Antennas

Rating:
Summary: An most excellent text on Antennas
Review: From fundamental antenna concepts to the characteristics and design curves for all sorts of practical antennas, this book is a must have for anyone having anything to do with antennas. It is clearly written, contains excellent diagrams, interesting photographs of historical significance, and the author's personal account of his discoveries and contributions to this field.

Rating:
Summary: An most excellent text on Antennas
Review: From fundamental antenna concepts to the characteristics and design curves for all sorts of practical antennas, this book is a must have for anyone having anything to do with antennas. It is clearly written, contains excellent diagrams, interesting photographs of historical significance, and the author's personal account of his discoveries and contributions to this field.

Rating:
Summary: Needs a rewrite
Review: I found some aspects of the text, especially chapters 6, 13 and 14, to be problematic. I thought the approach to the exposition of the theory of a given topic to be somewhat choppy. Much text is devoted to finding simplified expressions which can be distracting and impedes understanding. In a few instances, the reader is directed to external sources to get foundational details. And, often, the result presented applies only in special cases, such as, in the far field, or for electrically small antennas, or for antennas an odd integer multiple of a half wavelength. For example, in the section on self-impedance of a thin linear antenna (13-5), the statement is made that it is "common practice to shorten the antenna a few percent to make X11=0." Yet the expression presented for X11 is the sine integral which is non-zero everywhere except at Si(0). So, absent thorough exposition of the theory, this is not helpful to those interested in the general case.

I believe this book would be vastly improved if a systematic approach, in the context of electromagnetic theory, is adopted for exposition of the material. Development of new topics should begin with first principles. Sections building on earlier sections should include appropriate back references. References to external papers or earlier editions should not be used as substitute for exposition of details as these sources are generally inaccessible to the reader. Recognizing the accessibility of powerful mathematics software, much of the material dealing with simplifying assumptions could be edited out in favor of more complete exposition of the theory.

Rating:
Summary: Needs a rewrite
Review: I found some aspects of the text, especially chapters 6, 13 and 14, to be problematic. I thought the approach to the exposition of the theory of a given topic to be somewhat choppy. Much text is devoted to finding simplified expressions which can be distracting and impedes understanding. In a few instances, the reader is directed to external sources to get foundational details. And, often, the result presented applies only in special cases, such as, in the far field, or for electrically small antennas, or for antennas an odd integer multiple of a half wavelength. For example, in the section on self-impedance of a thin linear antenna (13-5), the statement is made that it is "common practice to shorten the antenna a few percent to make X11=0." Yet the expression presented for X11 is the sine integral which is non-zero everywhere except at Si(0). So, absent thorough exposition of the theory, this is not helpful to those interested in the general case.

I believe this book would be vastly improved if a systematic approach, in the context of electromagnetic theory, is adopted for exposition of the material. Development of new topics should begin with first principles. Sections building on earlier sections should include appropriate back references. References to external papers or earlier editions should not be used as substitute for exposition of details as these sources are generally inaccessible to the reader. Recognizing the accessibility of powerful mathematics software, much of the material dealing with simplifying assumptions could be edited out in favor of more complete exposition of the theory.

Rating:
Summary: Most excellent book
Review: I found this book to be very helpful and to the point on mostof the material. I thought the math, when given, was quitestraightforward, and the author was sure to explain the actual meaning of the math in quick to understand terms. I have only had this book for two days, and have already been able to walk away with a good bit of knowledge END

Rating:
Summary: Good Book
Review: I looked at it briefly before. McGraw Hill usually publishes excellent books with many pages, unlike some other publishers. If u r a student and need free sample tests, send me email at [e-mail]

Rating:
Summary: A Slightly Dissenting Review
Review: I would normally rate such a book as five stars, but I've given it four stars to draw some attention that this book is not so easily comprehended as two preceding reviewers suggest. Indeed, the book is well written and organized. However, I think the level of mathematics used is that of advanced calculus. I believe this book is intended for a senior EE or EE graduate student. However, it is not all mathematics and there is still much to be learned about antennas from the book without having had exposure to some of the mathematics used. If you are in doubt, you might consider an alternative before purchasing this book, or at least purchase it with the thought of returning it within a 30 day inspection period.

Rating:
Summary: Most comprehensive and easily understood.
Review: This book covers all the basics of antenna theory; including radiation mechanisms, antenna parameters, and theory of fundamental elements such as dipoles, loops, slots, helicals, and arrays. The material is presented logically in an easy-to-read format which allows the reader to understand and apply the design concepts to antenna problems of today. A 'must-have' text for the RF or Antenna Design Engineer.

Rating:
Summary: Most comprehensive and easily understood.
Review: This book covers all the basics of antenna theory; including radiation mechanisms, antenna parameters, and theory of fundamental elements such as dipoles, loops, slots, helicals, and arrays. The material is presented logically in an easy-to-read format which allows the reader to understand and apply the design concepts to antenna problems of today. A 'must-have' text for the RF or Antenna Design Engineer.

Rating:
Summary: Practical book
Review: We had this as a reference book for a course in Microwave engineering and was used in a design problem. This is not your leisure book that you can just browse! You have to have advanced calculus/electromagnetism background to understand the concepts.

The book covers all the basic antennae theory and types to topics ranging to radar design.

This is a must have for any RF design engineer.

Since most of the RF jobs in US are with defense and companies like Lockheed Martin and you have to be US citizen to get such jobs, I had to opt for computer networks for graduate studies in US, otherwise I'd have ended up as a RF designer myself.