Everything You Need to Know About Dipole Antennas

The antenna is the device that is used for communication with various gadgets. The antenna was invested in the year 1888 by the Germans. They used Antennae for wireless communication in various devices. Later, the antenna arrived in various types based on factors such as reflector, traveling wave, wire, log periodic, microchip, aperture, and lens.

In this article, we will discuss Dipole Antenna, its design, how it works, its benefits, and various other things related to an antenna. We will also discuss the purposes for which dipole antennas are widely used.

Meaning of Dipole Antenna

First of all, it is necessary to know the meaning of a Dipole antenna. It is a kind of RF antenna that contains 2 conductive elements such as rods or wire. In this antenna, the length of a metal wire is half of the highest wavelength in free space at the frequency operation.

The conductive materials in the middle of the antenna are separated using an insulator. This insulator is called an antenna section. The RF voltage source is given in the center of the antenna. The voltage and current in the two conductive elements produce electromagnetic signals. These signals are radiated outside the antenna.

In the center of the dipole antenna, the voltage is minimum and the current is maximum. On the other hand, the current is minimum and the voltage is maximum on both ends of a dipole antenna.

Design of a Dipole Antenna

Now, we will discuss the design of the High Gain Military Coaxial Dipole Antenna. This antenna contains 2 conductive elements like rods and wires. Some antennas also contain wires where the radiating sections or the feeder centers are on one side. In a dipole antenna, the length of a metal wire is half of the highest wavelength in free space at the frequency of operation.

In this antenna, the conductive element is divided in the center into 2 sections with the help of an insulator. This section is called an antenna section. These sections are connected to a coaxial cable in the center area of the antenna.

The various factors that determine the radiating element length are feed impedance, center operating frequency, and so on.

Two Sections of Dipole Antenna

A Military Dipole Antenna has two sections namely transmitter and receiver. Now, let us discuss both sections in detail:

1. Dipole Antenna Transmitter Section

The transmitter is the section in which the dipole antenna produces the radio waves. A voltage is supplied to the antenna at the required frequency. This voltage will create electric and magnetic waves by combining with the current flow.

The transmitter is the main element in an antenna that is created with the help of a conductor. The conductor will carry an electric current wherein the current intensity will fluctuate and get converted into RF radiation that travels in space.

2. Antenna Receiver Section

A Military Coaxial Dipole Antenna has a receiver section. At the section, the electromagnetic waves flowing over the diploe antenna will produce little voltage. The input of the receiver will use the antenna as a source of signal.

The receiver works opposite to that of a transmitter. It gets RF radiation and converts it into electric currents in an electric circuit that is connected to an antenna.

How Does Antenna Work?

In this section, we will discuss how a VHF Military Coaxial Dipole Antenna works. As soon as an RF voltage source is provided to the center of the two sections of an antenna, the flow of current and voltage produces radio waves or electromagnetic signals that radiate outside an antenna.

In the center of the antenna, the current is maximum and the voltage is minimum. At the ends of the antenna, the voltage is maximum and the current is minimum.

Types of Dipole antenna

We will further discuss the various types of a dipole antenna in this section:

1. Folded dipole antenna

When two dipole antennas are connected separately to create a thin wire loop, they are called folded dipole antennas. This antenna is folded back and contains 2 half-wave dipoles where one is continuous and the other dipole is divided in the middle section.

2. Half-wave dipole antenna

This is a half wave dipole antenna in which the length of a dipole is half the wavelength at the operating frequency. This antenna is also known as the Hertz antenna. It has a simple resonance structure, unlike other types of antennas. Half-wave dipole antennas work at a frequency band between 3 KHz and 300 GHz.

3. FM dipole antenna

FM dipole antenna is a kind of half-wave half dipole vertically polarized antenna that is used to give better performance of VHF FM broadcast. It is widely used for FM broadcasting and works at a frequency range between 88 MHz and 108 MHz.

Final Words

Dipole Antenna is easy to install and use in various applications. It is mainly used in radio and telecommunications. This is all about a dipole antenna that you must know. At Antenna Experts, we offer wide range of custom dipole antenna which includes vhf dipole antenna and vhf dipole antenna.