How Antennas Work

Antennas are effectively transducers converting the electrical energy into electromagnetic waveforms between sending and receiving devices.

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Isotropic Antennas

The basis of antenna design and gain is the theoretical isotropic antenna which radiates in a three dimensional spherical pattern (see below).

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Dipole Antennas and Polarization

Dipole antennas are manufactured with an active conductor (referred to as a radiator) equal to ½ the wavelength of the design frequency. The effect of the 1/2 wavelength design is to distort the RF power envelope direction to the horizontal plane (ie there is more power radiated to the sides than up and down).

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Collinear Antennas and Polarization
By design, the horizontal radiation pattern can be extended further by connecting multiple dipole elements together.

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Yagi Antennas and Polarization

The forward direction of the radiated waveform can be further increased by adding reflector elements which act to focus the waveform in a forward direction (with the consequence that the back and side lobes are reduced).

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Other Antenna Types

The previous antennas centered on distance communications but not all wireless communications involve longer communications links (eg replacement of slip-rings on a rotating kiln).

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