( ECE 5014 )

Microwave Antenna and

Radio Wave Propagation

Presented by
Daw Zin Mar Oo
Dept:of Ec & IT
Y.T.U
28.8.2008 1
 METHODS OF FEED AT THE ANTENNA

• In order to effect the maximum transfer of power the

transmission line must be attached to the antenna in
such a manner that its impedance sees an equivalent
impedance at the point where it is connected.

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 METHODS OF FEED WITH RESONANT
LINES
• A resonant line is connected to an antenna at the highest
or lowest impedance point, that is, at the voltage or
current loop, respectively.
• It provides comparatively efficient transfer of power if its
length is limited to one wave length.
• Two methods of feeding a half-wave antenna with
resonant lines.
• (1) Half-wave length of resonant line connected directly to
center of a half-wave antenna.
• At the transmitter end of the line is a series tuned circuit,
which has a low impedance at resonance.
• The load, which is approximately 73 ohms at the center
of the antenna. 3
• (2) A half wave length of a resonant line connected directly
to the end of a half-wave antenna.
• At the transmitter end of the line is a parallel-tuned circuit,
which has a high impedance at resonance.
• An impedance of approximately 2500 ohms exists at the end
of the λ/2 antenna.
• A center-fed and an end-fed half-wave antenna, using
quarter-wave tuned lines.
• The center-fed half-wave antenna, has a parallel-tuned
circuit, at the transmitter end of the feed line, which develops
a high impedance.
• Thus the load or the center of the antenna which is a quarter
wave length away sees a low impedance.
• The end-fed antenna has a series-tuned or low-impedance
circuit at the transmitter end of its feed line.

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• Since a quarter-wave line inverts the impedance, the end
of the antenna looking into the line sees a high
impedance and, therefore, an approximate match is
obtained.
• One advantage of the tuned-line system, when a half or
quarter wave length line is used, is that the length of the
line may vary as much as 20% from the calculated
length for the antenna resonant frequency and still
operate efficiently.
• Resonant or non-resonant condition of a transmission
line is a direct function of the degree of mismatch
between the antenna and the transmission line.
• When a standing-wave ratio of 1.5 to 1 is obtained, for all
practical purposes the feed line approaches a non-
resonant condition.
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 SINGLE-WIRE FEED SYSTEM

• Advantage of simplicity of adjustment and ease of

construction.
• If the line is properly terminated at the antenna, it can be
extended to any reasonable length.
• This type of feed system should be employed only when
the site has a moist or highly conductive ground,
because the capacity of the antenna to ground acts as
the return path for the radio-frequency currents flowing in
the antenna.

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 TWISTED-PAIR FEED SYSTEM

• This feed system is easy to install and has a low r-f potential due to its
low impedance , but it is the least desirable type of non-resonant feed
system from an efficiency standpoint.

• The Zo of a twisted-pair feeder approximates 70 ohms, it may be used to

feed the center of a half-wave antenna.

• If the twisted-pair line is not weather-proofed, it is practically useless for

damp-weather conditions and should be used only for emergencies.

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 COAXIAL-CABLE FEED SYSTEM

• A coaxial cable connected to the center of a half-wave

antenna; this type of feed system finds universal use.
• The advantage of this system lies in the fact that the low
impedance of the cable matches the low impedance at
the center of the antenna.
• The coaxial cable can be used also for feeding an
antenna array, provided that a matching system is used
between the antenna and the line.

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 DELTA-MATCHED FEED SYSTEM

• The characteristic impedance of the transmission line is

too high to match by direct attachment of the line to the
center of the antenna, an impedance-transformation
method must be used.
• The impedance of the transmission line is gradually
transformed into a higher value equal to the impedance
encountered at the antenna.
• The major disadvantage of this type of feed system is
the critical nature of the dimensions involved.

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• No matter how carefully the constructional details are
followed, a slight readjustment of the dimensions will be
necessary to improve efficiency.
• The principal advantage of delta-matched feed system,
which employs a balanced transmission line, is that the
radiation from the line is kept at a minimum at the
frequency for which it was designed.
• With this type of antenna feed, therefore, two
transmitters can be operated simultaneously on adjacent
frequency without detrimental interference.

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 WAVE-GUIDE FEED SYSTEM

• Radiation is accomplished by means of two resonant

windows formed by a capacitive iris and an inductive iris.
• This type of window is broadly resonant in much the
same manner as a large-diameter dipole, and the feed is
matched by means of a capacitive stub.
• This type of feed is essentially a low-impedance device,
and since the wave guide used for transmission operates
at a higher impedance, a matching section must be
used.
• The matching section depends upon whether broad-
band or narrow-band characteristics are required.

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 ATRIFICIAL-LINE MATCHING SYSTEM

• One of the simplest methods of coupling a transmission

line to an antenna at low, medium, or high frequencies is
by the use of an artificial line.
• By proper design of this type of coupling network, a wide
range of transmission line impedances can be coupled to
any range of antenna input impedances in a narrow band
of frequencies.
• The advantage of an artificial line over the various type
of matching stubs previously mentioned is that the
components can be lumped and built into a small
weather-proofed enclosure and mounted at the antenna
input; thus, it has negligible effect on the field radiation
pattern.
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• The coupling network acts to cancel out the reactive
components that would exist if the transmission lines were
coupled directly to the antenna.
• Thus, the network must contain inductive and capacitive
reactances of the proper values to make the antenna
appear to the line as a pure resistance equal in value to the
characteristic impedance of the line.
• The values of inductance and capacity required can be
found by calculation, if the antenna input impedance and
transmission-line characteristic impedance are known.

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 • The inductive reactance can be found by the formula:

R2
X L =R 1 −1
R1

Where R1 = antenna input impedance

R2 = transmission-line characteristic impedance
The capacitive reactance can be found by the formula:

R2
Xc =
R2
−1
R1

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