CNS-ST 1.

2: TRANSMISSION LINES AND

ANTENNAS

16.

The minimum value that a

characteristic impedance of an air
dielectric parallel-wire could have
is
83 ohms.*

What type of transmission line is

often used to connect a television
set to its antenna?
Twin-lead.

17.

What is the primary advantage of the

shielded pair?
The conductors are balanced to
ground.

2.

Velocity factor of coaxial cables

vary from
0.6 to 0.8*

18.

3.

Typical value of the velocity factor

of an open-wire transmission is
0.9*

What the two types of coaxial lines

in use today?
Air coaxial (rigid) and solid
coaxial (flexible).

19.

When the load absorbs all the power

transmitted, it means that the load
impedance is
equal to Zo of the line.*

What is the chief advantage of the

air coaxial line?
The ability to minimize radiation
losses.

20.

When no power is applied to a

transmission system, the VSWR is
equal to zero.*

List the two common type of

waveguides in use today.
Cylindrical and rectangular.

21.

What are the three types of line

losses associated with transmission
lines?
Copper, dielectric and radiation.

22.

Losses caused by skin effect and I 2

R (power) loss are classified as
what types of loss?
Copper loss.

23.

What type of losses cause the

dielectric material between the
conductors to be heated?
Dielectric loss.

24.

What is the range of characteristic

impedance of lines used in actual
practice?
Between 50 and 600 ohms.

25.

Two types of waves are formed on a

transmission line. What names are
given to these waves?
Incident waves from generator to
load. Reflected waves from load to
generator.

26.

On an open-ended transmission line,

the voltage is always zero at what
distance from each end of the line?
One-fourth the distance from each
end of the line.

27.

What term is used for the end of a

transmission line that is connected
to an antenna?
Output end, receiving end, load end,
and sink.

A non-resonant line is a line that

has no standing waves of current and
voltage on it and is considered to
be flat. Why is this true?
The load impedance of such a line is
equal to Zo.

28.

Name two of the three uses of a twowire open line.

Power lines, rural telephone lines,
and telegraph lines.

At what point on an open-circuited

rf line do voltage peaks occur?
At wavelength from the end and at
every wavelength along the line.

29.

What is the square of the voltage

standing wave ratio called?
Power standing-wave ratio (pswr)

30.

What does vswr measure?

The existence of voltage variations
on a line.

1.

4.

5.

6.

The characteristic impedances

commonly available are
75 ohms and 50 ohms.*

7.

The 50-ohm RG-58 coaxial cable is

used in
cheapernet or thin-wire Ethernet.*

8.

The 50-ohm double-shielded RG-11

coaxial cable is used in
thicknet or thick-wire Ethernet.*

9.

A flat conductor separated from a

ground plane by an insulating
dielectric material
Microstrip.

10.

A flat conductor sandwich between

two ground planes.
Stripline

11.

What connecting link is used to

transfer energy from a radio
transmitter to its antenna located
on the mast of a ship?
Transmission line.

12.

13.

14.

15.

What term is used for the end of a

transmission line that is connected
to a transmitter?
Input end, generator end,
transmitter end, sending end and
source.

What are two primary disadvantages

of a two-wire open line?
High radiation losses and noise
pickup.

31.

32.

33.

34.

35.

36.

37.

Determine the characteristic

impedance for an air dielectric twowire parallel transmission line with
a D/r ratio of 12.22?
300 ohms.

Determine the characteristic

impedance for an RG-59A coaxial
cable with the following
specifications: d=0.025 inches,
D=0.15 inches, and dielectric
constant of 2.23
72 ohms

Determine the characteristic

impedance for an RG-59A coaxial
cable with the following
specifications: L=0.118uH/ft and
C=21pF/ft
75 ohms.

For a given length of RG 8A/U

coaxial cable with a distributed
capacitance of 96.6pF/m, a
distributed inductance of 241.56
nH/m, and a relative dielectric
constant of 2.3, determine the
velocity of propagation and the
velocity factor;
2.07x10^8m/s; 0.69

For a transmission line with an

incident voltage of 5V and a
reflected voltage of 3V, determine
the reflection coefficient and the
SWR.
r=0.6, SWR=4

A pulse is transmitted down a cable

that has a velocity of propagation
of 0.8c. The reflected signal is
received 1us later. How far down the
cable is the impairment?
120m.
Using TDR, a transmission line
impairment is located 3000m from the
source. For velocity of propagation
of 0.9c, determine the time elapsed
from the beginning of the pulse to
the reception of the echo.
22.22us

38.

Determine the impedance of /4 line

to match 600ohm feed to 75 ohm
antenna. 212 ohm

39.

If a cable has a velocity factor of

0.8, what length of cable is
required for a 90 degree phase shift
at 100 meters?
0.6 meters

40.

The scientist who profounded the

theory of electromagnetic radiation
James
Maxwell*

41.

Antenna radiated power is ______ of

the antenna current.
proportional to the square (I^2)

42.

Antenna field strength is _____ to

the antenna current.
directly proportional (I)

43.

Antennas assuming having similar

size, has largest gain.
Parabolic*

44.

Antenna whose technical equivalent

is /4 line is open circuited.
Dipole*

45.

Marconi type of antenna is a

grounded _____ vertical antenna.
/4*

46.

Antenna used in mobile

communications, mounted on vehicles.
Marconi*

47.

Antenna used for radiating AM

broadcast band.
/2 vertical antenna.*

48.

Electrical length of a Marconi

antenna needed for AM broadcasting
can be increased by
using series loading of capacitor.*

49.

The SI unit of magnetic field

intensity.
Ampere/meter*

50.

The radio wavelength known as ______

falls within the medium frequency
range
hectrometric waves*

51.

Antenna utilizing the ground as part

of its resonant circuit.
Marconi*

52.

Antenna that is complete in itself

and capable of self-oscillation.
Hertz*

53.

Radiation resistance is the ratio of

radiated power to the square of
current*

54.

Example of Marconi type antenna.

Quarter wave vertical tower.*

55.

56.

57.

58.

The gain in the direction of one of

the major lobes of the radiation
pattern.
Directivity gain*
Form of unwanted radiation working
against the main beam caused by
feeding a parabolic reflector with
an isotropic source.
Backlobe radiation*
Type of antenna capable of
transmitting (receiving) a TEM wave
polarized in any direction.
Helical antenna*
A region within the influence of the
induction field of an antenna.
Near field*

59.

An example of parasitic array.

Yagi-uda*

60.

Structure made of plastic-like

composite material used to enclose
the complete antenna assembly for
protection against the weather and
to reduce wind or snow loading.
Radome*

61.

The minimum antenna actual height:

/4*

62.

Marconi antenna current

maximum at the base*

63.

Antenna that is /10 long is called

elementary doublet*

64.

FM uses what type of polarization?

Horizontal polarization*

65.

In antenna, the area where the

signal strength is very low.
Null*

66.

Which frequency band omnihorizontally polarized antenna used?

VHF and UHF*

73.

What type of wave motion is

represented by the motion of water?
Transverse waves.

74.

What are some examples of transverse

waves?
Radio waves, light waves, and heat
waves.

75.

What example of a longitudinal wave

was given in the text?
A sound wave.

76.

What are the three requirements for

a wave to be propagated?
A source, medium and
detector(receiver).

77.

What is the law of reflection?

The law of reflection states: the
angle of incidence is equal to the
angle of reflection.

78.

When a wave is reflected from a

surface, energy is transferred. When
is the transfer of energy greatest?
When the incident wave is nearly
parallel with the surface.

79.

When is the transfer of energy

minimum?
When the incident wave is
perpendicular to the surface. Also a
dull (or black surface) reflects
very little regardless of the angle.

80.

A refracted wave occurs when a wave

passes from one medium into another
medium, what determines the angle of
refraction?
The density of the two mediums, and
the velocity of the waves.

81.

What do we call the field that is

created between two rods when a
voltage is applied to them?
ELECTRIC FIELD.

82.

When current flows through a

conductor, a field is created around
the conductor. What do we call this
field?
MAGNETIC FIELD.

83.

An induction field is created around

a conductor when current flows
through it. What do we call the
field that detaches itself from the
conductor and travels through space.
RADIATION FIELD.

67.

Discone antenna polarization is

vertical*

68.

What is the advantage of Top

loading?
Improved radiation efficiency*

69.

What is propagation?
Propagation means spreading out.

70.

How is a wave defined as it applies

to wave propagation?
A wave is a disturbance which moves
through a medium.

84.

What are two basic qualifications of

antennas?
Half-wave(Hertz) and Quarter-wave
(Marconi)

71.

What is wave motion?

A means of transferring energy from
one place to another.

85.

What are the three parts of a

complete antenna system?
Coupling device, feeder, and antenna

72.

What are some examples of wave

motion?
Sound waves, light waves, radio
waves, heat waves, water waves.

86.

What three factors determine the

type size and shape of antenna?
Frequency of operation of the
transmitter, amount of power to be
radiated, and general direction of
the receiving set.

Vertical plane.
87.

88.

89.

If a wave exactly the length of an

antenna from one end to the other
and back during the period of 1
cycle, what is the length of the
antenna?
One-half the wavelength.
What is the term used to identify
the points of high-current and high
voltage on an antenna?
Current and voltage loops.
What is the term used to identify
the points of minimum current and
minimum voltage on an antenna?
Current and voltage nodes.

90.

The direction of what field is used

to designate the polarization of a
wave?
Electric Field.

91.

If a waves electric lines of force

rotate through 360 degrees with
every cycle of RF energy, what is
the polarization of this wave?
Circular polarization.

92.

What type of polarization should be

used at medium and low frequencies?
Vertical polarization

93.

What is an advantage of using

horizontal polarization at high
frequencies?
Less interference is experienced by
man-made noise sources.

102.

Since the radiation pattern of a

dipole is similar to that of a
doublet, what will happen to the
pattern if the length of the doublet
is increased?
The pattern would flatten.

103.

What is the simplest method of

feeding power to the half-wave
antenna?
To connect one end through a
capacitor to the final output stage
of the transmitter.

104.

What is the radiation pattern of a

quarter-wave antenna?
A circular radiation pattern in the
horizontal plane, or same as a halfwave.

105.

Describe the physical arrangement of

a ground screen?
It is composed of a series of
conductors arranged in a radial
pattern and buried 1 to 2 feet below
the ground.

106.

What is the difference in the amount

of impedance between a three-wire
dipole and a simple-center fed
dipole?
Nine times the feed-point impedance.

107.

Which has a wider frequency range, a

simple dipole, or a folded dipole?
Folded dipole

94.

What type of polarization should be

used if an antenna is mounted on a
moving vehicle at frequencies below
50 megahertz?
Vertical polarization

108.

What is the purpose of antenna

stubs?
To produce desired phase
relationship between connected
elements

95.

What is the radiation resistance of

a half-wave antenna in free space?
73 ohms.

109.

96.

A radiating source that radiates

energy stronger in one direction
than another is what type of
radiator?
Anisotropic radiator

What is the primary difference

between the major and minor lobes in
a radiation pattern?
Major lobes have the greatest amount
of radiation.

110.

What is the maximum number of

elements used in a collinear array?
Four.

111.

Why is the number of elements in a

collinear array limited?
As more elements are added, an
unbalanced condition in the system
occurs which impairs efficiency.

112.

What terms are often used to

describe basic half-wave antennas?
Dipole, doublet and hertz.

How can the frequency range of a

collinear array be increased?
By increasing the lengths of the
elements of the array.

113.

If a basic halfwave antenna is

mounted vertically, what type of
radiation pattern will be produced?
Non-directional

How is directivity of a collinear

array affected when the number of
elements is increased?
Directivity increases

114.

What is the primary cause of

broadside arrays losing efficiency
when not operating at their designed
frequency?
Lower radiation resistance

97.

A radiating source that radiates

energy equally in all directions is
known as what type of radiator?
Isotropic radiator

98.

A flashlight is an example of what

type of radiator?
Anisotropic radiator

99.

100.

101.

in which plane will the half-wave

antenna be operating if it is
mounted horizontally?

115.

When more that two elements are used

in a broadside array, how are the
elements arranged?
Parallel and in the same plane.

116.

As the spacing between elements in a

broadside array increases, what is
the effect on the major lobes?
They sharpen

117.

What are some disadvantages of the

end-fire array?
Extremely low radiation resistance,
confined to one frequency, and
affected by atmospheric conditions

118.

Where does the major lobe in the

end-fire array occur?
Along the major axis

119.

To maintain the required balance of

phase relationships and critical
feeding, how must the end-fire array
be constructed?
Symmetrically

120.

121.

122.

123.

124.

What two factors determine the

directivity pattern of the parasitic
array?
Length of the parasitic element
(tuning) and spacing between the
parasitic and driven elements.
What two main advantages of a
parasitic array can be obtained by
combining a reflector and a director
with the driven element?
Increased gain and directivity.
The parasitic array can be rotated
to receive or transmit in different
directions. What is the name given
to such an antenna?
Rotary array.
What are the disadvantages of the
parasitic array?
Their adjustment is critical and
they do not operate over a wide
frequency range.
What is the advantage of adding
parasitic elements to a Yagi array?
Increased gain.

125.

The Yagi antenna is an example of

what type of array?
Multielement parasitic array

126.

To radiate power efficiently, a

long-wire antenna must have what
minimum overall length?
One-half wavelength.

127.

What is another name for the

Beverage antenna?
Wave antenna

128.

What is the polarity of the currents

that feed the V antenna?
Opposite

129.

What is the main disadvantage of the

rhombic antenna?
It requires a large antenna site.

130.

What is the primary reason for the

development of the turnstile
antenna?
For omnidirectional vhf
communications

131.

Microwave antennas and low-frequency

antennas are similar in what ways?
Operating principles and electrical
characteristics

132.

What term is used to express the

efficiency of an antenna?
Power gain or power ratio.

133.

What term is used to express the

measurement of the degree of
mismatch between a line and its
load?
Standing-wave ratio (swr)

134.

What type of antenna radiates in and

receives energy from all directions
at once?
Omnidirectional

135.

What is the term that is used to

describe narrowness in the radiated
beam of an antenna?
Antenna directivity

136.

What characteristic allows the same

antenna to both transmit and
receive?
Reciprocity.

137.

What type of reflector is most often

used in directive antennas?
Parabolic.

138.

Microwaves can be reflected and

focused in the same way as what
other type of waves?
Light waves.

139.

How many major lobes are radiated by

a parabolic reflector?
One

140.

A horizontally truncated paraboloic

antenna is used for what purpose?
Determine elevation

141.

The beam from a horizontally

positioned cylindrical paraboloid is
narrow in what plane?
Vertical.

142.

What is a purpose of a collimating

lens?
Forces the radial segments of a
wavefront into parallel paths

143.

What type of lens decelerates a

portion of a spherical wavefront?
Delay lens

144.

What is a set of antenna elements

called?
Antenna array

145.

What type of antenna has all

elements connected to the same
energy source?
Driven array

146.

What determines the beam elevation

angle of an antenna that is
electronically scanned in elevation?
Frequency or phase of radiated
energy

147.

What is the polarization of the

energy radiated by a vertical slot?
Horizontal

148.

Calculate the length of a half-wave

dipole for an operating frequency of
20MHz.

149.

A dipole antenna has a radiation

resistance of 67 ohms and a loss
resistance of 5 ohms measured at the
feedpoint. Calculate the efficiency.
93%

150.

Determine the efficiency with the

following: Pin=1000w, I=10A, R=8ohm.
80%

151.

A dipole antenna has an efficiency

of 85%. Calculate the gain in
decibels. 1.43 dBi

152.

153.

154.

155.

156.

Find the electrical field strength

for a signal power of 100W at a
distance of 10 km away.
5.48mV/m

157.

A 5kW power, produces a field

intensity of 50 uV/m at the
receiver, what field intensity will
be received if the power is raised
to 20 kW?
100uV/m

158.

A transmitter has a power output of

150W at a carrier frequency of
325MHz. It is connected to an
antenna with a gain of 12 dBi. The
receiving antenna is 10km away and
has a gain of 5 dBi. Calculate the
power delivered to the receiver,
assuming free-space propagation.
Assume also that there are no losses
or mismatches in the system.
404nW

159.

A taxi company uses a central

dispatcher, with an antenna at the
top of a 15m tower, to communicate
with taxi cabs. The taxi antennas
are on the roofs of the cars,
approximately 1.5m above the ground.
Calculate the maximum communication
distance: (a) between the dispatcher
and a taxi (b) between taxis
(a)
21km (b) 10.1km

160.

In the right-hand rule for

propagation, the thumb points in the
direction of the E field and the
forefinger points in the direction
of the H field. In what direction
does the middle finger point?
Direction of wave propagation.

161.

Which two composite fields (composed

of E and H fields) are associated
with every antenna?
Induction field and radiation field

162.

What composite field (composed of E

and H fields) is found stored in the
antenna?
Induction field.

163.

What composite field (composed of E

and H fields) is propagated into
free space?
Radiation field

164.

If a transmitting antenna is placed

close to the ground, how should the
antenna be polarized to give the
greatest signal strength?
Vertically polarized.

The ERP of a transmitting station is

17W in a given direction. Express
this as an ERP in dBm so that it can
be used with the path loss equation.
Also find EIRP.
ERP=42.3 dBm; EIRP=44.44dBm

A helical antenna with eight turns

is to be constructed for a frequency
of 1.2GHz (a) calculate the optimum
diameter and spacing for the antenna
and find the total length of the
antenna. (b) calculate the antenna
gain in dBi (c) calculate the
bandwidth.
(a)62.5mm; (b)14.8 dBi; (c)36.6
degrees

A parabolic antenna has a diameter

of 3 m, an efficiency of 60%, and
operates at a frequency of 4GHz.
Calculate the gain and beamwidth.
G=39.8 dBi; beamwidth=1.78 degrees.

A power of 100W is supplied to an

isotropic radiator. What is the
power density at a point 10km away?
79.6nW/square meter

165.

166.

167.

168.

169.

170.

171.

172.

173.

179.

What are the three layers of the

atmosphere?
Troposphere, stratosphere and
ionosphere

Where does the greatest amount of

ionospheric absorption occur in the
ionosphere?
Where ionization density is greatest

180.

What is meant by the term multipath?

A term used to describe the multiple
pattern a radio wave may follow.

181.

When a wide band of frequencies is

transmitted simultaneously, each
frequency will vary in the amount of
fading. What is this variable fading
called?
Selective fading

182.

What are two main sources of emi

with which radio waves must compete?
Natural and man-made interference

183.

Thunderstorms, snow storms, cosmic

sources, the sun, etc., are a few
examples of emi sources. What type
of emi comes from these sources?
Natural

184.

Motors, switches, voltageregulators, generators, etc., are a

few examples of emi sources, what
type of emi comes from these
sources?
Man-made

185.

What are the two general types of

variations in the ionosphere?
Regular and irregular variations.

186.

What is the main difference between

these two types of variations?
Regular variations can be predicted
but irregular variations are
Unpredictable

187.

What are the four main classes of

regular variation which affect the
extent of ionization in the
ionosphere?
Daily, seasonal, 11-year, and 27days variation.

188.

What are the three more common types

of irregular variations in the
ionosphere?
Sporadic E, sudden disturbances, and
ionospheric storms.

189.

How do raindrops affect radio waves?

They can cause attenuation by
scattering.

190.

How does fog affect radio waves at

frequencies above 2 Gigahertz?
It can cause attenuation by
absorption

191.

How is the term temperature

inversion used when referring to
radio waves?
It is a condition where layers of
warm air are formed above layers of
cool air.

Which layer of the atmosphere has

relatively little effect on radio
waves?
Stratosphere
What is the determining factor in
classifying whether a radio wave is
a ground wave or a space wave?
Whether the component of the wave is
travelling along the surface or over
the surface of the earth.
What is the best type of surface or
terrain to use for radio wave
transmission?
Radio horizon is about 1/3 farther.
What is the primary difference
between the radio horizon and the
natural horizon?
Seawater.
What three factors must be
considered in the transmission of a
surface wave to reduce attenuation?
(a) electrical properties of the
terrain (b) frequency (c)
polarization of the antenna
What causes ionization to occur in
the ionosphere?
High energy ultraviolet waves from
the sun.
How are the four layers of the
ionosphere designated?
D,E,F1,F2 layers.

174.

What is the height of the individual

layers of the ionosphere?
D layer is 30-55 miles, E layer is
55 to 90 miles, F layers are 90 to
240 miles.

175.

What factor determines whether a

radio wave is reflected or refracted
by the ionosphere?
Thickness of ionized layer

176.

There is a maximum frequency at

which vertically transmitted radio
waves can be refracted back to
earth. What is this maximum
frequency called?
Critical Frequency.

177.

178.

A zone of silence between the ground

wave and sky wave where there is no
reception.

What is one of the major reasons for

the fading of radio waves which have
been reflected from a surface?
Shifting in the phase relationships
of the wave.

What three main factors determine

the amount of refraction in the
ionosphere?
(a) density of ionization of the
layer (b) frequency (c) angle at
which it enters the layer
What is the skip zone of a radio
wave?

192.

How does temperature inversion

affect radio transmission?
It can cause vhf and uhf
transmission to be propagated far
beyond normal line-of-sight
distances.

193.

In what layer of the atmosphere does

virtually all weather phenomena
occur?
Troposphere

194.

Which radio frequency bands use the

tropospheric scattering principle
for propagation of radio waves?
VHF and above.