The Effect of Antenna Size and Height above Ground on Pointing for Maximum Signal

During April, 1947, the Electrical Engineering Research Laboratory of The University of Texas made measurements of the variation of signal strength and phase of 3.2-centimeter radio waves with heights up to 200 feet for a 27-mile desert path in Arizona. This paper presents the results of a study of the vertical angles-of-arrival which would be indicated by pointing antennas of various sizes and at various heights for maximum signal strength in three of these measured fields. A comparison is also made of the response of the antennas for various angles of tilt in these measured fields with the response of the antennas in an assumed field made up of two plane waves components.