06/05/2016

WhatisAntennaImpedance?(withpictures)

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What is Antenna Impedance?

Category: Technology

Antenna impedance is a measure of the resistance to an electrical signal in an antenna.

Many factors have an impact on an antennas ability to transmit a signal, including the
environment that the antenna is in and the design and composition of the antenna.
Understanding antenna impedance is important when designing components that
connect an antenna to a receiver or transmitter.
The ratio of voltage to current, which is equal to antenna impedance, is expressed in units
called ohms. The antenna impedance represents the power that is absorbed by the
antenna as well as the power that is dispersed by it as it comes into contact with an
electromagnetic wave. Different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation will give the
same antenna different impedance values.
In electronics, ohms are a measure of the resistance within a wire, and a measurement of
zero ohms means that there is no resistance, while a measurement of infinite ohms
indicates that there is complete resistance. The antenna impedance would be zero ohms
if the voltage and the current stayed the same from one point in the antenna to another.
This is never the case in real-world antennas, however, which generally have an
impedance of somewhere between 15 and 1,000 ohms.

Environmental factors have an effect on

antenna impedance.

Environmental factors can have an impact on antenna impedance. The objects around an
antenna, the height of the antenna above the ground, and whether the antenna is
enclosed indoors or exposed to the elements all change its resistance when exposed to
an electromagnetic signal. Under optimal conditions, a simple half-wave dipole would
have an antenna impedance of 75 ohms. Coaxial cable, which is used in conjunction with
half-wave dipole antennas for transmitting television signals, is matched to this
impedance and also has an impedance of 75 ohms.
Impedance matching is an important consideration when designing antennas of many
different types. as it involves the transfer of electrical energy through the antenna. The
antenna must transfer this information into a receiver of some sort, allowing human
observers to collect the information picked up by the antenna. This information travels
through the antenna and various other cables, such as the coaxial cable that feeds
information into a television. Finding cables that match the same voltage to current ratio
helps keep the signal strong and clean as it passes from one device to another.

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Coaxial cable -- typically used during

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Article Details
Written By: C.B. Fox
Edited By: Susan Barwick
Last Modified Date: 14 April 2016
Copyright Protected:
2003-2016 Conjecture Corporation
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You need to take your location into consideration when you purchase an
antenna. You need to know if you are close to a strong signal or too far away for
some antennas. You will also need to consider whether you want an indoor our
outdoor antenna, both have positives and negatives.
Since weather can be a major factor in reception, you should research the best
antenna for your climate as well.

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