TRANSMISSION MEDIA

& ANTENNA SYSTEM

AND DESIGN

ENR. NICKMAR N. BALVEZ

Course Title: Transmission Media and Antenna System & Design (Communication 3)
Course code: ECE324
Course Description: Transmission media; radio wave propagation, wire and cable transmission systems; fiber-
optic transmission systems; transmission lines and antenna systems.
Prerequisite: ECE 334 (Communication 2)
Unit:
3 units (lec) = 3 hours lecture/week
1 unit (laboratory) = 3 hours laboratory/week

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Course content:
- Transmission Lines Circuits, losses and parameters
- Matching TL
- Smith Chart
- Radio Wave Propagation
1st Summative Test
- Power Density and Field Strength Calculations
- Antenna Systems
- Waveguides
- Fiber Optics
2nd Summative Test
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Learning Outcomes
LO1. Describe the types of transmission lines and calculate the line constants
LO2. Differentiate the types of radio wave propagation and be familiar with their
applications;
LO3. Understand the principle and characteristics of antennas, the different types as well
as the methodology in the design of each;
LO4. Be able to design and construct a wideband antenna (VHF and UHF).
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Course Requirements

Compilation of Laboratory Reports

Two (2) Major Examination
Compilation of all quizzes/activities

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REFERENCES
1. Frenzel, Louis E. Principles of Electronic Communication System. 4th Edition.
McGraw-Hill Education. 2016 ‘-
2. Carlson, Bruce A. and Crilly, Paul B. Communication Systems: An Introduction to
Signals and Noise in Electrical Communication. 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill.
3. Blake. Electronic Communication System. 2nd Edition.
4. Ziemer, Rodger E. and Tranter, William H. Principles of Communications: Systems,
Modulation and Noise. Wiley. 2015
5. Beasley, Jeffrey S.; Miller, Gary M.-Modern Electronic Communication (Pearson
custom library ninth edition). 2013
6. Other electronic communication reference materials

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LECTURE 1:
Transmission Lines ‘-

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Transmission Lines
Objectives
After completing this chapter, you will be able to:

■ Name the different types of transmission lines and list some specific applications of each.

■ Explain the circumstances under which transmission lines can

‘- be used as tuned circuits and
reactive components.

■ Define characteristic impedance and calculate the characteristic impedance of a transmission line
using several methods.

■ Compute the length of a transmission line in wavelengths.

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Transmission Media and Antenna System & Design
Transmission media; radio wave propagation wire and cable transmission systems; fiber-optic
transmission systems; transmission lines and antenna systems.

Transmission Lines
Definition: A metallic conductor system‘- that is used to guide or
transfer electrical energy from one point to another.

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Length of Transmission Line

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Transmission Lines
• A device designed to guide electrical energy from one point to another
• A conductive conductive connection between system elements that carry signal
power

Primary requirements of a transmission line:

• Minimum attenuation to the signal. ‘-
• Does not radiate any of the signal as radio energy.

How to achieve Maximum Power Transfer in Transmission-Lines

• Connect a balance line to a balance load
• Connect an unbalance line to unbalance load
• The load must be purely resistive
• The Zl=Zo
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 In a microwave communication
system, a transmission line guides
RF energy from the transmitter to
the antenna.

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Transmission Line
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Wavelength of Cables
The two-wire cables that carry 60-Hz power line signals into homes are transmission
lines, as are the wires connecting the audio output of stereo receivers to stereo speakers.

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Types of Transmission Lines
1. Parallel-wire or Balance Line – consist of two parallel conductors separated by an insulating
material. In parallel-wire line, both conductors carries a signal which is out-of-phase by 180o.

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Geometry
where:
Construction d = diameter of conductor
s = distance between the center of conductors

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Types of Transmission Lines
1. Parallel-wire or Balance Line
These are made of two parallel conductors separated by a space of 1/2 inch to
several inches

Example:
600 ohms- Open-wire line ‘-
300 ohms- Twin Lead

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Types of Transmission Lines
2. Co-axial or Unbalanced Line – consist of an inner (main) conductor surrounded by a concentric
conducting shield and is separated by an insulating material, called dielectric.

‘-

where:
d = diameter of inner (main) conductor
Construction D = inner diameter of outer conductor

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Types of Transmission Lines
3. Twisted-Pair Cable – Uses two insulated solid copper wires covered with insulation and loosely
twisted together.
Originally used in telephone wiring and is still used for today.
One of the most widely used type of wiring in local-area networks (LAN)

‘-

Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP)

Shielded Twisted Pair (STP)

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APPLICATION

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Example

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Common-Mode Rejection Ratio
The Common-Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR) is a measure of how well common-mode signals are attenuated
from the balanced port to the unbalanced port. This ratio is dependent on amplitude and phase unbalance. A
balun with better amplitude and phase balance will also exhibit enhanced CMRR. A generally accepted
guideline is that a 0.1 dB improvement in amplitude balance, or a 1 degree improvement in phase balance, will
enhance the CMRR of a balun by roughly 1 dB.

A balun, short for "balanced to

unbalanced" (though now often called "balancing
unit"), is a device in a transmission line that serves ‘-
two main purposes:

Converting between balanced and unbalanced

lines:

Baluns can convert between these two types,

allowing you to connect equipment with different
types of lines. For instance, you might use a balun
to connect a balanced dipole antenna to an
unbalanced coaxial cable feeder.
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Characteristics of a line is determined by its
primary electrical constants or distributed
parameters: R (Ω/m), L (H/m), C (F/m), and
G (S/m).
• Characteristic impedance, Zo, is defined as
the input impedance of an infinite line or
that of a finite line terminated with a load
impedance, ZL = Zo. ‘-

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Characteristic Impedance or Surge Impedance, ZO
It is the impedance measured at the input of a transmission line when its length is
infinite. Under this condition, the type of termination at the far end has no effect. The
equation for the calculation of the Characteristic Impedance is;

‘-
At audio frequency, f = 0 Hz, the reactance and susceptance
component,𝑗𝜔𝐿 and 𝑗𝜔𝐶, respectively, are both zero, thus; The resistance, R, conductance,
Zo = 𝑅/𝐺 , Ω G, inductance, L, and
capacitance, C, are all measured
While at radio frequency, f = ∞ Hz, the reactance and as a function of the unit length of
susceptance are significantly bigger than the resistance and the transmission line. That is, R
conductance component, R and G, respectively, thus; in Ohm(Ω)/meter, G in Siemens
(S)/meter, L in Henry(H)/meter,
Zo = 𝐿/𝐶 ,Ω and C in Farad(F)/meter.
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Characteristic Impedance or Surge Impedance, ZO

Find the characteristic impedance Zo of the lossless transmission

line whose unit length of inductance L = 25 x 10^-3 Henry & unit
length of capacitance C = 15 x 10^-4 farads.

Solution:
‘-
𝐿
𝑍𝑜 =
𝐶
25𝑋10−3
=
15𝑋10−4
𝑍𝑜 = 4.082Ω
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Characteristic Impedance or Surge Impedance, ZO
Physically, the Characteristic Impedance can be determined by the
geometry, size, spacing of the conductors, and the dielectric constant of
the insulator.

For a parallel-wire line with air insulation, the characteristic

For parallel wire line, impedance may be calculated as such:
‘-

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Characteristic Impedance or Surge Impedance, ZO
Physically, the Characteristic Impedance can be determined by the
geometry, size, spacing of the conductors, and the dielectric constant of
the insulator.

where: k or εr = dielectric constant or relative permittivity of the

For parallel wire line, insulator, unitless
‘-
= it is the ratio of the permittivity of the material, ε and the
absolute permittivity, or permittivity of vacuum, εo
εo = 8.854 x 10-12 Farad/meter
s = distance between center of conductors, unit length
d = diameter of conductor, unit length

Typically, the characteristic impedance of a parallel wire line

varies from 200 Ω to 300 Ω.
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Characteristic Impedance or Surge Impedance, ZO
Dielectric Constants of some materials

‘-

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Characteristic Impedance or Surge Impedance, ZO
Example
Calculate the characteristic impedance a parallel wire line
with a conductor diameter of 60 mm. and the distance
between conductors of 200 mm. The dielectric material
used is mica.

Solution: ‘-

Given: d = 60mm. s =200 mm. k = 6.8

Required: Zo
Zo = (276/√k) log 2s/d, Ω
= (276/√6.8) log{2(200mm/60mm)}
= 87.2 Ω
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Characteristic Impedance or Surge Impedance, ZO
For coaxial cable, the characteristic impedance is given by the
formula,

For coaxial cable, the characteristic impedance is given by the formula,

138 𝐷
Zo =
√𝑘
log , Ω
𝑑
‘-

where: D = diameter of outer conductor

d = diameter of inner conductor
The typical characteristic impedance of a coaxial line ranges from 50 Ω to 100 Ω, with a typical value of 75 Ω

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Characteristic Impedance or Surge Impedance, ZO
For coaxial cable, the characteristic impedance is given by the
formula,

If the transmission line is coaxial in construction, the characteristic

impedance follows a different equation:

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Characteristic Impedance or Surge Impedance, ZO

Example : A coaxial line with an outer diameter of 6 mm has a 50 Ω characteristic

impedance. lf the dielectric constant of the insulation is 1.60, calculate the inner
diameter.

Given : D = 6 mm ZO = 50 Ω k = 1.6 ‘-

d = D/log-1(ZO√k/138) = 6mm/log-1{(50Ω)*√1.6)/138} = 6mm/log-10.46

= 2.08 mm

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Velocity Factor, Vf
The velocity of radiated energy depends on the medium in which it is propagated.
In vacuum, it is c = 3 x 108 m/s, while in other medium, it is slower. Velocity Factor
is the reduction ratio of the velocity of a wave in a medium other than vacuum. It is
expressed as the ratio of the velocity of the wave in a given medium to the velocity
of light in vacuum. The typical dielectric constant of common insulators for
‘-
transmission line ranges from 1.2 to 2.8. This reduction constitutes to a delay in
transmission of signal in a given medium, called, latency.

Vf = v/c = 1/√k

where: v = velocity of light in a given medium

c = velocity of light in vacuum
k = relative permittivity or dielectric constant
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 Losses in Transmission Line
1. Radiation Loss - occur because a transmission line may act as an antenna if the separation of
the conductors is an appreciable fraction of a wavelength. This applies more to parallel-wire
lines than to coaxial lines. Radiation losses are difficult to estimate, being normally measured
rather than calculated. They increase with frequency for any given transmission line,
eventually ending that line's usefulness at some high frequency.
‘-
2. Conductor Heating Loss, or Copper Loss or I2R Loss - is proportional to current and therefore
inversely proportional to the characteristic impedance, ZO. It also increases with frequency,
this time because of the skin effect.
3. Dielectric Heating - is proportional to the voltage across the dielectric and hence inversely
proportional to the characteristic impedance for any power transmitted. It again increases
with frequency (for solid dielectric lines) because of gradually worsening properties with
increasing frequency for any given dielectric medium. For air, however, dielectric heating
remains negligible.
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Losses in Transmission Line
COPPER LOSSES can result from power (I2R) loss, in the form of heat, or skin
effect. These losses decrease the conductivity of a line.

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Losses in Transmission Line

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Losses in Transmission Line

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Losses in Transmission Line

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Dielectric Loss

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Induction losses

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Radiation losses

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TRANSMISSION LINE EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT-PRIMARY LINE CONSTANT

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TRANSMISSION LINE EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT

Series Resistance (R)

The transmission line has electrical resistance along its length. This resistance
is usually expressed in ohms per unit length and is shown as existing
continuously from one end of the line to the other.
Series Inductance (L)
When current flows through a wire, magnetic lines of force are set up
around the wire. The energy produced by the magnetic lines of force ‘-
collapsing back into the wire tends to keep the current flowing in the same
direction. This represents a certain amount of inductance, which is expressed
in nanohenrys per unit length.
Shunt Conductance (G)
Since any dielectric, even air, is not a perfect insulator, a small current known
as leakage current flows between the two wires. In effect, the insulator acts
as a resistor, permitting current to pass between the two wires. This property
is called conductance (G) and is the opposite of resistance which is
expressed in Siemens per unit length.

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TRANSMISSION LINE EQUIVALENT CIRCUIT
Shunt Capacitance (C)
Capacitance also exists between the transmission line wires. Notice that the
two parallel wires act as plates of a capacitor and that the air between them
acts as a dielectric. The capacitance between the wires is usually expressed in
picofarads per unit length.

‘-
Distributed Parameters

Series Resistance (R)

Series Inductance (L)
Shunt Conductance (G)
Shunt Capacitance (C)

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Characteristic Impedance

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Assignment: Transmission Line

Read Chapter 15- Electronic Communication system-Tomasi

Chapter 11- Electronic Communication system-Frenzel
Chapter 10-Super Book-Electronic ‘-System & Technology

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