Pyramidal Standard-Gain Horn antenna/ Standard-Gain Horns

Applications

Accurate antenna gain measurements are essential in a wide range of applications

such as satellite communications, remote sensing, electromagnetic compatibility measurements,

and radar.

To evaluate the gain of an antenna, it is customary to compare

its performance against a well-calibrated “standard.” So-called standard-gain horns are

used for this purpose.

A standard-gain horn antenna can be used to

1. standard for calibrating other antennas

2. feed for reflectors and lenses

3. pickup (probe) horn for sampling power

4. receiving and/or transmitting antenna.

What is Pyramidal Standard-Gain Horn antenna

The most common type of horn used as a standard-gain horn is the pyramidal horn

shown in the figure below

The rectangular geometry of this horn

enables easy manufacture and results in a low-cost antenna.

The key specifications to choose a standard-gain horn antenna

The fields radiated by a pyramidal horn

The fields radiated by a pyramidal horn, as given by the figure below, are valid for all angles of observation.

Directivity

Directivity is one of the parameters that is often used as a figure of merit to

describe the performance of an antenna. To find the directivity, the maximum radiation

is formed.

The overall performance of an antenna system can often be judged by its beamwidth

and/or its directivity.

Gain

Gains of the pyramidal horn which were measured, provided by RFecho, The amplitude patterns of the horn are shown in the figure below.