Makerere University

College of Engineering Design Art & Technology

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
B.Sc. Electrical Engineering & BSc. Telecommunications Engineering
End of Semester I Examinations, Year 3 (2023/2024)

TEL3112: RADIOWAVE PROPAGATION AND ANTENNAS

Wednesday, 6th December 2023 Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 NOON

Instructions:
1. This exam contains SIX questions, attempt any FIVE questions.
2. Answers MUST be clearly written in the provided answer booklet.
3. Begin each number on a new page and clearly mark the attempted number on any given page of
your answer sheet.
4. DO NOT WRITE anything on this question paper.
5. Assume the below constants’ values where necessary.
10−9
𝜀𝑜 = 𝐹𝑚−1 𝜇𝑜 = 4𝜋 × 10−7 𝐻𝑚−1
36𝜋

QUESTION ONE [20 MARKS]

a) Define the terms antenna and radiation, clearly stating their significance and how each can
be achieved in practical telecommunication systems. [4 Marks]
b) Without using any equations, state the physical interpretation of Maxwell’s equations and
give their major importance in antenna theory. [5 Marks]
c) Starting with the Maxwell’s equations, show that the vector and scalar potentials, 𝐴(𝑟) and
𝜙(𝑟) respectively, due to a time varying current and charge distribution within an arbitrary
volume are traveling waves. Define all parameters used. [7 Marks]
d) With the aid of a diagram and general solutions to the traveling wave equations in 1 c) above,
explain the concept of retardation. [4 Marks]

QUESTION TWO (20 MARKS)

a) i) What do you understand by antenna polarization and what is its significance in antenna
theory? [3 Marks]
ii) Explain the significance of antenna gain, 𝐺, and radiation resistance, 𝑅𝑟𝑎𝑑 . [4 Marks]

TEL3112: RADIOWAVE PROPAGATION & ANTENNAS BSc. ELE & TEL ENG. Year 3 Semester 1 Examination Page 1/4
b) Briefly describe the major radiation patterns that are of importance in the analysis of the
antenna performance. [3 Marks]
c) Show that at any point in space, distant 𝑟 from an omni-directional antenna transmitting a
total power, 𝑃𝑡𝑥 , the electric field intensity, 𝐸𝑟.𝑚.𝑠 , is given by; [5 Marks]
2
√30𝑃𝑡𝑥
𝐸𝑟.𝑚.𝑠 =
𝑟
d) A far-zone magnetic field strength of 5 𝜇𝐴𝑚−1 is required at a point 𝜃 = 𝜋⁄2 , 2 𝑘𝑚 from a
Hertzian dipole of length 𝜆⁄25 in air. How much power must the antenna transmit?
[5 Marks]

QUESTION THREE (20 MARKS)

a) What is uniform linear arraying? Highlight its significance in relation to practical antenna
designs. [4 Marks]
b) Briefly describe what you understand by the term beam steering and how it can be realized
in practical applications of antennas. [4 Marks]
c) The resultant magnitude of the electric far-field intensity, 𝐸𝜃 , of 𝑁 isotropic radiators
uniformly spaced in a straight line, carrying currents of equal amplitude and progressive
phase shift is given by:
𝜓
sin (𝑁 2 )
𝐸𝜃 = 𝐸𝑜
𝜓
sin ( 2 )
i) Derive the above expression, defining all the symbols used. [5 Marks]
ii) Using the above expression, explain the terms principal maximum and secondary
maximum. [3 Marks]
d) With the aid of diagrams, explain what you understand by the term beamwidth and how it
can be measured practically. [4 Marks]

QUESTION FOUR [20 MARKS]

a) Briefly explain the significance of matching in antenna systems. How can an antenna and
load of unequal impedances be correctly matched? [3 Marks]
b) i) Discuss how a parabolic reflector antenna is suitable for its practical applications in
wireless telecommunication systems. [3 Marks]
ii) What design considerations are taken into account to minimize the losses in parabolic
reflector antennas? [3 Marks]

c) A bi-static radar system uses an antenna having a gain of 45 𝑑𝐵 and a receiver sensitivity
of 7 𝑑𝐵𝑊. Find the maximum range for the detection of a 0.1 𝑚2 target if the transmit power
is 2 𝑀𝑊 and the operating frequency is 9 𝐺𝐻𝑧. [3 Marks]

TEL3112: RADIOWAVE PROPAGATION & ANTENNAS BSc. ELE & TEL ENG. Year 3 Semester 1 Examination Page 2/4
d) Describe briefly the design and operation of the following antennas, highlighting their
suitability for their respective applications:
i) Yagi-Uda antenna. [4 Marks]
ii) Broadcast antenna. [4 Marks]

QUESTION FIVE (20 MARKS)

a) Fading is a key concern of mobile radio networks.
i) Explain why fading is dependent on mobility and frequency of operation for the radio
network. [3 Marks]
ii) Describe one technique that can be employed to mitigate fading. [2 Marks]
b) Describe the major propagation mechanisms of radio waves in wireless communications
networks. [6 Marks]

c) Discuss the factors that affect the following terms in relation to sky waves:
i) Skip distance. [3 Marks]
ii) Critical frequency. [3 Marks]
d) Explain why it is possible to easily listen to far away commercial Amplitude Modulated (AM)
radio stations during the night than day time. [3 Marks]

QUESTION SIX (20 MARKS)

a) Describe an experiment to measure the path loss exponent n in a cellular system. What
parameters would you log and how would you extract the path loss exponent from the
acquired data? [5 Marks]
b) A 900 𝑀𝐻𝑧 GSM base station operates with an effective isotropic radiated power of
20 𝑊𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠. The mobile handset operates down to a minimum RF signal level of -100 dBm
and the typical in-building loss is 20 𝑑𝐵. If the handset antenna gain is −2 𝑑𝐵𝑖, calculate the
maximum cell radius for in-building coverage assuming a path loss exponent of 3.5.
[5 Marks]
c) Draw a typical link budget for a mobile phone connection. Given knowledge of the minimum
signal to noise ratio, show how this link budget can be used to determine the maximum
tolerable path loss. [4 Marks]
d) Briefly describe two receive diversity schemes that can be used to improve the performance
of a data modem in a multipath fading channel. Why do the diversity signals have to be
uncorrelated? [6 Marks]

- END -

TEL3112: RADIOWAVE PROPAGATION & ANTENNAS BSc. ELE & TEL ENG. Year 3 Semester 1 Examination Page 3/4
 Vector Differential Operations

Gradient:
f f f
Rectangular: f  ax  ay  az
x x z
f 1 f f
Cylindrical: f  a  a  a z
   z

f 1 f 1 f
Spherical: f  ar  a  a
r r  r sin  

Divergence:
Ax Ay Az
Rectangular:  A   
x y z
1  1 A Az
Cylindrical:   A   A   
      z

1  2  1  1 A
Spherical:  A   r A    A sin  

r 2  r  r sin     r sin  
r 

Curl:
 A Ay   A A   A A 
Rectangular:   A   z  a x   x  z a y   y  x a z
 y z   z x   x y 

 1 Az A   A A  1 A 

Cylindrical:   A    a      z a    A     a z
   z   z       
Spherical:

 A 
1 
 A sin    A a r  1  1 Ar   rA a  1   rA   Ar a
r sin      r  sin   r  r  r  

Laplacian:
2 f 2 f 2 f
Rectangular: 2 f   
x 2 y 2 z 2

1   f  1  2 f  2 f
Cylindrical: 2 f    
      2  2 z 2

1   2 f  1   f  1  2 f 
 f  2 r  2  sin   2  2 
2
Spherical:
r r  r  r sin      r sin 2    

TEL3112: RADIOWAVE PROPAGATION & ANTENNAS BSc. ELE & TEL ENG. Year 3 Semester 1 Examination Page 4/4