20 to 1000 MHz ANTENNAS DEVELOPED BY ROBERTS

In 1957, Ii. K. Roberts, who was then a member of the staff of the
PVC Laboratory, measured the voltage standing-wave ratio of the dipole
antennas supplied with certain commercial models of field strength
meters. Re found that the VSWR values were high enough to lead to some
uncertainties in the calibrations of these instruments * This was
because the measuring sets also had high VSWR's on their most sensi
tive ranges; the coibination of mismatches at both ends of the anten
na transmission line would cause the indicated field strength to vary
cyclically with varying frequency. The scale factor of the cyclic
variation would depend upon the precise length of the cable.
Also in 1957, Roberts developed a wide-band balun suitable for matching
the 70-ohm dipole impedance at resonance to the 50-ohm line in
pedance which is common in U. S. field strength meters and spectrum
analyzers. The word "balun" also indicates that the device is a trans
former between the balanced Impedance of the dipole and the unbalanced
impedance of the line. A paper describing the operation of the new
balun was published: "A New Wide_Band Balun," by Willmar K. Roberts,
Proceedings of the IRE, December, 1957, page 1628.

Construction details of the new balun are given in Figures 7 and 8

Figure 8 also shows the equipuent setup for measuring the loss of
a balun by measurement of the loss of a pair of identical units.
The voltage standing-wave ratio and attenuation of a typical balun
of this type are shown in Figune 9 * There are small losses in the
coaxial, cables used in the balun, such that the loss of a typical unit
averages about 0.25 dB. This small loss also flattens the curve of
VSWR, which should be close to 1.0 near 90 and 180 MHz, but which
should theoretically approach 1.4 near 135 MHz.
Because of the good performance and simple construction, this bal-un
design has been widely used by the FCC, and the construction details
have been made available to interested persons * The balun can be des
cribed as a comDensated balun, in which the wide bandwidth is a result
of nearly perfect compinsation of the impedance of the balun arms at
two frequencies by the impedance of the open-ended stub in the upper
transmission line of the balun. The design impedance is 50 ohms.
In 1965, Roberts developed an extra-wide-band version of the balun by
placing a spacer between the balun arms. Proper compensation would
require a non-standard low value of characteristic impedance for the
impedance-compensating stub. Instead, c ompensati on was achieved by
a series L - C circuit, in which the inductance is that of the leads
of the capacitor. Some adjustment of the inductance is necessary to
obtain proper operation at the high end of the frequency range.
Figure 10 flves the details of this balun, which is also widely used
by the Commission. This balun also has a design impedance of 50 ohms.

73
 Very short lead to dipole rod
Center c
C by drifl
center c
of hole.

solder

1/8"

0 Insulation s
bare win wr
soldered to

Cable materiel: P43-58/U Lace cables together with Lacing cord

Frequency range Length C Length 0

Mnsberti inches IncS
20 - 65 43.3 43.3
- 180 14.2 16.zj
180 - 400 6.125 7.5
400 - 1000 2.7 3.0

no - 450 5.5 6.625

Figure7. CONSTRUCTION OF BALUNS ThR FIElD STREMITE MEASURING DIPOlE AZITENNAS, AS. DEVE
 Ic I
<I
`I
K
I
ç Housing for Baiw bakelite tube, 5/8" inside dia
I, F -

n.--
Oti.
set sorew

k
- d
Phenolic tube Bran end cap

Bakelit. block,
with threaded bran inserts
.z4 wiring access hole
-Notch for use Of The threaded ends of dipole rods
- mis fit into the brass ins.rts
for dipole length

A - 50-o
Balun No, 1 Balun No. 2

Ieasureaent of attenuation of balun. ?wo identical baluns are us

should be revers.d, and the attenuation of the anrage of the two
considered to be twice the attenuation of a single balun.

&Thr2n2t1 W13 I. Roberts, "A New Wide-Band balun," Proceedi

Decesber, 1957, page 16z8.

Figure 8. HOUSING PtR BALUN, AND MEASUREMENT OF ATTENUATION OF SAWN, AS DEVELOWD B!

 2.5 -

-h---4
f-Ht'
-
-- LF----------
L-__ --

IIHSJITHI2 -
4-
- L -H'-
H-H--'-
L LL H- --`------`-----`-

H -

2.0

:t 4 --i-fl
!J1]:j

V,S.W.R
H
- -tH theoretical
` -- .ti 4j-L -
±L!

1.5
4! - -
±LL
tir - - -- Ii
liE-H -
LiH1i H. ,i -i
--------- -
-

II! [ I ---- 4
iH I
H- :I1pT - --
-

1.0 `-4-'-'-- 4 I

H H t4 - I -- JIliIIIII I-ft
`t L -t
3.0
-
H

i 44
-H-HL'-----
:-- r--ttt b t

±:i: J!41 -i---_-_-- I I4-4l- --4I LI

`U
TIflt]I - H JtI -

1
sTtT
-_1i
-``-`-- -

2.0

Loss,
dB
if 11± :`:F if f-# iti4
1.0 Wb1i - --`--I--

l
-

- -H-' -- - -
--

I!
`1 ----1 It

- !

-
0.0
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
Frequency in Megahertz

Figure 9. Voltage standing-wave ratio and loss of typical. Roberts balun.

VSWR relative to 50 ohms was measured with a 70-ohm resistor
connected to balanced end. Loss was measured as one-half the
loss of identical baLms connected together at their balanced
ends.
76
C

RI-SB/U cable

To coaxial connector

Notches in spacer for lacing cord C = 51 pF capacitor, mic

with leads 1_i/S inch lo
leads formed into one-tu
This balun assembly is intended to fit inside loops.
a bakelite tube with inside diameter of 5/8"
Lacing a

Figure 10. CONSTRUCTION OF EXTRA-WIDE-BAND BALUN 50 -220 MHz

Designed for the FCC by W. K. Roberts, built by Glenn
 2.5 TTTTr

L iL TflTT
-F 4 -k -4
F F

-:
_t tli- I
I
f4-L
44 .1-
-

ftH t
-
F
2.0 -
I -j L -
F
V.3 .W.R U 1 di: HF.-

1.5
-±
I ii
-j theoretical] f
:T: kT I:
:1 r1
tT
t1S -

1.0
* t 44 i it di± :Th': L
- - I
- - j JI

- +-1i- II! -
k--4- 1J**-_IJnJ_ 4-k{-1 -----Hk
- 4 j -
-`
- I - - J
3.0 - ] i!
Ill I !I!FF!

- * - .4 -2- J 4-i-+4 4 - --
-, -
-J--± H+4

2.0 -
I - I_I

I
± ii41t:43u:tJrjH
-
!Jjj44L1I
*IrI!FII
2
I! il__il
-
-4_.4**4_-4-4
IJI__.
-
+

4_
-
!
IIIIIIIL

±--
- r - - r
Loss, F -
Ii4J_IF_J_Ij44i4Fi4
4 I I - I -l
- --
dB -
- -:
iIl4
- :1

]]L1
iT
-1I- -I-I-j-I

1.0 :±LF±r± it :lL

0.0
0 50 1.00 150 200 250

Figure Ii. Voltage standing-wave ratio and loss of Roberts extra-wide-

band bj].un. VSWR relative to 50 ohms was measured with a
70-ohm resistor connected to balanced end. Loss was
measured as. one-half the loss of identical baluns connected
together at their balanced ends.

78
 ANTENNA PACTOR CALCULATION

This section deals with the calculation of antenna factor for field
strength measurements * In general:

Field strength = Received voltage + Antenna factor

dB above 1 uV/meter da above 1 uV dB per meter

The receiving area of an antenna is defined by:

A = 0 square meters
4ir
The power received by the antenna then:
PG.'
PA = watts
when: P = power density is watts per square meter
G = antenna gain power gain over isotropic
X = wavelength in meters

But the field strength E is related to the power density by:

volts per meter

Combining the previous two equations, we have:

r watts
J2

The received power is given by:

7-
r , watts

where: V = received voltage

receiver input impedance
Then:
V2 = EGA
480rrt
But: = 300 meters ner second

herefore: S = 4 f = frequency, 14Hz

But the antenna factor J a .1.. then: I = f.f_./ Z0G

Or, in logarithmic form: I a 20 log f NEz - 0 dB - 29.78 dE
for Z0 = 50 ohms

79
 ANTENNA FACTOR CALCULATION, cont'd.

Example of antenna factor calculation for a 50-ohm measuring system:

Let V = 96 microvolts = ÷39.6 dBuV the received voltage
= 102.5 24Hz
G = +1.5 42 the antenna gain over isotropic

Then:
K = 20 log 1' Mhz - 0 42 - 29.78 42
K = Li0.z14 - 1.5 - 29.78
K = 8.934 dB

But: E dBuV/meter = V dBuV + K 42

E = +39.6 + 8.934 = Le8.534 dB above 1 uV/meter
E = 267 microvolts per meter

This logarithmic calculation is usually most convenient, because max

incdern field strength meters have indications calibrated in 42 above
one microvolt, and their fuinished antenna factors are in 82.

CALCULATION CF FIELD STRENGTH WHEN THE MEASURING SET IS CALIBRATED

IN DBN RATHER THAN IN 12 ABOVE 1 MICROVOLT

At microwave frequencies, and smetimes at lower frequencies, the

signal levels are often calibrated in dEm decibels relative to 1.
milliwatt. Foflowing a similar derivation, the preceding formulas
lead to:
K t;4 1'3i
volts per meter, MHz, watts

and E20logf+77.2l3aG+P
dBuV/m MH, 42 aS dBm
Examole: f = 10,525 MHz, U = 15.2 82 P,= -30.5 dEm:
E = 80.444 + 77.213 - 15.2 -30.5
S = 111.95 42 above 1 uV/meter = 0.396 volts/meter

80
 ANTENNA FACTOR OF A HALF-WAVE RESONANT DILE ANTENNA

A half-wave resonant dipole antenna. has a directional pattern shaped

like a figure 8. Its impedance at resonance is of the order of 70
ohms, resistive. The theoretical thin dipole's resistance is slight
ly over 73 ohms. The theoretical power gain of the thin resonant
dipole is 1.64, which corresponds to 2.15 dB over a theoretical iso
tropic antenna. The power gain of an actual dipole is very close to
the same value, because gain is related to pattern shape, and the
pattern of the real, antenna is practically the sane as the pattern of
the theoretical dipole.

Losses in the antenna itself are practically negligible. Mismatch loss

is also negligible if a balun having excellent impedance-matching
characteristics is used. However, allowances should be made for balun
loss and for loss in the transmission line leading from the balun to
the field strength meter or spectrum analyzer. It is assumed here
that the measuring set's input impedance is designed for the impedance
of the transmission line.
Referring to the formula for antenna factor for any antenna, derived
in the preceding section entitled "Antenna Factor Calculation," we
have:

Antenna Factor = 20 log10

``xiiz - G -
any antenna
50-ohm system
This formula may now be adjusted for the gain of a dipole, and for
balun loss and cable loss as follows:

Antenna Factor 20 log10 f - 2.15 + B + C - 29.78 dB

Z
half-wave dipole
50-ohm system
or:

Antenna Factor
half-wave dipole = 20 log10 + B + C - 31.93 dB
50-ohm system MHz

where B = balun loss, dE at frequency f

C = cable loss, dB at frequency f

81.