuses more of the radiated power towards the
horizon, where it is most useful. Stacking antennas for this purpose produces gain. Gain is
useful because it improves the strength of the signal that is transmitting or receiving. For
instance: if a signal is fed into an antenna with 3db (decibels) of gain. The transmitted signal
will appear on the receiving end twice as strong as it would have been if the transmitting antenna
had no gain. This can be quite beneficial to a communications engineer. It is very costly to
produce high powered transmitters. Gain offers a good compromise. A 10 watt signal fed into
an antenna with 3dB of gain will result in an effective radiated power (ERP) of 20 watts. By
introducing an antenna with gain, an engineer can avoid having to use a 20 watt signal and an
antenna with no gain. Examples of gain will be demonstrated in the lab. Gain and radiation
patterns go hand in hand. If we were to place three dipoles in a row, the radiation pattern would
be projected into a forward direction. This is known as forward gain.
On the next page is a picture of the ideal radiation pattern of a half-wave dipole in free
space. This is the radiation pattern with the antenna mounted horizontally. Observe the figure
eight pattern. Notice the dotted lines. The pattern is a little distorted because of the antenna
mast and ground distort the pattern. It is inevitable that external factors will make the real world
radiation patterns less than perfect, however, the antenna radiation patterns will still resemble
their theoretical counterparts.
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This is a picture of a dipole antenna fed by a transmission line. The picture demonstrates
the simplicity of the dipole design. All one needs to construct a dipole is some wire and a length
of coaxial cable. Notice that there are multiple lengths of wire each equal to ½ wavelength. This
is known as a multi-band dipole. It is the equivalent of connecting dipoles in parallel which are
tuned to different frequencies.
The picture on the next page represents a sloped dipole or inverted V dipole. When the
dipole is bent, the radiation pattern shifts and the impedance changes upward to around 450
ohms. This allows the engineer to use parallel transmission line cable rather than coaxial cable,
because such cable generally has an impedance of 300-450 ohms and is very inexpensive.
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The following are digital pictures of the dipole antenna used in the experiment. Look
closely at its appearance and compare it to the fundamental information established earlier in the
background of the lab report. This particular dipole is constructed of high grade aluminum and
will be the dipole used for measurement purposes. You will need to mount the dipole exactly as
shown, keeping the black stub (gamma match) facing up in the vertical mode. One picture
shows the antenna in the vertical position, the other in the horizontal position.
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The pictures below are of another dipole antenna. This dipole antenna is the antenna
used for the transmitter in the experiment. A dipole was constructed out of PVC pipe so that it
could easily be turned between horizontal and vertical to accommodate the different types of
antennas being tested. It is shown in both the horizontal and vertical positions. To change
between vertical and horizontal in the field, simply grab the horizontal PVC pipe coming off of
the mast and twist it 90 degrees so that the antenna is either facing up and down (vertical) or left
and right (horizontal). When it is vertical, make sure than the arrows drawn on the pipe are
facing the sky.
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3 Element Yagi
The Yagi antenna is used frequently because it offers gain an directivity. The Yagi
antenna was developed by a Japanese engineer Yagi-Uda. Its design is based exclusively on
dipoles. A quick glance at a standard TV antenna will show a series of dipoles in parallel to each
other with fixed spacing between the elements. The number of elements used will depend on the
gain desired and the limits of the supporting structure. A three element Yagi consists of a
director, a driven element, and a reflector. Below is a picture of how these elements are
configured:
Notice that the driven element is in the center and is nothing more than a center fed
dipole. To the right of the driven element is the reflector. The reflector is slightly longer than
the driven element to allow for proper tuning. The reflector is simply a passive piece of metal
slightly longer than ½ wavelength. At the front of the antenna is the director. It is electrically
and physically shorter than the driven element. These elements work together to project a
radiation pattern in the forward direction. This forward radiation pattern has gain. This type of
system is ideal for television broadcasts. Let’s assume you want to receive CBS’s channel 2
signal from Mount Wilson. You could simply use a pair of rabbit ears (which is a dipole) to pick
up the signal, but it probably would come in snowy. This is where a Yagi can come into play. A
three element Yagi in free space can have a maximum gain of around 9dB. This means the
signal will be amplified by about 16 times by the antenna. Also, the radiation pattern of the
antenna tends to transmit or receive the bulk of the signal from the forward direction. Thus,
aiming a Yagi at Mount Wilson would receive a strong focused signal, resulting in a much better
picture. Like a dipole, a Yagi can be placed either vertically or horizontally. Although this
could shift the radiation pattern slightly, the concepts of gain and directivity still remain.
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Below is a picture of the radiation pattern of a three element Yagi in free space. Is it
what you would expect from the information provided about Yagi antennas? Notice the
principles of forward gain and directivity? Note: the forward facing pattern is known as the
forward lobe. The backward facing pattern is known as the backward lobe. This is an ideal
radiation pattern measured in a special chamber. When the Yagi antenna is tested in the
experiment, the radiation pattern will not be perfectly aligned with the theoretical model, but the
concepts of gain and directivity should be evident from the plot.
A Yagi antenna often has an impedance of 200 ohms and needs to be matched down to
standard 50 ohm cable. A method used to correct this mismatch is to insert a gamma match
between the feedline and the antenna. A picture of this match is shown below.
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The picture below is of the Yagi antenna. Does it resemble the data in the background
section? Observe the way the antenna is mounted. The antenna is positioned slightly down the
mast. Make sure you emulate this during the experiment. Also, observe that the gamma match
(black cap) is facing upwards towards the sky. Make sure you emulate this as well.
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Quarter Wave Ground Plane
The ¼ wavelength ground plane antenna is very simple in its construction and is useful
for local communications when size, cost, and ease of construction are important. This antenna
is designed to transmit a vertically polarized signal, that is, the signal is transmitted
perpendicular to ground. This antenna is a cousin to the common dipole antenna. It consists of a
¼ wave hot element similar to a dipole’s, but instead of having one ¼ wave ground element in
the same plane, it consists of 3-4 ¼ wave ground elements bent 45 degrees down. This set of
elements is known as a ground plane. This can be conceptualized in the picture below:
This type of antenna has several characteristics that make it worthy of this experiment.
First of all, a quarter wave ground plane is very close to what we call an isotropic radiator. An
isotropic radiator is an antenna which has no gain and a near equally distributed circular
radiation pattern. A quarter wave ground plane matches this description almost perfectly. This
is a simple and effective antenna that can capture a signal equally from all directions. Its real
world applications are widespread. The 27” antenna on an automobile is a ¼ wavelength
antenna. The antenna receives FM radio signals equally from any direction and uses the metal
body of the car as the ground plane. The short antenna stub in a cellular phone is a ¼
wavelength antenna which uses the metal back plate of the phone as the ground plane. These are
just a few of the many applications which require an antenna like the quarter wave ground plane.
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This is a picture of the quarter wavelength antenna used in the experiment. This antenna
uses three ground radials. How well does it resemble the background data? Theoretically, one
should expect this antenna to radiate an almost circular radiation pattern. This will be
investigated through experimentation. Mount the antenna as shown.
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5/8 Wave Ground Plane
The 5/8 wave antenna is very similar to a ¼ wave ground plane antenna. Something
interesting happens when you lengthen the transmitting element to 5/8 wavelength. When this is
done, the antenna focuses more energy towards the horizon, thus not wasting any energy towards
unwanted areas like the sky. Compared to the ¼ wave ground plane antenna mentioned
previously, a 5/8 wave antenna has 3dB of gain. This means that the antenna’s design will
effectively double the power being applied to it. This is why the 5/8 wave antenna is very
popular in modern communications design. It broadcasts a signal somewhat evenly over an area,
but that area is exposed to a much more focused and powerful radiation pattern. The theoretical
radiation pattern of this antenna type should resemble a three-leaf clover. This antenna uses
three ground radials like the quarter wavelength antenna. Due to the gain characteristics of this
antenna, there will be an evident power increase around the areas between the ground radials.
This should be visible during the experiment and resemble the clover pattern mentioned above.
Like a dipole, these antennas can be stacked for even greater gain. A great majority of base
station antennas used for police communications and ham radio communications are of this type.
Its construction is simple, but there is a prime difference between it and a ¼ wave ground
plane. A ¼ wave antenna just happens to be of the same impedance (50 ohms) as most of the
transmitters and transmission lines used in communications. When the element is lengthened to
5/8 wave, the impedance increases dramatically, making it impractical to feed. How does an
engineer utilize the benefit of this antenna design if it isn’t a perfect match? Incidentally, the
matching is quite simple. If you insert an inductor, also known as a loading coil, in series with
the transmission line and the feedpoint of the 5/8 wave antenna element, you can match the
impedance of the transmission line with the impedance of the antenna. The inductor will allow
the current to “surge” up and balance out among the element. Below is a picture of what this
looks like:
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This is a digital picture of the 5/8 wave antenna used in the experiment. You may have
noticed that this antenna is physically longer than the quarter wave ground plane. This is due to
the fact that this antenna is a dual-band antenna. It functions as a 5/8 wave antenna @ 450 MHz
and functions as a ¼ wave antenna @ 150 MHz. Ham radio operators find this beneficial
because they use both 150 and 450 MHz to operate on. Is the picture of the antenna similar to
what you would expect from the background information? Mount the antenna as shown.
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OmniAngle Horizontal Loop Antenna
This is perhaps the most unique antenna of all. You may have noticed that out of all the
antennas utilized in the experiment, none of them produce an equally distributed radiation pattern
in the horizontal mode (parallel to the earth). The dipole can produce a pattern horizontally, but
its shape resembles a figure eight, which is far from a “perfect circle”. The Yagi antenna is too
directional to offer this option. The quarter wave ground plane antenna offers a near circular
radiation pattern, but it is vertically polarized, not horizontally polarized. This is where the
omniangle antenna comes into play.
The OmniAngle antenna can be described as a halo or loop antenna, because the antenna
elements loop around towards their ends. We can describe this as a triangular dipole, because
the elements, coupled with the base, form a triangle. Halo or loop antennas attempt to achieve an
omni pattern by shortening a half wave dipole and forming it into a loop. Resonance is restored
by capacity loading the far ends of the loop. The intent is to equally distribute current
throughout the length of the antenna. Still, the current diminishes towards the end resulting in an
egg shaped pattern. The other side effect of shortening is a severe reduction in usable bandwidth
and a susceptibility to detuning with rain. The OmniAngle antenna is approximately 30% longer
than a half wave. It is this electrical length in combination with the isosceles triangle shape that
yields a near perfect omnidirectional pattern, much wider bandwidth, and considerably less rain
detuning. Recent independent anechoic chamber testing confirms the superior pattern and gain
over round and square style loops.
Because the antenna is longer than a half wave, it is no longer resonant (not matched to
the transmission line). There is an attached matchbox consisting of a capacitor inductor network
that effectively converts the feedpoint impedance (approx. 10+j90 Ohms) to 50 ohms resistive.
Finally, a Teflon current mode balun ensures equal current to both sides of the antenna. A balun,
also known as a balanced unbalanced transformer, can work in conjunction with matchboxes to
completely equalize out the impedance mismatches that exist between the transmission line and
the antenna.
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The following is a digital picture of the OmniAngle antenna. Does it seem to correspond
to what you’ve read in the background data? The manufacturer claims that this antenna produces
a near perfect circular horizontal radiation pattern. The experiment will either prove or disprove
those claims. Mount the antenna as shown.
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Equipment:
This lab requires a great deal of equipment. Below is a detailed list of the equipment
necessary for the conduction of the experiment.
Ritron DTX-450 transceiver: This unit is used to produce the signal which is
transmitted through an antenna and subsequently
received through another antenna whose radiation
pattern is determined. This transmitter broadcasts a
signal at 450.300 megahertz. The signal is
frequency modulated and has a power output of 2
watts. A 450 megahertz transmitter is ideal for this
experiment due to the fact that 450 megahertz
antennas are both easy to obtain and take up
relatively little space. This is a picture of the unit.
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Icom communications receiver: This unit is used to receive the broadcast signal @
450 megahertz. The unit has a built in signal
strength meter which allows us to calculate changes
in dB. This can be converted to a two dimensional
radiation pattern plot. The receiver is very versatile,
in that it is capable of receiving a wide variety of
signals on a fairly large frequency scale. This will
make it useful in any type of experiment where
radio signals need to be intercepted. A photo of the
receiver is shown below.
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Transmitting antenna apparatus: This (as seen below) consists of a 3 foot tripod
which supports a 7 ½ foot antenna mast. Attached
to the top of this mast is a PVC dipole antenna. The
dipole antenna is to always be used on this mast.
The only thing we manipulate is the dipole’s
polarization (i.e. making the antenna vertical or
horizontal). This is done by simply twisting the
horizontal support pipe seen in the picture below.
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Receiving antenna apparatus: The receiving antenna apparatus (shown below) is

very similar to the transmitting apparatus. It also
consists of a tripod and mast. Its primary difference
lies in the fact that an antenna rotator is attached to
it (shown below as well). The antenna rotator is an
electrical motor which rotates the antenna in
controlled increments. This allows for accurate
measurements of dB when the antenna is located on
different axis locations. Unlike the transmitting
apparatus, the antenna attached to it can be changed.
You can technically attach any type of antenna you
want to it and measure its radiation pattern
following the procedure listed later in the manual.
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Coaxial cable assemblies: It would be impossible to connect these systems

without proper cable. The cable used is high grade
RG-8 coaxial cable which offers low signal loss.
The picture below shows the cable.
Inline attenuator: An inline attenuator is used between the 50 foot

length of cable on the receiving apparatus and the
Icom receiver. This is used in conjunction with the
receivers internal electronics to help plot the
radiation pattern. The attenuator suppresses the
signal down to a level that can be read on the
receiver’s own scale. The picture is shown below.
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Power systems: This experiment is to be conducted in the field.

This requires a portable power system. We use a
pair of marine batteries to accomplish this task.
One of the batteries is connected directly to the
Ritron transmitter for the transmitting apparatus.
The other battery powers the Icom receiver on the
receiving apparatus. Attached to this battery is a
power inverter that converts 12 volts DC (battery)
to 120 volts AC (home). This allows us to power
the antenna rotator which would normally be used
indoors.
26
Wiring Diagram:
Please follow the photos below when assembling the equipment in the field.
27
General Procedure:
(Refer to the hookup diagram on the preceding page if you have difficulty)
Radio Receiver (IC-R8500):
Connect the radio receiver to the 12 Volt battery.
Connect the antenna to the VHF/UHF female (center) jack on the back of the receiver.
Turn on the receiver.
Select the FM mode by pressing the FM button once.
Directly enter the frequency (450.3000) by using the numeric pad on the upper right corner of
the receiver. Once the number is pressed, press “ENT” to enter the frequency.
Once the frequency is entered, lock the control panel holding in the “speech/lock” button until it
beeps once.
Turn the AF Gain knob counter-clockwise to minimum.
Turn the Squelch knob to the center position.
Radio Transmitter (DTX-450):
Connect the transmitter to the coaxial cable hanging from the transmitting antenna apparatus.
Connect the transmitter to the 12 Volt battery.

Caution: DO NOT reverse the polarity. The metal casing of the transmitter is ground therefore
DO NOT place the transmitter on the positive polarity of the battery.
After the transmitter is connected to the battery, there should be a faint light on the LED power
indicator. If not, double check the battery connection and polarity.
When you are ready to transmit, flip the transmit switch located on the black box attached to the
transmitter (the LED indicator should turn from dim to bright after this point). NOTE: The
transmitter will turn itself off after 4 minutes of operation. Someone in the group will need to
turn it back on periodically. You may keep the transmitter, the cable and the battery coupled
together under the transmitting antenna apparatus. Simply have a group member run over to the
area and reset the transmitter when needed.
NOTE: Separate the transmitting and receiving antenna apparatuses by ~ 60 feet.
28
Antenna Rotator:
Connect the DC to AC power inverter to the battery.

Caution: DO NOT touch the back of the rotator control box, the three terminals are at 115 Volts
potential.
Plug the rotator control box into the inverter’s AC outlet. Turn the control dial so that the line
points to the North direction. If the dipole or Yagi antenna is being tested, make sure that the
attached antenna is facing forward in the same direction as the transmitting antenna. Simply
move the mast and tripod around until this is correct. Once this is in place, it is now in position
for your zero degree measurement.
NOTE: You will want to stretch the brown antenna rotator cable and coaxial cable out and
isolate yourself and the equipment as far away as possible from the receiving antenna apparatus.
This is roughly a 40’ distance.
Radiation Measurement:
Connect the external attenuator in series between the receiver and the antenna. There are five
switches on the external attenuator. Each of the numbers below the switches represent the
attenuation factor in dB. For example, if switch 1 and 8 are on, the total attenuation is 1dB +
8dB = 9dB. If all of the switches are on, the attenuation factor will be 31dB.
After the antenna and the attenuator are connected to the receiver, the s-meter on the radio
receiver should show the relative signal strength of the incoming signal. The attenuator’s
switches should be off at this point (pointed towards the numbers). If the signal strength on the
receiver’s meter is higher than 20dB, you will need to enable the 10 and/or 20dB internal
attenuators on the receiver as well. The objective is to find the correct value of attenuation so that
the signal meter on the receiver read a “7”. Turn on the appropriate combination of the
attenuator’s switches so that the signal meter read a “7”. Add up the dB levels from both the
receiver’s attenuators and the inline attenuator. Record this value for your 0 degree
measurement.
Rotate the control knob on the control module in 11.25 degree increments (follow the markers on
the rotator module). For each increment, adjust the necessary combination of attenuation factor,
by turning on or off the appropriate switches, so that the receiver signal meter once again
measures a “7”. Record the value. Repeat the above process for each degree increment until you
get back to 0/360 degrees. When you are finished and need to measure another antenna, return
the knob back to the original 0 degree position.
Once the data is collected, use Matlab to plot the data. You may use the polar function.
Remember to convert from degrees back to radians for this purpose. Matlab will automatically
convert back to degrees when it plots the pattern.
29
Specific Procedures:
The general procedure has been outlined. There are, however, certain guidelines that
should be followed that are specific to each antenna. Those procedures will be outlined below.
1.) Optional practice In-Lab testing procedure:
Before jumping out to the field, you may want to become familiar with the operation of
the equipment before-hand. You may do the following:
a.) Verify the functionality of the transmitter and receiver:
Hook the receiver up to the battery or use its power supply.

Hook up the transmitter to the 12V regulated power supply.
Make sure the 12V power supply is turned off.
Make sure an antenna is connected to the transmitter.
Turn the receiver on. Tune it to 450.3000 MHz in FM mode.
Turn on the transmitter by first turning on the power supply and then flipping the
transmitter’s power switch. An LED light should glow brightly on the transmitter.
Is there a carrier signal on the receiver when the transmitter is on?
NEVER TURN ON THE TRANSMITTER WITHOUT AN ANTENNA
If the above procedures fail to work, double check your connections.
b.) Practice with the receiving antenna apparatus:
In this lab you be required to shift the PVC dipole transmitting antenna between the
vertical and horizontal modes. You should get used to this procedure. Locate the
transmitting antenna apparatus (the one with the PVC antenna attached to it). Tilt the
mast down towards ground level. Twist the horizontal PVC shaft 90 degrees so that the
attached metal antenna is vertical. There is an arrow drawn on PVC pipe that points to
the sky. Make sure that arrow does point towards the sky. You will need the
transmitting antenna to be vertical for most of the radiation pattern measurements.
Photos of this antenna in both positions are located in the background section of the lab
manual.
30
2.) Specific procedures for testing the dipole antennas:
You will be testing the dipoles initially. You should have two dipoles connected.
The one on the transmitting antenna apparatus is made of PVC pipe and will be shifted
between horizontal and vertical. The dipole on the receiving antenna apparatus is a
professional grade dipole made of metal. This is the one whose radiation pattern is being
plotted. The radiation pattern of the dipoles mounted vertically is to be tested first. Make
sure the transmitting PVC dipole antenna is vertical (with the arrow pointing towards the
sky). Mount the metal dipole in the vertical position as well, as seen in the background
section of the lab manual. Make sure that the extra metal bar (gamma match) on the
antenna is on the top side of the antenna, facing the sky.
Once you have both of the antennas mounted vertically, the cables connected to
them and the remaining systems in place, it is time to take the readings. Follow the
general procedure when doing this. Make sure the antenna is facing forward towards the
transmitting antenna at your 0 degree position. Once complete, it is time to measure the
dipoles radiation pattern when it is mounted horizontally. To do so, you must rotate the
PVC dipole antenna so that it is positioned horizontally, as seen in the background
section of the lab. Once this is done, you will be required to mount the metal receiving
dipole horizontally as well. Simply duplicate the mounting picture in the background
section. Once everything is re-mounted, follow the general procedure and take your
readings. You should notice that these readings are slightly different from the last set.
This is to be expected.
3.) Specific procedures for testing the Yagi antenna:
The Yagi antenna is to be tested after the dipole because its design is based heavily on
the basic Hertz dipole. It will also expose you to a very different set of readings. You
will notice some rapid changes in your measurements. This is normal, because the Yagi
offers a very focused radiation pattern. The Yagi is a vertical antenna. When you install
it on the receiving apparatus, be sure to follow the mounting picture in the background
section of the lab. Also, make sure that the metal bar (gamma match) on the antenna is
facing upwards.
Make sure the PVC dipole on the transmitting antenna apparatus is also in the vertical
position, with the arrow pointed to the sky. You will want the Yagi to be facing forward
towards the transmitting antenna when the rotator is at its 0 degree position. Follow the
general procedure and take the readings.
31
4.) Specific procedures for testing the ¼ wave ground plane antenna.
The quarter wave antenna is the first omnidirectional antenna used in the
experiment. This is a vertical antenna, so make sure the transmitting dipole is in the
vertical position (with the arrow pointed towards the sky). Mount the antenna in the
same fashion as seen in the background section. Follow the general procedure outlined
previously. Take the readings. You should notice a fairly consistent, almost circular
pattern.
5.) Specific procedures for testing the 5/8 wave ground plane antenna.
Follow the same procedure as the ¼ wave antenna. You should observe some
signal peaks in your readings.
6.) Specific procedures for testing the OmniAngle horizontal antenna.
This is also an omnidirectional antenna, but the pattern is in the horizontal mode
and, according to the manufacturer, will have a circular radiation pattern. Because this is
a horizontal antenna, you will want to first orient the PVC transmitting dipole in the
horizontal position. Make sure you mount the OmniAngle antenna the same way as the
background photo. Follow the general procedure and catalog your readings.
32
Your Lab Report:
You should include the following in your lab report:
1.) For each antenna tested, you should include the graphical plots of the radiation patterns. Use
Matlab to do this. Matlab’s polar function can be manipulated to plot the dB levels every
11.25 degrees. Label each graph and include it in your report.
2.) Answer the following questions in your report:
a.) For the dipole testing, is there a distinctive difference among the radiation patterns
between operating them when they are both in the vertical mode compared to when
they are both horizontal? If so what is it? Do your results fall reasonably inline with
the theoretical information in the background section of the lab? Do your results
resemble those at the end of this manual? If there are any major differences, what do
you attribute them to? Hint: pay close attention to things which could “interfere”
with the patterns, i.e. weather, people, cars. Can you see why the dipole is used often
by antenna engineers?
b.) For the Yagi testing, did the radiation pattern you found fairly demonstrate the
principles of gain and directivity? Do your results fall reasonably inline with the
theoretical information in the background section of the lab? Do your results
resemble those at the end of this manual? If there are any major differences, what do
you attribute them to? Hint: pay close attention to things which could “interfere”
with the patterns. Explain what applications a Yagi antenna might be useful for.
c.) For the ¼ wave ground plane testing, would you concur that it is an omnidirectional
antenna? Do your results fall reasonably inline with the theoretical information in the
background section of the lab? Do your results resemble those at the end of this
manual? If there are any major differences, what do you attribute them to? Hint: pay
close attention to things which could “interfere” with the patterns. Explain what
applications a ¼ wave ground plane antenna might be useful for.
d.) For the 5/8 wave ground plane testing, would you concur that it is an omnidirectional
antenna? Does this antenna seem to have higher dB levels ( a stronger more focused
pattern in certain areas ) compared to the ¼ wave ground plane antenna? Does it
seem reasonable that this antenna offers a small amount of gain? Do your results fall
reasonably inline with the theoretical information in the background section of the
lab? Do your results resemble those at the end of this manual? If there are any major
differences, what do you attribute them to? Hint: pay close attention to things which
could “interfere” with the patterns. Explain what applications a 5/8 wave ground
plane antenna might be useful for.
33
e.) For the OmniAngle horizontal antenna, would you concur that it is an omnidirectional
antenna? Does the manufacturer’s claim that this antenna produces a “near perfect
circle” radiation pattern accurate or at least semi-accurate? Do your results resemble
those found at the end of this manual? If there are any major differences, what do you
attribute them to? Hint: pay close attention to things which could “interfere” with the
patterns. Explain what applications this antenna might be useful for.
3.) Also, please include an objective, equipment and procedure, raw data, and conclusion section
in your report. How you do this is entirely at your discretion, however, you should formulate
these on your own and not simply copy down what you find in this manual.
4.) Make sure and comment on this lab in your conclusion. What would you change about it?
How could you make it more efficient? What were your likes and dislikes? What types of
antennas would you like to test in a future lab? This lab is in its infancy and will most likely
become a permanent part of the curriculum at UCR and possibly at other institutions. Your
feedback is appreciated and will be integrated into any revisions of this lab.
5.) We hope you have become an expert on fundamental antenna radiation patterns. We also
hope that you found this lab to be practical, hands-on, and useful in the “real world”. This is
the type of work you may end up doing in industry. The knowledge gained in this lab will
give you good insight when it comes time to enter the job market.
34
Appendix:
I.) Radiation Pattern Plots
Observe the figure eight pattern. The smaller dB dip on the right is due to the gamma match.
35
Observe the slightly directional circular pattern. The dip on the right is due to the gamma match.
36
Observe the forward directive pattern. The signal dip on the lower left is from the gamma match.
37
Observe the uniform circular pattern. The antenna is truly omni-directional and offers no gain.
38
Observe the distinctive peaks of dB every 120 degrees. This is due to the gain characteristics.
39
Observe the uniform circular pattern. The antenna is truly omni-directional and offers no gain.
40
II.) Sample Raw Data for Radiation Pattern Measurements
θ (degrees) dB
0 57
11.25 57
22.5 57
33.75 56
45 56
56.25 54
67.5 51
78.75 51
90 50
101.25 49
112.5 36
123.75 33
135 36
146.25 33
157.5 31
168.75 27
180 34
191.25 36
202.5 35
213.75 35
225 34
236.25 35
247.5 37
258.75 40
270 43
281.25 44
292.5 47
303.75 51
315 54
326.25 57
337.5 57
348.75 57
360 57
41
III.) Known Error Sources
The following error sources were identified during this lab experiment:
1.) The reflective bodies of automobiles caused fluctuations in readings.

2.) The movement of people around the field caused fluctuations in readings.
3.) The movement of birds and leaves caused fluctuations in readings.
4.) Movement of the attenuator caused fluctuations in readings.
5.) The mast and rotator box altered some of the radiation patterns.
6.) The movement and positioning of the coaxial cable altered patterns.
7.) Mis-mounting of the antennas caused altered patterns.
8.) The increasing temperature of the transmitter lowered dB levels.
9.) Operator error.
10.) Antenna design issues.
42
Group Photograph:
From left to right:

Huy Nguyen, Nicholas Blas, Vishal Bhavsar
43

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Measurement of Antenna Radiation Patterns

Under the Guidance of:

Professor Alexander Balandin

Funding Provided By:

Antennas are a fundamental component of modern communications systems. By

The following is a glossary of basic antenna concepts.

An antenna is a device that transmits and/or receives electromagnetic waves.

VSWR and Reflected Power

Bandwidth can be defined in terms of radiation patterns or VSWR/reflected power.

Directivity and Gain

Directivity is the ability of an antenna to focus energy in a particular direction when

Correct antenna placement is critical to the performance of an antenna. An antenna

Absolute and Relative Patterns

Near-Field and Far-Field Patterns

Antenna Pattern Types

Directional antennas focus energy in a particular direction. Directional antennas are

Polarization is defined as the orientation of the electric field of an electromagnetic

Choice of polarization is one of the design choices available to the RF system

Description of Antennas Available for this Laboratory Assignment

In order to place emphasis on the fundamental background information just provided,

Half Wave Dipole

length (ft) = 492 / frequency (MHz)

2.) A dipole antenna is fed in the center.

3.) The dipole antenna has a unique radiation pattern.

4.) The dipole antenna is extremely flexible.

Quarter Wave Ground Plane

5/8 Wave Ground Plane

OmniAngle Horizontal Loop Antenna

Receiving antenna apparatus: The receiving antenna apparatus (shown below) is

Coaxial cable assemblies: It would be impossible to connect these systems

Inline attenuator: An inline attenuator is used between the 50 foot

Power systems: This experiment is to be conducted in the field.

Radio Receiver (IC-R8500):

Connect the radio receiver to the 12 Volt battery.

Turn on the receiver.

Select the FM mode by pressing the FM button once.

Turn the AF Gain knob counter-clockwise to minimum.

Turn the Squelch knob to the center position.

Radio Transmitter (DTX-450):

Connect the transmitter to the 12 Volt battery.

NOTE: Separate the transmitting and receiving antenna apparatuses by ~ 60 feet.

Connect the DC to AC power inverter to the battery.

1.) Optional practice In-Lab testing procedure:

a.) Verify the functionality of the transmitter and receiver:

Hook the receiver up to the battery or use its power supply.

b.) Practice with the receiving antenna apparatus:

2.) Specific procedures for testing the dipole antennas:

3.) Specific procedures for testing the Yagi antenna:

6.) Specific procedures for testing the OmniAngle horizontal antenna.

Your Lab Report:

You should include the following in your lab report:

2.) Answer the following questions in your report:

I.) Radiation Pattern Plots

II.) Sample Raw Data for Radiation Pattern Measurements

III.) Known Error Sources

1.) The reflective bodies of automobiles caused fluctuations in readings.

From left to right:

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