radiation+efficiency+of+small+antennas
Pushhead wrote:
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"If my CST simulation is accurate (which i'm sure is not) than all you have to do is connect a matcing network to my λ/20 dipoe, and it will radiate exactly like a λ/2 dipole.... "
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Yes, you are absolutely correct. If (and this is a big if) you can do the matching network lossless, then the performance will be nearly identical. I say nearly because of two things:
1) The directivity is slightly slightly higher for the λ/2 dipole compared to the λ/20 dipole. In practice, the difference is negligable.
2) Most importantly, the impedance bandwidth will be much higher for your λ/2 dipole compared to the λ/20 dipole. A clever matching network will help, but not that much.
The theoretical problem with small antennas is always, and only, the impedance bandwidth. Of course, in practice, you will also have more losses (e.g. in the matching network) in small antennas compared to full-size antennas.
Best regards,
Peter