basic antenna
The basic antenna
The most basic antenna is called “a quarter wave vertical”, it is a quarter wavelength long and is a vertical radiator. Typical examples of this type would be seen installed on motor vehicles for two way communications. Technically the most basic antenna is an “isotropic radiator”. This is a mythical antenna which radiates in all directions as does the light from a lamp bulb. It is the standard against which we sometimes compare other antennas.
This type of antenna relies upon an “artificial ground” of either drooping radials or a car body to act as ground. Sometimes the antenna is worked against an actual ground – see later.
Antenna Polarisation
Depending upon how the antenna is orientated physically determines it’s polarisation. An antenna erected vertically is said to be “vertically polarised” while an antenna erected horizontally is said (not so surprising) to be “horizontally polarised”. Other specialised antennas exist with “cross polarisation”, having both vertical and horizontal components and we can have “circular polarisation”.
Note that when a signal is transmitted at one polarisation but received at a different polarisation there exists a great many decibels of loss.
This is quite significant and is often taken advantage of when TV channels and other services are allocated. If there is a chance of co-channel interference then the license will stipulate a different polarisation. Have you ever noticed vertical and horizontal TV antennas in some areas. Now you know why.
Antenna Impedance
Technically, antenna impedance is the ratio at any given point in the antenna of voltage to current at that point. Depending upon height above ground, the influence of surrounding objects and other factors, our quarter wave antenna with a near perfect ground exhibits a nominal input impedance of around 36 ohms. A half wave dipole antenna is nominally 75 ohms while a half wave folded dipole antenna is nominally 300 ohms. The two previous examples indicate why we have 75 ohm coaxial cable and 300 ohm ribbon line for TV antennas.
A quarter wave antenna with drooping quarter wave radials exhibits a nominal 50 ohms impedance, one reason for the existence of 50 ohm coaxial cable.
The quarter wave vertical antenna
The quarter wave vertical antenna is usually the simplest to construct and erect although I know a great many people who would dispute that statement. In this context I am speaking of people (the majority) who have limited space to erect an antenna.
The reason there has been emphasis on TV antennas is simply because nearly everyone can look at examples in their own locality for comparison. At TV frequencies the physical dimensions are such I can offer practical examples with photographs.
The same basic principles apply at HF and LF although physical sizes tend to be totally impractical.
more details at http://www.electronics-tutorials.com/antennas/antenna-basics.htm