Antennas and propagation

RF antennas (or aerials) and radio wave propagation are two areas that are closely linked. The commone element between antenna technology and radio propagation is the fact that they are both closely assocaiated with the electromagnetic wave. Antennas are used to launch signals into the ether, which then propagate over the signal path to the receiver, where another antenna captures the radio wave or signal for it to be transferred to the receiver.As a result, both antennas and radio wave propagation are addressed in this section.

Electromagnetic wave and antenna basics

The electromagnetic wave is basic to all antennas and radio wave propagation theory. Likewise there are also a number of other basic concepts associated with antennas including polarisation, feed impedance and the like.

• Electromagnetic waves and basic antenna operation
• Polarisation
• Antenna feed impedance
• Resonance and bandwidth
• Directivity and gain

RF coax cable or feeder and associated elements

Radio frequency feeders or transmission lines are widely used within antenna systems, and many other areas for conveying RF signals with high power or low power from one place to another. A variety of transmission lines may be used, but the most widely used form of feeder of the coax cable or coaxial cable.

• Antenna RF diplexer
• Balanced feeder
• Coaxial feeder / coax cable multipage
• RF coax cable connectors
• Waveguide basics

Radio antenna types

There are many different types of radio antenna. Each antenna type has its own advantages and can be used in different areas. Check out the pages below for the different types of radio antenna.

• Dipole antenna including folded dipole
• Discone
• Distributed antenna systems, DAS
• Ferrite rod antenna
• Five eighths wavelength vertical
• Horn antenna
• J pole vertical antenna
• Log periodic beam antenna
• Loop antenna overview
• Parabolic reflector
• Smart / adaptive antennas
• Quarter wave vertical
• Yagi
• Satellite antennas

Radio wave propagation topics

There are many different types of radio wave propagation, and a variety of different topics that can be addressed.

• Understanding signal path loss and link budgets
• Multipath propagation
• Ground wave propagation
• Tropospheric propagation
• Troposcatter
• Meteor burst / meteor scatter communications
• Electromagnetic waves and propagation
• Ionospheric propagation basics
• Satellite propagation
• Areas of the atmosphere that affect radio propagation

Analysis

• Practical Applications for Distributed Antenna Systems Simon Jones, AIB Wireless [2010-05]