HELICAL ANTENNAS

Presented by :
- Ankur Soni (10/IEC/007)
- Girik Pachauri (10/IEC/016)
- Satyendra Singh (10/IEC/049)
- Avinash Kumar (10/IEC/062)

A helical antenna is an
antenna consisting of a
conducting wire wound in
the form of a helix. In most
cases, helical antennas are
mounted over a ground
plane. The feed line is
connected between the
bottom of the helix and the
ground plane.

INTRODUCTION

Helical

antennas

can

operate in one of two

principal modes :

Normal Mode
Axial Mode

OPERATIONAL MODES

In the normal mode or broadside helix, the dimensions of

the helix (the diameter and the pitch) are small compared
with the wavelength. The antenna acts similarly to an
electrically short dipole or monopole, and the radiation
pattern, similar to these antennas is omnidirectional, with
maximum radiation at right angles to the helix axis. The

radiation is linearly polarised parallel to the helix axis.

NORMAL MODE

They are usually wound in a linear "spiroidal" pattern

(constant parallel spaced turns) providing consistent uniform

radiation as a reduced sized equivalent in respect to the

standard 1/4 wave antenna.

An effect of this type of concertinaed 'reduced size 1/4 wave'

is that the matching impedance is changed from the nominal
50 ohms to between 25 to 35 ohms base impedance.

OPERATION & CONSTRUCTION

An example of the type as used in mobile communications is

"spaced constant turn" in which two or more different linear
windings are wound on a single former and spaced so as to
provide an efficient balance between capacitance and
inductance for the radiating element at a particular resonant
frequency.

A common form of
normal-mode

helical

antenna is the Rubber

Ducky antenna used in

portable

radios.

The

loading provided by the

helix allows the antenna
to be shorter than its
electrical length of a
quarter-wavelength.

1. They are typically used for applications where reduced size is

a critical operational factor.
2. These simple and practical "Helicals" were primarily designed
to replace very large antennas.
3. Their reduced size is therefore most suitable for Mobile and

Portable High-frequency (HF) communications in the 1 MHz

to 30 MHz operating range.

ADVANTAGES

In the axial mode or end-fire helix, the dimensions of the helix

are comparable to a wavelength. The antenna functions as a
directional antenna radiating a beam off the ends of the helix,

along the antenna's axis. It radiates circularly polarised radio

waves.

The main lobes of the radiation pattern are along the axis of the
helix, off both ends.

AXIAL MODE

Helical antenna for

WLAN communication,
working frequency app.
2.4 GHz

Axial Antenna

Since in a directional antenna only radiation in one direction

is wanted, the other end of the helix is terminated in a flat
metal sheet or screen reflector to reflect the waves forward.
The helix in the antenna can twist in two possible directions:
right-handed or left-handed, as defined by the right hand rule.
In an axial-mode helical antenna the direction of twist of the
helix determines the polarisation of the radio waves: a lefthanded helix radiates left-circularly-polarised radio waves, a
right-handed helix radiates right-circularly-polarised radio
waves.

OPERATION & CONSTRUCTION

Helical antennas can receive signals with any type of

linear polarisation, such as horizontal or vertical
polarisation, but when receiving circularly polarised
signals the handedness of the receiving antenna must
be the same as the transmitting antenna; left-hand

polarised antennas suffer a severe loss of gain when

receiving right-circularly-polarised signals, and vice

versa.

The dimensions of the helix are determined by the

wavelength of the radio waves used, which depends on the
frequency. In axial-mode operation, the spacing between the
coils should be approximately one-quarter of the wavelength
(/4), and the diameter of the coils should be approximately
the wavelength divided by pi (/).
B : Centre Support
C : Coaxial Cable Feedline
E : Spacers/supports for the helix
R : Reflector ground plane
S : Helical Element
Axial Mode Helical Antenna

The parameters of the helix antenna are defined below.

D - Diameter of a turn on the helix antenna.
C - Circumference of a turn on the helix antenna
(C=pi*D).

S - Vertical separation between turns for helical antenna.

- pitch angle, which controls how far the helix antenna
grows in the z-direction per turn, and is given by
N - Number of turns on the helix antenna. H - Total height
of helix antenna, H=NS.

PARAMETERS

 The input impedance is primarily real and can be

approximated in Ohms by :
The axial ratio for helix antennas decreases as the number
of loops N is added, and can be approximated by :
The gain of the helix antenna can be approximated by :
The Half-Power Beamwidth for helical antennas can be
approximated (in degrees) by :

Advantages :

Overall length/height of antenna is reduced.

They can be easily constructed.
They produce circularly polarized fields.

Disadvantages :
Poor reception and transmission properties.
Bandwidth is too narrow for cellular communication.

ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES

 Global Positioning Systems (GPS).

Wireless LAN.
Satellite communication.
Animal tracking.
Dual ISM (Industry Scientific & Medical) bands.

APPLICATIONS

THANK YOU