Antennas Glossary

2.4 GHz Antenna.  A 2.4 GHz antenna is one that is designed to operate in the 2.4 GHz unlicensed band.

802.11 Antenna.  An 802.11 antenna operates in either the 2.4 GHz or 4.9-5.9 GHz unlicensed bands.

Active Antenna.  An active antenna includes electronics to optimise the performance of the antenna.

Adcock Antenna.  An Adcock antenna is made up of four antenna elements (each of which is usually a monopole antenna), each of which is mounted at a corner of a square.

AM Antenna.  AM antenna is a colloquial term for an MF (medium wave) antenna used to receive AM broadcast stations.

Amateur Radio Antenna.  An amateur radio antenna is antenna used for transmitting and receiving by an amateur radio operator.

Antenna Amplifier.  An antenna amplifier is an amplifier that is used to boost either the transmitted power or the received power from an antenna.

Antenna Booster.  An antenna connector is often used at the antenna port of a radio and at the junction of the antenna and antenna feeder.

Antenna Cable.  Antenna cable is another term for the antenna feeder.

Antenna Connector.  An antenna connector is often used at the antenna port of a radio and at the junction of the antenna and antenna feeder.

Antenna Design.  Antenna design is the process of designing an antenna.

Antenna Diversity.  Antenna diversity refers to antenna systems that involve the use of two or more receive antennas such that the output of the receiver is the best available.

Antenna Efficiency.  Antenna efficiency is the ratio of the power radiated in the antenna’s radiation resistance to that radiated in the total resistance of the antenna.

Antenna Feeder.  A balanced antenna should be connected to a balanced antenna feeder and an unbalanced antenna to an unbalanced antenna feeder.

Antenna Gain.  The antenna gain is normally defined as the increase in power radiated by an antenna in a particular direction compared to a reference dipole, or a reference isotropic radiator.

Antenna Length.  Antenna length usually refers to the length of the active element of an antenna.

Antenna Masts.  Antenna masts provide the structural support for an elevated antenna.

Antenna Mount.  An antenna mount is the hardware that is used to secure antennas to antenna masts.

Antenna Radiation Pattern.  The radiation pattern of an antenna is usually shown as a polar diagram.

Antenna Rotator.  An antenna rotator is used to change the orientation of a directional antenna.

Antenna Software.  Antenna software is used to calculate the performance of an antenna system.

Antenna Switch.  An antenna switch is used to switch a single transmitter or receiver between multiple antennas.

Antenna System.  An antenna system includes the antenna and all the associated components required for the antenna to operate.

Antenna Theory.  Antenna theory is a mathematic description of the operation of antenna systems.

Antenna Topper.  An antenna topper is a decorative device that is designed to be placed on top of an antenna

Antenna Tower.  Antenna tower is another term for an antenna mast.

Antenna Tuner.  An antenna tuner, or antenna tuning unit, is used to match the impedance of an antenna to the characteristic impedance of the antenna feeder and the output impedance of a transmitter or input impedance of a receiver.

Array Antenna.  An array antenna is made up of a number of elements, each of which is either active or passive.

Auto Antenna.  Auto antenna is another term for a car radio antenna.

Balanced-to-unbalanced network.  See Balun.

Balun (Balanced-to-unbalanced network).  When an unbalanced transmission line is connected to a balanced antenna (coaxial line to a dipole, for example), extraneous currents run along the outer surface of the transmission line.

Base Station Antenna.  A base station antenna is the antenna at the base station of cellular mobile phone network.

Bluetooth Antenna.  A Bluetooth antenna is usually a monopole antenna or a dipole antenna.

Car Radio Antenna.  Car radio antenna is another term for a auto antenna.

CB Antenna.  A CB antenna is an antenna used for a citizens band radio, operating in either the VHF band or the UHF band.

CDMA Antenna.  A CDMA antenna is antenna for a CDMA mobile phone antenna.

Cell Phone Antenna.  Cell phone antenna is alternative term for a cellular (or mobile) phone antenna.

Cell Phone Antenna Booster.  A cell phone antenna booster is a power amplifier that is used to increase the transmit power from a cell phone.

Cellular Phone Antenna.  A cellular phone antenna is part of every cellular phone, including GSM, AMPS, CDMAand TACS.

Corner Reflector.  The corner-reflector antenna is predominantly used on line-of-sight radio relay links and consists of a normal half-wave dipole in front of a corner reflector which acts as a mirror.

Delta Antenna.  A delta antenna is a vertical, triangle-shaped antenna that is used for HF skywave communications.

DF antenna (Direction finding antenna).  A DF antenna (direction finding antenna) is used to provide a line of bearing to a transmitter.

Digital Television Antenna.  A digital television antenna is designed to receive digital television signals.

Digital TV Antenna.  A digital TV antenna is designed to receive a digital TV signal.

Dipole Antenna.  A dipole antenna is formed by splitting the two wires of a two-wire transmission line, and bending them back to form a single straight line. The antenna feed is in the middle of the dipole antenna, where the split occurs.

Direction finding antenna.  See DF antenna.

Directional Antenna.  A directional antenna is one that transmits and receives power preferentially in a particular direction.

Discone Antenna.  The discone antenna is a further development of the ground-plane antenna in which a circular disc is substituted for the monopole, so that the antenna has a broadband response.

Dish Antenna.  Dish antenna is another term for a parabolic antenna.

Flat Panel Antenna.  A flat panel antenna is constructed in a panel.

FM Antenna.  FM antenna is a colloquial term for a VHF antenna used to receive FM broadcast stations operating in the VHF band.

Folded Dipole Antenna.  A folded dipole antenna is constructed by wrapping the ends of a dipole antenna around and joining them together.

Fractal Antenna.  A fractal antenna, also known as a fractal element antenna, uses the properties of fractals to provide small, efficient antennas for a wide variety of applications.

Gap Antenna.  Gap antenna is another term for a slot antenna.

GPS Antenna.  A GPS antenna is designed to receive navigation signals broadcast by GPS satellites.

Grid Antenna.  A grid antenna is usually a reflector antenna in which a grid conductor is used in place of a solid conductor.

GSM Antenna.  The purpose of the GSM antenna is to transmit and receive signals on the link to the GSM mobile phone base station.

Ham Radio Antenna.  A ham radio antenna is antenna used for transmitting and receiving by an ham (amateur) radio operator.

HDTV Antenna.  An HDTV antenna is designed to receive HDTV television signals.

Helical Antenna.  A helical antenna is constructed using a helix of wire that is fed at one end and unconnected at the other.

HF Antenna (High frequency antenna).  An HF antenna (high frequency antenna) operates in the HF band, between 3 MHz and 30 MHz.

High frequency antenna.  See HF Antenna.

Horn Antenna.  A horn antenna couples energy between free space and a waveguide.

Indoor Antenna.  The term indoor antenna is sometimes used to refer to an indoor television antenna.

Inverted V Antenna.  An inverted-V antenna is a travelling-wave antenna with high gain.

Log Periodic Antenna.  A log-periodic antenna is a broadband self-tuning antenna.

Long Wire Antenna.  The long wire antenna is simply a long piece of wire that is used as an antenna.

Loop Antenna.  A loop antenna consists of a loop of wire, with each end of the loop connected to one conductor of the antenna feeder.

Marine Antenna.  A marine antenna is usually designed to be mounted on a boat or ship.

Microstrip Antenna.  A microstrip antenna is fabricated in the same way as a printed circuit board.

Microwave Antenna.  A microwave antenna is designed to operate in the microwave bands.

Mobile Antenna.  Mobile antennas another term for a mobile phone antenna.

Mobile Phone Antenna.  A mobile phone antenna is part of every mobile phone, including GSM, CDMA, AMPS and TACS.

Mobile Phone Antenna Booster.  A mobile phone antenna booster is a power amplifier that is used to increase the transmit power from a mobile phone.

Monopole Antenna.  A monopole antenna can be thought of as being one arm of a dipole antenna, with the other arm having been removed.

Omnidirectional Antenna.  An omnidirectional antenna is one that transmits and receives power equally in all directions.

Parabolic Antenna (Paraboloid).  A parabolic antenna surface has the useful property of being able to convert a diverging spherical wavefront into a parallel plane wavefront, thereby producing a highly focussed or narrow pencil beam.

Paraboloid.  See Parabolic Antenna.

Patch Antenna.  A patch antenna radiates using a number of elements known as patches.

Phased Array Antenna.  A phased array antenna is an array antenna in which phases shifts can be applied to the signals received or transmitted from indivual elements in such a way that the antenna can be electrically steered.

Plasma Antenna.  A plasma antenna is a type of reflector antenna in which the metal conducting surface of a conventional reflector is replaced by a plasma.

Radar Antenna.  A radar antenna is used as the antenna in a radar system. In a monostatic radar system, a common antenna is used for transmitting and receiving.

Reflector Antennas.  A reflector antenna is one in which a passive, reflecting element is used to distort the radiation pattern away from itself.

Resonant Antennas.  A resonant antenna is one that operates by means of a standing wave.

Rhombic Antenna.  A rhombic antenna is a travelling wave antenna use for skywave communications.

Satellite Antenna.  A satellite antenna is used as the antenna on a satellite earth station.

SHF Antenna (Super high frequency antenna).  An SHF antenna (super high frequency antenna) operates in the SHF band, between 3 GHz and 30 GHz.

Shortwave Antenna.  Shortwave antenna is another term for HF antenna.

Slot Antenna.  A slot antenna is constructed by cutting slots into the antenna material, which may be a piece of waveguide or pipe.

Smart Antenna.  A smart antenna contains a number of antenna elements and a signal processing system to optimise the performance of the antenna system.

Spiral Antenna.  Spiral antenna is another term for a helical antenna.

Super high frequency antenna.  See SHF Antenna.

Television Antenna.  A television antenna is used to receive a terrestrial TV signal.

Travelling Wave Antennas.  Because a travelling wave antenna is terminated by a resistance matching its characteristic impedance, no standing wave is present.

TV Antenna.  A TV antenna is used to receive a terrestrial television signal.

UHF Antenna (Ultra high frequency antenna).  A UHF antenna (ultra high frequency antenna) operates in the UHF band, between 300 MHz and 3 GHz.

Ultra high frequency antenna.  See UHF Antenna.

Very high frequency antenna.  See VHF Antenna.

VHF Antenna (Very high frequency antenna).  A VHF antenna (very high frequency antenna) operates in the VHF band, between 30 MHz and 300 MHz.

Whip Antenna.  A whip antenna is a vertical rod antenna.

Wi Fi Antenna.  A Wi Fi antenna is designed to support a wireless local area network (wireless LAN or WLAN) operating under the IEEE 802.11 standards.

Wireless LAN Antenna.  See WLAN Antenna.

Wireless Network Antenna.  A wireless network antenna is usually a dipole antenna or a monopole antenna.

WLAN Antenna (Wireless LAN Antenna).  A WLAN antenna is designed to support a wireless local area network (wireless LAN or WLAN) operating under the IEEE 802.11 standards.

Yagi Antenna.  The Yagi antenna is a typical array antenna consisting of a driven dipole element, a reflector and a director.

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