Effective antenna selection and deployment strategies are important for reducing co-channel interference in indoor wireless systems. Low-cost solutions are essential, and strategies that utilise simple antennas (such as directional patches) are advantageous from this perspective. However, performance is always an issue and the improvements achievable through clever antenna deployment need to be quantified. In this thesis, an experimental investigation of indoor propagation comparing the performance of directional antennas and multiple-element arrays (MEAs) with omni-directional antennas is reported. Estimation of the performance of a direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) system operating in a variety of deployment scenarios allows the identification of a range of performance-limiting factors and the optimal deployment strategies. It is shown that the orientation of single-element directional antennas can significantly impact on system performance compared to omni-directional antennas in traditional systems. The deployment of MEAs with an active diversity combining scheme can further improve system performance by more than one order of magnitude. From the perspective of system planning, the choice of antenna selection and deployment options depends on the current and future demand for system performance and the financial resources available. An evolutionary path has been proposed to provide a smooth transition from conventional (low-cost) to high-performance (high-cost) antenna systems as demand dictates. Other performance-limiting factors in indoor wireless systems include the physical environment and external interference. It is also shown that electromagnetically-opaque obstacles in the environment can amplify the effectiveness of the antenna deployment by acting as physical zone boundaries that restrict interference. External interference has been shown to cause a significant degradation to the performance of an indoor system when the carrier-to-external-interference ratio (CEIR) is below 30 dB. This performance degradation can be minimised by appropriate antenna deployment, although the optimum antenna orientations depends on the strength of the external interference.

Effective antenna selection and deployment strategies are important for reducing co-channel interference in indoor wireless systems. Low-cost solutions are essential, and strategies that utilise simple antennas (such as directional patches) are advantageous from this perspective. However, performance is always an issue and the improvements achievable through clever antenna deployment need to be quantified. In this thesis, an experimental investigation of indoor propagation comparing the performance of directional antennas and multiple-element arrays (MEAs) with omni-directional antennas is reported. Estimation of the performance of a direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) system operating in a variety of deployment scenarios allows the identification of a range of performance-limiting factors and the optimal deployment strategies. It is shown that the orientation of single-element directional antennas can significantly impact on system performance compared to omni-directional antennas in traditional systems. The deployment of MEAs with an active diversity combining scheme can further improve system performance by more than one order of magnitude. From the perspective of system planning, the choice of antenna selection and deployment options depends on the current and future demand for system performance and the financial resources available. An evolutionary path has been proposed to provide a smooth transition from conventional (low-cost) to high-performance (high-cost) antenna systems as demand dictates. Other performance-limiting factors in indoor wireless systems include the physical environment and external interference. It is also shown that electromagnetically-opaque obstacles in the environment can amplify the effectiveness of the antenna deployment by acting as physical zone boundaries that restrict interference. External interference has been shown to cause a significant degradation to the performance of an indoor system when the carrier-to-external-interference ratio (CEIR) is below 30 dB. This performance degradation can be minimised by appropriate antenna deployment, although the optimum antenna orientations depends on the strength of the external interference.

Effective antenna selection and deployment strategies are important for reducing co-channel interference in indoor wireless systems. Low-cost solutions are essential, and strategies that utilise simple antennas (such as directional patches) are advantageous from this perspective. However, performance is always an issue and the improvements achievable through clever antenna deployment need to be quantified. In this thesis, an experimental investigation of indoor propagation comparing the performance of directional antennas and multiple-element arrays (MEAs) with omni-directional antennas is reported. Estimation of the performance of a direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) system operating in a variety of deployment scenarios allows the identification of a range of performance-limiting factors and the optimal deployment strategies. It is shown that the orientation of single-element directional antennas can significantly impact on system performance compared to omni-directional antennas in traditional systems. The deployment of MEAs with an active diversity combining scheme can further improve system performance by more than one order of magnitude. From the perspective of system planning, the choice of antenna selection and deployment options depends on the current and future demand for system performance and the financial resources available. An evolutionary path has been proposed to provide a smooth transition from conventional (low-cost) to high-performance (high-cost) antenna systems as demand dictates. Other performance-limiting factors in indoor wireless systems include the physical environment and external interference. It is also shown that electromagnetically-opaque obstacles in the environment can amplify the effectiveness of the antenna deployment by acting as physical zone boundaries that restrict interference. External interference has been shown to cause a significant degradation to the performance of an indoor system when the carrier-to-external-interference ratio (CEIR) is below 30 dB. This performance degradation can be minimised by appropriate antenna deployment, although the optimum antenna orientations depends on the strength of the external interference.

Effective antenna selection and deployment strategies are important for reducing co-channel interference in indoor wireless systems. Low-cost solutions are essential, and strategies that utilise simple antennas (such as directional patches) are advantageous from this perspective. However, performance is always an issue and the improvements achievable through clever antenna deployment need to be quantified. In this thesis, an experimental investigation of indoor propagation comparing the performance of directional antennas and multiple-element arrays (MEAs) with omni-directional antennas is reported. Estimation of the performance of a direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) system operating in a variety of deployment scenarios allows the identification of a range of performance-limiting factors and the optimal deployment strategies. It is shown that the orientation of single-element directional antennas can significantly impact on system performance compared to omni-directional antennas in traditional systems. The deployment of MEAs with an active diversity combining scheme can further improve system performance by more than one order of magnitude. From the perspective of system planning, the choice of antenna selection and deployment options depends on the current and future demand for system performance and the financial resources available. An evolutionary path has been proposed to provide a smooth transition from conventional (low-cost) to high-performance (high-cost) antenna systems as demand dictates. Other performance-limiting factors in indoor wireless systems include the physical environment and external interference. It is also shown that electromagnetically-opaque obstacles in the environment can amplify the effectiveness of the antenna deployment by acting as physical zone boundaries that restrict interference. External interference has been shown to cause a significant degradation to the performance of an indoor system when the carrier-to-external-interference ratio (CEIR) is below 30 dB. This performance degradation can be minimised by appropriate antenna deployment, although the optimum antenna orientations depends on the strength of the external interference.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is about the design, simulation and measuring of ultra wide band antennas for use in the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). The SKA is a radio astronomy project with one of the aims of detecting hydrogen particles in deep space. Several thousand antennas over a wide band of frequencies are needed to receive the radiation from these particles. This motivates the need for a low-cost ultra wide band antenna with the focus on the low frequency part of the SKA. In this thesis we present two design strategies: The first design strategy is for a printed LPDA on a substrate and design curves are generated. A scale model was built and measurements did not correlate with simulation results. This is due to manufacturing tolerances and assembly of the pyramidal structure. The second design strategy is for a full scale zig-zag antenna and design curves were also generated. The aim here is to produce a low-cost prototype by using brazing rods for the wire structure and mount it on a wooden frame. A full scale model was built and measurements on the roof produced much interference for the radiation pattern, but the reflection coefficient was good. We suggest doing measurements in an interference free environment in order to achieve the needed results. To conclude we suggest using the zig-zag antenna for the SKA. Some issues do however need more attention as the transformer has some losses, the cross polarisation is probably not good enough and the beamwidth does not reach the specification. We demonstrated a low cost prototype and there is the possibility of low-cost large scale manufacturing but this needs to be addressed. This has however not been analysed as many factors for large scale manufacturing are very difficult to predict beforehand and lies outside the scope of this thesis. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis gaan oor die ontwerp, simulasie en opmeting van ultrawyebandantennas vir gebruik in die SKA ("Square Kilometre Array"). Die SKA is ’n radioastronomie projek met die doel om waterstof partikels op te spoor in die ruimte. Duisende antennas wat oor ’n wye band van frekwensies strek is nodig om die energie van die partikels op te vang. Hieruit is daar ’n aanvraag vir lae-koste ultrawyebandantennas met die fokus op die lae frekwensie deel van die SKA. In hierdie tesis word twee ontwerpstrategieë voorgestel: Die eerste ontwerpstrategie is vir ’n gedrukte logaritmies periodiese dipool reeks (LPDR) op ’n substraat tesame met ontwerpskurwes wat gegenereer word. ’n Skaal model is gebou en die gemete resultate stem nie ooreen met die simulasie nie. Dit kan toegeskryf word aan vervaardigingstoleransies en die aanmekaar sit van die piramide struktuur. Die tweede ontwerpstrategie is vir ’n vol skaal sigsag ("zig-zag") antenna met ontwerpskurwes wat ook gegenereer word. Die doel is om ’n lae-koste prototipe te bou deur sweissoldeerdraad te gebruik vir die draadstruktuur en dan op ’n hout raam te plaas. ’n Vol skaal model is gebou en metings op die dak het baie interferensie veroorsaak vir die stralingsveld, maar tog was die weerkaatskoëffisient goed. Ons stel voor om die metings te herhaal in ’n steuringvrye omgewing om sodoende die korrekte resultate te verkry. Om af te sluit stel ons voor om die sigsag antenna vir die SKA te gebruik. Sekere kwessies soos die transformator wat verlieserig is, die kruispolarisasie wat moontlik nie goed genoeg is nie en die bundelwydte wat nie die spesifikasie haal nie moet nog aandag geniet. Ons het ’n lae-koste prototipe gedemonstreer en daar is die moontlikheid om dit op grootskaalse vervaardiging ook goedkoop te doen, maar dit moet nog uigesorteer word. Dit was wel nie geanaliseer nie, siende dat vele faktore ’n rol speel by grootskaalse vervaardiging wat uiters moeilik is om voor die tyd te voorspel en buite die omvang van die tesis lê.

Les études montrent généralement que la partie radio est l'une des plus grandes sources de consommation d'énergie dans un nœud de capteur. Cette source de consommation est directement liée au type d’antenne utilisé sur le module radio du nœud. Or, nombre de nœuds de capteurs sans fil sont généralement équipés d'antennes omnidirectionnelles provoquant ainsi un gaspillage de l'énergie dû à leur rayonnement. Face à un tel constat, ce mémoire présente des systèmes d'antennes directives et reconfigurables dédiés à ces nœuds capteurs en lieu et place des antennes omnidirectionnelles pour pallier à cette perte d’énergie. Il s’agit de petites antennes qui doivent respecter pleinement la gamme de fréquences nécessaire pour fonctionner correctement, mais aussi, dont le rayonnement peut être modifié en utilisant des composants actifs peu gourmands en énergie avec un contrôle actif qui doit également être simple. La première solution proposée est une solution antennaire directive inspirée d'une antenne imprimée Yagi/Uda dans la bande ISM-2,4 GHz. Elle offre, en simulation, un gain élevé avec une valeur de 7,3dB et un angle d’ouverture à -3dB de 57 ° dans le plan azimutal. La deuxième solution proposée est une antenne à plusieurs faisceaux (six) possibles dans le plan azimutal. Celle-ci se compose de six monopôles identiques, ayant chacun un port d’alimentation. De par la sélection du port alimenté, un diagramme directif de gain simulé de 4,6 dB et d’angle d’ouverture à -3dB de 55° est obtenu, permettant ainsi une couverture globale du plan azimutal. De plus, une carte électronique dotée d’un switch de type SP6T dédiée à cette antenne a été conçue pour contrôler ces six diagrammes de rayonnement de manière automatique. Afin de réduire le nombre d'éléments rayonnants tout en améliorant les performances radio électriques obtenues, une troisième solution a été proposée. Elle se compose d'un monopôle alimenté et d'un monopôle parasite chargé par une inductance de 9,6 nH. La nature et la valeur de la charge ont été obtenues en utilisant les équations d'Uzkov qui permettent de calculer les coefficients de pondérations dans le cas de deux antennes monopôles alimentées séparément afin de maximiser le gain et la directivité dans une direction privilégiée. Contrairement à l’usage de la carte électronique pour le contrôle de diagramme de rayonnement dans le cas de la structure antennaire à six monopôles, l’aspect reconfigurable en diagramme est obtenu dans ce cas en utilisant des éléments réflecteurs et directeurs activés par des diodes PIN. Elle procure en simulation un gain maximal de 5,2 dB en azimut pour un angle d’ouverture à -3dB de 52°, dans les directions 90° et 270° selon les diodes sélectionnées. Enfin, une application directe de cette structure est proposée pour couvrir plus de deux directions en azimut. Elle consiste en un ensemble de quatre monopôles dans lequel deux d’entre eux sont alimentés et les deux autres sont chargés par des inductances identiques. Il est capable de diriger son rayonnement dans le plan azimutal couvrant des directions sur 360 ° (0 °, 90 °, 180 ° et 270 °). Le gain total réalisé simulé est de 4 dB pour chaque diagramme de rayonnement dans le plan azimutal avec un angle d’ouverture à 3dB d’environ 60°. Des campagnes de mesures ont été effectuées pour chacune des antennes présentées dans ce mémoire. L’indicateur de la puissance du signal reçu (RSSI) a été la grandeur métrique utilisée pour quantifier les performances des antennes proposées. Suite à ces campagnes, nous avons pu remarquer que l’utilisation d’antennes directives seules, améliorant la portée de communication entre deux nœuds de capteurs s’avère insuffisante dans le cas d’un déploiement aléatoire de nœuds capteurs. / Studies have shown that the communication subsystem is one of the greatest sources of energy consumption in wireless sensor networks. This subsystem is directly bounded to the type of antenna used on the radio module. Several sensor nodes are equipped with omnidirectional antennas leading to a waste of energy due to the shape of their beam. Instead of using omnidirectional antennas, directive and reconfigurable antennas system dedicated to wireless sensor networks are presented in this work so as to alleviate the waste of energy. On one hand, such dedicated antennae should be small in size and particularly designed by taking into consideration the frequency bandwidth of the node. On the other hand, their radiation pattern should also be reconfigurable by using powerless active components with a simple active control. To reach these objectives, we have in a first time proposed a directive solution inspired of a Printed-Yagi antenna in the ISM band (2.4-2.485) GHz. It provides high gain with a value of 7.3dB and a half power beam width BW−3dB of 57° in the azimuth plane. Secondly, we have proposed a multiple directional antenna in the ISM band. This antenna consists of six identical monopole antennas arranged in the same structure, having each one feeding port. Due to the selection of each feeding port, the proposed antenna covers the whole azimuthal plane with a simulated beam of 4.6 dB along with a half power beam width BW−3dB of 55°. Moreover, an electronic card equipped with an SP6T switch dedicated to that antenna has been developed to control the radiation pattern of the six identical antennas automatically. Willing to reduce the number of radiating elements while enhancing the radio performance, a third antenna has been proposed. It consists of a fed monopole and a loaded parasitic one having an inductance component of 9.6nH. The nature and the value of this inductance are obtained using the Uzkov equations that calculate the current weighting coefficients in the case of two separately fed antennas to maximize the gain and the directivity in the desired direction. Contrary to the use of electronic card in the control of radiation pattern prior to the conception of the third antenna, the reconfigurable aspect is obtained by using reflectors and director’s elements activated by PIN diodes. It offers a maximum gain of 5.2 dB in simulation at 2.4GHz along with a half power beam width BW−3dB of 52°, in both the 270° and +90° azimuthal directions depending on the selection of the set of PIN diodes. Finally, a straight application of this structure has been proposed in order to cover more than two directions in the azimuth plane. It is an array of four monopole antennas in which two of them are fed and the two others are loaded. Such antenna is capable to steer its radiation pattern in the azimuth plane covering 360° directions (0°, 90°, 180° and 270°). The achieved simulated realized total gain is 4 dB for each radiation pattern in the azimuth plane along with a half power beam width of about 60°. Measurement campaign test has been carried out for each proposed antenna in this work. During these measurements, the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) has been the paramount value to estimate the antenna performance in connection with the sensor node. Following this measurement campaign, we have been able to notice that the use of only directive antennas is not sufficient in a random deployment of sensor nodes. Hence, the reconfigurable aspect of the beam pattern by use of powerless active components should be taken into consideration. Such kind of antennas provide an improvement of the RSSI, which is a key factor in the reduction of collisions drastically on one hand, and on the other hand related to a reduction of power consumption