Dipole Antenna: Design, Working, Application, and Types

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Dipole Antenna Design, Working, Application, and
Types
The antenna is a device that helps to send and
receive signals to represent data. Germans
invented the first antenna in 1888. This antenna
was used for wireless communication. As time
passed, different kinds of antennas were invented
based on aperture, reflector, aperture, log
periodic, and wire. In this blog, we will talk
about a Dipole Antenna, its design, application,
working, and various types. We will also discuss
many other things related to a dipole antenna
and how it works in different applications.
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What is Dipole Antenna? Dipole antenna is also
known as dipole aerial or doublet. It is a kind
of Radio Frequency antenna containing 2
conductive elements namely rides or wires. It is
an antenna that generates a radiation pattern
similar to an elementary electric dipole. Dipole
antennas are very common kinds of antennas used
in various applications. They are simple to use
for everyone. The term dipole means Two poles
and it contains two similar elements like wire
or rods. The length of a metal wire is about
half of the maximum wavelength. In the center of
the dipole antenna, the conductive materials are
separated via an insulator known as an antenna
section. The RF voltage source is provided in the
center of the antenna. Then the voltage and
current passing through these 2 conductive
elements produce electromagnetic or radio
signals. These signals are then sent outside the
antenna. The voltage in the center of the dipole
antenna is minimum while the current is maximum.
On the other hand, the current is minimum and the
voltage is maximum at both ends of the
antenna. Dipole Antenna Design After discussing
the dipole antenna in the above section, we will
further discuss the design of a dipole antenna.
This antenna mainly includes 2 conductive
elements such as wires and rods. It may also
contain a wire where the feeder at both
the center and radiating sections are on one
side. In a log periodic dipole antenna, the
length of a metal wire is half of the highest
wavelength. The conductive element in a Military
Dipole Antenna is divided in the middle into 2
sections via an insulator known as an antenna
section. These sections are connected to a
feeder or coaxial cable in the center of an
antenna. The radiating element length depends on
various factors of an antenna such as feed
impedance, center operating frequency, and so on.
In the case of a dipole antenna, the length is
the most important factor.
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Dipole Antenna Transmitter The dipole antenna
produces the radio waves in the transmitter
section. The voltage at a particular frequency
is provided to the antenna. The voltage will
pass through the various elements of the antenna
and the current flow will produce magnetic and
electric waves. In an antenna, the transmitter is
the main element that is made with a conductor.
The conductor takes an electric current where the
intensity of the current will change into RF
radiations that travel in space. Dipole Antenna
Receiver In the receiver section of the dipole
antenna, the electromagnetic waves
passing through the antenna will produce a little
voltage. This voltage makes the antenna a source
of signal for the receivers input. The receiver
of a dipole antenna works opposite to that of a
transmitter. It gets RF radiation and converts
in into electric currents in an electric circuit
that is connected to the antenna. How Does the
Dipole Antenna Work? RF voltage source is applied
to the center of the 2 sections of a dipole
antenna. The flow of voltage and current through
the two conductive elements can produce radio or
electromagnetic waves that radiate outside the
antenna. Voltage is minimum and the current is
maximum in the center of the dipole antenna.
Contrary to that, the voltage is maximum and
current is minimum at both the ends of the
antenna. Different Types of Dipole Antenna The
different Types of Dipole antenna depends on
different factors. Let us have a look at the
various types of a dipole antenna 1. Folded
Dipole Antenna Collection of a two-dipole antenna
that is connected separately to make a thin wire
loop is called as a folded dipole antenna. This
antenna is folded back and contains 2 half-wave
dipoles where one dipole is continuous and the
other is divided in the
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• middle of antenna. These dipoles are folded and
  connected in parallel at the two ends.
• The radiation pattern of a folded dipole antenna
  is similar to a normal dipole except few things.
  This antenna has higher input impedance and
  bi-directional directivity. Normally, a folded
  dipole antenna comes in 2 types namely two-wire
  and three-wire.
• FM Dipole Antenna
• FM dipole antenna is easy to use and it is
  available at low cost. These antennas are
• perfect in the roof space in an internal FM
  antenna. FM dipole antennas can be used after
  using a temporary antenna. They are half-wave
  half dipole vertically polarized antennas which
  are used often to offer better reception of VHF
  FM broadcast. These dipole antennas are used for
  FM broadcasting where the frequency ranges
  between 88 MHz and 108 MHz.
• Fan Dipole Antenna
• Fan dipole antenna is a multi-band wire antenna
  and has a simple design. It
• contains numerous dipole antennas that share a
  similar coaxial feed line. Some nearby elements
  in an antenna can interfere with each other and
  are tightly held. Mechanical design of an
  antenna is not critical as it can be arranged as
  an inverted V shape in a horizontal manner.
• Half-wave dipole antenna
• In this dipole antenna, the length of a dipole is
  half the wavelength at the operating
• frequency. It has a simple resonance structure as
  compared to other antennas. Half-wave dipole
  antenna has an operating frequency between 3 kHz
  and 300 GHz. This antenna is lightweight and
  cost-effective.
• Final Words
• This is all about a dipole antenna, its design,
  working and various types. A Military Coaxial
  Dipole Antenna is used in radio and
  telecommunications for transmitting and
  receiving signals. These antennas are widely used
  in TV and radio receivers.