Antenna Radiation Patterns

A great collection of animated GIFs showing how different antenna types radiate electromagnetic energy. These visualizations make it intuitive to understand why different antenna designs are used for different purposes.

Common Antenna Types

• Dipole — Omnidirectional donut-shaped pattern, the fundamental antenna type
• Yagi-Uda — Directional beam (like a TV antenna), uses driven element + parasitic elements
• Parabolic dish — Highly focused beam, used for satellite and point-to-point links
• Phased array — Electronically steerable beam, used in radar and 5G
• Helical — Circular polarization, used for satellite communication
• Horn — Moderate directivity, used as feed for dish antennas

Why It Matters

The radiation pattern determines:

• Coverage area — omnidirectional vs. directional
• Gain — how much energy is focused in a particular direction
• Polarization — linear vs. circular
• Application fit — broadcasting, point-to-point, mobile, satellite