Advantages of Loop Antenna | disadvantages of Loop Antenna

This page covers advantages and disadvantages of Loop Antenna. It mentions Loop Antenna advantages or benefits and Loop Antenna disadvantages or drawbacks. It also describes Loop Antenna basics.

What is Loop Antenna?

Introduction:
The loop antenna is made of single or multiple turns with circular or rectangular shape as shown in the figure-1. It has dimension less than a wavelength so that current throughout the loop remains in phase. The loop antenna is surrounded by magnetic field (H) and perpendicular to the loop everywhere.

The radiation pattern of loop antenna is identical to elementary doublet as shown in the figure-2. Hence no radiation is received which is normal to the plane of the loop antenna. It is used for direction finding application. Refer Antenna tutorial >> and antenna types >>.

Benefits or advantages of Loop Antenna

Following are the benefits or advantages of Loop Antenna:
➨It is light in weight.
➨It is simple and compact in structure.
➨It is economical.
➨It is suitable for portable applications such as direction finding etc.
➨It is available in large varieties viz. adcock antenna, alford loop, cloverleaf antenna, Bellini-Tosi antenna etc.

Drawbacks or disadvantages of Loop Antenna

Following are the disadvantages of Loop Antenna:
➨Small loops have poor efficiency and hence are mainly used as receiving antenna at lower frequencies.
➨Small loop antennas have very low value of radiation resistance. This results into power loss as heat due to flow of current with high levels. Hence large loop antennas are preferred over smaller ones.

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