Antenna Polarization

• Refers to the orientation of the electric field of an electromagnetic

wave.
• For most antennas it is very easy to determine the polarization. It is
simply in the same plane as the elements of the antenna.
• It is important to match the polarization of the RF antenna to that
of the incoming signal. In this way the maximum signal is obtained.
Antenna Polarization
I. Linear polarization
• Most common form of antenna polarization.
a) Vertical polarization
 This form of antenna has vertical elements within the antenna. It could be a single
vertical element. One of the reasons for using vertical polarization is that
antennas comprising of a single vertical element can radiate equally around it in
the horizontal plane. It is often used for mobile radio communications.
b) Horizontal polarization
 This form of antenna polarization has horizontal elements. It picks up and radiates
horizontally polarized signals, i.e. electromagnetic waves with the electric field in
the horizontal plane.
c) Slant polarization
 This is a form of antenna polarization that is at an angle to the horizontal or vertical
planes.
Antenna Polarization
II. Circular polarization
• The electric field vector appears to be rotating with circular motion
about the direction of propagation, making one full turn for each RF
cycle.
• Circular polarization is a little more difficult to visualize than linear
polarization. However it can be imagined by visualizing a signal
propagating from an RF antenna that is rotating.
III. Elliptical polarization
• It occurs when there is a mix of linear and circular polarization.
Antenna Polarization
Antenna Beamwidth
• The angular separation
between the two half power
points on the major lobe of an
antenna’s plane radiation
pattern.
• Sometimes called -3-dB
beamwidth or half-power
beamwidth.
• Antenna gain is inversely
proportional to beamwidth.
Antenna Bandwidth
• The bandwidth of the antenna refers to the range of frequencies over which the
antenna can operate correctly.
• It is the difference between the half-power frequencies but sometimes refers to
variations in the antenna’s input impedance.
• The antenna bandwidth is particularly important where radio transmitters are
concerned as damage may occur to the transmitter if the antenna is operated outside
its operating range and the radio transmitter is not adequately protected.
• Expressed as a percentage of the antenna’s optimum frequency of operation.
𝐹𝐻 −𝐹𝐿
• 𝐵𝑊 = × 100
𝐹𝑐
Where 𝐹𝐻 - highest frequency
𝐹𝐿 - lowest frequency
𝐹𝐶 - center frequency