Conical Horn Antenna Gain Calculator

What is conical horn antenna?

Conical horn antenna

A conical horn antenna is a type of horn antenna which has a cone shape metallic structure. It is used to transmit radio waves from a circular waveguide (circular shape metal pipe to carry RF waves) into space or capture the radio waves into the circular waveguide during the receiving mode. The shape of conical horn antenna provides a gradual transition structure to match the impedance of the waveguide to the impedance of free space, enabling the waves from the waveguide to radiate efficiently into space or receive radio waves efficiently from the space during receiving mode. 

This antenna can operate in wide frequency range above 300 MHz to GHz range and has high directivity and gain. These antennas are ideal as feed antennas for larger antenna structures such as parabolic antennas, used as directive antennas for radar guns, satellite & microwave communication, electromagnetic interference measurement, and more.

What is the gain of the conical horn antenna?

The gain of the conical horn antenna represents the maximum radiation intensity in a given direction (or absorption of incident power from that direction) when compared with a theoretical isotropic antenna. An isotropic antenna (theoretical antenna) would radiate out RF waves equally in all directions with the same intensity. 

Conical horn antenna cross-section

The gain of the conical horn antenna can be calculated by the following formula.

Where:

Gain (dB) = Gain of the conical horn antenna in dB (i.e., decibels)

π = 3.14

d = Diameter of the aperture in cm/inch/mm/metre

eA = Efficiency of the aperture (between 0 and 1)

 λ = Wavelength of radio wave in mm/cm/µm/metre