Antenna Types: Horn, Parabolic
Reflector, and Slot
Antennas
A Comprehensive Study of Working Principles, Advantages, Disadvantages,
and Applications
Technical
Presentation
August 27, 2025
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IEEE Technical Antenna Types
Table of Contents
1 7 Construction &
Introduction Types
8 Advantages &
Horn
Disadvantages
Antenna 9 Applications &
2 Definition &
Principle Usage
3 Construction & Slot
Types Antenna
4 Advantages & 10 Definition &
Disadvantages Principle
5 Applications & 11 Construction, Advantages &
Usage Applications
Parabolic Reflector 12 Comparison & Application
Antenna Guidelines
6 Definition &
Principle
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IEEE Technical Antenna Types
Introduction to
Antenna Types
Antennas are essential components in wireless communication systems, transforming electrical
signals into electromagnetic waves and vice versa. This presentation explores three fundamental
antenna types with distinct characteristics and applications:
Horn Antenna Parabolic Reflector Antenna
Aperture antenna designed for microwave High-gain antenna using parabolic shape to
frequencies (300 MHz–30 GHz), featuring flared focus waves for long-distance communication,
waveguide structure for directional transmission. common in satellite dishes and radio
telescopes.
Slot Antenna
Aperture antenna formed by a cut in a conductive surface, operating at frequencies from 300 MHz to 30
GHz. Complementary to dipole antennas in principle.
This presentation will examine each antenna type's working principles, advantages, disadvantages,
and appropriate applications to guide selection for specific use cases.
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Horn Antenna: Definition & Working Principle
Definition
A horn antenna is an aperture antenna
with a flared waveguide structure, designed
for microwave frequencies (300 MHz–30
GHz).
Working Principle
1 Electromagnetic waves travel through a
waveguide Horn Antenna Basic
2 The flared section creates a gradual Structure
transition from waveguide to free space
3 Flaring improves impedance matching
(≈377Ω) with free space
4 Reduces reflections and increases
directivity
Horn Antenna: Construction
& Types
Horn antennas are constructed by flaring the end of a waveguide to create a gradual
transition between the waveguide and free space, improving impedance matching and
directivity.
Pyramidal Horn Conical Horn
Formed by flaring both sides of Created by flaring a circular
a rectangular waveguide. waveguide into a cone shape.
Pyramidal Conical
Provides good directivity and Used with circular waveguides
commonly used with rectangular and provides symmetrical
waveguides for linearly radiation pattern, suitable for
polarized waves. circular polarization.
Sectoral Horn (E-plane) Sectoral Horn (H-plane)
E-plane Only the E-field plane walls are Only the H-field plane walls are
flared, producing a fan-shaped H-plane
flared, creating a beam that is
beam that is narrow in the E- narrow in the H- plane but wide in
plane but wide in the H- plane. the E-plane. Often used as feed
Used in radar and scanning elements for larger antennas.
applications.
Horn Antenna: Advantages & Disadvantages
Radiatio
n
Advanta Disadvanta
●
gesbandwidth operation (no resonant
Wide ●
ges gain (typically around 20 dB) without
Limited
elements) excessive size
● Simple design, construction and adjustment ● Radiates in spherical wavefront pattern (not as
directive as parabolic reflectors)
● Low standing wave ratio (SWR)
● Moderate directivity and better gain than
● Size and weight constraints for high gain
waveguide alone applications
● Flare dimensions must be adequately large
● Good impedance matching with free space (can make antenna bulky)
● Stable performance across frequency range ● Directivity depends significantly on flare
angle design
The optimal design of a horn antenna balances these factors based on specific application
requirements.
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IEEE Technical Page 6 | Horn Antenna: Advantages &
Horn Antenna: Applications &
Situational Usage
Feed for Parabolic Reflectors Laboratory Reference
Primary application as feed elements for large Standard reference antennas for calibration,
parabolic reflector antennas in satellite dishes testing, and measurement in microwave
and radio telescopes laboratories
Radar Systems
Satellite Communications
Used in weather radar, marine radar, and
Critical component in ground stations and
speed enforcement systems for directional
spacecraft for reliable long-distance signal
transmission and reception
transmission and reception
Microwave Applications
Radio Astronomy
Utilized in point-to-point communication links,
Used in radio telescopes for astronomical
wireless local area networks, and other
observations, capturing weak signals from
microwave frequency systems
distant celestial bodies
When to choose Horn Antennas: Ideal for applications requiring moderate gain (15-20
dB), wide bandwidth operation, and when a simple, reliable antenna design is needed
Parabolic Reflector Antenna: Definition & Working
Principle
Definition
A parabolic reflector antenna uses a
curved parabolic surface to direct radio
waves into a focused beam. Operational
frequency is above 1 MHz, making it
ideal for radio and wireless applications.
Fundamental Property: All waves
originating from the focal point reflect in a
main axis,parallel
direction creatingto athe
collimated Geometry of a parabolic reflector showing focus (F), vertex
beam. (V), and ray paths
Key Parameter: f/D ratio (focal length to
aperture size) - typically ranges from 0.25
to 0.50, affecting performance
characteristics.
Parabolic Reflector Antenna:
Construction & Types
Prime Focus Cassegrain Gregorian
Configuration Configuration Configuration
Feed at focus (conventional) Hyperboloid sub-reflector Ellipsoidal sub-reflector
Key construction
parameters:
0.25 to 0.50 (focal length to aperture
f/D ratio: Surface: Parabolic shape for collimating
diameter ratio) wavefront
Horn antenna, dipole, or Sub- Hyperbolic (Cassegrain) or
Fee
d: waveguide at focus elliptical reflector: (Gregorian)
Parabolic Reflector Antenna: Advantages &
Disadvantages
Advantages
• Very high gain and directivity
• Low sidelobe levels, minimal power
wastage
• Adjustable beamwidth through reflector
design
• Flexibility in feed element positioning
• Exceptional radiation performance
•Large physical size and complex mechanical
Disadvantages Practical f/D ratio typically ranges from 0.25 to
design 0.50 for optimal performance
• Critical feed alignment required for optimal
performance
• Feed blockage in axis-fed designs reduces
Focu
efficiency s
• Surface distortions in large dishes affect
Slot Antenna: Definition, Principle, Advantages,
Disadvantages, and Applications
Definition
• An aperture antenna formed by a slot or cut in a
conductive surface
• Operates at 300 MHz to 30 GHz (UHF and SHF
ranges)
• Available in various shapes: rectangular, circular,
etc.
Working Principle Advantages
• Based on Babinet's principle of complementary
• Economical • Easy
structures
• Electromagnetic fields excited across the slot approach integration
• Wideband • Directional
radiate energy
• Complementary to dipole antenna (E and H fields performance patterns
• Can be • Simple
interchanged)
• Radiation pattern is concealed fabrication
omnidirectional
Types Disadvanta
• Linear slot ges • Limited
antenna • Lower gain
•
Comparison & Application Guidelines
Characteristic Horn Antenna Parabolic Reflector Slot Antenna
Gain Moderate (8-20 dB) Very High (30-45 dB) Low to Moderate (2-15 dB)
Frequency Range 300 MHz - 30 GHz >1 MHz (typically microwave) 300 MHz - 30 GHz
Size & Complexity Medium size, moderate Large size, high complexity Small size, low complexity
complexity
Key Advantages Wideband, low SWR, simple Highest gain, directivity, narrow Conformal, integration with
design beam surfaces
Key Disadvantages Limited gain, bulk at Size, weight, precise Lower radiation efficiency,
lower frequencies alignment needed cross- polarization
When to Use Each
Antenna Type:
Horn Antenna Parabolic Reflector Slot Antenna
Feed elements for larger Long-distance Integration with metallic
antennas Moderate gain communications Satellite surfaces Aircraft and marine
applications Laboratory communications Radio applications Radar
reference standards When astronomy navigation systems
wide bandwidth is needed Deep-space telemetry Flush-mounted installations
Radar systems requiring When maximum gain and When conformal design is
stable performance directivity are critical needed
