The performance of transistor fed monopoles in active antennas

The performance of radiating elements in the form of monopoles and driven by transistors is examined theoretically and experimentally. A single element comprising a printed monopole over a ground plane and fed at its terminals by a microwave transistor is shown to have superior frequency characteristics compared to the passive element. Using a two-element array configuration, it is verified that the mutual impedance values are suppressed. The improved individual characteristics of the active elements together with their mutual behavior combine to produce a significantly improved frequency performance of the array. The results presented suggest that the transistorized array principle offers a means both of maintaining directivity of a transmitter, and discriminating against interfering sources by a receiver, over a greater frequency band.