AMITEC ELECTRONICS

LTD.

MAT10
MICROWAVE ANTENNA TRAINING LAB
STUDENTS ACTIVITY MANUAL

REGD. OFF. : 504, NILGIRI TOW ER, 9 BARAKHAMBA ROAD,

NEW DELHI-110001
UNIT 1: 4/32, SITE-4, SAHIBABAD, NCR D ELHI -201010
UNIT 2: 4/46, SITE-4, SAHIBABAD, NCR D ELHI -201010
TEL- +91-11-41505510, +91-120-4371276
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Electronics Ltd.

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

INDEX
Sr. No.

CHAPTER

PAGE No.

1.

INTRODUCTIO N

04

2.

SOFTWARE USER GUIDE

07

TO STUDY THE VARIATION OF FIELD STRENGTH

OF RADIATED WAVE, W ITH DISTANCE FROM
TRA NSMITTING A NTENNA.

14

TO PLOT THE RA DIA TION PATTERN OF AN

OMNI DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA

16

TO PLOT THE RA DIA TION PATTERN OF A

DIRECTIONAL ANTENNA)

18

TO STUDY THE PHENO MENO N OF POLARIZA TIO N

OF V ERTICAL, HO RIZONTA L A ND CIRCULA RLY
POLA RIZED A NTENNAS.

20

7.

A NTENNA RES ONANCE, V SW R OF A NTENNA.

22

8.

TO DEMONSTRA TE THA T THE TRANSMITTING

A ND RECEIVING RA DIA TION PATTERNS OF A N
A NTENNA ARE EQUAL AND HENCE CONFIRM
THE RECIPRO CITY OF ANTENNA S

23

STUDY OF DIPOL E A NTENNA.

25

10.

STUDY OF HORN (E PLANE, H PLANE, PY RAMIDAL)

30

11.

STUDY OF CONICAL HO RN A NTENNA

37

3.

4.
5.

6.

9.

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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

INDEX
Sr. No.

CHAPTER

PAGE No.

12.

STUDY OF MO NO POLE, DIEL ECTRIC ROD

40

13.

STUDY OF SLOT ( NW & BW) A NTENNA.

43

14.

STUDY OF PA RA BOLIC DIS H

47

15.

STUDY OF PA TCH A RRAY S

50

16.

STUDY OF HELIX ANTENNA.

54

17.

VARIOUS CHA RTS- POLAR, CA RTESIAN,

BANDW IDTH, INV ERSE SQ. LAW.

58

18.

RETURN LOSS V S. V SW R CHART.

62

19.

POW ER CONV ERSION TABLE CHART.

66

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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

INTRODUCTION

MI CROWAVE ANTENNA TRAINING LAB X BAND MAT10

TRANSMITTER

RECE IVER

MOTOR

AUTO
RS2 32

AUTO
MOD. IN

DE MOD. OUT

ESC

MENU

ENTER

UP

DOWN

MICROWAVE
OUT

MICROWAVE
IN

1 0.5 GHz

1 0.5 GHz

FRONT PANEL LAYOUT OF MA T10

CONTROLS & THEIR DESCRIPTION:
UP: This push button is used to incr ease the angular position of stepper motor by
prev ious ly s elected step siz e. It can also be used to scroll the v arious options in
menu mode. Press ing it longer w ill star t the scr oll mode and angular position w ill
start to r oll s low ly and than faster .
DOW N: This push button is used to decr ease the angular position by prev iously
selected step size. It can als o be used to scroll the v arious options in menu mode.
Pr essing it longer w ill start the scr oll mode and angular pos ition w ill start to r oll
slow ly and than faster.
M ENU: This pus hbutton is us ed to select the var ious modes of operation.
Pr essing it onc e w ill blink the memory loc ation. While ( Me m) is blin king pr ess ing
up/dow n buttons w ill c hange the me mory loc ation. RF Level s tor ed at
corresponding loc ations w ill be dis play ed. You may set desir ed memory location
befor e s tar ting ex per iment. As this loc ation data w ill be used to recall antenna
pattern data in softw are. Press ing menu again w ill blink the step s ize mode in
steps of 1, 5, 10 or 45 degrees. Press ing up/dow n w ill change the s tep siz e and
press ing enter w ill selec t the corr esponding step s ize of 1, 5, 10 or 45 degrees.
You may store 5 degr ee as step s ize for nor mal operation. Pr ess ing menu again
w ill blink the man/auto mode. Pressing up/dow n w ill change the man/auto mode
and pressing enter w ill s elec t the c orr esponding mode. In auto mode the motor
w ill star t rotating in selected step s ize and system w ill rec ord the rf lev el data at
various angular pos itions in memory locations. A trigger puls e w ill als o be
available at trigger out BNC in auto mode. Press ing the menu again w ill recall the
memory stored and pressing Up/dow n button w ill change the recall memory.
Pr essing menu further w ill bring serial mode. Enter ing Y ES w ill start uploading
data stor ed in memory loc ations in to PC. This data can be view ed in the softw are
prov ided for antenna pattern analysis. Pressing enter at any step s ize w ill select &
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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

save the s etting and pressing up/dow n later w ill change the angular position in
steps selected.
ENTER: This pus h button is us ed to stor e the settings in memory and s elect any
oper ating mode.
ESCAPE: This pus h button is used to canc el the command.
RS 232: A DB9 lead provided is c onnected her e w hen memory data is sent from
MAT10 to PC v ia RS232/CO M/Ser ial por t. This data is analys ed in the softw are
prov ided for antenna polar plots.
DEM OD: This is the ASK demodulation output port. It has 0- 5V digital output. It
can be used for s etting up micr ow ave communic ation link. Ev en us ed to transfer
serial data from PC in simplex w ithout har dw are control. A 0- 5V square w ave fed
into DRO trans mitter us ing Function generator modulates its RF envelope. The
same c an be demodulated at this connector and observ ed at CRO thus
establishing a digital micr ow ave communication link. The DRO c an be modulated
by 0-10KHz digital signal and the same may be demodulated.
BEEP/ READ: This buzz er is us ed to indicate that the motor has reac hed its
spec ified loc ation and readings c an be taken.
LCD DISPLAY: This 16X2 alphanumer ic Liquid Crys tal Dis play is us ed to display
the angular position and level of signal being r ec eived and other parameters.
STEP in DEG: This read from LCD is us ed to indicate the angular step size of
motor r otation.
LEVEL dBuV or dBm : This r ead from LCD, is used to display the rec eived signal
strength in dBuV or dBm. The dy namic range is about 80dB.
ANGULAR POSITION DEG REES: This read from LCD, is used to display the
angular position of the motor Monopod. Dis play is 0 degr ees on pow er reset.
Reset m ode = Yes. If one enters it, Pos( positions) display w ill come to 000
degr ee and w ill reset the prev ious rotated position of motor like 270 degr ee etc.
This w ill not make motor to r otate instead the halted pos ition s hall bec ome new
home position.

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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

EQUIPMENT SETUP
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.
8.

9.

10.
11.
12.
13.
14.

15.

Sw itch the MA T10 ON from the back panel and the position/lev el display
w ill c ome on.
The display ed pos ition on MA T LCD is 000 indicating 0 degr ees .
The motor position can similarly be contr oll ed by means of
UP/DOW N/MENU/ENTER /ESCAPE buttons prov ided on the front panel.
Pr essing the UP or DOW N button w ill incr eas e or decreas e the A NG ULAR
POS ITION by PRESELECTED STEP SIZE OF 1, 5, 10 OR 45 DEGREES.
Pleas e selec t 5 degr ee as step s ize for nor mal oper ation. It w ill result in 72
readings for a 360 degree plot.
The lev el show n on r eceiver dis play in absence of any leads connec ted at
Microw ave input is the inter nal nois e floor of the equip ment, w hich r ests at
around 25- 30dBuV. This is nor mal.
Mount the Horn at s tepper monopod us ing a w aveguide to c oax adapter
prov ided. Connec t a Pyr amidal Horn antenna at w aveguide adapter us ing
20 X 4 screw s prov id ed.
Similarly mount the Hor n at Tx monopod us ing a w aveguide to coax
adapter prov ided.
When the horn antennas point at each other and are s epar ated by around
2m- the MA T10 w ill show a reading of ar ound 70BuV . Pleas e note this a
referenc e r eading w ith pyramidal horns. The Horn at r eceiver end may be
replaced by any microw ave antenna under tes t us ing suitable s haft rods
and the MA T10 lev el reading noted. The dif ference in r eading w ill give the
gain of antenna under test w ith reference to hor n antenna. The horn
antenna is pres umed to hav e gain of 15dB.
CAUTION- NEV ER BRING HORN ANTENNAS TOO CLOSE TO EACH
OTHER OTHERWISE THE Rx shall be saturated and it might damage
the sensitive mixer of DRO at Rx.
Corr ect impedance match chec ks any r adiation from connec ting leads.
High dir ectiv e gain antenna at tr ans mitter r educes multi path reflections.
The Horn antenna should poin t w here the other antenna at Rx at stepper
Monopod is kept.
Pr essing the UP or DOWN button w ill incr ease or decr ease the angular
position.
The stepper Monopod w ill star t r otating few seconds after you s et the
required position. The Monopod w ill stop on r eac hin g the displayed position
w ith a beep sound.
Both the antennas s hould be at same lev el and in corr ect planes of
polarization for maximum signal transfer.

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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

SOFTWARE USER GUID E

1

Introduction

1.1

What Does It Do?

The primary purpose of Polar Plot is to enable you to better understand the
oper ating c haracter istics of your antenna.
The program plots relative pow er in dB and relative field s trength polar dia grams.
The polar diagr am is pres ented in polar form or in r ectangular for m, w ith a r ange
from maximum of 100dB to minimu m of 0 dB. The scale of the plot c an be either
logarithmic or linear. Print out and standard w indow s filing systems ar e pr ovided.
To colle ct readings, the program uses a conne ction from the receiver RS232 out put to the computer ComPort, w ith no requirement for any
specialised interface equipment. Be sur e to read the section 'Connec tion to the
Receiver ' for pr ecautions .
Meas ur ements can be saved and re-loaded later ; plots can be pr inted in colour or
greyscale; screen shots can be captur ed and pasted into gr aphics programs for
saving. Bec ause you can over lay one plot on another the effect of a change to
the antenna des ig n or operating height can be seen.
1.2

Principles of Operation

General principles
Plotting a polar diagram involves measur ing and rec ording r eceiv ed signal
strength at know n intervals of angular pos itions.
To do this y ou r equir e a c onstant level RF signal sourc e (from either transmitter or
signal gener ator or a noise gener ator) and rec eiver . The RS 232 output of the
receiv er is c onnected to the c omport in a c omputer.
To measur e the tr ansmitting station's polar diagram the receiv ing s tation's
antenna remains stationary and the transmitting station's antenna rotates. To
meas ur e the receiving station's polar diagram the transmitting station's antenna
remains stationary and the receiving station's antenna rotates.
Uploading
The stepper motor c ontroller pr ovides a 10 ms pulse on r eaching a particular
position w hich is av ailable at pulse out of SCU (stepper Contr oller unit).This pulse
out is then c onnected to Tr igger Stepper BNC of Rx. The Rx(rec eiver) stores the
dBuV r eading w hen an exter nally prov ided trigger puls e is receiv ed. Hence w hen
the stepper controller is operated in auto mode w ith step size of 1 degr ee and
start pos ition of 0 degr ees it w ill give 359 puls es to the Rx for taking 359 readings
befor e c oming to a halt. For each pulse r eceiv ed from SCU , the Rx stores the
instantaneous dBuV r eading of Rx w hich then can be uploaded to PC from Rx
menu Uploading. The r ec eiv er can accept trigger pulses from transmitter also
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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

and adv ance the frequency in selected step s izes. The rec eiv er w ill store the
instantaneous dBuV r eading on r eceiv ing the tr igger puls e. This mode w ill help
plot retur n loss, antenna bandw idth plots etc.
Real tim e Plot ( Not Used )
For r eal time plot simply connec t the r eceiver to the comport of the PC. Open the
softw are us er interface and pr ess the realtime button. Now the antenna w ill be
plotted w hile it is being r otated.

1.3

Equipment and Softw are Requirements

Polar Plot r uns on a standar d PC that has serial port/com port. It has been tes ted
on Window s 95/98, Window s XP and Window s 2000, r unning on desktop
machines and laptops.
Set up the r est of the equipment as specified in the experimental manual.
2

Getting St arted

2.1 Program Installations and Removal

Initial Inst allation
Initial installation is done by running the CD prov ided, c ontaining a s etup pr ogr am
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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

called "antenna setup.ex e" that ins talls all of the files r equir ed for r unning Polar
Plot, sample plots and the Vis ual Basic run-time libr aries .
A self extracting utility called mdac _ty p is prov ided in case some files in operating
system are missing. It is advisable to run this utility befor e installing the softw are.
Progr am Removal
Alw ays Use the standar d Window s method of Start/ Settings/ Contr ol Panel/ AddRemove Pr ogr ams and select Polar Plot.
2.2

Connection To The Receiver

The output of the r eceiv er, RS 232 should be connected to the com-port of
computer us ing the lead provided.
2.3

Registering the Program

If you w ould li ke to register the program then please refer Sales pers on for curr ent
details. The s oftw are shall enable you to take limited test runs till you r egister
yours elf.
Copy the license file registerats03.ini supplied to you in c:\ for registering
polar plot softw are in the nam e of Amitec Electronics.
3

Running Polar Plot

3.1

Collecting Data

Circular/Re ctangular and Lin/Log

You can take plots w ith the gr id being either c ircular or r ectangular , and w ith either
a linear or log scale.
Triggered Plots
a)
Set up antenna, Tx , Rx and SCU etc as given in the ex per imental manual.
b)
Without altering any of the settings, the antenna to be meas ur ed should
then be turned to one end of the r otator trav el at 0 degrees.
c)
Physically r otate the antenna Monopods s o that the antenna point tow ards
each other .
d)
This w ill ens ur e a maximu m s ignal being received by the r eceiv er.
e)
Pr ess auto mode on Stepper controller unit to rotate the stepper by 1or 5
degr ee steps. This w ill automatic ally send a tr igger puls e to Rx.
f)
Rx w ill then s tar t storing r eadings in its me mory. After s tor ing dBuV
readings on 359 locations, the readings can be uploaded to PC after selecting
Uploading option from r eceiv er menu. The receiver w ill upload all 1000 loc ations
to the computer. For plotting the relevant r eadings select locations from the
softw are control panel say 1 to 73 loc ations. Pleas e note dow n the memory
locations manually w hen a par tic ular antenna is being tested. As w ith 1000
locations and say 72 loc ations being used for testing a particular antenna plot- in
all more than 12 antennas c ould be tested and s tored in rec eiver.
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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

Step size 5 degree

For coarse and quick plotting set the contr oller for 5 degrees step siz e and r epeat
the same as before. Only that the number of readings taken by the s oftw are shall
be 72.
3.2

Print ing

To pr int a plot, clic k the 'Print' button after right clicking on polar plot.. A standard
Window s print dialogue box is pres ented. The progr am attempts to pr int to the
w idth of the pr inted page and takes notice of por trait and landscape orientations.

3.3

Copying The Plot To An Im age Processing Program

You can copy the Polar Plot w indow to the Window s clip boar d by using the
appr opr iate key c ombination for your oper ating system - usually Pr int Screen or
ALT+Pr int Scr een. The clipboard contents can then be pasted in to a gr aphics
edit ing pr ogr am s uch as Paint, edited to y our liking and saved in a format of your
choic e. The saved file can then be pr inted, emailed, faxed, transmitted by s low
scan or w hatever.
3.4

Saving A Plot

To s ave the r eadings taken to a file click the 'Save As' button.
Window s save dialogue box is pres ented.
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A standard

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

3.5

Re- loading A Previously Saved Plot

To reload a pr eviously saved plot, c lic k the 'Get File...' button. You ar e pres ented
w ith a standard Window s Open dia logue box. Choos e the file y ou w ish to r eload.
3.6

Overlaying One Plot on Another

You c an ov er lay one plot on another by clic king on the 'Over lay...' button. The
w ay this w orks is the s ame as 'Get File...', but w ithout first c lear ing the screen.
When y ou perform an overlay you w ill realise that ther e are gener ally differenc es
in plot s hape acc ording to w hether you took r eadings in a clockw ise or anticlockw ise rotation.
Overlaying One Plot Another, it is reported the sentence you can reverse
the displayed rotation of any plot by clicking on the Reset button and then
re-saving.
Pattern Analysis Aids
You can show or hid e the patter n analys is aids by clic king the Pattern Analysis
button w hen show ing a r ectangular plot.
When the aids ar e s how n the curs or changes to a cross- hair as y ou move the
cursor ov er the plot ar ea. W hile the c ursor is over the plot tw o box es are s how n
at the bottom left of the plot. These s how the angle relativ e to the centr e v ertical
line and, if plotting in dB, the dB dow n level from the 0dB line. If you ar e not
plotting in dB then the sec ond box show s the perc entage of maximum field
strength.
You can place tw o dashed lines on the plot by c licking either the left or right
mous e buttons. The left button is for the top line, and the right button is for the
bottom line. These lines c an be dr agged up and dow n. The levels of the lines are
show n in the tw o box es below the plot.
4

Changing The Look Of A Plot

4.1

Circular, Re ct angular and Log/Lin Scale

Unless the Plot in dB checkbox is de-selected, plo ts ar e show n as relative pow er

in dB. You can s how a plot of relativ e field s trength (linear sc ale only) by unchec king the Plot in dB checkbox. This makes your plot really look like as in
book, but you ar e still looking at the same antenna, only in a different w ay.
To alter nate betw een a circular plot and a rectangular plot, clic k the 'Rec tangular'
button. The button fac e then changes to 'Circular'. A r ectangular plot is more
useful w hen looking at the side-lobes. You c an sw ap betw een the tw o types
w henev er y ou w ish.
Likew ise, you can change the scale of either plo t by clic king the 'Lin Scale' button.
The button face then changes to 'Log Scale'. Be aw are that the values plotted are
still r ela tive pow er in dB unless the Plot in dB chec kbox is de-selected, in w hich
case it is relativ e field strength.
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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

The rectangular plot s how s a blac k circle around the star t/end point of the data,
and the v ertical lines are at 10 degr ee s pac ing.
To quickly c entr e the 3dB points ( usually the main lobe) in a r ectangular plot, first
of all sw itch to circ ular dis play, then clic k the 'Rescale' button, then sw itch back to
rectangular display. Any des ired s tar ting position c an be ac hiev ed by manually
changing the 'Degr ees Rotated' value.
Reloading Data to RS232 Port / Reopening the softw are GUI :
Once you open the softw are GUI, Com port selection w indow pops up.

In case w indow doesnt popup, right click the softw are w indow on polar
diagram and open Edit or and click s ave,

the com port selection w indow w ill popup.

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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

In case, you w ant to upload dat a again, open the softw are and f ollow the
procedure mentioned above

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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

EXPERIMEN T NO. 1
INVERSE SQUAR E LAW OF PROPAGATION
OBJ ECTIV E:
To study the v ariation of field str ength of radiated w ave, w ith distance from
trans mitting antenna.
EQUIPM ENT:

MAT10 instrument, Pow er cord.

Wav eguide to coax adapter , w aveguide stand, Pyramidal horn, Trans mitter
antenna stand.

Wav eguide to coax adapter, w aveguide stand, Pyramidal Horn antenna,

Meas ur ing tape.
PROCEDURE:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Keep both Tx and Rx at a minimal distanc e of 1 m from each other, center

to center using measur in g tape.
This minimal distance ensures that w e are testing the antennas in the far
field r egion.
Tr ans mitted Microw ave signal from Horn antenna is interc epted by another
Horn and sent to r eceiver. Measure the level on r eceiver in dBuV.
Note dow n the lev el reading at 1-meter dis tance.
Take the reading at 1.4- meter distanc e. Ensure that no scattering objects
are in the v icinity of the antenna, w hich c ould reradiate and dis tor t the field
pattern and consequently the r eadings. Avoid any movement of persons
w hile taking the readings.
Take further r eadings at distanc es of 1m, 1.4m, 2m, For measuring 2.8m,
disconnect the shaft r od and plac e it on table w ith hands.
Readings can be distorted if the Horn antenna captures signal from its
behind due to w all or from ceiling etc. Ref er theory.
Plot thes e readings on Cartesian plane w ith distanc e betw een antennas on
X ax is and s ignal level in dB as Y-ax is.
Repeat the measur ements once again to c onfirm the readings.
Use the gr aph template prov ided at the end of this manual for plotting your
graph.

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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

Equipment set up w ith Both Pyr amidal Hor n in E plane. As the probe ins ide
w aveguide to c oax adapter is horizontally polar ized, it is said to be in azimuth
Plane or E plane.

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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

EXPERIMEN T No. 2
OMNIDIREC TIONAL AN TENN AS
OBJ ECTIV E:
To plot the r adiation patter n of an omni directional antenna.
( Polar plot on log/linear scales & Cartesian plot on log/linear scales)
EQUIPM ENT:

MAT10 instrument, Pow er cord.

Wav eguide to coax adapter , w aveguide stand, Pyramidal horn, Trans mitter
antenna stand.

Wav eguide to coax adapter, w aveguide stand, Pyramidal Horn antenna,

Monopole
PROCEDURE:
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.

7.
8.

9.

Connec t the Horn antenna using H plane Polarized coax ial to w aveguide
adaptors to the Tx.
Connec t the monopole antenna on c ube to the stepper Monopod us ing
shaft rod w ith cube. Keep the antenna in v ertical dir ection.
Set the distanc e betw een the antennas to be around 2m.
A distance of 2m ens ures that multi path reflections from floor, ceiling etc
are minimiz ed. Incr eas ing or deceasing the height of any Monopod should
not v ary the level r eading by mor e than 2 dB. This ripple can lead to
erroneous r esults.
Keep the antennas in the same hor izontal plane. Remove any str ay object
from ar ound the antennas, es pecially in the lin e of sight. Avoid any
unnecessary mov ement w hile taking the readings.
Using stepper motor controller unit, r otate the ver tical monopole antenna
around its axis in steps of 5 degr ees. Take the readings from r eceiver level
display at each step after the beep and note dow n.
Plot the readings on a polar or Cartes ian plane us ing log/linear scales on
graph papers prov ided at the bac k.
While plotting take maximu m r eading as zero refer ence and subtr act the
subs equent readings from this refer ence r eading and plot. Thus all the
readings of lev el shall be dBuV as per the gr aph.
Now replace the monopole w ith a v ertical Helix, v ertical dipole etc and
observe if they ar e all omnidirec tional in azimuth plane.

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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

TX
RX
Tr ans mittin g A ntenna is V ertically polar ized. Rec eiv ing Dipole is v ertically
polarized and is omnidirec tional.

TX
RX
Tr ans mittin g A ntenna is V ertically polar ized. Rec eiv ing Monopole is v ertically
polarized and is omnidirec tional.

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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

EXPERIMEN T No.3
DIRECTIONAL ANTENNAS
OBJ ECTIV E:
To plot the r adiation patter n of a directional antenna.
( Polar plot of E & H planes on log/linear sc ales & Car tes ian plot on log/linear
scales)
EQUIPM ENT:

MAT10 instrument, Pow er cord.

Wav eguide to coax adapter , w aveguide stand, Pyramidal horn, Trans mitter
antenna stand.

Wav eguide to coax adapter, w aveguid e s tand, Pyramidal Horn antenna.

PROCEDURE:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Connec t the Pyramidal Horn or Conic al Hor n A ntenna to the tr ans mitter.
Keep the antenna in hor izontal direction.
Now connect the Hor n antenna to the r eceiver at stepper Monopod.
Set the distance betw een the antennas to be ar ound 2m. Remov e any
stray objects from around the antennas , espec ia lly in the line of sight. Av oid
any unnecessary movement w hile taking the r eadings.
Now rotate the Horn antenna ar ound its axis in steps of 5 degr ees . Take
the r eadings in r eceiv er at each step and note dow n.
Plot the r eadin gs on a polar or Car tesian plane.
Now replace the Pyr amidal Horn w ith a other Horns (E or H plane s ectoral
Horn) and find w hether they are dir ectional antennas or not.

Pyramidal horn as directional antenna

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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

EXP ERIM ENT No. 4

POLARIZATION OF ANTENNAS
OBJ ECTIV E:
To s tudy the phenomenon of Linear and Circ ular polariz ation of antennas .
EQUIPM ENT:

MAT10 instrument, Pow er cord.

Wav eguide to coax adapter , w aveguide stand, Pyramidal horn, Trans mitter
antenna stand.

Wav eguide to coax adapter, w aveguide stand, Pyramidal Horn antenna,

LHCP & RHCP Helix.
PROCEDURE:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8.
9.

Set up the equipment as stated befor e w ith tw o pyramidal horn antennas

pointing each other and spac ed by 2m.
Remove any str ay object from around the antennas, espec ially in the line of
sight. Av oid any unnecess ary movement w hile taking the readings.
Note the rec eived r eading.
Keep both the w aveguide in the hor izontal planes. The feeds of both
antennas should be parallel to each other.
Replace the horn at stepper end w ith helix antenna mounted on cube by
replacing the s haft rod.
Connec t a RHCP/ LHCP ax ial mode Helix antenna and point it tow ards the
trans mitter w ith pyr amidal horn. Set the dis tance for axial mode Helix to be
around 2m and take car e to point it prec isely tow ards the other horn and
ensur e that same height is kept and horn w aveguide is par allel to center of
helix w hile taking r eadings.
Now manually rotate the ax ial mode helix along its ax is by c onnecting the
Helix on 3 faces of cube and obs erv e the c hange in level r eading. Make
sure the connec tor is tightened each time.
Now replac e the helix w ith a dipole antenna. Observe the change the
receiv er r eadings.
Find the correlation betw een plane of antennas at Tx & Rx and Rx
readings.

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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

TX
RX
Vertical Copolariz ation: Tr ans mitting & rec eiv ing Pyramidal Hor n in V ertical
Polar ization. Observe that SMA c onnector at end of w aveguide/coax adapter is
Vertical and so is the launching pin ins ide the w aveguide.

TX
RX
Horiz ontal Copolar izatio n: tr ans mitting & r ec eiv ing Pyramidal Horn in Hor izontal
Polar ization. Observe that SMA c onnector at end of w aveguide/coax adapter is
horiz ontal and so is the launc hing pin inside the w aveguide.

TX
RX
Circular polariz ation: Transmitting Hor n antenna in Hor izontal Polariz ation and
Axia l Helix Circularly polar iz ed antenna.

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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

TX
RX
Circular Polariz ation: Transmitting Horn antenna in Vertical Polar ization and Ax ial
Helix Circularly polarized antenna. Observe that changing tr ans mitting antenna
polarization from hor iz ontal to v ertical s hall result in approximately equal rec eived
signal str ength due to circularly polariz ed receiver antenna.

TX
RX
Cross-polar ization: Tr ans mitting Pyramidal Hor n in Horiz ontal Polarization and
Receiving antenna in v ertical polar iz ation.

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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

EXP ERIM ENT No. 5

VSW R
OBJ ECTIV E:
To measur e the VSWR ( Return Loss)
EQUIPM ENT:

MAT10 instrument, Pow er cord.

Wav eguide to coax adapter , w aveguide stand, Pyramidal horn, Trans mitter
antenna stand.

Wav eguide to coax adapter, w aveguid e s tand, Pyramidal Horn antenna

Directional c oupler (DC)

PROCEDURE:
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

11.
12.
13.

14.

Set up the Dir ectional coupler for Forw ard pow er measur ement as in Fig
abov e.
Connec t the trans mitter ( Tx) at input port ( por t 1) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
Connec t the r eceiver (Rx) at c oupled por t ( por t 3) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
Connec t the Antenna at output por t (port 2) of Direc tional coupler. ( Use
w aveguide to c oax adapter in or der to connec t antennas w ith SMA (female)
connector)
Say for example, Forw ard Pow er is 67 dBuV.
Now , reverse the direction of Dir ectional coupler and set up the Direc tional
coupler for Rev ers e pow er meas ur ement as in Fig abov e.
Connec t the tr ans mitter ( Tx) at output por t (port 2) of Directional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
Connec t the r eceiv er (Rx) at c oupled por t ( por t 3) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
Connec t the Antenna at input port (port 1) of Directional coupler.
Say for ex ample, revers e Pow er is 52 dBuV. ( Optional: Forw ard Pow er
could have als o been c alc ula ted w ithout changing ports by c onnecting
shor t at Port 1 using s ame s etup and measur ing Rx r eading and then
meas ur ing r ev ers e pow er by c onnecting antenna instead of s hort. See
video).
The dif ference betw een forw ard and reverse Pow er in dB is retur n loss of
antenna. Here it is 67- 52 = 15 dB. Henc e, VSWR is 1.43
If r eturn loss is mor e V SW R is less, and better is the antenna.
The Directional Coupler is matched to 50 Ohms input impedance of
receiv er and 50 Ohms output impedanc e of tr ans mitter. It c ompar es the
antenna impedanc e to its internal refer ence impedance of 50 Ohms( w hich
is por t 4 ).
Keep your hands aw ay from the antenna w hile taking meas urements.

- 22 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

Meas ur ement of Forw ard Pow er

Meas ur ement of Reverse Pow er

- 23 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

EXPERIMEN T No. 6
RECIPROCITY TH EO REM
OBJ ECTIV E:
To demons trate that the tr ans mittin g and rec eiving radiation patterns of an
antenna ar e equal and henc e confir m the r eciproc ity theorem of antennas
EQUIPM ENT:

MAT10 instrument, Pow er cord.

Wav eguide to coax adapter , w aveguide stand, Pyramidal horn, Trans mitter
antenna stand.

Wav eguide to coax adapter, w aveguid e stand, H plane Horn antenna.

PROCEDURE:
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.
6.

7.
8.

Connec t a H plane Hor n antenna to the stepper Monopod.

Point the Horn antenna in the direc tion of H plane Horn.
Set the distance betw een the antennas to be ar ound 2m. Remov e any
stray object from ar ound the antennas, espec ially in the li ne of sight. Av oid
any unnecessary movement w hile taking the r eadings.
Now rotate the H pla ne Hor n antenna around its ax is in steps of 5 degrees
using stepper motor contr oller. Take the r eadings in r eceiv er at eac h s tep
and note dow n.
Plot the r eadin gs on the graph paper prov ided at bac k.
Now without distur bing the setup, c onnect the Pyramidal Hor n to stepper
Monopod and H plane Horn to the trans mitter. Do not distur b their
dir ections. Now H plane Horn is c onnected to transmitter and Pyramidal
Horn at rec eiver. Take another set of readings by rotating the tr ansmitter at
stepper Monopod from the c ontroller ev ery 5 degr ees.
Keep in mind that it is antenna that is being r otated is plotted in rec eption
and trans mission mode both for pr oving the r ecipr ocity theor em.
Obs erve the tw o plots and find if they ar e any different from each other.

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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

EXP ERIM ENT No. 7

STUDY OF DIPOLE ANTENNAS:
OBJ ECTIV E:
A.
B.
C.

To plot the radiation patter n of dipole antenna in E & H pla nes on log &
linear scales on polar and Cartes ian plots.
To meas ur e the beam w idth (- 3dB) , front to bac k ratio, side lobe level and
its angular pos ition, pla ne of polar ization and directiv ity and gain of the
dipole antenna
To measur e VSWR, r eturn loss using DIRECTIONAL COUPLER.

EQUIPM ENT:

MAT10 instrument, Pow er cord.

Wav eguide to coax adapter , w aveguide stand, Pyramidal horn, Trans mitter
antenna stand.

Wav eguide to coax adapter, w aveguide s tand, Pyramidal Horn antenna

Directional c oupler , Dipole

A.

To plot the radiat ion pattern of dipole antenna in E & H planes on log
& linear scales on polar and Cartesian plots.

PROCEDURE:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Connec t the Hor n Antenna to the Tx. Keep the antenna horiz ontally
polarized. As the pr obe ins ide adapter is hor izontal so the antenna is
horiz ontally polariz ed.
Now connect dipole antenna to Rx at the stepper Monopod w ith cube as
show n in figur e.
Set the distance betw een the antennas to be ar ound 2m. Remov e any
stray object from ar ound the antennas, espec ially in the li ne of sight. Av oid
any unnecessary movement w hile taking the r eadings.
Now rotate the dipole antenna around its axis in steps of 5 degr ees. Take
the level readings of receiver at eac h s tep and note dow n.
Note the maximum r eading out of the w hole set of readings. This w ill for m
the 0dB r eferenc e r eading. Now subtr act all the r eadings from this
referenc e readings and note dow n. Now use this new set of readings for
draw ing a plot.
Plot the r eadings on a polar or Cartesian plane w ith log/linear scales on the
graph papers prov ided at the bac k of the manual.
This plot w ith both the feeds in horiz ontal plane s hall for m an E-plane plot.
Now w ithout distur bing the s etup r otate the dipole antenna at r eceiv er
from horizontal to v ertical polar ized.
And r otate the dipole antenna around its ax is in steps of 5 degr ees us ing
stepper motor c ontroller. Take the level r eadings of rec eiv er at eac h step
and note dow n.
Plot the r eadings als o on a polar or Cartesian plane w ith log/lin ear scales
on the gr aph papers pr ov ided at the back of the manual.
This plot shall constitute the H- plane plot of the dipole antenna
Try to plot the same patter n using a PC w ith the softw are pr ovided.
- 25 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

B.

To m easure the beam w idth (-3dB) , front to back ratio, side lobe level
and its angular posit ion, plane of polarizat ion, directivit y & gain of the
dipole antenna

1.

16.

Fr om the E-plane r adiatio n patterns dr aw n in experiment A find the

follow ing.
The -3dB or half pow er beamw idth is defined as the angular w idth in
degr ees at the points on either sides of the main beam w here the radiated
level is 3dB low er than the max imum lobe value.
Fr om the polar plot meas ure the angle w here the 0dB refer ence is ther e.
This s hall also be the dir ection of main lobe or bores ight direction.
Meas ur e the angle w hen this reading is 3dB on its eit her s ide.
The dif ference betw een the angular positions of the 3dB points is the Eplane beam w idth of the dipole antenna.
Side lobe level is us ually taken as the level below the bores ight gain.
Strictly all peaks on either s ide of the main lobe are side lobes. How ever in
prac tice only the lobes adjacent to the either side of the boresight maxima
are referr ed to as s ide lobes .
Side lobes in this cas e s hall for m betw een the tw o max imas. Nulls c an be
upto 20dB from the bor esight direction gain.
If the plot forms distinct side lobes then eac h ones angular pos ition and
level can be inferred from the plot.
The front to bac k ratio is a meas ure of the ability of a dir ectional antenna to
conc entr ate its beam in the r equired forw ard direction.
Obs erve the differenc e in levels in dB from bores ight dir ection and the
dir ection diametric ally oppos ite to it.
Polar ization is shape and or ientation of the locus of the extr emity of the
electr ic field vec tor as it v aries w ith time at a fixed point in s pac e.
For a linear antenna like dipole the polariz ation direc tion is the dir ection of
its elements.
Find the dir ection of polar ization of a dipole antenna.
Meas ur e the H-plane beamw idth of the dipole antenna from H- plane plot.
Calc ulate the dir ectivity as 41,000/( 3dB beamw idth E-plane X 3dB
beamw idth H- plane in degrees). Take a log of this v alue and multiply by 10
for reading in dBi. See that this for mula is approx imate and should be used
judiciously.
Gain = Directiv ity * Efficiency

C.

To m easure VSWR, return loss using DIRECTIONAL COUPLER.

15.

Set up the Dir ectional coupler for Forw ard pow er measur ement as in Fig
abov e.
Connec t the trans mitter ( Tx) at input port ( por t 1) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
Connec t the r eceiv er (Rx) at c oupled por t ( por t 3) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
Connec t the Antenna at output por t (port 2) of Direc tional coupler. ( Use
w aveguide to c oax adapter SMA( male) to SMA( male) adapter in order to
connect antennas w ith SMA (female) c onnector.
Say for example, Forw ard Pow er is 67 dBuV.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

16.
17.
18.
19.

- 26 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.

28.

Now , reverse the direction of Dir ectional coupler and set up the Direc tional
coupler for Rev ers e pow er meas ur ement as in Fig abov e.
Connec t the tr ans mitter ( Tx) at output por t (port 2) of Directional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
Connec t the r eceiv er (Rx) at c oupled por t ( por t 3) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
Connec t the Antenna at input port (port 1) of Dir ectional coupler.
Say for example, r everse Pow er is 52 dBuV.
The dif ference betw een forw ard and reverse Pow er in dB is retur n loss of
antenna. Here it is 67- 52 = 15 dB. Henc e, VSWR is 1.43
If r eturn loss is mor e V SW R is less, and better is the antenna.
The Directional Coupler is matched to 50 Ohms input impedance of
receiv er and 50 Ohms output impedanc e of tr ans mitter. It c ompar es the
antenna impedanc e to its internal refer ence impedance of 50 Ohms( w hich
is por t 4 ).
Keep your hands aw ay from the antenna w hile taking meas urements.

TX
Rx
Receiving Dipole in Elevation plane Vertic ally polarized.

Tx
Rx
Receiving Dipole in Az imuth plane in horiz ontal polar ization.

- 27 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

Find the follow ing res ults for Dipole antenna at giv en frequency :
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.

8.

9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.

Antenna Test Fr equency (f) =

____________MHz
Antenna Test W avelength () =____________m
(c = f* w here c is velocity of E.M. w ave in vacuum = 3* 10^8m/s)
Rayleigh Dis tance , Near field-Far field Boundary = ___________m
(F=2*L^2 / w here L is the maximu m dimens ion of the antenna in m.)
Distanc e betw een tw o antennas( R) = ____________m
Theor etic al A ntenna Dimensions for half w ave ( /2) Dipole
=____________m
Pr actical Antenna Di mens ions
for
half
w ave
( /2)
Dipole
=_____________m
( /2 5%. See theory for ex pla nation.)
Pow er fed to Tr ans mitting antenna ( Pt) =__________dBuV = _________nW
( Measur ed by c onnecting Tx directly to Rx us ing Jumper lead. See dBuV to
nW c onvers ion at the bac k of the manual.)
Pow er
receiv ed
from
r eceiv in g
antenna
( Pr)
=__________dBuV =________pW
( Measur ed by connec ting tw o dipole antennas, in this c ase, one at Tx
Monopod and other at Rx stepper Monopod.)

E plane - 3 dB Beamw idth of the antenna ( HP ) =______________degrees

(-3 dB Beamw idth or half pow er beam w idth ( HPBW) means s ame because
-3 dB Beamw idth is for elec tric field plot w hich is being plotted)
H
plane
-3
dB
Beamw idth
of
the
antenna
( HP )
=_______________degr ees
E plane half pow er beam w idth ( HPBW) ( HP ) =____________rad
(2 r ad = 360deg)
H plane half pow er beam w idth ( HPBW) ( HP ) =____________r ad
Beam Area or Beam Solid A ngle=____________sr
( = HP* HP (sr).Also (sr) = 4(sr)*D w here D is Direc tivity)
Beam w idth betw een first nulls( BWFN) =____________deg
(BWFN = 2* HPBW appr ox.)
Fr ont to bac k r atio = _____________dB
Directiv ity of the antenna( D) =_____________

(41,000(deg^2)/ HP * HP .)
Directiv ity of the antenna( Dd B) =_____________dB
{ DdB =10logD}
Resolution of the antenna = ____________ degr ees
(Beam w idth betw een first nulls( BW FN) /2)
Antenna Aperture(A) =_________________m^2
( /2* /4 = 0.13 ^2 for Dipole or ^2 = . )
Gain of antenna(G) =______________
( Pr = Pt * ( G * lambda) ^2 / (4 pi R ) ^2. Hence, G = ( 4R/) * ( Pr/Pt)^0.5)
Gain of antenna(Gd B) =______________dB
(GdB = 10logG)
Antenna Efficiency (k) = ___________
(k=D/G) w here gain and directiv ity in numerals and not dB.
Number of distinct side lobes = _____________
( Refer to rectangular plot for finding side lobe and minor lobe easily)
- 28 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.

36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.

45.
46.
is
47.

48.
49.

Left half ( 1800 to 3600) Side lobe angles of the antenna = _________
degr ees
0
0)
Right half (0 to 180 Side lobe angles of the antenna = ___________
degr ees
Left half Side lobe levels of the antenna = ___________ dB
Right half Side lobe levels of the antenna = ___________ dB
Number of distinct nulls = ___________
Left half side A ngle of Null of the antenna = __________ degr ees
Right half s ide Angle of Null of the antenna = ___________ degrees
Left half side Level of Null of the antenna = _________ dB
(dB dow n from boresight gain)
Right half s ide Level of Null of the antenna = _________ dB
Ty pe of Polariz ation = Linear / Circ ular , If linear Hor izontal / Ver tic al
Axia l ratio for c ircular ly polarized antenna (A.R.) = _________dB
( Difference of readings upon rotation of a tes t dipole in front of a circ ular ly
polarized w avefront ( Helix) in hor iz ontal and vertic al planes .)
Cross polar ization discrimination (C.P.D.) for linear antenna = ________dB
( Difference of readings upon r otation of a test dipole in front of a linearly
polarized w avefront ( dipole) in horiz ontal and v ertical planes.)
Antenna Fr equency at max imum r eturn loss (Resonant frequency
=________MHz
Retur n loss at given frequency = ________ dB
Maximu m Return loss at res onant frequency = _________ dB
Antenna resistanc e at res onant frequency =_____________ohms
Minimum V.S.W.R. at r esonant frequency = _________
V.S.W.R. at giv en frequency = _________
Reflection coefficient () = _________
{=(1-V.S.W .R) /(1+VSWR)}
VSW R Bandw idth = ___________MHz
( Difference of frequenc ies for w hich VSWR var ies betw een 2:1.)
Gain Bandw idth of the antenna =_____________MHz
( Range of frequencies for w hich gain is r educed by over 3dB w hile
meas ur ing w ith lo g-per iodic antenna.)
Effec tive Height (h) =____________m
(For s inusoidal current distribution, h=0.64.l w here l= /2)
Elec tric Fie ld, E at a distanc e R = ____________V/m
(V = hE w here V = voltage induc ed (Rx r eading in mV r ms by chart) and h
effective height)
Curr ent, I =____________A in Rx Antenna _____________A in Tx
Antenna
(I=V/Z w here Z is system impedance equal to 50 and V is r espective Rx
and Tx r eadings in numer als
Magnetic Field, H= ___________Am
( H = E/120 = E/377)
EIRP = ____________W of Tx A ntenna
( EIRP=G, in numerals *Pow er fed, Pt in w atts)

- 29 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

EXPERIMEN T No. 8
STUDY OF HORN (E plane, H plane, Pyramidal) AN TENNA:
OBJ ECTIV E:
A.
B.
C.

To plot the radiation patter n of Horn antenna in E & H planes on log &
linear scales on polar and Cartes ian plots.
To meas ur e the beam w idth (- 3dB) , front to bac k ratio, side lobe level and
its angular pos ition, pla ne of polar ization and direc tiv ity and gain of the
Horn antenna
To measur e VSWR, r eturn loss using DIRECTIONAL COUPLER.

EQUIPM ENT:

MAT10 instrument, Pow er cord.

Wav eguide to coax adapter , w aveguide stand, Pyramidal horn, Trans mitter
antenna stand.

Wav eguide to coax adapter, w aveguid e s tand, Pyramidal Horn antenna

Directional c oupler , E plane s ectoral Horn, H Plane s ectoral Horn.

A.

To plot the radiat ion pattern of Horn antenna in E & H planes on log &
linear s cales on polar and Cartesian plots.

PROCEDURE:
1.
2.
3.
4.

5.

6.
7.
8.

9.
10.

Connec t the Pyr amidal Hor n A ntenna to the Tx. Keep the antenna in
horiz ontally polariz ed. As the pr obe ins ide adapter is hor izontal.
Now connect E plane Hor n antenna to Rx at the s tepper Monopod.
Set the distance betw een the antennas to be ar ound 2m. Remov e any
stray object from ar ound the antennas, espec ially in the li ne of sight. Av oid
any unnecessary movement w hile taking the r eadings.
Now rotate the Horn antenna around its axis in steps of 5 degr ees us ing
stepper motor c ontroller. Take the level r eadings of rec eiv er at eac h step
and note dow n.
Note the maximum r eading out of the w hole set of readings. This w ill for m
the 0dB r eferenc e r eading. Now subtr act all the r eadings from this
referenc e readings and note dow n. Now use this new set of readings for
draw ing a plot.
Plot the r eadings on a polar or Cartesian plane w ith log/linear scales on the
graph papers prov ided at the back of the manual.
This plot w ith both the Hor ns in hor iz ontal pla ne s hall for m an E-plane plot.
Now w ithout dis tur bing the s etup r otate the Horn antenna at r eceiv er from
horiz ontal to vertically polarized and also by r otating Tx Horn from
horiz ontal to ver tic ally polar iz ed.
And r otate the Hor n antenna ar ound its axis in steps of 5 degr ees us ing
stepper motor c ontroller. Take the level r eadings of rec eiv er at eac h step
and note dow n.
Plot the r eadings als o on a polar or Cartesian plane w ith log/linear scales
on the gr aph papers pr ov ided at the back of the manual.
- 30 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

11.
12.

This plot shall constitute the H- plane plot of the E plane Hor n antenna
Try to plot the same patter n using a PC w ith the softw are pr ovided.

B.

To m easure the beam w idth (-3dB) , front to back ratio, side lobe level
and its angular posit ion, plane of polarizat ion, directivit y & gain of the
Horn antenna

1.

Fr om the E-plane r adiatio n patterns dr aw n in experiment A find the

follow ing.
The -3dB or half pow er beamw idth is defined as the angular w idth in
degr ees at the points on either sides of the main beam w here the radiated
level is 3dB low er than the max imum lobe value.
Fr om the polar plot meas ure the angle w here the 0dB refer ence is ther e.
This s hall also be the dir ection of main lobe or bores ight direction.
Meas ur e the angle w hen this reading is 3dB on its eit her s ide.
The dif ference betw een the angular positions of the 3dB points is the Eplane beam w idth of the Hor n antenna.
Side lobe level is us ually taken as the level below the bores ight gain.
Strictly all peaks on either s ide of the main lobe are side lobes. How ever in
prac tice only the lobes adjacent to the either side of the boresight maxima
are referr ed to as s ide lobes .
Side lobes in this cas e s hall for m betw een the tw o max imas. Nulls c an be
upto 20dB from the bor esight direction gain.
If the plot forms distinct side lobes then eac h ones angular pos ition and
level can be inferred from the plot.
The front to bac k ratio is a meas ure of the ability of a dir ectional antenna to
conc entr ate its beam in the r equired forw ard direction.
Obs erve the differenc e in levels in dB from bores ight dir ection and the
dir ection diametric ally oppos ite to it.
Polar ization is shape and or ientation of the locus of the extr emity of the
electr ic field vec tor as it v aries w ith time at a fixed point in s pac e.
For a linear antenna like Hor n the polar ization direction is the direction of its
E or H plane of w aveguide.
Find the dir ection of polar ization of a Horn antenna.
Meas ur e the H-plane beamw idth of the Hor n antenna from H- plane plot.
Calc ulate the dir ectivity as 41,000/( 3dB beamw idth E-plane X 3dB
beamw idth H- plane in degrees). Take a log of this v alue and multiply by 10
for reading in dBi. See that this for mula is approx imate and should be used
judiciously.
D in dBi=10 log D
As the Hor n antenna is its elf the referenc e antenna for gain meas urements
henc e its absolute gain cannot be directly found out. How ever the gain of
other antennas can be referr ed to Horn gain.
The rec eived pow er is = P * ( G * lambda)^2/ ( 4 pi R ) ^2. w here P is the
accepted pow er, G is gain of each Horn antenna (a s traight number) and R
is dis tanc e betw een them.
We ass ume here that acc epted pow er is equal to pow er fed to the antenna
and no r eflection are being taken into acc ount. Ref er to theory for details.
Tr ans mitted Pow er can be read using Dir ectional Coupler and 40 dB
attenuator.
Gain in dbi = 10 log G.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

16.
17.
18.
19.

20.

- 31 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

21.

Now Gain = Direc tivity * Effic iency s o.

C.

To m easure VSW R, return Loss using DIRECTIONAL COUPL ER.

1. Set up the Dir ectional coupler for Forw ard pow er measur ement as in Fig
abov e.
2. Connec t the trans mitter ( Tx) at input port ( por t 1) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
3. Connec t the r eceiv er (Rx) at c oupled por t ( por t 3) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
4. Connec t the Antenna at output por t (port 2) of Direc tional coupler. ( Use
w aveguide to coax adapter, SMA( male) adapter in or der to c onnect
antennas w ith SMA (female) connector.
5. Say for example, Forw ard Pow er is 67 dBuV.
6. Now , reverse the dir ection of Dir ectional coupler and set up the Direc tional
coupler for Rev ers e pow er meas ur ement as in Fig abov e.
7. Connec t the tr ans mitter ( Tx) at output por t (port 2) of Directional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
8. Connec t the r eceiv er (Rx) at c oupled por t ( por t 3) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
9. Connec t the Antenna at input port (port 1) of Directional coupler.
10. Say for example, r everse Pow er is 52 dBuV.
11. The dif ference betw een forw ard and reverse Pow er in dB is retur n loss of
antenna. Here it is 67- 52 = 15 dB. Henc e, VSWR is 1.43
12. If r eturn loss is mor e V SW R is less, and better is the antenna.
13. The Directional Coupler is matched to 50 Ohms input impedance of
receiv er and 50 Ohms output impedanc e of tr ans mitter. It c ompar es the
antenna impedanc e to its internal refer ence impedance of 50 Ohms( w hich
is por t 4 ).
14. Keep your hands aw ay from the antenna w hile taking meas urements.

- 32 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

E plane Horn
- 33 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

H Plane Horn

- 34 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

Find the follow ing res ults for the antenna at given frequency:
1.
Antenna Test Fr equency (f) =
____________MHz
2.
Antenna Test W avelength () =____________m
(c = f* w here c is velocity of E.M. w ave in vacuum = 3* 10^8m/s)
3.
Rayleigh Dis tance , Near field-Far field Boundary = ___________m
(F=2*L^2 / w here L is the maximu m dimens ion of the antenna in m.)
4.
Distanc e betw een tw o antennas( R) = ____________m
5.
Theor etic al A ntenna Dimensions for half w ave ( /2) Horn
=____________m
6.
Pr actical Antenna Di mens ions for half w ave ( /2) Hor n =_____________m
( /2 5%. See theory for ex pla nation.)
7.
Pow er fed to Tr ans mitting antenna ( Pt) =__________dBuV = _________nW
( Measur ed by c onnecting Tx directly to Rx us ing Jumper lead. See dBuV to
nW c onvers ion at the bac k of the manual.)
8.
Pow er
receiv ed
from
r eceiv in g
antenna
( Pr)
=__________dBuV =________pW
( Measur ed by connec ting tw o Horn antennas , in this cas e, one at Tx
Monopod and other at Rx stepper Monopod.)

9.
E plane - 3 dB Beamw idth of the antenna ( HP ) =______________degrees
(-3 dB Beamw idth or half pow er beam w idth ( HPBW) means s ame because
-3 dB Beamw idth is for elec tric field plot w hich is being plotted)

10.
H
plane
-3
dB
Beamw idth
of
the
antenna
( HP )
=_______________degr ees
11.
E plane half pow er beam w idth ( HPBW) ( HP ) =____________rad
(2 r ad = 360deg)
12.
H plane half pow er beam w idth ( HPBW) ( HP ) =____________r ad
13.
Beam Area or Beam Solid A ngle=____________sr
( = HP* HP (sr).Also (sr) = 4(sr)*D w here D is Direc tivity)
14.
Beam w idth betw een first nulls( BWFN) =____________deg
(BWFN = 2* HPBW appr ox.)
15.
Fr ont to bac k r atio = _____________dB
16.
Directiv ity of the antenna( D) =_____________

(41,000(deg^2)/ HP * HP .)
17.
Directiv ity of the antenna( Dd B) =_____________dB
{ DdB =10logD}
18.
Resolution of the antenna = ____________ degr ees
(Beam w idth betw een first nulls( BW FN) /2)
19.
Antenna Aperture(A) =_________________m^2
( /2* /4 = 0.13 ^2 for Hor n or ^2 = . )
20.
Gain of antenna(G) =______________
( Pr = Pt * ( G * lambda) ^2 / (4 pi R ) ^2. Hence, G = ( 4R/) * ( Pr/Pt)^0.5)
21.
Gain of antenna(Gd B) =______________dB
(GdB = 10logG)
22.
Antenna Efficiency (k) = ___________
(k=D/G) w here gain and directiv ity in numerals and not dB.
23.
Number of distinct side lobes = _____________
( Refer to rectangular plot for finding side lobe and minor lobe easily)
24.
Left half ( 1800 to 3600) Side lobe angles of the antenna = _________
degr ees
- 35 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
is
47.

48.
49.

Right half (00 to 1800) Side lobe angles of the antenna = ___________
degr ees
Left half Side lobe levels of the antenna = ___________ dB
Right half Side lobe levels of the antenna = ___________ dB
Number of distinct nulls = ___________
Left half side A ngle of Null of the antenna = __________ degr ees
Right half s ide Angle of Null of the antenna = ___________ degrees
Left half side Level of Null of the antenna = _________ dB
(dB dow n from boresight gain)
Right half s ide Level of Null of the antenna = _________ dB
Ty pe of Polariz ation = Linear / Circ ular , If linear Hor izontal / Ver tic al
Axia l ratio for c ircular ly polarized antenna (A.R.) = _________dB
( Dif ference of readin gs upon r otation of a test Hor n in front of a circ ularly
polarized w avefront (cr oss ed Hor n) in hor izontal and vertic al planes.)
Cross polar ization discrimination (C.P.D.) for linear antenna = ________dB
( Difference of readings upon rotation of a test Horn in front of a linearly
polarized w avefront ( Horn) in horizontal and v ertical pla nes.)
Antenna Fr equency at max imum r eturn loss (Resonant frequency
=________MHz
Retur n loss at given frequency = ________ dB
Maximu m Return loss at res onant frequency = _________ dB
Antenna resistanc e at res onant frequency =_____________ohms
Minimum V.S.W.R. at r esonant frequency = _________
V.S.W.R. at giv en frequency = _________
Reflection coefficient () = _________
{=(1-V.S.W .R) /(1+VSWR)}
VSW R Bandw idth = ___________MHz
( Difference of frequenc ies for w hich VSWR var ies betw een 2:1.)
Gain Bandw idth of the antenna =_____________MHz
( Range of frequencies for w hich gain is r educed by over 3dB w hile
meas ur ing w ith lo g-per iodic antenna.)
Effec tive Height (h) =____________m
(For s inusoidal current distribution, h=0.64.l w here l= /2)
Elec tric Fie ld, E at a distanc e R = ____________V/m
(V = hE w here V = voltage induc ed (Rx r eading in mV r ms by chart) and h
effective height)
Curr ent, I =____________A in Rx Antenna _____________A in Tx
Antenna
(I=V/Z w here Z is system impedance equal to 50 and V is r espective Rx
and Tx r eadings in numer als
Magnetic Field, H= ___________Am
( H = E/120 = E/377)
EIRP = ____________W of Tx A ntenna
( EIRP=G, in numerals *Pow er fed, Pt in w atts)

- 36 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

EXPERIMEN T No. 9
STUDY OF CONICAL HOR N ANTENNA:
OBJ ECTIV E:
A.
B.
C.

To plot the radiation pattern of a Conic al Hor n antenna in E & H pla nes on
log & linear scales on polar and Cartes ian plots.
To meas ur e the beam w idth (- 3dB) , front to bac k ratio, side lobe level and
its angular pos ition, pla ne of polar ization and direc tiv ity and gain of the
Horn antenna
To measur e VSWR, r eturn loss using DIRECTIONAL COUPLER.

EQUIPM ENT:

MAT10 ins trument, Pow er cord.

Wav eguide to coax adapter , w aveguide stand, Pyramidal horn, Trans mitter
antenna stand.

Wav eguide to coax adapter, w aveguide stand, Pyramidal Horn antenna,

Directional c oupler , c onic al Hor n
A.

To plot the radiat ion pattern of Conical Horn antenna in E & H planes
on log & linear scales on polar and Cartesian plots.

PROCEDURE:
1.
2.
3.

4.
5.

6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Connec t the Horn Antenna to the Tx.

Now connect Conic al Hor n antenna to Rx at the stepper Monopod.
Set the distance betw een the antennas to be ar ound 2m. Remov e any
stray object from ar ound the antennas, espec ially in the li ne of sight. Av oid
any unnecessary movement w hile taking the r eadings.
Now rotate the Conic al Horn antenna around its axis in steps of 5 degrees
using stepper motor c ontroller. Take the level readings of r eceiv er at each
step and note dow n.
Note the maximum r eading out of the w hole set of readings. This w ill for m
the 0dB r eferenc e r eading. Now subtr act all the r eadings from this
referenc e readings and note dow n. Now use this new set of readings for
draw ing a plot.
Plot the r eadings on a polar or Cartesian plane w ith log/linear scales on the
graph papers prov ided at the bac k of the manual.
This plot w ith both the feeds of Hor ns in hor izontal plane s hall form an Eplane plot.
Now w ithout dis tur bing the s etup r otate the Horn antenna at r eceiv er from
vertically to horizontally polar ized.
And rotate the Conic al Horn antenna around its axis in steps of 5 degrees
using stepper motor c ontroller. Take the level readings of r eceiv er at each
step and note dow n.
Plot the r eadings als o on a polar or Cartesian plane w ith log/linear scales
on the gr aph papers pr ov ided at the back of the manual.
This plot shall constitute the H- plane plot of the Conic al Hor n antenna
Try to plot the same patter n using a PC w ith the softw are pr ovided.
- 37 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

B.

To m easure the beam w idth (-3dB) , front to back ratio, side lobe level
and its angular posit ion, plane of polarizat ion, directivit y & gain of the
Conical Horn antenna

1.

16.

Fr om the E-plane r adiatio n patterns dr aw n in experiment A find the

follow ing.
The -3dB or half pow er beamw idth is defined as the angular w idth in
degr ees at the points on either sides of the main beam w here the radiated
level is 3dB low er than the max imum lobe value.
Fr om the polar plot meas ure the angle w here the 0dB refer ence is ther e.
This s hall also be the dir ection of main lobe or bores ight direction.
Meas ur e the angle w hen this reading is 3dB on its eit her s ide.
The dif ference betw een the angular positions of the 3dB points is the Eplane beam w idth of the Conical Hor n antenna.
Side lobe level is us ually taken as the level below the bores ight gain.
Strictly all peaks on either s ide of the main lobe are side lobes. How ever in
prac tice only the lobes adjacent to the either side of the boresight maxima
are referr ed to as s ide lobes .
Side lobes in this cas e s hall for m betw een the tw o max imas. Nulls c an be
upto 20dB from the bor esight direction gain.
If the plot forms distinct side lobes then eac h ones angular pos ition and
level can be inferred from the plot.
The front to bac k ratio is a meas ure of the ability of a dir ectional antenna to
conc entr ate its beam in the r equired forw ard direction.
Obs erve the differenc e in levels in dB from bores ight dir ection and the
dir ection diametric ally oppos ite to it.
Polar ization is shape and or ientation of the locus of the extr emity of the
electr ic field vec tor as it v aries w ith time at a fixed point in s pac e.
For a linear antenna like Conical Horn the polar ization direction is the
dir ection of its feed elements.
Find the dir ection of polar ization of a Conic al Hor n antenna.
Meas ur e the H- plane beamw idth of the Conic al Hor n antenna from H-plane
plot.
Calc ulate the dir ectivity as 41,000/( 3dB beamw idth E-plane X 3dB
beamw idth H- plane in degrees). Take a log of this v alue and multiply by 10
for reading in dBi. See that this for mula is approx imate and should be used
judiciously.
Gain = Directiv ity * Efficiency.

C.

To m easure VSW R, return loss using DIRECTIONAL COUPLER.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

1. Set up the Dir ectional coupler for Forw ard pow er measur ement as in Fig
abov e.
2. Connec t the trans mitter ( Tx) at input port ( por t 1) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
3. Connec t the r eceiv er (Rx) at c oupled por t ( por t 3) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
4. Connec t the Antenna at output port (port 2) of Direc tional coupler. ( Use
w aveguide to coax adapter, SMA( male) adapter in or der to c onnect
antennas w ith SMA (female) connector.
5. Say for example, Forw ard Pow er is 67 dBuV.
- 38 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

6. Now , reverse the direction of Dir ectional coupler and set up the Direc tional
coupler for Rev ers e pow er meas ur ement as in Fig abov e.
7. Connec t the tr ans mitter ( Tx) at output por t (port 2) of Directional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
8. Connec t the r eceiv er (Rx) at c oupled por t ( por t 3) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
9. Connec t the Antenna at input port (port 1) of Directional coupler.
10. Say for example, r everse Pow er is 52 dBuV.
11. The dif ference betw een forw ard and reverse Pow er in dB is retur n loss of
antenna. Here it is 67- 52 = 15 dB. Henc e, VSWR is 1.43
12. If r eturn loss is mor e V SW R is less, and better is the antenna.
13. The Directional Coupler is matched to 50 Ohms input impedance of
receiv er and 50 Ohms output impedanc e of tr ans mitter. It c ompar es the
antenna impedanc e to its internal refer ence impedance of 50 Ohms( w hich
is por t 4 ).
14. Keep your hands aw ay from the antenna w hile taking meas urements.

TX

RX

- 39 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

EXP ERIM ENT No. 10

STUDY OF MONOPOLE, DIELECTRIC ROD :

OBJ ECTIV E:
A.
B.

C.

To plot the r adiation pattern of Monopole antenna in E & H planes on log &
linear scales on polar and Cartes ian plots.
To meas ur e the beam w idth (- 3dB) , front to bac k ratio, side lobe level and
its angular position, plane of polarization, dir ectivity & gain of the Monopole
antenna
To measur e VSWR, r eturn loss using DIRECTIONA L COUPLER.

EQUIPM ENT:

MAT10 instrument, Pow er cord.

Wav eguide to coax adapter , w aveguide stand, Pyramidal horn, Trans mitter
antenna stand.

Wav eguide to coax adapter, w aveguid e s tand, Pyramidal Horn antenna

Directional c oupler , Monopole, dielectr ic r od

A.

To plot the radiat ion pattern of M onopole antenna in E & H planes on

log & linear scales on polar and Cartesian plots.

PROCEDURE:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

6.
7.
8.
9.

10.
11.
12.

Connec t Hor n A ntenna to the Tx vertic ally polarized as s how n in figure.

Now connec t a Monopole antenna to Rx at the stepper Monopod as show n
in figure above.
Set the distance betw een the antennas to be ar ound 2m. Remov e any
stray object from ar ound the antennas, espec ially in the li ne of sight. Av oid
any unnecessary movement w hile taking the r eadings.
Now rotate the Monopole antenna ar ound its axis in steps of 5 degrees
using stepper motor c ontroller. Take the level readings of r eceiv er at each
step and note dow n.
Note the maximum r eading out of the w hole set of readings. This w ill for m
the 0dB r eferenc e r eading. Now subtr act all the r eadings from this
referenc e readings and note dow n. Now use this new set of readings for
draw ing a plot.
Plot the r eadings on a polar or Cartesian plane w ith log/linear scales on the
graph papers prov ided at the bac k of the manual.
This plot w ith Monopole v ertically polar ized s hall for m an E- plane plo t.
Now w ithout dis tur bing the setup rotate the Monopole antenna at r eceiv er
from vertic ally to hor izontally polar ized and als o by keeping the Tx Horn
horiz ontally polariz ed.
And r otate the Monopole antenna around its ax is in steps of 5 degrees
using stepper motor c ontroller. Take the level readings of r eceiv er at each
step and note dow n.
Plot the r eadings als o on a polar or Cartesian plane w ith log/linear scales
on the gr aph papers pr ov ided at the back of the manual.
This plot shall constitute the H- plane plot of the Monopole antenna.
Try to plot the same patter n using a PC w ith the softw are pr ovided.
- 40 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

B.

To m easure the beam w idth (-3dB) , front to back ratio, side lobe level
and its angular posit ion, plane of polarizat ion, directivit y & gain of the
M onopole antenna

1.

Fr om the E-plane r adiatio n patterns dr aw n in experiment A find the

follow ing.
The -3dB or half pow er beamw idth is defined as the angular w idth in
degr ees at the points on either sides of the main beam w here the radiated
level is 3dB low er than the max imum lobe value.
Fr om the polar plot meas ure the angle w here the 0dB refer ence is ther e.
This s hall also be the dir ection of main lobe or bores ight direction.
Meas ur e the angle w hen this reading is 3dB on its eit her s ide.
The dif ference betw een the angular positions of the 3dB points is the Eplane beam w idth of the Monopole antenna.
Side lobe level is us ually taken as the level below the bores ight gain.
Strictly all peaks on either s ide of the main lobe are side lobes. How ever in
prac tice only the lobes adjacent to the either side of the boresight maxima
are referr ed to as s ide lobes .
Side lobes in this cas e s hall for m betw een the tw o max imas. Nulls c an be
upto 20dB from the bor esight direction gain.
If the plot forms distinct side lobes then eac h ones angular pos ition and
level can be inferred from the plot.
The front to bac k ratio is a meas ure of the ability of a dir ectional antenna to
conc entr ate its beam in the r equired forw ard direction.
Obs erve the differenc e in levels in dB from bores ight dir ection and the
dir ection diametric ally oppos ite to it.
Polar ization is shape and or ientation of the locus of the extr emity of the
electr ic field vec tor as it v aries w ith time at a fixed point in s pac e.
For a linear antenna like Monopole the polar iz ation direc tion is the dir ection
of its elements .
Find the dir ection of polar ization of a Monopole antenna.
Meas ur e the H-plane beamw idth of the Monopole antenna from H-plane
plot.
Calc ulate the dir ectivity as 41,000/( 3dB beamw idth E-plane X 3dB
beamw idth H- plane in degrees). Take a log of this v alue and multiply by 10
for reading in dBi. See that this for mula is approx imate and should be used
judiciously.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

C.

To m easure VSW R, return loss using DIRECTIONAL COUPLER.

1. Set up the Dir ectional coupler for Forw ard pow er measur ement as in Fig
abov e.
2. Connec t the trans mitter ( Tx) at input port ( por t 1) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
3. Connec t the r eceiv er (Rx) at c oupled por t ( por t 3) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
4. Connec t the Antenna at output por t (port 2) of Direc tional coupler. ( Use
w aveguide to coax adapter, SMA( male) adapter in or der to c onnect
antennas w ith SMA (female) connector.
5. Say for example, Forw ard Pow er is 67 dBuV.
- 41 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

6. Now , reverse the direction of Dir ectional coupler and set up the Direc tional
coupler for Rev ers e pow er meas ur ement as in Fig abov e.
7. Connec t the tr ans mitter ( Tx) at output por t (port 2) of Directional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
8. Connec t the r eceiv er (Rx) at c oupled por t ( por t 3) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
9. Connec t the Antenna at input port (port 1) of Directional coupler.
10. Say for example, r everse Pow er is 52 dBuV.
11. The dif ference betw een forw ard and reverse Pow er in dB is retur n loss of
antenna. Here it is 67- 52 = 15 dB. Henc e, VSWR is 1.43
12. If r eturn loss is mor e V SW R is less, and better is the antenna.
13. The Directional Coupler is matched to 50 Ohms input impedance of
receiver and 50 Ohms output impedanc e of tr ans mitter. It c ompar es the
antenna impedanc e to its internal refer ence impedance of 50 Ohms (w hich
is por t 4 ).
14. Keep your hands aw ay from the antenna w hile taking meas urements.

Tx
Rx
Receiving Monopole Hor izontally polarized.

Tx
Rx
Receiving Monopole V ertically Polar ized.

- 42 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

EXPERIM ENT No. 11

STUDY OF SLOT Narrow Walled & Broad w alled ANTENNA:
OBJ ECTIV E:
A.
B.
C.

To plot the radiation pattern of Slot in E & H planes on lo g & linear scales
on polar and Cartesian plots.
To meas ur e the beam w idth (- 3dB) , front to bac k ratio, side lobe level and
its angular position, plane of polariz ation, direc tiv ity & gain of the Slot
antenna
To measur e VSWR, r eturn loss using DIRECTIONAL COUPLER.

EQUIPM ENT:

MAT10 instrument, Pow er cord.

Wav eguide to coax adapter , w aveguide stand, Pyramidal horn, Trans mitter
antenna stand.

Wav eguide to coax adapter, w aveguid e s tand, Pyramidal Horn antenna

Directional c oupler , Narr ow Walled & Br oad w alled Slot antenna

A.

To plot the radiat ion pattern of Slot antenna in E & H planes on log &
linear s cales on polar and Cartesian plots.

PROCEDURE:
1.
2.

3.

4.
5.

6.
7.
8.

Connec t the Hor n Antenna to the Tx. Keep the antenna in horiz ontally
polarized.
Now connect BW Slot antenna at the other end to Rx at the stepper
Monopod using Slot w aveguide c lamp w ith shaft rod such that slot on
broad w all appears v ertical. In this dir ection BW Slot is actually horiz ontally
polarized.
Set the distance betw een the antennas to be ar ound 2m. Remov e any
stray object from ar ound the antennas, espec ially in the line of sight. Av oid
any unnecessary movement w hile taking the r eadings.
Now rotate the BW Slot antenna ar ound its axis in steps of 5 degrees us ing
stepper motor c ontroller. Take the level r eadings of rec eiv er at eac h step
and note dow n.
Note the maximum r eading out of the w hole set of readings. This w ill for m
the 0dB r eferenc e r eading. Now subtr act all the r eadings from this
referenc e readings and note dow n. Now use this new set of readings for
draw ing a plot.
Plot the r eadings on a polar or Cartesian plane w ith log/linear scales on the
graph papers prov ided at the bac k of the manual.
This plot w ith both the BW Slot & Hor n in hor izontal plane shall form an Eplane plot.
Now w ithout distur bing the setup rotate the BW Slot antenna at r eceiv er
from hor izontal to vertical plane and also by keeping the Tx Horn vertic ally
polarized.

- 43 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

9.

10.
11.
12.

And rotate the Slot antenna around its axis in steps of 5 degrees us ing
stepper motor c ontroller. Take the level r eadings of rec eiv er at eac h step
and note dow n.
Plot the r eadings als o on a polar or Cartesian plane w ith log/linear scales
on the gr aph papers pr ov ided at the back of the manual.
This plot shall constitute the H- plane plot of the Slot antenna
Try to plot the same patter n using a PC w ith the softw are pr ovided.

B.

To m easure the beam w idth (-3dB) , front to back ratio, side lobe level
and its angular posit ion, plane of polarizat ion, directivit y & gain of the
Slot antenna

1.

Fr om the E-plane r adiatio n patterns dr aw n in experiment A find the

follow ing.
The -3dB or half pow er beamw idth is defined as the angular w idth in
degr ees at the points on either sides of the main beam w here the radiated
level is 3dB low er than the max imum lobe value.
Fr om the polar plot meas ure the angle w here the 0dB refer ence is ther e.
This s hall also be the dir ection of main lobe or bores ight direction.
Meas ur e the angle w hen this reading is 3dB on its eit her s ide.
The dif ference betw een the angular positions of the 3dB points is the Eplane beam w idth of the Slot antenna.
Side lobe level is us ually taken as the level below the bores ight gain.
Strictly all peaks on either s ide of the main lobe are side lobes. How ever in
prac tice only the lobes adjacent to the either side of the boresight maxima
are referr ed to as s ide lobes .
Side lobes in this cas e s hall for m betw een the tw o max imas. Nulls c an be
upto 20dB from the bor esight direction gain.
If the plot forms distinct side lobes then eac h ones angular pos ition and
level can be inferred from the plot.
The front to bac k ratio is a meas ure of the ability of a dir ectional antenna to
conc entr ate its beam in the r equired forw ard direction.
Obs erve the differenc e in levels in dB from bores ight dir ection and the
dir ection diametric ally oppos ite to it.
Polar ization is shape and or ie ntation of the locus of the extr emity of the
electr ic field vec tor as it v aries w ith time at a fixed point in s pac e.
For a linear antenna like Slot the polarization direction is the direc tion of its
slots.
Find the dir ection of polar ization of a Slot antenna.
Meas ur e the H-plane beamw idth of the Slot antenna from H-plane plot.
Calc ulate the dir ectiv ity as 41,000/ (3dB beamw idth E- plane X 3dB
beamw idth H- plane in degrees). Take a log of this v alue and multiply by 10
for reading in dBi. See that this for mula is approx imate and should be used
judiciously.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

C.

To m easure VSWR, return loss using DIRECTIONAL COUPLER.

1. Set up the Dir ectional coupler for Forw ard pow er measur ement as in Fig
abov e.
2. Connec t the trans mitter ( Tx) at input port ( por t 1) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
- 44 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

3. Connec t the r eceiv er (Rx) at c oupled por t ( por t 3) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
4. Connec t the Antenna at output por t (port 2) of Direc tional coupler. ( Use
w aveguide to coax adapter, SMA( male) adapter in or der to c onnect
antennas w ith SMA (female) connector.
5. Say for example, Forw ard Pow er is 67 dBuV.
6. Now , reverse the direction of Dir ectional coupler and set up the Direc tional
coupler for Rev ers e pow er meas ur ement as in Fig abov e.
7. Connec t the tr ans mitter ( Tx) at output por t (port 2) of Directional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
8. Connec t the r eceiv er (Rx) at c oupled por t ( por t 3) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
9. Connec t the Antenna at input port (port 1) of Directional coupler.
10. Say for example, r everse Pow er is 52 dBuV.
11. The dif ference betw een forw ard and reverse Pow er in dB is retur n loss of
antenna. Here it is 67- 52 = 15 dB. Henc e, VSWR is 1.43
12. If r eturn loss is mor e V SW R is less, and better is the antenna.
13. The Directional Coupler is matched to 50 Ohms input impedance of
receiv er and 50 Ohms output impedanc e of tr ans mitter. It c ompar es the
antenna impedanc e to its internal refer ence impedance of 50 Ohms( w hich
is por t 4 ).
14. Keep your hands aw ay from the antenna w hile taking meas urements.

- 45 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

- 46 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

EXPERIMEN T No. 12
STUDY OF PARABOLIC DISH ANTENNA:
OBJ ECTIV E:
A.
B.
C.

To plot the r adiation patter n of Dish antenna in E & H planes on log & linear
scales on polar and Cartesian plots .
To meas ur e the beam w idth (- 3dB) , front to bac k ratio, side lobe level and
its angular pos ition, plane of polar iz ation, directiv ity & gain of the Parabolic
Dish antenna
To measur e VSWR, r eturn loss using DIRECTIO NAL COUPL ER.

EQUIPM ENT:

MAT10 instrument, Pow er cord.

Wav eguide to coax adapter , w aveguide stand, Pyramidal horn, Trans mitter
antenna stand.

Wav eguide to coax adapter, w aveguid e s tand, Pyramidal Horn antenna

Directional c oupler , Parabolic Dish

A.

To plot t he radiat ion pattern of Parabolic Dish antenna in E & H planes

on log & linear scales on polar and Cartesian plots.

PROCEDURE:
1.
2.
3.

4.
5.

6.
7.
8.
9.

Connec t the Horn Antenna to the Tx. Keep the Horn hor izontally polar ized.
Note: Fig s how s Parabolic Dish and Horn in H Plane or elev ation plane
(vertically polarized).
Now connec t a Par abolic Dish antenna to Rx at the stepper Monopod such
that feed elements are ver tic al.
Set the distance betw een the antennas to be ar ound 2m. Remov e any
stray object from ar ound the antennas, espec ially in the li ne of sight. Av oid
any unnecessary movement w hile taking the r eadings.
Now rotate the Par abolic Dis h antenna around its axis in steps of 5 degrees
using stepper motor c ontroller. Take the level readings of r eceiv er at each
step
Note the maximum r eading out of the w hole set of readings. This w ill for m
the 0dB r eferenc e r eading. Now subtr act all the r eadings from this
referenc e readings and note dow n. Now use this new set of readings for
draw ing a plot.
Plot the r eadings on a polar or Cartesian plane w ith log/linear scales on the
graph papers prov ided at the back of the manual.
This plot w ith Par abolic Dish in hor izontal plane shall for m an E-plane plot.
Now w ithout distur bing the setup rotate the Parabolic Dishs feed Dipole
antenna at rec eiv er from horiz ontal to vertic al plane. And also rotate Tx
Horn by also keeping the Tx Hor n v ertically polarized.
And r otate the Par abolic Dis h antenna ar ound its axis in steps of 5 degrees
using stepper motor c ontroller. Take the level readings of r eceiv er at each
step and note dow n.
- 47 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

10.
11.
12.

Plot the r eadings als o on a polar or Cartesian plane w ith log/lin ear scales
on the gr aph papers pr ov ided at the back of the manual.
This plot shall constitute the H- plane plot of the Par abolic Dish antenna
Try to plot the same patter n using a PC w ith the softw are pr ovided.

B.

To m easure the beam w idth (-3dB) , front to back ratio, side lobe level
and its angular posit ion, plane of polarizat ion, directivit y & gain of the
Parabolic Dish antenna

1.

Fr om the E-plane r adiatio n patterns dr aw n in experiment A find the

follow ing.
The -3dB or half pow er beamw idth is defined as the angular w idth in
degr ees at the points on either sides of the main beam w here the radiated
level is 3dB low er than the max imum lobe value.
Fr om the polar plot meas ure the angle w here the 0dB refer ence is ther e.
This s hall also be the dir ection of main lobe or bores ight direction.
Meas ur e the angle w hen this reading is 3dB on its eit her s ide.
The dif ference betw een the angular positions of the 3dB points is the Eplane beam w idth of the Par abolic Dish antenna.
Side lobe level is us ually taken as the level below the bores ight gain.
Strictly all peaks on either s ide of the main lobe are side lobes. How ever in
prac tice only the lobes adjacent to the either side of the boresight maxima
are referr ed to as s ide lobes .
Side lobes in this cas e s hall for m betw een the tw o max imas. Nulls c an be
upto 20dB from the bor esight direction gain.
If the plot forms distinct side lobes then eac h ones angular pos ition and
level can be inferred from the plot.
The front to bac k ratio is a meas ure of the ability of a dir ectional antenna to
conc entr ate its beam in the r equired forw ard direction.
Obs erve the differenc e in levels in dB from bores ight dir ection and the
dir ection diametric ally oppos ite to it.
Polar ization is shape and or ientation of the locus of the extr emity of the
electr ic field vec tor as it v aries w ith time at a fixed point in s pac e.
For a linear antenna like Parabolic Dish the polarization dir ection is the
dir ection of its feed elements.
Find the dir ection of polar ization of a Parabolic Dish antenna.
Meas ur e the H-plane beamw idth of the Par abolic Dis h antenna from Hplane plot.
Calc ulate the dir ectivity as 41,000/( 3dB beamw idth E-plane X 3dB
beamw idth H- plane in degrees). Take a log of this v alue and multiply by 10
for reading in dBi. See that this for mula is approx imate and should be used
judiciously.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

C.

To m easure VSW R, return loss using DIRECTIONAL COUPLER.

1. Set up the Dir ectional coupler for Forw ard pow er measur ement as in Fig
abov e.
2. Connec t the trans mitter ( Tx) at input port ( por t 1) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
3. Connec t the r eceiv er (Rx) at c oupled por t ( por t 3) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
- 48 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

4. Connec t the Antenna at output por t (port 2) of Direc tional coupler. ( Use
w aveguide to coax adapter, SMA( male) adapter in or der to c onnect
antennas w ith SMA (female) connector.
5. Say for example, Forw ard Pow er is 67 dBuV.
6. Now , reverse the direction of Dir ectional coupler and set up the Direc tional
coupler for Rev ers e pow er meas ur ement as in Fig abov e.
7. Connec t the tr ans mitter ( Tx) at output por t (port 2) of Directional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
8. Connec t the r eceiv er (Rx) at c oupled por t ( por t 3) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
9. Connec t the Antenna at input port (port 1) of Dir ectional coupler.
10. Say for example, r everse Pow er is 52 dBuV.
11. The dif ference betw een forw ard and reverse Pow er in dB is retur n loss of
antenna. Here it is 67- 52 = 15 dB. Henc e, VSWR is 1.43
12. If r eturn loss is mor e V SW R is less, and better is the antenna.
13. The Directional Coupler is matched to 50 Ohms input impedance of
receiv er and 50 Ohms output impedanc e of tr ans mitter. It c ompar es the
antenna impedanc e to its internal refer ence impedance of 50 Ohms( w hich
is por t 4 ).
14. Keep your hands aw ay from the antenna w hile taking meas urements.

TX
RX
Parabolic Dish in H Plane or elev ation plane (v ertically polar ized)
Pyramidal hor n in H Plane or elevation plane (ver tically polariz ed) w ith 20dB
attenuator or larger distance betw een antennas to av oid satur atio n due to high
gain of Dish.

- 49 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

EXP ERIM ENT No. 13

STUDY OF PATCH (1, 2, 4 & 16 ARRAY) ANTENNA:
OBJ ECTIV E:
A.
B.
C.

To plot the radiation patter n of Patch antenna in E & H planes on lo g &

linear scales on polar and Cartes ian plots.
To meas ur e the beam w idth (- 3dB) , front to bac k ratio, side lobe level and
its angular pos ition, plane of polar ization, dir ectiv ity & gain of the Patch ( 1,
2, 4 & 16) antenna
To measur e VSWR, r eturn loss using DIRECTIONAL COUPLER.

EQUIPM ENT:

MAT10 instrument, Pow er cord.

Wav eguide to coax adapter , w aveguide stand, Pyramidal horn, Trans mitter
antenna stand.

Wav eguide to coax adapter, w aveguid e s tand, Pyramidal Horn antenna

Directional c oupler , Patc h (1, 2, 4, 16 array)

A.

To plot the radiation pattern of Pat ch (1, 2, 4,16) antenna in E & H

planes on log & linear scales on polar and Cartesian plots.

PROCEDURE:
1.
2.
3.

4.
5.

6.
7.
8.
9.

Connec t the pyr amidal Horn A ntenna to the Tx. Keep the antenna in
horiz ontal directio n w ith broad w all of w aveguide perpendicular to gr ound.
In this c ase the E- plane is horizontal.
Now connec t any Patch ( 1, 2, 4,16) antenna to Rx at the s tepper Monopod
using Cube w ith s haft. Keep the feed line of patc h antenna in hor izontal
dir ection to be copolar w ith Tx.
Set the distance betw een the antennas to be ar ound 2m. Remov e any
stray object from ar ound the antennas, espec ially in the li ne of sight. Av oid
any unnecessary movement w hile taking the r eadings.
Now rotate the Patch (1, 2, 4, 16) antenna around its axis in s teps of 5
degr ees us ing stepper motor contr oller. Take the lev el readings of receiv er
at each step and note dow n.
Note the maximum r eading out of the w hole set of readings. This w ill for m
the 0dB r eferenc e r eading. Now subtr act all the r eadings from this
referenc e readings and note dow n. Now use this new set of readings for
draw ing a plot.
Plot the r eadings on a polar or Cartesian plane w ith log/linear scales on the
graph papers prov ided at the bac k of the manual.
This plot w ith the Patch (1, 2, 4,16) in hor iz ontal pla ne s hall for m an Eplane plot.
Now without dis tur bing the setup rotate the Patch (1, 2, 4,16) antenna at
receiv er from hor izontal to vertical plane by also keeping the Tx Horn
vertically polariz ed.
And r otate the Patch (1, 2, 4,16) antenna around its ax is in steps of 5
degr ees us ing stepper motor contr oller. Take the lev el readings of receiv er
at each step and note dow n.
- 50 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

10.
11.
12.

Plot the r eadings als o on a polar or Cartesian plane w ith log/linear scales
on the gr aph papers pr ov ided at the back of the manual.
This plot shall constitute the H- plane plot of the Patch (1, 2, 4,16) antenna
Try to plot the same patter n using a PC w ith the softw are pr ovided.

B.

To m easure the beam w idth (-3dB) , front to back ratio, side lobe level
and its angular posit ion, plane of polarizat ion, directivit y & gain of the
Patch ( 1, 2, 4,16) antenna

1.

Fr om the E-plane r adiatio n patterns dr aw n in experiment A find the

follow ing.
The -3dB or half pow er beamw idth is defined as the angular w idth in
degr ees at the points on either sides of the main beam w here the radiated
level is 3dB low er than the max imum lobe value.
Fr om the polar plot meas ure the angle w here the 0dB refer ence is ther e.
This s hall also be the dir ection of main lobe or bores ight direction.
Meas ur e the angle w hen this reading is 3dB on its eit her s ide.
The dif ference betw een the angular positions of the 3dB points is the Eplane beam w idth of the Patch (1, 2, 4,16) antenna.
Side lobe level is us ually taken as the level below the bores ight gain.
Strictly all peaks on either s ide of the main lobe are side lobes. How ever in
prac tice only the lobes adjacent to the either side of the boresight maxima
are referr ed to as s ide lobes .
Side lobes in this cas e s hall for m betw een the tw o max imas. Nulls c an be
upto 20dB from the bor esight direction gain.
If the plot forms distinct side lobes then eac h ones angular pos it ion and
level can be inferred from the plot.
The front to bac k ratio is a meas ure of the ability of a dir ectional antenna to
conc entr ate its beam in the r equired forw ard direction.
Obs erve the differenc e in levels in dB from bores ight direction and the
dir ection diametric ally oppos ite to it.
Polar ization is shape and or ientation of the locus of the extr emity of the
electr ic field vec tor as it v aries w ith time at a fixed point in s pac e.
For a linear antenna like Patch (1, 2, 4, 16) the polarization dir ection is the
dir ection of its elements.
Find the dir ection of polar ization of a Patch (1, 2, 4), 16 antenna.
Meas ur e the H-plane beamw idth of the Patch (1, 2, 4, 16) antenna from Hplane plot.
Calc ulate the dir ectivity as 41,000/(3dB beamw id th E-plane X 3dB
beamw idth H- plane in degrees). Take a log of this v alue and multiply by 10
for reading in dBi. See that this for mula is approx imate and should be used
judiciously.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.

C.

To m easure VSWR, return loss using DIRECTIONAL COUPLER.

1. Set up the Dir ectional coupler for Forw ard pow er measur ement as in Fig
abov e.
2. Connec t the trans mitter ( Tx) at input port ( por t 1) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
3. Connec t the r eceiv er (Rx) at c oupled por t ( por t 3) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
- 51 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

4. Connec t the Antenna at output por t (port 2) of Direc tional coupler. ( Use
w aveguide to coax adapter, SMA( male) adapter in or der to c onnect
antennas w ith SMA (female) connector.
5. Say for example, Forw ard Pow er is 67 dBuV.
6. Now , reverse the direction of Dir ectional coupler and set up the Direc tional
coupler for Rev ers e pow er meas ur ement as in Fig abov e.
7. Connec t the tr ans mitter ( Tx) at output por t (port 2) of Directional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
8. Connec t the r eceiv er (Rx) at c oupled por t ( por t 3) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
9. Connec t the Antenna at input port (port 1) of Directional coupler.
10. Say for example, r everse Pow er is 52 dBuV.
11. The dif ference betw een forw ard and reverse Pow er in dB is retur n loss of
antenna. Here it is 67- 52 = 15 dB. Henc e, VSWR is 1.43
12. If r eturn loss is mor e V SW R is less, and better is the antenna.
13. The Directional Coupler is matched to 50 Ohms input impedance of
receiv er and 50 Ohms output impedanc e of tr ans mitter. It c ompar es the
antenna impedanc e to its internal refer ence impedance of 50 Ohms( w hich
is por t 4 ).
14. Keep your hands aw ay from the antenna w hile taking meas urements.

TX
RX
Tr ans mittin g A ntenna in Vertic al Polar ization. Receiving antenna in V ertical
Polar ization

TX
RX
Tr ans mittin g Antenna in Hor izontal Polar ization. Receiv ing antenna in Hor izontal
Polar ization.
- 52 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

TX
RX
Tr ans mittin g Antenna in Hor izontal Polar ization. Receiv ing antenna in Hor izontal
Polar ization.

TX
RX
Tr ans mittin g Antenna in Hor izontal Polar ization. Receiv ing antenna in Hor izontal
Polar ization.

TX
RX
Tr ans mittin g Antenna in Hor izontal Polar ization. Receiv ing antenna in Hor izontal
Polar ization.

- 53 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

EXPERIMEN T No. 14
STUDY OF MONOFILIAR AXIAL MOD E HELIX (LHCP & RHCP)
ANTENNA :
OBJ ECTIV E:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

To plot the r adiation pattern of monofiliar axial mode helix antenna in E & H
planes on log & li near scales on polar and Car tes ian plots.
To meas ur e the beam w idth (- 3dB) , front to bac k ratio, side lobe level and
its angular pos ition, plane of polariz ation and directiv e gain of the monofiliar
helix antenna
To estimate VSWR, retur n loss using DIRECTIONAL CO UPLER.
Find polar ization discrimination betw een LHCP & RHCP monof iliar ax ial
mode helix antennas, w hen communic ated against each other. Find
w hether a Hor n antenna c an distinguish betw een LHCP & RHCP antennas.
Find out if pairing the s ame handedness antennas (like RHCP helix and
RHCP Helix or LHCP Helix and LHCP Helix) against each other w ill res ult
in more s ignal strength.

EQUIPM ENT :

MAT10 instrument, Pow er cord.

Wav eguide to coax adapter , w aveguide stand, Pyramidal horn, Trans mitter
antenna stand.
Wav eguide to coax adapter, w aveguid e s tand, Pyramidal Horn antenna
Directional c oupler , LHCP & RHCP Helix.

A.
To plot the radiation pattern of m onofiliar helix antenna in E & H
planes on log & linear scales on polar and Cartesian plots
PROCEDURE:
1.
2.

3.
4.
5.

Connec t a pyramidal Hor n Antenna to the Tx. Keep the antenna in

horiz ontal directio n w ith broad w all of w aveguide perpendicular to gr ound.
In this c ase the E- plane is horizontal.
Now connec t either LHCP or RHCP helix antenna to Rx at the stepper
Monopod using c ube w ith shaft so that the axis of helix is par allel to
w aveguide of Tx horn.
Set the distance betw een the antennas to be ar ound 2m. Remov e any
stray object from ar ound the antennas, espec ially in the li ne of sight. Av oid
any unnecessary movement w hile taking the r eadings.
Now rotate the helix antenna per pendic ular to its ax is in steps of 5 degrees
using stepper motor c ontroller. Take the level readings of r eceiv er at each
step and note dow n.
Note the maximum r eading out of the w hole set of readings. This w ill for m
the 0dB r eferenc e r eading. Now subtr act all the r eadings from this
referenc e readings and note dow n. Now use this new set of readings for
draw ing a plot.
- 54 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

6.
7.
8.
9.

10.
11.

Plot the r eadings on a polar or Cartesian plane w ith log/linear scales on the
graph papers prov ided at the bac k of the manual.
This plot w ith Horn & helix in hor izontal plane shall form an E-plane plot.
Now w ithout distur bing the s etup r otate the Helix antenna at r eceiv er from
horiz ontal to ver tic al plane by als o keepin g the Tx Horn v ertically polar iz ed.
Now rotate the helix antenna around its axis in steps of 5 degr ees us ing
stepper motor c ontroller. Take the level r eadings of rec eiv er at eac h step
and note dow n.
Plot the r eadings als o on a polar or Cartesian plane w ith log/linear scales
on the gr aph papers pr ov ided at the back of the manual.
This plot shall constitute the H- plane plot of the helix antenna.

B.

To m easure the beam w idth (-3dB) , front to back ratio, side lobe level
and its angular position, plane of polarizat ion and directive gain of the
helix antenna

1.

Fr om the E-plane r adiatio n patterns dr aw n in experiment A find the

follow ing.
Fr om the polar plot meas ure the angle w here the 0dB refer ence is ther e.
This s hall also be the dir ection of main lobe or bores ight direction.
Meas ur e the angle w hen this reading is 3dB on its eit her s ide.
The difference betw een the angular pos itions of the 3dB points is the
beam w idth of the helix antenna.
Side lobes in this c as e shall for m betw een these major & minor lobe. Nulls
can be upto 20dB from the boresight direction gain.
If the plot forms distinct side lobes then eac h ones angular pos it ion and
level can be inferred from the plot.
The front to bac k ratio is a meas ure of the ability of a dir ectional antenna to
conc entr ate its beam in the r equired forw ard direction.
As the trans mitting element in w aveguide to coax adaptor before Hor n w as
kept v ertically the plane of its electr ic field w as per pendicular to horiz on and
henc e w as vertically polar ized.

2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

C.

To m easure VSWR, return loss using DIRECTIONAL COUPLER.

1. Set up the Dir ectional coupler for Forw ard pow er measur ement as in Fig
abov e.
2. Connec t the trans mitter ( Tx) at input port ( por t 1) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
3. Connec t the r eceiv er (Rx) at c oupled por t ( por t 3) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
4. Connec t the Antenna at output port (port 2) of Direc tional coupler. ( Use
w aveguide to coax adapter, SMA( male) adapter in or der to c onnect
antennas w ith SMA (female) connector.
5. Say for example, Forw ard Pow er is 67 dBuV.
6. Now , reverse the direction of Dir ectional coupler and set up the Direc tional
coupler for Rev ers e pow er meas ur ement as in Fig abov e.
7. Connec t the tr ans mitter ( Tx) at output por t (port 2) of Directional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
8. Connec t the r eceiv er (Rx) at c oupled por t ( por t 3) of Dir ectional Coupler
using coax to w aveguide adapter .
- 55 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

9. Connec t the Antenna at input port (port 1) of Directional coupler.

10. Say for example, r everse Pow er is 52 dBuV.
11. The dif ference betw een forw ard and reverse Pow er in dB is retur n loss of
antenna. Here it is 67- 52 = 15 dB. Henc e, VSWR is 1.43
12. If r eturn loss is mor e V SW R is less, and better is the antenna.
13. The Directional Coupler is matched to 50 Ohms input impedance of
receiv er and 50 Ohms output impedanc e of tr ans mitter. It c ompar es the
antenna impedanc e to its internal refer ence impedance of 50 Ohms (w hich
is por t 4 ).
14. Keep your hands aw ay from the antenna w hile taking meas urements.
D.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

E.
1.
2.
3.
4.

Find polarization discrimination betw een LHCP & RHCP m onofiliar

axial mode helix antenna, w hen communicated against each other.
Find w hether a Horn antenna can distinguish between LHCP & RHCP
antennas.
Connec t the Horn Antenna to the Tx.
Now connect a RHCP or LHCP monof iliar axial mode helix antenna to Rx
at the stepper Monopod.
Rotate LHCP and RHCP Helix around its axis by connecting the Helix on 3
faces of cube and see if Hor n c an distinguish betw een tw o types of Helic es.
See the change in r eading after r eplacing a LHCP monofili ar ax ial mode
helix antenna w ith a RHCP monofiliar axial mode helix antenna.
Now connect a LHCP monofili ar ax ial mode helix antenna at one end and
the other RHCP monofiliar axial mode helix antenna at the other end and
see the change in Rx r eading. Thus, find out the polariz ation discr imination
betw een LHCP & RHCP monofiliar axial mode helix antenna.
Find out if pairing the same handedness antennas (like RHCP helix
and RHCP Helix or LHCP He lix and LHCP Helix) against each ot her
w ill result in m ore signal strength.
Connec t the LHCP monofiliar axial mode helix antenna to Tx us in g s haft
w ith cube at Tx
Now connec t another LHCP Helix antenna to Rx at the stepper Monopod
using other shaft w ith cube and note the Rx r eading.
See the change in r eading after r eplacing a LHCP Helix antenna w ith a
RHCP Helix antenna.
Similarly , connect a RHCP monofiliar axial mode helix antenna at one end
and the RHCP Helix antenna at the other end and s ee the Rx r eading.

- 56 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

TX
RX
Tr ans mittin g Horn Hor izontally polar ized. LHCP Helix as rec eiv ing antenna.

TX
RX
Tr ans mittin g Horn Ver tically polariz ed. RHCP Helix as r eceiving antenna.

- 57 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

- 58 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

- 59 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

- 60 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

- 61 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

Ret urn Loss Vs VSW R

T able of re turn Loss vs. the v oltage standing wave ratio

Return
Loss dB
46.1

VSWR
1.01

Retur n
Loss dB
17.9

40.1

1.02

36.6

VSWR
1.29

Retur n Loss
dB
13.1

1.57

17.7

1.30

13.0

1.58

1.03

17.4

1.31

12.8

1.59

34.1

1.04

17.2

1.32

12.7

1.60

32.3

1.05

17.0

1.33

12.6

1.61

30.7

1.06

16.7

1.34

12.5

1.62

29.4

1.07

16.5

1.35

12.4

1.63

28.3

1.08

16.3

1.36

12.3

1.64

27.3

1.09

16.1

1.37

12.2

1.65

26.4

1.10

15.9

1.38

12.1

1.66

25.7

1.11

15.7

1.39

12.0

1.67

24.9

1.12

15.6

1.40

11.9

1.68

24.3

1.13

15.4

1.41

11.8

1.69

23.7

1.14

15.2

1.42

11.7

1.70

23.1

1.15

15.0

1.43

11.6

1.71

22.6

1.16

14.9

1.44

11.5

1.72

22.1

1.17

14.7

1.45

11.4

1.74

21.7

1.18

14.6

1.46

11.3

1.50

21.2

1.19

14.4

1.47

11.2

1.76

20.8

1.20

14.3

1.48

11.1

1.77

20.4

1.21

14.1

1.49

11.0

1.78

20.1

1.22

14.0

1.50

10.9

1.80

19.7

1.23

13.8

1.51

10.8

1.81

19.4

1.24

13.7

1.52

10.7

1.82

19.1

1.25

13.6

1.53

10.6

1.84

18.8

1.26

13.4

1.54

10.5

1.85

18.5

1.27

13.3

1.55

10.4

1.87

18.2

1.28

13.2

1.56

10.3

1.88

- 62 -

VSW R

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

Return
Loss dB
10.2

VSWR
1.90

Retur n
Loss dB
7.3

10.1

1.91

10.0

VSWR
2.52

Retur n Loss
dB
4.4

4.0

7.2

2.55

4.3

4.1

1.93

7.1

2.58

4.2

4.2

9.9

1.94

7.0

2.61

4.1

4.3

9.8

1.96

6.9

2.65

4.0

4.4

9.7

1.98

6.8

2.69

3.9

4.5

9.6

1.99

6.7

2.72

3.8

4.6

9.5

2.01

6.6

2.76

3.7

4.7

9.4

2.03

6.5

2.79

3.6

4.9

9.3

2.05

6.4

2.83

3.5

5.0

9.2

2.06

6.3

2.88

3.4

5.2

9.1

2.08

6.2

2.92

3.3

5.3

9.0

2.10

6.1

2.96

3.2

5.4

8.9

2.12

6.0

3.01

3.1

5.7

8.8

2.14

5.9

3.06

3.0

5.8

8.7

2.16

5.8

3.10

2.9

6.0

8.6

2.18

5.7

3.16

2.8

6.3

8.5

2.20

5.6

3.21

2.7

6.4

8.4

2.22

5.5

2.26

2.6

6.7

8.3

2.25

5.4

3.32

2.5

7.0

8.2

2.28

5.3

3.38

2.4

7.3

8.1

2.30

5.2

3.44

2.3

7.6

8.0

2.33

5.1

3.50

2.2

7.9

7.9

2.35

5.0

3.57

2.1

8.3

7.8

2.38

4.9

3.64

2.0

8.7

7.7

2.40

4.8

3.7

1.9

9.0

7.6

2.43

4.7

3.78

1.8

9.5

7.5

2.46

4.6

3.86

1.7

10.1

7.4

2.49

4.5

3.9

1.6

10.8

- 63 -

VSW R

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

Return
Loss dB
1.5

VSWR
11.5

Retur n
Loss dB
1.0

1.4

12.3

1.3

VSWR
17.4

Retur n
Loss dB
.5

VSW R
34.7

.9

19.4

.4

43.4

13.3

.8

21.7

.3

57.9

1.2

14.4

.7

24.8

.2

86.9

1.1

15.7

.6

29.3

.1

180.8

VSW R = Vm ax/Vmin = ( Vforward + Vreverse )/Vforward- Vreverse )

Reflection Coeff icient = Vreverse /Vforward
The return loss of a load or S-Par ameter S11 is the magnit ude of the reflection coeff icient
expressed in decibels is also equal to differ ence bet ween the in cident po wer Pi (in dBm)
and the reflected po wer Pr (in dBm ),
Return lo ss = -20 x log [mag( )] also

= S11

A goo d r ule of th um b:
VSW R 1.5:1 = 14 dB Return Loss
VSW R 1.9:1 = 10 dB Return Loss
VSW R 3.0:1 = 6.0 dB Return Loss
VSW R 1:1 = Perfect Match
VSW R Infinity:1 = Short/Open Cir cuit
The m ism atch of a load ZL to a source Z0 results in a reflection coeff icient of:
=(ZL-Z0)/(ZL +Z0)
For ZL <Z0: VSW R=Z0/ZL
For ZL >Z0: VSW R=ZL /Z0
Just Rem ember VSW R is always gr eater than 1. So m ismatch of 50 Ohm s to 75 Ohm s
system is VSW R 1.5:1.

- 64 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

- 65 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

POWER CONVERS ION TAB LE

50

System:

dBm

mW

dBmV

mV(RMS)

mVp

mVpp

uV(RMS)

dBuV

-130
-129
-128
-127
-125
-124
-123
-122
-121
-120
-119
-118
-117
-116
-115
-114
-113
-112
-111
-110
-109
-108
-107
-106
-105
-104
-103
-102
-101
-100
-99
-98
-97
-96
-95
-94
-93
-92
-91
-90
-89
-88
-87
-86
-85
-84
-83
-82
-81

1.00E-13
1.26E-13
1.58E-13
2.00E-13
3.16E-13
3.98E-13
5.01E-13
6.31E-13
7.94E-13
1.00E-12
1.26E-12
1.58E-12
2.00E-12
2.51E-12
3.16E-12
3.98E-12
5.01E-12
6.31E-12
7.94E-12
1.00E-11
1.26E-11
1.58E-11
2.00E-11
2.51E-11
3.16E-11
3.98E-11
5.01E-11
6.31E-11
7.94E-11
1.00E-10
1.26E-10
1.58E-10
2.00E-10
2.51E-10
3.16E-10
3.98E-10
5.01E-10
6.31E-10
7.94E-10
1.00E-09
1.26E-09
1.58E-09
2.00E-09
2.51E-09
3.16E-09
3.98E-09
5.01E-09
6.31E-09
7.94E-09

-83
-82
-81
-80
-78
-77
-76
-75
-74
-73
-72
-71
-70
-69
-68
-67
-66
-65
-64
-63
-62
-61
-60
-59
-58
-57
-56
-55
-54
-53
-52
-51
-50
-49
-48
-47
-46
-45
-44
-43
-42
-41
-40
-39
-38
-37
-36
-35
-34

7.07E-05
7.93E-05
8.90E-05
9.99E-05
1.26E-04
1.41E-04
1.58E-04
1.78E-04
1.99E-04
2.24E-04
2.51E-04
2.82E-04
3.16E-04
3.54E-04
3.98E-04
4.46E-04
5.01E-04
5.62E-04
6.30E-04
7.07E-04
7.93E-04
8.90E-04
9.99E-04
1.12E-03
1.26E-03
1.41E-03
1.58E-03
1.78E-03
1.99E-03
2.24E-03
2.51E-03
2.82E-03
3.16E-03
3.54E-03
3.98E-03
4.46E-03
5.01E-03
5.62E-03
6.30E-03
7.07E-03
7.93E-03
8.90E-03
9.99E-03
1.12E-02
1.26E-02
1.41E-02
1.58E-02
1.77E-02
1.99E-02

1.00E-04
1.12E-04
1.26E-04
1.41E-04
1.78E-04
2.00E-04
2.24E-04
2.51E-04
2.82E-04
3.16E-04
3.55E-04
3.98E-04
4.47E-04
5.01E-04
5.62E-04
6.31E-04
7.08E-04
7.94E-04
8.91E-04
1.00E-03
1.12E-03
1.26E-03
1.41E-03
1.58E-03
1.78E-03
2.00E-03
2.24E-03
2.51E-03
2.82E-03
3.16E-03
3.55E-03
3.98E-03
4.47E-03
5.01E-03
5.62E-03
6.31E-03
7.08E-03
7.94E-03
8.91E-03
1.00E-02
1.12E-02
1.26E-02
1.41E-02
1.58E-02
1.78E-02
1.99E-02
2.23E-02
2.52E-02
2.81E-02

2.00E-04
2.24E-04
2.52E-04
2.83E-04
3.56E-04
3.99E-04
4.48E-04
5.02E-04
5.64E-04
6.32E-04
7.10E-04
7.96E-04
8.93E-04
1.00E-03
1.12E-03
1.26E-03
1.42E-03
1.59E-03
1.78E-03
2.00E-03
2.24E-03
2.52E-03
2.83E-03
3.17E-03
3.56E-03
3.99E-03
4.48E-03
5.02E-03
5.64E-03
6.32E-03
7.10E-03
7.96E-03
8.93E-03
1.00E-02
1.12E-02
1.26E-02
1.42E-02
1.59E-02
1.78E-02
2.00E-02
2.24E-02
2.52E-02
2.83E-02
3.17E-02
3.56E-02
3.98E-02
4.46E-02
5.04E-02
5.62E-02

7.07E-02
7.93E-02
8.90E-02
9.99E-02
1.26E-01
1.41E-01
1.58E-01
1.78E-01
1.99E-01
2.24E-01
2.51E-01
2.82E-01
3.16E-01
3.54E-01
3.98E-01
4.46E-01
5.01E-01
5.62E-01
6.30E-01
7.07E-01
7.93E-01
8.90E-01
9.99E-01
1.12E+00
1.26E+00
1.41E+00
1.58E+00
1.78E+00
1.99E+00
2.24E+00
2.51E+00
2.82E+00
3.16E+00
3.54E+00
3.98E+00
4.46E+00
5.01E+00
5.62E+00
6.30E+00
7.07E+00
7.93E+00
8.90E+00
9.99E+00
1.12E+01
1.26E+01
1.41E+01
1.58E+01
1.77E+01
1.99E+01

-23
-22
-21
-20
-18
-17
-16
-15
-14
-13
-12
-11
-10
-9
-8
-7
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26

- 66 -

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

-80
-79
-78
-77

1.00E-08
1.26E-08
1.58E-08
2.00E-08

-33.01
-32.01
-31.01
-30.01

2.24E-02
2.51E-02
2.82E-02
3.16E-02

dBm

mW

dBmV

mV(RMS)

-76
-75
-74
-73
-72
-71
-70
-69
-68
-67
-66
-65
-64
-63
-62
-61
-60
-59
-58
-57
-56
-55
-54
-53
-52
-51
-50
-49
-48
-47
-46
-45
-44
-43
-42
-41
-40
-39
-38
-37
-36
-35
-34
-33
-32
-31
-30
-29

2.51E-08
3.16E-08
3.98E-08
5.01E-08
6.31E-08
7.94E-08
1.00E-07
1.26E-07
1.58E-07
2.00E-07
2.51E-07
3.16E-07
3.98E-07
5.01E-07
6.31E-07
7.94E-07
1.00E-06
1.26E-06
1.58E-06
2.00E-06
2.51E-06
3.16E-06
3.98E-06
5.01E-06
6.31E-06
7.94E-06
1.00E-05
1.26E-05
1.58E-05
2.00E-05
2.51E-05
3.16E-05
3.98E-05
5.01E-05
6.31E-05
7.94E-05
1.00E-04
1.26E-04
1.58E-04
2.00E-04
2.51E-04
3.16E-04
3.98E-04
5.01E-04
6.31E-04
7.94E-04
1.00E-03
1.26E-03

-29.01
-28.01
-27.01
-26.01
-25.01
-24.01
-23.01
-22.01
-21.01
-20.01
-19.01
-18.01
-17.01
-16.01
-15.01
-14.01
-13.01
-12.01
-11.01
-10.01
-9.01
-8.01
-7.01
-6.01
-5.01
-4.01
-3.01
-2.01
-1.01
-0.01
0.99
1.99
2.99
3.99
4.99
5.99
6.99
7.99
8.99
9.99
10.99
11.99
12.99
13.99
14.99
15.99
16.99
17.99

3.54E-02
3.98E-02
4.46E-02
5.01E-02
5.62E-02
6.30E-02
7.07E-02
7.93E-02
8.90E-02
9.99E-02
1.12E-01
1.26E-01
1.41E-01
1.58E-01
1.78E-01
1.99E-01
2.24E-01
2.51E-01
2.82E-01
3.16E-01
3.54E-01
3.98E-01
4.46E-01
5.01E-01
5.62E-01
6.30E-01
7.07E-01
7.93E-01
8.90E-01
9.99E-01
1.12E+00
1.26
1.41E+00
1.58E+00
1.78E+00
1.99E+00
2.24
2.51E+00
2.82E+00
3.16E+00
3.54E+00
3.98
4.46E+00
5.01E+00
5.62E+00
6.30E+00
7.07
7.93E+00

- 67 -

3.16E-02
3.55E-02
3.98E-02
4.47E-02

6.32E-02
7.10E-02
7.96E-02
8.93E-02

2.24E+01
2.51E+01
2.82E+01
3.16E+01

26.99
27.99
28.99
29.99

mVp

mVpp

uV(RMS)

dBuV

5.01E-02
5.62E-02
6.31E-02
7.08E-02
7.94E-02
8.91E-02
1.00E-01
1.12E-01
1.26E-01
1.41E-01
1.58E-01
1.78E-01
2.00E-01
2.24E-01
2.51E-01
2.82E-01
3.16E-01
3.55E-01
3.98E-01
4.47E-01
5.01E-01
5.62E-01
6.31E-01
7.08E-01
7.94E-01
8.91E-01
1.00E+00
1.12E+00
1.26E+00
1.41E+00
1.58E+00
1.78
2.00E+00
2.24E+00
2.51E+00
2.82E+00
3.16
3.55E+00
3.98E+00
4.47E+00
5.01E+00
5.62
6.31E+00
7.08E+00
7.94E+00
8.91E+00
10.00
1.12E+01

1.00E-01
1.12E-01
1.26E-01
1.42E-01
1.59E-01
1.78E-01
2.00E-01
2.24E-01
2.52E-01
2.83E-01
3.17E-01
3.56E-01
3.99E-01
4.48E-01
5.02E-01
5.64E-01
6.32E-01
7.10E-01
7.96E-01
8.93E-01
1.00E+00
1.12E+00
1.26E+00
1.42E+00
1.59E+00
1.78E+00
2.00E+00
2.24E+00
2.52E+00
2.83E+00
3.17E+00
3.56
3.99E+00
4.48E+00
5.02E+00
5.64E+00
6.32
7.10E+00
7.96E+00
8.93E+00
1.00E+01
11.25
1.26E+01
1.42E+01
1.59E+01
1.78E+01
20.00
2.24E+01

3.54E+01
3.98E+01
4.46E+01
5.01E+01
5.62E+01
6.30E+01
7.07E+01
7.93E+01
8.90E+01
9.99E+01
1.12E+02
1.26E+02
1.41E+02
1.58E+02
1.78E+02
1.99E+02
2.24E+02
2.51E+02
2.82E+02
3.16E+02
3.54E+02
3.98E+02
4.46E+02
5.01E+02
5.62E+02
6.30E+02
7.07E+02
7.93E+02
8.90E+02
9.99E+02
1.12E+03
1.26E+03
1.41E+03
1.58E+03
1.78E+03
1.99E+03
2.24E+03
2.51E+03
2.82E+03
3.16E+03
3.54E+03
3.98E+03
4.46E+03
5.01E+03
5.62E+03
6.30E+03
7.07E+03
7.93E+03

30.99
31.99
32.99
33.99
34.99
35.99
36.99
37.99
38.99
39.99
40.99
41.99
42.99
43.99
44.99
45.99
46.99
47.99
48.99
49.99
50.99
51.99
52.99
53.99
54.99
55.99
56.99
57.99
58.99
59.99
60.99
61.99
62.99
63.99
64.99
65.99
66.99
67.99
68.99
69.99
70.99
71.99
72.99
73.99
74.99
75.99
76.99
77.99

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

-28
-27
-26
-25
-24

1.58E-03
2.00E-03
2.51E-03
3.16E-03
3.98E-03

18.99
19.99
20.99
21.99
22.99

8.90E+00
9.99E+00
1.12E+01
12.57
1.41E+01

dBm

mW

dBmV

mV(RMS)

-23
-22
-21
-20
-19
-18
-17
-16
-15
-14
-13
-12
-11
-10
-9
-8
-7
-6
-5
-4
-3
-2
-1
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23

5.01E-03
6.31E-03
7.94E-03
0.01
1.26E-02
1.58E-02
2.00E-02
2.51E-02
0.03
3.98E-02
5.01E-02
6.31E-02
7.94E-02
0.10
1.26E-01
1.58E-01
2.00E-01
2.51E-01
0.32
3.98E-01
5.01E-01
6.31E-01
7.94E-01
1.00
1.26
1.58
2.00
2.51
3.16
3.98
5.01
6.31
7.94
10.00
12.59
15.85
19.95
25.12
31.62
39.81
50.12
63.10
79.43
100.00
125.89
158.49
199.53

23.99
24.99
25.99
26.99
27.99
28.99
29.99
30.99
31.99
32.99
33.99
34.99
35.99
36.99
37.99
38.99
39.99
40.99
41.99
42.99
43.99
44.99
45.99
46.99
47.99
48.99
49.99
50.99
51.99
52.99
53.99
54.99
55.99
56.99
57.99
58.99
59.99
60.99
61.99
62.99
63.99
64.99
65.99
66.99
67.99
68.99
69.99

1.58E+01
1.78E+01
1.99E+01
22.36
2.51E+01
2.82E+01
3.16E+01
3.54E+01
39.76
4.46E+01
5.01E+01
5.62E+01
6.30E+01
70.71
7.93E+01
8.90E+01
9.99E+01
1.12E+02
125.74
1.41E+02
1.58E+02
1.78E+02
1.99E+02
223.61
250.89
281.50
315.85
354.39
397.64
446.15
500.59
561.67
630.21
707.11
793.39
890.19
998.81
1120.69
1257.43
1410.86
1583.01
1776.17
1992.90
2236.07
2508.91
2815.04
3158.53

- 68 -

1.26E+01
1.41E+01
1.58E+01
17.78
2.00E+01

2.52E+01
2.83E+01
3.17E+01
35.57
3.99E+01

8.90E+03
9.99E+03
1.12E+04
1.26E+04
1.41E+04

78.99
79.99
80.99
81.99
82.99

mVp

mVpp

uV(RMS)

dBuV

2.24E+01
2.51E+01
2.82E+01
31.62
3.55E+01
3.98E+01
4.47E+01
5.01E+01
56.23
6.31E+01
7.08E+01
7.94E+01
8.91E+01
100.00
1.12E+02
1.26E+02
1.41E+02
1.58E+02
177.83
2.00E+02
2.24E+02
2.51E+02
2.82E+02
316.23
354.81
398.11
446.68
501.19
562.34
630.96
707.95
794.33
891.25
1000.00
1122.02
1258.93
1412.54
1584.89
1778.28
1995.26
2238.72
2511.89
2818.38
3162.28
3548.13
3981.07
4466.84

4.48E+01
5.02E+01
5.64E+01
63.25
7.10E+01
7.96E+01
8.93E+01
1.00E+02
112.47
1.26E+02
1.42E+02
1.59E+02
1.78E+02
200.00
2.24E+02
2.52E+02
2.83E+02
3.17E+02
355.66
3.99E+02
4.48E+02
5.02E+02
5.64E+02
632.46
709.63
796.21
893.37
1002.37
1124.68
1261.91
1415.89
1588.66
1782.50
2000.00
2244.04
2517.85
2825.08
3169.79
3556.56
3990.52
4477.44
5023.77
5636.77
6324.56
7096.27
7962.14
8933.67

1.58E+04
1.78E+04
1.99E+04
2.24E+04
2.51E+04
2.82E+04
3.16E+04
3.54E+04
3.98E+04
4.46E+04
5.01E+04
5.62E+04
6.30E+04
7.07E+04
7.93E+04
8.90E+04
9.99E+04
1.12E+05
1.26E+05
1.41E+05
1.58E+05
1.78E+05
1.99E+05
2.24E+05
2.51E+05
2.82E+05
3.16E+05
3.54E+05
3.98E+05
4.46E+05
5.01E+05
5.62E+05
6.30E+05
7.07E+05
7.93E+05
8.90E+05
9.99E+05
1.12E+06
1.26E+06
1.41E+06
1.58E+06
1.78E+06
1.99E+06
2.24E+06
2.51E+06
2.82E+06
3.16E+06

83.99
84.99
85.99
86.99
87.99
88.99
89.99
90.99
91.99
92.99
93.99
94.99
95.99
96.99
97.99
98.99
99.99
100.99
101.99
102.99
103.99
104.99
105.99
106.99
107.99
108.99
109.99
110.99
111.99
112.99
113.99
114.99
115.99
116.99
117.99
118.99
119.99
120.99
121.99
122.99
123.99
124.99
125.99
126.99
127.99
128.99
129.99

MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

24
25
26
27
28
29

251.19
316.23
398.11
501.19
630.96
794.33

70.99
71.99
72.99
73.99
74.99
75.99

3543.93
3976.35
4461.54
5005.93
5616.75
6302.10

dBm

mW

dBmV

mV(RMS)

30

1000.00

76.99

7071.07

5011.87
5623.41
6309.57
7079.46
7943.28
8912.51

10023.74
11246.83
12619.15
14158.92
15886.56
17825.02

3.54E+06
3.98E+06
4.46E+06
5.01E+06
5.62E+06
6.30E+06

130.99
131.99
132.99
133.99
134.99
135.99

mVp

mVpp

uV(RMS)

dBuV

10000.00

20000.00

7.07E+06

136.99

Units:
E or V = Volts (can use either, as per conv ention standards)
R = Ohms ( im pedence/resitance)
P = Po wer (Watts, dBm, mW , or W)
dB = decibel r atio (lo g10) - all lo g's will be to base 10
W = W atts = (E. E)/R
u = micro = 10E-6 (for all units - E, R, P, or V)
m = m illi = 10E-3 (for all units - E, R, P, or V)
dBm = decibel ratio of W atts W to one milliwatt
= 10log10 (W /m W)
dBuV = decibel ratio of Volts to one microvolt
= 20log10 {V/uV} or, for exam ple, {E/uV}

Conversions for 50 ohm systems:

1. To convert dBm to dBuV add 107 dB:
2. To conver dBuV to dBm subtract 107 dB:

dBuV = dBm + 107 dB

dBm = dBuV - 107 dB

Proof:
Remember, 0 dBm = 1 m W (milliwatt) = 0.001 Watts
E = Square Root of (W x R) - assum e R = 50 Ohm s
Note: for dBm our reference will be 1 mW
E = Square Root (1mW * x 50 ohm s) = 0.224 Volts
dBuV = 20 lo g10 (0.224 Volts/1 uV*) = 107 dBuV
Therefore, 107 dBuV = 0 dBm in a 50 W system
Usin g this as the scale factor: dBm + 107 dB = dBuV
* Must be entered in Watts (0.001 or 1x10-3 W = 1 mW)
* Must be entered in Volts (0.000001 or 1x10E-6 V = 1 uV)

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MICR OW AVE ANTENN A TR AINING LAB

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- 70 -