What Is Antenna Polarization and Why Does It Matter
Understanding Antenna Polarization Antenna polarization is one of the most fundamental concepts in wireless communication. It describes the orientation and behavior of the electric field of an electromagnetic wave as that wave travels through space. For engineers working with antennas , radios and wireless links, polarization is important because the transmitting and receiving antennas need to be appropriately matched. If the polarization is mismatched, part of the transmitted signal may not be effectively received. BAT Wireless uses antenna polarization as one of the key parameters when evaluating and designing RF solutions for different wireless applications. Electromagnetic Waves and Polarization Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves. The electric field and magnetic field are perpendicular to each other, and both are perpendicular to the direction of propagation. In antenna engineering, polarization is defined by observing the behavior of the electric field vector . I...