Design of broadband End-fed Dipole Antenna for

Jamming Application
S.H.H.Mashhadi1, Asaf Khan2, Zill-e-Tooba3, Hasan Raza4
Centre of Excellence in Science and Applied Technologies, CESAT
Islamabad, Pakistan
[email protected], [email protected], zill_1988@[Link] 3, [email protected]

Abstract— This paper discusses the design of end-fed UHF this tube is often replaced by two or more conductors close to
dipole with techniques applied to broaden the percentage the antenna that simulate the effects of the sleeve.
bandwidth. The designed antenna is intended for high power (~ This paper, however investigates an open sleeve
100 W) transmission application. This paper investigates an open (ungrounded sleeve), placed over the center of the dipole with
sleeve (ungrounded sleeve), placed over the center of the dipole
an optimized diameter larger than that of the dipole itself and
with an optimized diameter larger than that of the dipole itself and
a space gap in the center of the sleeve tube. The intended goal is to a space gap in the center of the sleeve tube. Experimentation
design an antenna capable of covering frequency band from 500 and simulations have shown that the addition of an
MHz to 800 MHz with minimal reflection coefficient and stable ungrounded sleeve to a dipole can increase the bandwidth up
omni-directional radiation pattern throughout the band with to more than an octave, without affecting the efficiency of the
optimum efficiency. Furthermore, a comparative study between the antenna in a negative manner. Another advantage to this
radiation efficiency of a biconical dipole and cylindrical dipole both design is that no matching network or lumped elements for
designed in 500-800 MHz band has been conducted in regard to loading is used in order to broaden the bandwidth, owing to
weight and volume of the antennae. which the antenna can handle high power as much as 100 W.
Keywords—Open sleeve, Dipoles, End-fed cylindrical sleeve
The lumped elements used for loading usually constrain the
dipoles power handling capability of the antenna. CST Microwave
Studio is used as simulation tool for implementation and
optimization of the design [6]. The paper also presents a
I. INTRODUCTION comparative analysis of dipoles with and without sleeve.

Cylindrical dipole antennas are popular antennas for II. COMMUNICATION JAMMING AND ANTENNA SIZE
many applications because of their simplicity in design and CONSTRAINTS
fabrication. A thin linear dipole has narrow band input
impedance characteristics. Small changes in the operating A. Size contraints of Vehicular Jamming Antennae
frequency result in significant changes in operational response The primary role of a jamming antenna in communications
[1]. Simple antennas like dipole do not provide bandwidth applications is to direct the radiated countermeasure signals
themselves especially when they are small, therefore, many towards the opponent’s receivers to achieve degradation or
bandwidth enhancement techniques have to be employed for complete loss of signal reception at the opponent’s receiver
the purpose. For dipoles, the far field radiation pattern largely units. This means that the azimuthal orientation of the victim
depends upon its length; consequently the gain, directivity and receiver (or receivers) should be known with an accuracy of at
efficiency become frequency dependent. Dipole antenna least 10° in tactical communications using VHF or UHF
provides an element of gain while providing omnidirectional frequencies. In such cases, vehicular jamming systems are
coverage in the azimuth plane. This gain is provided at the usually used, placed inside a shelter for land-based systems. A
expense of gain in the vertical plane, however so, in significant difficulty arises because of the large antennas
applications where the vertical plane response is important as needed for jamming systems required to cover the low VHF
well, dipole will not be a very good choice [2]. region, corresponding to this wavelength 3–10 m [7].
Various techniques such as addition of sleeve, tuning Therefore, antennas with a smaller form factor, mechanical
lengths and diameter (L/D ratio) of the dipole [1], coating the stability and rugged design covering the complete frequency
dipole with lossy dielectric material which will reduce the range are needed to be designed and implemented for
radiation efficiency [1], addition of a capacitive hat at the ends vehicular jamming systems.
of the dipoles for shortening the length, lumped element B. Selection of dipole antenna as an optimum choice for
loading [3], use of impedance transformer [4] etc. are vehicular jamming application
conventionally employed for the purpose of bandwidth Keeping the frequencies of interest in view which lie in the
enhancement. Conventionally, a grounded conducting tubular lower part of UHF corresponding to the wavelengths between
sleeve is placed over the center of the dipole [5]. In practice,


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2 m (150 MHz) and 40 cm approx. (800 MHz) the size of the finite diameter exhibits slightly higher impedance than this,
antenna was an issue especially since the particular typically around 80Ω. Since this resistance is a series
prospective application was vehicular. Initial experimentation resonance, the magnitude of the input port impedance is
was conducted on biconical dipoles with large flare angles to minimum at this point and greater than the resonant value i.e.
cover the complete specified frequency range. The broadband 80Ω at all other frequencies, therefore, higher bandwidths can
impedance characteristics occur when the flare angle is be achieved by increasing the overall system impedance to
between 60o and 120o [7]. Based on simulations important even 100Ω. But, since 100Ω source is not available in
observation regarding the size of biconical dipoles was that standard systems, so greater bandwidth will be achieved by
optimized results were achieved when length was equal to one transforming the higher driving point impedance of the dipole
wavelength (λ). On the contrary, simple cylindrical dipoles to standard 50Ω source impedance and will be shown in the
offered an edge from the view point of size i.e. omni results in later sections [4].
directional pattern and optimized reflection coefficients occur
at length equal to half a wavelength of the center frequency. As is very evident from the parametric sweep result in Fig.
The overall payload of an antenna in case of biconical dipoles 2, the antenna exhibits an inherent broadband characteristic
increases considerably in terms of weight and volume, with higher driving point impedance. The sweep values have
been decided keeping in view the commercially available
whereas for cylindrical dipoles it becomes mechanically
feasible. Therefore, using simple cylindrical sleeve dipoles as coaxial transmission lines with characteristic impedance close
a front end for vehicular jamming application proves to be a to 90Ω so that the fabrication of impedance transformer may
lucrative option based on simulations and available weight remain feasible from mechanical point of view.
budget on prospective vehicles. Design of an optimized balun for the dipoles was the next
critical step that followed the selection of antenna type.
III. DESIGN OF DIPOLE ANTENNA 500 MHZ TO 800 MHZ Initially Bazooka Balun [1] was chosen for primitive
simulations but with one trade off kept in mind which was the
A. Design and simulation results of dipole, Bazooka Balun limitation of having to keep the driving point impedance of
without sleeve 50Ω in case of Bazooka Balun. The structure is as follows:
Design of dipole antenna for the frequency range 500 MHz
to 800 MHz was initially taken up with an ideal feed. Port
impedance was swept between 90Ω and 50Ω. Antenna length
was calculated as follows:
fc = 650 MHz
λc= c/ fc
8 6
λc= 3 x 10 / 650 x 10
λc=461.5 mm
Dipole_length= 0.5 λc =0.5*(461.5mm)=230.7mm

For ease of fabrication the length was kept 230 mm but

later on during optimization and tuning it was reduced to 210
mm. Ideal feed port cylindrical dipole and parametric sweep Fig. 3. λ/2 Dipole with Bazooka Balun and without sleeve
results are in the following figures.

210 mm
Fig. 1. λ/2 Dipole with ideal port feed

Fig. 4. -10 dB Reflection Coefficient of λ/2 Dipole with Bazooka Balun and
without sleeve

Fig. 2. Reflection Coefficient

The standard RF and microwave system impedance is

50Ω. When wire diameter is ignored, the typical dipole
exhibits a resistive driving point impedance of 73Ω at its
fundamental series resonance. However, a linear dipole with a Fig. 5. VSWR of λ/2 Dipole with Bazooka BALUN and without sleeve

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 Fig. 6. Radiation Pattern at 500 MHz, 600 MHz, 700 MHz and 800 MHz Fig. 10. Radiation Pattern at 500 MHz, 600 MHz, 700 MHz and 800 MHz

It is clearly evident from the results that the antenna exhibits a Fig. 10 shows that the balun-feed has significantly improved
22.4 % impedance bandwidth with a non-uniform radiation the radiation pattern which is now uniform in the azimuth and
pattern. Also from the view point of mechanical stability, this is conditioned. The structure of the antenna also shows that it
construction with bazooka balun may not be a suggestible is easy to manufacture and is rugged from mechanical stability
option since it may not be able to withstand shocks during point of view.
operational movements.
C. Implementation of un-grounded sleeve over the dipole
B. Design and simulation results of Balun-fed dipole, without The results from Fig. 8 & 9 clearly show that the antenna
sleeve is not covering the desired bandwidth, which calls for broad-
In order to make the design mechanically stable, inherently banding techniques. One of the known techniques is to add a
broadband and shock-tolerant as well as to ensure uniform parasitic sleeve around the dipole. But in theory this sleeve is
radiation pattern through-out the specified frequency band, the grounded and is continuous in construction. However, the
antenna needed a robust balun design. Therefore, a balun-feed parasitic sleeve discussed in this paper is ungrounded and also
was designed which essentially is an impedance transformer. has a space gap in the center just like the feed gap in the
It lets the dipole resonate at higher port impedance, making dipole design. The availability of this space gap gives a
the design inherently broadband and transforming it to 50 Ω at supplementary control parameter for bandwidth enhancement
the RF source port. The construction is as follows:
in addition to the sleeve diameter and its length. Therefore, for
the construction discussed above has ten control parameters:
1. Dipole length
2. Dipole diameter
Fig. 7. λ/2 Dipole with Balun-feed and without sleeve 3. Sleeve length
4. Sleeve diameter
5. Feed gap of the dipole
6. Sleeve space gap
7. Driving point impedance
8. Length of high impedance part of feed balun-feed
9. Length of intermediate part of balun-feed
10. Length of 50Ω impedance part of the balun-feed
Each unique combination of these 10 control parameters
corresponds to a unique frequency response of the antenna. A
simple dipole however only has two parameters i.e. diameter
Fig. 8. -10 dB Reflection Coefficient of λ/2 Balun-fed Dipole without sleeve and length which effectively control the frequency response of
the antenna. The construction of dipole with sleeve is shown
in the following Figure 11.

Fig. 9. VSWR of λ/2 Dipole with Balun-feed and without sleeve (a)

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 D. Gain comparison of Bicone and End-fed Dipole
In order to validate the fact that cylindrical dipoles exhibit
better radiation efficiency as compared to biconical dipoles,
one biconical dipole was designed in frequency range 500
MHz to 800 MHz. The designed biconical dipole exhibits
optimum and desired frequency response when it is 1λ in
length. The size and overall weight of the cylindrical sleeve
dipole is half that of biconical dipole. This final analysis gives
(b)
a sound basis to choose cylindrical dipole over biconical
Fig. 11. (a) λ/2 BALUN-fed Dipole with sleeve (b) Balun-feed construction dipole. In terms of performance also, the cylindrical dipole
surpasses the biconical dipoles.
Fig 11(b) shows the construction of Balun-feed or the 120 mm
transformer-feed for the dipole. At the feed point the
impedance is kept higher than characteristic impedance of 73
Ω for dipole i.e. 92Ω. The final design has following 429mm
reflection ciefficient and VSWR.

43 mm

210mm

Fig. 12. -10 dB Reflection Coefficient of λ/2 Balun-fed Dipole with sleeve Fig. 15. Size comparison of biconical dipole and cylinderical dipole

Biconical Dipole
Cylindrical Dipole

Fig. 13. VSWR of λ/2 Balun-fed Dipole with sleeve Fig. 16. Radiation efficiency comparison of the biconical and cylindrical
dipole

Fig. 15 clearly shows that the size of dipole as compared

to the biconical antenna is approximately half the size of
biconical dipole. Secondly and most importantly, the radiation
efficiency of the dipole is higher as compared to the biconical
dipole. These two important measurement observations led
this research towards a stable and unflinching conclusion that
dipoles are undoubtedly better choice where size constraint,
omni-directionality and better radiation efficiency are a major
concern.

IV. COMPARISON OF DIPOLE GAIN WITH OR WITHOUT SLEEVE

Another important analysis was quite imperative to be
conducted regarding the gain of the antenna with and without
the parasitic sleeve. Figure 17 clearly show that there is a
slight decrease in the gain and not a significant one.
Fig. 14. Radiation Pattern at 500 MHz, 600 MHz, 700 MHz and 800 MHz However, an interesting finding is that the difference between
gain with and without sleeve at lower frequencies e.g. 500
As Figure 13 shows the impedance bandwidth has been MHz is insignificantly small but as the frequency increase the
improved from 22% bandwidth to 64%. In addition to difference gets pronounced. At 700 MHz, the gain without
bandwidth enhancement, the radiation pattern also remains sleeve is 2.58 dB while gain with sleeve is 2.52 dB. At 900
uniform over the entire bandwidth.
MHz the gain without sleeve is 3.08 dB while gain with sleeve
is 2.9 dB.

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 Without sleeve
With Sleeve

Fig. 17. Gain comparison of Dipole antenna with and without sleeve

V. CONCLUSION
This paper discusses the bandwidth enhancement of
cylindrical dipoles using a parasitic sleeve around the body of
dipole with a small space gap similar to the feed gap of the
dipole itself. The sleeve enhances the bandwidth significantly
without negatively affecting the gain of the antenna. The
experimentation and comparison with biconical dipoles,
which are commonly used for jamming applications, the
BALUN-fed dipole proves to be a better choice in terms of
gain, size, weight and stability.

Acknowledgment
I would like to thank and acknowledge my team members
for being there for me always, my seniors for letting me take
up every task with confidence and paving smooth way for me
and my director for the encouragement and showing faith in
whatever task I was assigned.

References
[1] Constantine A. Balanis, “Antenna Theory, Analysis and Design”, 2nd
ed., John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 1997, pp. 449, 451.
[2] Richard Poisel, “Principles of Eelctronic Warfare”, Artech House, 2012,
pp. 85, 193.
[3] William I., Stuart D., “All about Vertical Antennas”, Radio Publications
Inc, 1986, pp. 69, 76.
[4] James McLean et al., “End-fed Sleeve Dipole Antenna comprising a ¾-
wave transformer”, US 2012/0194401 A1.
[5] C. Balanis, Modern Antenna Handbook, John Wiley & Sons, Inc, 2008,
pp. 69-70
[6] CST Microwave Studio ([Link]) Ver 2013.
[7] D. John L Volakis, Antenna Engineering Handbook, 4th ed., McGraw-
Hill Companies, pp.48-3.

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