Course detail

Design of Antennas and Radio Links

FEKT-MASVAcad. year: 2015/2016

The subject is focused on the explanation of basic principles of the antenna theory and radio wave propagation, and their exploitation for antenna and radio links design. Students will practice their knowledge on the design, manufacturing and measuring of a given antenna, and on the design of selected radio links in a real environment.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

7

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

The graduate is able to:
- explain a principle of the operation and describe basic steps of a design procedure of selected types of linear antennas (dipole, monopole, folded dipole, log-periodic antenna, Yagi antenna);
- explain a principle of the operation and describe basic steps of a design procedure of linearly and circularly polarized microstrip patch antennas;
- explain a principle of the operation and describe basic steps of a design procedure of horn, reflector, and slot antennas;
- explain basic principles of antenna bandwidth increasing;
- explain principles of antennas with an extremely wide band of operation;
- explain basic principles of antenna modeling;
- specify, for a desired frequency band, a dominant mechanism of propagation, appropriate types of antennas, and typical services of operation;
- describe principles of radio wave propagation close to the Earth’s surface;
- describe basic steps of a radio link design;
- describe computation of electric field intensity in a real terrain;
- describe exploitation of propagation curves for the determination of electric field intensity;
- explain principles of wave propagation and modeling in the area of mobile communication, and explain deterministic, empirical and semi-empirical propagation model;
- describe a principle of an empirical model creation;
- describe influence of atmosphere on radio links;
- explain „digital microwave link“, specify its pros and cons, explain quality criterions and basic steps of digital microwave link design.

Prerequisites

Students who enroll the course should be able to:
- compute with complex numbers;
- apply fundamental principles of integral and differential calculus;
- explain fundamental principles of electromagnetic field theory (Maxwell’s equations, elementary radiation sources, propagation of plane and spherical wave, propagation of a wave along transmission line).

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Techning methods include lectures, computer laboratories and practical laboratories. Course is taking advantage of e-learning (Moodle) system. Students have to write two projects/assignments during the course.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

A test written during semester (10 points), laboratory exercises (15 points), two individual projects (30 points), final exam (24 points written part + 21 points oral part=totally 45 points).

Course curriculum

1. Antenna basics, antenna analysis.
2. Electromagnetic wave radiation, linear antenna theory.
3. Radiation of antenna arrays, linear antennas for selected frequency bands.
4. Microstrip antennas.
5. Horn antennas, reflector antennas.
6. Slot antennas and wideband antennas.
7. Antennas for special applications, antenna auxiliary circuits.
8. Materials for antenna technique, structure and fabrication of antennas, antenna measurement.
9. Radiocommunication services, exploitation of radio spectrum, conditions of radiocommunication, basic concept of radio links design.
10. Propagation of radio waves close to Earth surface, space and surface wave.
11. Mobile radio communication, propagation models for macrocells, microcells, and picocells, indoor radiowave propagation.
12. Influence of atmosphere on radio links
13. Microwave links.

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The subject is aimed to present basic antenna types, their applications and technical design, and further principles of radio links design.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Evaluation of activities is specified by a regulation, which is issued by the lecturer responsible for the course annually.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

ČERNOHORSKÝ,D. a NOVÁČEK,Z.: Antény a šíření rádiových vln. Přednášky. Skriptum FEKT VUT Brno, Brno 2001 (CS)
ČERNOHORSKÝ,D. a NOVÁČEK,Z. Navrhování rádiových spojů. Skriptum FE VUT Brno, Brno 1992. (CS)

Recommended reading

BALANIS, C., A., Antenna Theory: Analysis and Design, 3rd Edition, John Wiley and Sons, New Jersey, 2005. (EN)

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme EEKR-M Master's

    branch M-EST , 1. year of study, summer semester, optional specialized

  • Programme EEKR-M1 Master's

    branch M1-EST , 1. year of study, summer semester, optional specialized

  • Programme EEKR-CZV lifelong learning

    branch ET-CZV , 1. year of study, summer semester, optional specialized

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

39 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

Current distribution on linear antennas, aperture illumination
Antenna array pattern, its optimization and synthesis
Impedance of linear antennas and of antenna arrays. Losses and efficiency of antenna
Radio waves reception, receiving antennas, polarization, antenna parameters
Propagation along the earth surface. Surface- and space-waves, obstacle losses
Ionospheric propagation, design of ionospheric link and operational frequency
Tropospheric scattering communication,atmospheric losses, properties of microwave links
Calculation of field strength and reliability, conditions of radio communication
Broadcast antennas for LW and MW, short-wave antennas
Antennas for UHF band, matching and balancing
Microwave antennas. Extremely wideband antennas
Signal processing antennas, adaptive antennas
Electronic scanning, near-field measurement

Exercise in computer lab

26 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

Antenna array pattern
Input impedance of antennas and of antenna arrays
Losses and efficiency of antenna. Antenna parameters
Design of antenna array, matching
Propagation of surface- and space-wave, obstacle losses
Sky-wave propagation, sky-wave link design
Radio wave reception, radio link design

Laboratory exercise

13 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

Radiation pattern and input impedance of UHF antennas
Field strength of broadcast and TV transmitters
Properties of signal with fading
Current distribution on linear antennas
Properties of ferrite antenna
Splitters and balancing circuits
Radiation pattern and impedance of microwave antennas
Polarization properties of antenna