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Poynting Antennas (Pty) Ltd
13 April 2016 AntennaParameters Part 3 - Input Impedance and VSWR Page 1
ON THE PROPERTIES OF AN ANTENNA
This is part of an internal document that that gives an overview of the properties of
antennas for non-engineers.
We have divided the document into different posts where we discus each of the
parameters:
- Frequency bands, gain and radiation pattern
- Polarisation
- Input Impedance and VSWR
- Port to port Isolation and Cross-polarisation
- Power Handling ability
- Antenna “Specmanship”
Where applicable we have added some videos explaining the properties discussed. You
will find a link to a PDF below.
Introduction
An antenna is a device that converts energy from one form to another. When used in
transmit mode, currents in the coaxial cable (feeding the antenna) flow into the antenna
and the energy is converted to electromagnetic radiation which propagates into space.
When an antenna is used in receive mode, electromagnetic radiation interacts with the
antenna inducing currents into its components. These currents flow along the coaxial
cable connected to the antenna to a receiver.
In some ways the antenna is analogous to a speaker in a sound system. A speaker
converts electrical energy (from the wires powering the speaker) into sound energy which
we can detect using our ears. When operated in the opposite mode a microphone is
created. This device detects sound wave and converts them to electrical energy. An
antenna works with electromagnetic radiation and electric currents rather than sound and
electric currents.
An antenna is described by a number of attributes including frequency bands of
operation, gain, radiation pattern, polarisation, VSWR, input impedance, coupling, power
handling ability and so on.
This document describes each of these parameters.
1. Frequency bands of operation
See part 1
2. Gain and radiation pattern
See part 1
3. Polarisation
See part 2
Poynting Antennas (Pty) Ltd
13 April 2016 AntennaParameters Part 3 - Input Impedance and VSWR Page 2
4. Input Impedance and VSWR
The input impedance of an antenna per se is not usually reported directly in the brochure;
rather the antenna’s nominal impedance and its VSWR are given. The nominal
impedance is the impedance for which the antenna is (ideally) designed and the VSWR
can be “seen” as the antenna’s deviation from this value.
The VSWR (voltage standing wave ratio) is a parameter that is derived from the
antenna’s input impedance and the reported nominal impedance. One can view the
VSWR as “how far” the antennas input impedance is from the nominal impedance. If the
VSWR at a particular frequency is given as 1:1, then you can deduce that the antenna
input impedance is equal to the nominal impedance. The higher the VSWR the further the
antenna input impedance is from the nominal impedance. An example of a VSWR graph
for a 430 MHz antenna is given in Figure 1.
Figure 1: An example of a VSWR graph
4.1. So what?
What relevance does the VSWR of an antenna have? Is it important?
It was mentioned earlier that the nominal impedance is the design target for the antenna
impedance. The electronics to which the antenna is to be attached has an input-impedance
equal to the nominal impedance. Ideally the antenna impedance and the electronic input-
impedance should be equal. If they are not, then some of the RF power is lost in the
system – it is actually reflected back to transmitter.
The graphs in Figure 2 show the power that is lost (reflected back to the transmitter) due
to an impedance mismatch between the antenna and the electronics. The mismatch in
impedance is given in the form of VSWR. Both graphs show the same data, but in
different units. The graph on the left shows the power lost in dB whilst the graph on the
right give the power lost as a percentage of input power.
Poynting Antennas (Pty) Ltd
13 April 2016 AntennaParameters Part 3 - Input Impedance and VSWR Page 3
Figure 2: Power lost due to VSWR (mismatch loss)
As an example, a VSWR of 6:1 corresponds to a loss of 3 dB (left graph) or 50% of the
input power (right graph). Similarly a VSWR of 3:1 corresponds to a loss of 1.25dB or
25% of the input power. At first this might sound like a ludicrously large amount of
power to waste and that a VSWR of 3:1 should be totally unacceptable. After all, how
can one just waste 25% of the input power? Let us examine this question by analysing the
losses in a typical radio link.
Radio frequency power is lost in many parts of a radio link. In order to get some idea of
the magnitude of these losses let us consider a 1km link operating at 2.4 GHz with a 500
mW transmitter at one and a receiver at the other end. Both transmitter and receiver have
5 dBi antennas. The table below gives a breakdown of the power lost at each stage of the
link and the power left for communicating data (in mW and dBm).
Power
lost (dB)
Power lost (%) Power left for
communicating (mW)
Power left
(dBm)
Transmitter 500 27
Connector 0.2 4.5 477.5 26.8
Cable (connecting transmitter
to antenna)
2 36.9 301 24.8
Antenna VSWR (3:1) 1.25 25 226 23.55
Transmit antenna gain (5) (316) 714 28.55
Power radiated into space 714 28.55
Power lost over 1km 100 99.999999989999992 0.000000071400085177 -71.45
Receiver antenna gain (5) (316) 0.000000225624269159 -66.45
Cable (connecting receiver to
antenna)
2 36.9 0.000000083255355319 -68.45
Power received 0.000000083255355319 -68.45
In the above analysis we transmitted 27 dBm and received -68 dBm. The minimum signal
strength that a typical Wi-Fi unit can successfully use for communication is about -100
dBm; so a signal strength of -68 dBm is good!
Also note that most of the power is lost in the space between the transmitter and receiver
(71 dB of the power radiated into space was lost or 99.999999989999992%). So, losing
25% (1.25 dB) of the power due to a VSWR of 3:1 is really small change and not a
substantial loss at all.
Poynting Antennas (Pty) Ltd
13 April 2016 AntennaParameters Part 3 - Input Impedance and VSWR Page 4
4.2. So why even report VSWR?
A low VSWR is important in some technologies that make use of antennas, for example,
RFID (radio frequency identification). RFID works in the following manner. A RFID
reader transmits a signal towards a RFID tag. This signal is used to energise the RFID
chip. The chip then changes the load on the antenna in a predefined fashion such that
some of the incident signal is reflected back to the RFID reader (in a well-defined
pattern). The RFID reader receives this scattered signal (while it is still transmitting) and
uses it to ‘read the tag’. If the reader antenna has an unacceptable VSWR, then the signal
reflected back to the transmitter by the reader antenna will drown out the signal scattered
by the tag and the system will not work.
Jamming systems use antennas to transmit high power jamming signals towards a target.
If the antenna has a VSWR of, say, 3:1, then 25% of the power is reflected back to the
output stage amplifier. This reflected signal may have enough power to damage the
transmitting amplifier. Such a problem does not occur in low power applications like Wi-
Fi as the transmitter can easily handle these reflected powers. GSM base stations on the
other hand do need well matched antennas.
Good VSWR characteristics are still desirable in RF applications (such as Wi-Fi, GSM
handsets, alarm systems etc.,) as they give a good indication of the quality of the design
of the antenna – but VSWR on its own is not enough to discredit or condone an antenna.

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Antenna parameters part 3 - Input impedance and VSWR

  • 1. Poynting Antennas (Pty) Ltd 13 April 2016 AntennaParameters Part 3 - Input Impedance and VSWR Page 1 ON THE PROPERTIES OF AN ANTENNA This is part of an internal document that that gives an overview of the properties of antennas for non-engineers. We have divided the document into different posts where we discus each of the parameters: - Frequency bands, gain and radiation pattern - Polarisation - Input Impedance and VSWR - Port to port Isolation and Cross-polarisation - Power Handling ability - Antenna “Specmanship” Where applicable we have added some videos explaining the properties discussed. You will find a link to a PDF below. Introduction An antenna is a device that converts energy from one form to another. When used in transmit mode, currents in the coaxial cable (feeding the antenna) flow into the antenna and the energy is converted to electromagnetic radiation which propagates into space. When an antenna is used in receive mode, electromagnetic radiation interacts with the antenna inducing currents into its components. These currents flow along the coaxial cable connected to the antenna to a receiver. In some ways the antenna is analogous to a speaker in a sound system. A speaker converts electrical energy (from the wires powering the speaker) into sound energy which we can detect using our ears. When operated in the opposite mode a microphone is created. This device detects sound wave and converts them to electrical energy. An antenna works with electromagnetic radiation and electric currents rather than sound and electric currents. An antenna is described by a number of attributes including frequency bands of operation, gain, radiation pattern, polarisation, VSWR, input impedance, coupling, power handling ability and so on. This document describes each of these parameters. 1. Frequency bands of operation See part 1 2. Gain and radiation pattern See part 1 3. Polarisation See part 2
  • 2. Poynting Antennas (Pty) Ltd 13 April 2016 AntennaParameters Part 3 - Input Impedance and VSWR Page 2 4. Input Impedance and VSWR The input impedance of an antenna per se is not usually reported directly in the brochure; rather the antenna’s nominal impedance and its VSWR are given. The nominal impedance is the impedance for which the antenna is (ideally) designed and the VSWR can be “seen” as the antenna’s deviation from this value. The VSWR (voltage standing wave ratio) is a parameter that is derived from the antenna’s input impedance and the reported nominal impedance. One can view the VSWR as “how far” the antennas input impedance is from the nominal impedance. If the VSWR at a particular frequency is given as 1:1, then you can deduce that the antenna input impedance is equal to the nominal impedance. The higher the VSWR the further the antenna input impedance is from the nominal impedance. An example of a VSWR graph for a 430 MHz antenna is given in Figure 1. Figure 1: An example of a VSWR graph 4.1. So what? What relevance does the VSWR of an antenna have? Is it important? It was mentioned earlier that the nominal impedance is the design target for the antenna impedance. The electronics to which the antenna is to be attached has an input-impedance equal to the nominal impedance. Ideally the antenna impedance and the electronic input- impedance should be equal. If they are not, then some of the RF power is lost in the system – it is actually reflected back to transmitter. The graphs in Figure 2 show the power that is lost (reflected back to the transmitter) due to an impedance mismatch between the antenna and the electronics. The mismatch in impedance is given in the form of VSWR. Both graphs show the same data, but in different units. The graph on the left shows the power lost in dB whilst the graph on the right give the power lost as a percentage of input power.
  • 3. Poynting Antennas (Pty) Ltd 13 April 2016 AntennaParameters Part 3 - Input Impedance and VSWR Page 3 Figure 2: Power lost due to VSWR (mismatch loss) As an example, a VSWR of 6:1 corresponds to a loss of 3 dB (left graph) or 50% of the input power (right graph). Similarly a VSWR of 3:1 corresponds to a loss of 1.25dB or 25% of the input power. At first this might sound like a ludicrously large amount of power to waste and that a VSWR of 3:1 should be totally unacceptable. After all, how can one just waste 25% of the input power? Let us examine this question by analysing the losses in a typical radio link. Radio frequency power is lost in many parts of a radio link. In order to get some idea of the magnitude of these losses let us consider a 1km link operating at 2.4 GHz with a 500 mW transmitter at one and a receiver at the other end. Both transmitter and receiver have 5 dBi antennas. The table below gives a breakdown of the power lost at each stage of the link and the power left for communicating data (in mW and dBm). Power lost (dB) Power lost (%) Power left for communicating (mW) Power left (dBm) Transmitter 500 27 Connector 0.2 4.5 477.5 26.8 Cable (connecting transmitter to antenna) 2 36.9 301 24.8 Antenna VSWR (3:1) 1.25 25 226 23.55 Transmit antenna gain (5) (316) 714 28.55 Power radiated into space 714 28.55 Power lost over 1km 100 99.999999989999992 0.000000071400085177 -71.45 Receiver antenna gain (5) (316) 0.000000225624269159 -66.45 Cable (connecting receiver to antenna) 2 36.9 0.000000083255355319 -68.45 Power received 0.000000083255355319 -68.45 In the above analysis we transmitted 27 dBm and received -68 dBm. The minimum signal strength that a typical Wi-Fi unit can successfully use for communication is about -100 dBm; so a signal strength of -68 dBm is good! Also note that most of the power is lost in the space between the transmitter and receiver (71 dB of the power radiated into space was lost or 99.999999989999992%). So, losing 25% (1.25 dB) of the power due to a VSWR of 3:1 is really small change and not a substantial loss at all.
  • 4. Poynting Antennas (Pty) Ltd 13 April 2016 AntennaParameters Part 3 - Input Impedance and VSWR Page 4 4.2. So why even report VSWR? A low VSWR is important in some technologies that make use of antennas, for example, RFID (radio frequency identification). RFID works in the following manner. A RFID reader transmits a signal towards a RFID tag. This signal is used to energise the RFID chip. The chip then changes the load on the antenna in a predefined fashion such that some of the incident signal is reflected back to the RFID reader (in a well-defined pattern). The RFID reader receives this scattered signal (while it is still transmitting) and uses it to ‘read the tag’. If the reader antenna has an unacceptable VSWR, then the signal reflected back to the transmitter by the reader antenna will drown out the signal scattered by the tag and the system will not work. Jamming systems use antennas to transmit high power jamming signals towards a target. If the antenna has a VSWR of, say, 3:1, then 25% of the power is reflected back to the output stage amplifier. This reflected signal may have enough power to damage the transmitting amplifier. Such a problem does not occur in low power applications like Wi- Fi as the transmitter can easily handle these reflected powers. GSM base stations on the other hand do need well matched antennas. Good VSWR characteristics are still desirable in RF applications (such as Wi-Fi, GSM handsets, alarm systems etc.,) as they give a good indication of the quality of the design of the antenna – but VSWR on its own is not enough to discredit or condone an antenna.