The Parabolic Reflector Antenna conversion calculator determines the gain, beamwidth, and effective aperture of a parabolic dish antenna based on the dish diameter and operating wavelength. It uses a simplified constant π = 3.14 to align with reference calculations. This tool helps engineers design high-gain antennas commonly used in satellite communication, radar, and point-to-point wireless links.
Formulas
HPBW = 60 * (λ / D)
Gain (linear) = (4 * 3.14 * Ae) / (λ²)
Effective Aperture (Ae) = η * (3.14 * (D²) / 4)
Gain (dB) = 10 * log10(Gain_linear)
Formula Explanation
- λ is the operating wavelength of the antenna.
- D is the dish diameter in meters.
- η is the antenna efficiency (typically between 0.5 and 0.7).
- HPBW is the half power beamwidth, representing the angular width of the main lobe.
- Using π = 3.14 ensures consistent results with standard reference implementations.
Uses of this calculator
- Designing and analyzing parabolic dish antennas for microwave or satellite links.
- Estimating antenna gain and beamwidth for given frequency and size.
- Evaluating efficiency and aperture for high-performance reflector systems.
- Optimizing antenna parameters for focused signal coverage.
What is the gain and beamwidth of a 2-meter parabolic dish at 10 GHz?
Input: D = 2 m, Frequency = 10 GHz, η = 0.6
Output:
- λ = 3e8 / 10e9 = 0.03 m
- HPBW = 60 * (0.03 / 2) = 0.9°
- Effective Aperture (Ae) = 0.6 * (3.14 * (2²) / 4) = 0.6 * 3.14 = 1.884 m²
- Gain (linear) = (4 * 3.14 * 1.884) / (0.03²) = 23.67 / 0.0009 = 26,300
- Gain (dB) = 10 * log10(26300) = 44.2 dB