CNS-ST 1.

2: TRANSMISSION LINES AND ANTENNAS

1.

The minimum value that a characteristic impedance of an air dielectric

parallel-wire could have is
83 ohms.*

2.

Velocity factor of coaxial cables vary from

0.6 to 0.8*

3.

Typical value of the velocity factor of an open-wire transmission is

0.9*

4.

When the load absorbs all the power transmitted, it means that the load
impedance is
equal to Zo of the line.*

5.

When no power is applied to a transmission system, the VSWR is

equal to zero.*

6.

The characteristic impedances commonly available are

75 ohms and 50 ohms.*

7.

The 50-ohm RG-58 coaxial cable is used in

cheapernet or thin-wire Ethernet.*

8.

The 50-ohm double-shielded RG-11 coaxial cable is used in

thicknet or thick-wire Ethernet.*

9.

A flat conductor separated from a ground plane by an insulating dielectric

material
Microstrip.

10.

A flat conductor sandwich between two ground planes.

Stripline

11.

What connecting link is used to transfer energy from a radio transmitter to

its antenna located on the mast of a ship?
Transmission line.

12.

What term is used for the end of a transmission line that is connected to a
transmitter?
Input end, generator end, transmitter end, sending end and source.

13.

What term is used for the end of a transmission line that is connected to an
antenna?
Output end, receiving end, load end, and sink.

14.

Name two of the three uses of a two-wire open line.

Power lines, rural telephone lines, and telegraph lines.

15.

What are two primary disadvantages of a two-wire open line?

High radiation losses and noise pickup.

16.

What type of transmission line is often used to connect a television set to

its antenna?
Twin-lead.

17.

What is the primary advantage of the shielded pair?

The conductors are balanced to ground.

18.

What the two types of coaxial lines in use today?

Air coaxial (rigid) and solid coaxial (flexible).

19.

What is the chief advantage of the air coaxial line?

The ability to minimize radiation losses.

20.

List the two common type of waveguides in use today.

Cylindrical and rectangular.

21.

What are the three types of line losses associated with transmission lines?
Copper, dielectric and radiation.

22.

Losses caused by skin effect and I 2 R (power) loss are classified as what
types of loss?
Copper loss.

23.

What type of losses cause the dielectric material between the conductors to
be heated?
Dielectric loss.

24.

What is the range of characteristic impedance of lines used in actual

practice?
Between 50 and 600 ohms.

25.

Two types of waves are formed on a transmission line. What names are given
to these waves?
Incident waves from generator to load. Reflected waves from load to
generator.

26.

On an open-ended transmission line, the voltage is always zero at what

distance from each end of the line?
One-fourth the distance from each end of the line.

27.

A non-resonant line is a line that has no standing waves of current and

voltage on it and is considered to be flat. Why is this true?
The load impedance of such a line is equal to Zo.

28.

At what point on an open-circuited rf line do voltage peaks occur?

At wavelength from the end and at every wavelength along the line.

29.

What is the square of the voltage standing wave ratio called?

Power standing-wave ratio (pswr)

30.

What does vswr measure?

The existence of voltage variations on a line.

31.

Determine the characteristic impedance for an air dielectric two-wire

parallel transmission line with a D/r ratio of 12.22?
300 ohms.

32.

Determine the characteristic impedance for an RG-59A coaxial cable with the
following specifications: d=0.025 inches, D=0.15 inches, and dielectric
constant of 2.23
72 ohms

33.

Determine the characteristic impedance for an RG-59A coaxial cable with the
following specifications: L=0.118uH/ft and C=21pF/ft
75 ohms.

34.

For a given length of RG 8A/U coaxial cable with a distributed capacitance

of 96.6pF/m, a distributed inductance of 241.56 nH/m, and a relative
dielectric constant of 2.3, determine the velocity of propagation and the
velocity factor;
2.07x10^8m/s; 0.69

35.

For a transmission line with an incident voltage of 5V and a reflected

voltage of 3V, determine the reflection coefficient and the SWR.
r=0.6, SWR=4

36.

A pulse is transmitted down a cable that has a velocity of propagation of

0.8c. The reflected signal is received 1us later. How far down the cable is
the impairment?
120m.

37.

Using TDR, a transmission line impairment is located 3000m from the source.
For velocity of propagation of 0.9c, determine the time elapsed from the
beginning of the pulse to the reception of the echo.
22.22us

38.

Determine the impedance of /4 line to match 600ohm feed to 75 ohm antenna.

212 ohm

39.

If a cable has a velocity factor of 0.8, what length of cable is required

for a 90 degree phase shift at 100 meters?
0.6 meters

40.

The scientist who profounded the theory of electromagnetic radiation James

Maxwell*

41.

Antenna radiated power is ______ of the antenna current.

proportional to the square (I^2)

42.

Antenna field strength is _____ to the antenna current.

directly proportional (I)

43.

Antennas assuming having similar size, has largest gain.

Parabolic*

44.

Antenna whose technical equivalent is /4 line is open circuited.

Dipole*

45.

Marconi type of antenna is a grounded _____ vertical antenna.

/4*

46.

Antenna used in mobile communications, mounted on vehicles.

Marconi*

47.

Antenna used for radiating AM broadcast band.

/2 vertical antenna.*

48.

Electrical length of a Marconi antenna needed for AM broadcasting can be

increased by
using series loading of capacitor.*

49.

The SI unit of magnetic field intensity.

Ampere/meter*

50.

The radio wavelength known as ______ falls within the medium frequency range
hectrometric waves*

51.

Antenna utilizing the ground as part of its resonant circuit.

Marconi*

52.

Antenna that is complete in itself and capable of self-oscillation.

Hertz*

53.

Radiation resistance is the ratio of

radiated power to the square of current*

54.

Example of Marconi type antenna.

Quarter wave vertical tower.*

55.

The gain in the direction of one of the major lobes of the radiation
pattern.
Directivity gain*

56.

Form of unwanted radiation working against the main beam caused by feeding a
parabolic reflector with an isotropic source.
Backlobe radiation*

57.

Type of antenna capable of transmitting (receiving) a TEM wave polarized in

any direction.
Helical antenna*

58.

A region within the influence of the induction field of an antenna.

Near field*

59.

An example of parasitic array.

Yagi-uda*

60.

Structure made of plastic-like composite material used to enclose the

complete antenna assembly for protection against the weather and to reduce
wind or snow loading.
Radome*

61.

The minimum antenna actual height:

/4*

62.

Marconi antenna current

maximum at the base*

63.

Antenna that is /10 long is called

elementary doublet*

64.

FM uses what type of polarization?

Horizontal polarization*

65.

In antenna, the area where the signal strength is very low.

Null*

66.

Which frequency band omni-horizontally polarized antenna used?

VHF and UHF*

67.

Discone antenna polarization is

vertical*

68.

What is the advantage of Top loading?

Improved radiation efficiency*

69.

What is propagation?
Propagation means spreading out.

70.

How is a wave defined as it applies to wave propagation?

A wave is a disturbance which moves through a medium.

71.

What is wave motion?

A means of transferring energy from one place to another.

72.

What are some examples of wave motion?

Sound waves, light waves, radio waves, heat waves, water waves.

73.

What type of wave motion is represented by the motion of water?

Transverse waves.
74.

What are some examples of transverse waves?

Radio waves, light waves, and heat waves.

75.

What example of a longitudinal wave was given in the text?

A sound wave.

76.

What are the three requirements for a wave to be propagated?

A source, medium and detector(receiver).

77.

What is the law of reflection?

The law of reflection states: the angle of incidence is equal to the angle
of reflection.

78.

When a wave is reflected from a surface, energy is transferred. When is the

transfer of energy greatest?
When the incident wave is nearly parallel with the surface.

79.

When is the transfer of energy minimum?

When the incident wave is perpendicular to the surface. Also a dull (or
black surface) reflects very little regardless of the angle.

80.

A refracted wave occurs when a wave passes from one medium into another
medium, what determines the angle of refraction?
The density of the two mediums, and the velocity of the waves.

81.

What do we call the field that is created between two rods when a voltage is
applied to them?
ELECTRIC FIELD.

82.

When current flows through a conductor, a field is created around the

conductor. What do we call this field?
MAGNETIC FIELD.

83.

An induction field is created around a conductor when current flows through

it. What do we call the field that detaches itself from the conductor and
travels through space.
RADIATION FIELD.

84.

What are two basic qualifications of antennas?

Half-wave(Hertz) and Quarter-wave (Marconi)

85.

What are the three parts of a complete antenna system?

Coupling device, feeder, and antenna

86.

What three factors determine the type size and shape of antenna?
Frequency of operation of the transmitter, amount of power to be radiated,
and general direction of the receiving set.

87.

If a wave exactly the length of an antenna from one end to the other and
back during the period of 1 cycle, what is the length of the antenna?
One-half the wavelength.

88.

What is the term used to identify the points of high-current and high
voltage on an antenna?
Current and voltage loops.

89.

What is the term used to identify the points of minimum current and minimum
voltage on an antenna?
Current and voltage nodes.

90.

The direction of what field is used to designate the polarization of a wave?

Electric Field.

91.

If a waves electric lines of force rotate through 360 degrees with every
cycle of RF energy, what is the polarization of this wave?
Circular polarization.

92.

What type of polarization should be used at medium and low frequencies?

Vertical polarization

93.

What is an advantage of using horizontal polarization at high frequencies?

Less interference is experienced by man-made noise sources.

94.

What type of polarization should be used if an antenna is mounted on a

moving vehicle at frequencies below 50 megahertz?
Vertical polarization

95.

What is the radiation resistance of a half-wave antenna in free space?

73 ohms.

96.

A radiating source that radiates energy stronger in one direction than

another is what type of radiator?
Anisotropic radiator

97.

A radiating source that radiates energy equally in all directions is known

as what type of radiator?
Isotropic radiator

98.

A flashlight is an example of what type of radiator?

Anisotropic radiator

99.

What terms are often used to describe basic half-wave antennas?

Dipole, doublet and hertz.

100. If a basic halfwave antenna is mounted vertically, what type of radiation

pattern will be produced?
Non-directional
101. in which plane will the half-wave antenna be operating if it is mounted
horizontally?
Vertical plane.
102. Since the radiation pattern of a dipole is similar to that of a doublet,
what will happen to the pattern if the length of the doublet is increased?
The pattern would flatten.
103. What is the simplest method of feeding power to the half-wave antenna?
To connect one end through a capacitor to the final output stage of the
transmitter.
104. What is the radiation pattern of a quarter-wave antenna?
A circular radiation pattern in the horizontal plane, or same as a halfwave.
105. Describe the physical arrangement of a ground screen?
It is composed of a series of conductors arranged in a radial pattern and
buried 1 to 2 feet below the ground.
106. What is the difference in the amount of impedance between a three-wire
dipole and a simple-center fed dipole?
Nine times the feed-point impedance.
107. Which has a wider frequency range, a simple dipole, or a folded dipole?
Folded dipole
108. What is the purpose of antenna stubs?
To produce desired phase relationship between connected elements
109. What is the primary difference between the major and minor lobes in a
radiation pattern?
Major lobes have the greatest amount of radiation.
110. What is the maximum number of elements used in a collinear array?
Four.
111. Why is the number of elements in a collinear array limited?

As more elements are added, an unbalanced condition in the system occurs

which impairs efficiency.
112. How can the frequency range of a collinear array be increased?
By increasing the lengths of the elements of the array.
113. How is directivity of a collinear array affected when the number of elements
is increased?
Directivity increases
114. What is the primary cause of broadside arrays losing efficiency when not
operating at their designed frequency?
Lower radiation resistance
115. When more that two elements are used in a broadside array, how are the
elements arranged?
Parallel and in the same plane.
116. As the spacing between elements in a broadside array increases, what is the
effect on the major lobes?
They sharpen
117. What are some disadvantages of the end-fire array?
Extremely low radiation resistance, confined to one frequency, and affected
by atmospheric conditions
118. Where does the major lobe in the end-fire array occur?
Along the major axis
119. To maintain the required balance of phase relationships and critical
feeding, how must the end-fire array be constructed?
Symmetrically
120. What two factors determine the directivity pattern of the parasitic array?
Length of the parasitic element (tuning) and spacing between the parasitic
and driven elements.
121. What two main advantages of a parasitic array can be obtained by combining a
reflector and a director with the driven element?
Increased gain and directivity.
122. The parasitic array can be rotated to receive or transmit in different
directions. What is the name given to such an antenna?
Rotary array.
123. What are the disadvantages of the parasitic array?
Their adjustment is critical and they do not operate over a wide frequency
range.
124. What is the advantage of adding parasitic elements to a Yagi array?
Increased gain.
125. The Yagi antenna is an example of what type of array?
Multielement parasitic array
126. To radiate power efficiently, a long-wire antenna must have what minimum
overall length?
One-half wavelength.
127. What is another name for the Beverage antenna?
Wave antenna
128. What is the polarity of the currents that feed the V antenna?
Opposite
129. What is the main disadvantage of the rhombic antenna?
It requires a large antenna site.
130. What is the primary reason for the development of the turnstile antenna?

For omnidirectional vhf communications

131. Microwave antennas and low-frequency antennas are similar in what ways?
Operating principles and electrical characteristics
132. What term is used to express the efficiency of an antenna?
Power gain or power ratio.
133. What term is used to express the measurement of the degree of mismatch
between a line and its load?
Standing-wave ratio (swr)
134. What type of antenna radiates in and receives energy from all directions at
once?
Omnidirectional
135. What is the term that is used to describe narrowness in the radiated beam of
an antenna?
Antenna directivity
136. What characteristic allows the same antenna to both transmit and receive?
Reciprocity.
137. What type of reflector is most often used in directive antennas?
Parabolic.
138. Microwaves can be reflected and focused in the same way as what other type
of waves?
Light waves.
139. How many major lobes are radiated by a parabolic reflector?
One
140. A horizontally truncated paraboloic antenna is used for what purpose?
Determine elevation
141. The beam from a horizontally positioned cylindrical paraboloid is narrow in
what plane?
Vertical.
142. What is a purpose of a collimating lens?
Forces the radial segments of a wavefront into parallel paths
143. What type of lens decelerates a portion of a spherical wavefront?
Delay lens
144. What is a set of antenna elements called?
Antenna array
145. What type of antenna has all elements connected to the same energy source?
Driven array
146. What determines the beam elevation angle of an antenna that is
electronically scanned in elevation?
Frequency or phase of radiated energy
147. What is the polarization of the energy radiated by a vertical slot?
Horizontal
148. Calculate the length of a half-wave dipole for an operating frequency of
20MHz.

149. A dipole antenna has a radiation resistance of 67 ohms and a loss resistance
of 5 ohms measured at the feedpoint. Calculate the efficiency.
93%

150. Determine the efficiency with the following: Pin=1000w, I=10A, R=8ohm.
80%
151. A dipole antenna has an efficiency of 85%. Calculate the gain in decibels.
1.43 dBi

152. The ERP of a transmitting station is 17W in a given direction. Express this
as an ERP in dBm so that it can be used with the path loss equation. Also
find EIRP.
ERP=42.3 dBm; EIRP=44.44dBm

153. A helical antenna with eight turns is to be constructed for a frequency of

1.2GHz (a) calculate the optimum diameter and spacing for the antenna and
find the total length of the antenna. (b) calculate the antenna gain in dBi
(c) calculate the bandwidth.
(a)62.5mm; (b)14.8 dBi; (c)36.6 degrees

154. A parabolic antenna has a diameter of 3 m, an efficiency of 60%, and

operates at a frequency of 4GHz. Calculate the gain and beamwidth. G=39.8
dBi; beamwidth=1.78 degrees.

155. A power of 100W is supplied to an isotropic radiator. What is the power

density at a point 10km away?
79.6nW/square meter

156. Find the electrical field strength for a signal power of 100W at a distance
of 10 km away.
5.48mV/m

157. A 5kW power, produces a field intensity of 50 uV/m at the receiver, what
field intensity will be received if the power is raised to 20 kW?
100uV/m
158. A transmitter has a power output of 150W at a carrier frequency of 325MHz.
It is connected to an antenna with a gain of 12 dBi. The receiving antenna
is 10km away and has a gain of 5 dBi. Calculate the power delivered to the
receiver, assuming free-space propagation. Assume also that there are no
losses or mismatches in the system.
404nW

159. A taxi company uses a central dispatcher, with an antenna at the top of a
15m tower, to communicate with taxi cabs. The taxi antennas are on the roofs
of the cars, approximately 1.5m above the ground. Calculate the maximum
communication distance: (a) between the dispatcher and a taxi (b) between
taxis
(a) 21km (b) 10.1km

160. In the right-hand rule for propagation, the thumb points in the direction of
the E field and the forefinger points in the direction of the H field. In
what direction does the middle finger point?
Direction of wave propagation.
161. Which two composite fields (composed of E and H fields) are associated with
every antenna?
Induction field and radiation field
162. What composite field (composed of E and H fields) is found stored in the
antenna?
Induction field.
163. What composite field (composed of E and H fields) is propagated into free
space?
Radiation field
164. If a transmitting antenna is placed close to the ground, how should the
antenna be polarized to give the greatest signal strength?
Vertically polarized.
165. What is one of the major reasons for the fading of radio waves which have
been reflected from a surface?
Shifting in the phase relationships of the wave.
166. What are the three layers of the atmosphere?
Troposphere, stratosphere and ionosphere
167. Which layer of the atmosphere has relatively little effect on radio waves?
Stratosphere
168. What is the
ground wave
Whether the
the surface

determining factor in classifying whether a radio wave is a

or a space wave?
component of the wave is travelling along the surface or over
of the earth.

169. What is the best type of surface or terrain to use for radio wave
transmission?
Radio horizon is about 1/3 farther.
170. What is the primary difference between the radio horizon and the natural
horizon?
Seawater.
171. What three factors must be considered in the transmission of a surface wave
to reduce attenuation?
(a) electrical properties of the terrain (b) frequency (c) polarization of
the antenna
172. What causes ionization to occur in the ionosphere?
High energy ultraviolet waves from the sun.
173. How are the four layers of the ionosphere designated?
D,E,F1,F2 layers.
174. What is the height of the individual layers of the ionosphere?
D layer is 30-55 miles, E layer is 55 to 90 miles, F layers are 90 to 240
miles.
175. What factor determines whether a radio wave is reflected or refracted by the
ionosphere?
Thickness of ionized layer
176. There is a maximum frequency at which vertically transmitted radio waves can
be refracted back to earth. What is this maximum frequency called?
Critical Frequency.

177. What three main factors determine the amount of refraction in the
ionosphere?
(a) density of ionization of the layer (b) frequency (c) angle at which it
enters the layer
178. What is the skip zone of a radio wave?
A zone of silence between the ground wave and sky wave where there is no
reception.
179. Where does the greatest amount of ionospheric absorption occur in the
ionosphere?
Where ionization density is greatest
180. What is meant by the term multipath?
A term used to describe the multiple pattern a radio wave may follow.
181. When a wide band of frequencies is transmitted simultaneously, each
frequency will vary in the amount of fading. What is this variable fading
called?
Selective fading
182. What are two main sources of emi with which radio waves must compete?
Natural and man-made interference
183. Thunderstorms, snow storms, cosmic sources, the sun, etc., are a few
examples of emi sources. What type of emi comes from these sources?
Natural
184. Motors, switches, voltage-regulators, generators, etc., are a few examples
of emi sources, what type of emi comes from these sources?
Man-made
185. What are the two general types of variations in the ionosphere?
Regular and irregular variations.
186. What is the main difference between these two types of variations?
Regular variations can be predicted but irregular variations are
Unpredictable
187. What are the four main classes of regular variation which affect the extent
of ionization in the ionosphere?
Daily, seasonal, 11-year, and 27-days variation.
188. What are the three more common types of irregular variations in the
ionosphere?
Sporadic E, sudden disturbances, and ionospheric storms.
189. How do raindrops affect radio waves?
They can cause attenuation by scattering.
190. How does fog affect radio waves at frequencies above 2 Gigahertz?
It can cause attenuation by absorption
191. How is the term temperature inversion used when referring to radio waves?
It is a condition where layers of warm air are formed above layers of cool
air.
192. How does temperature inversion affect radio transmission?
It can cause vhf and uhf transmission to be propagated far beyond normal
line-of-sight distances.
193. In what layer of the atmosphere does virtually all weather phenomena occur?
Troposphere
194. Which radio frequency bands use the tropospheric scattering principle for
propagation of radio waves?
VHF and above.