THE ISOTROPIC ANTENNA

W4ULD 08-14-2009

A few years ago I wrote an article for the CCARS Newsletter explaining the concept of
an isotropic antenna. Since practically all of my antenna articles refer to dBi, I thought
the concept should be revisited.

The dB or decibel is derived from a ratio as shown below

P1
dB = 10 log 10
P2
Where: Pi = The larger of two powers
P2 = Smaller of two powers

Or:
V1
dB = 20 log 10
V2
Where: V1 = The larger of two voltages
V2 = The smaller of two voltages

Thus the dB value represents a gain of P1 or V1 over P2 or V2 . So when one says 3 dB, the
question is 3 dB over what? In the above equations if the numerators are smaller than the
denominators, the dB value will be negative or a loss.

With antennas it has been common practice to compare the gain of an antenna in a given
direction with the gain of a dipole in free space or the gain of a quarter wavelength
vertical over perfect ground in the same direction. For example, the gain of a 5/8
wavelength vertical is commonly said to be 3 dB. This means that a 5/8 WL vertical has a
maximum radiation of about 3 dB over the maximum radiation of a ¼ WL vertical. The
trouble with these comparisons is simply that our antennas are not in free space or over
perfect ground. In the case of a dipole, the height above any kind of ground has a major
effect on the maximum gain in a given direction. So a more constant means of
comparison was needed. I don’t know who came up with the isotropic radiator but it’s
concept is simple and constant. Admittedly, an isotropic radiator exists in theory only.

Consider a sphere with a point radiation source at it’s center. The point source radiates
equally in all directions; therefore, the inside surface of the sphere receives an equal
amount of radiation on each square inch of inside surface. This point source is known as
an isotropic radiator. If an antenna is placed in the center of the sphere, it will not
produce equal radiation on each square inch of inside surface. If the antenna causes twice
as much energy to fall on a given point on the sphere, compared to the isotropic radiator,
it is 3 dB better than the isotropic radiator or has a gain in that direction of 3 dBi.
However, the total power radiated is constant. Therefore, if one spot is 3 dB better than
other spots on the inside of the sphere, other spots must get lots less radiation for the total
to remain constant.

Since so many commercial antennas are rated in dBd, compared to a dipole in free space,
the standard difference of 2.15 dB for a dipole over an isotropic radiator seems to be
agreed upon. Thus when reading specs on commercial antennas whose gain is expressed
in dBd, one needs to subtract 2.15 dBd to get dBi.
.
When looking at azimuth plots of two antennas in dBi, to compare two directions or the
same direction simply subtract the dBi gain in the direction of least gain from the larger
dBi gain. The difference will be in dB.

For example, let’s say that antenna 1 has a gain at 35 degrees azimuth and 20 degrees
elevation of 7 dBi. Antenna 2 has 4 dBi gain in the same direction. Antenna 1 will have 3
dB higher gain in that direction over antenna 2.

Many Hams pooh-pooh the concept of an isotropic radiator, simply because they do not
understand it. I hope this article helped in this understanding.