Why Choose Mi-Wave

Mi-Wave is a trusted manufacturer of RF, microwave, and millimeter-wave antennas and components, supporting commercial, government, and research systems worldwide. Our Series 261 standard gain horn antennas are engineered to deliver measurement-grade accuracy, stable radiation patterns, and reliable electrical performance in demanding high-frequency environments.

High-Frequency Engineering Expertise

With decades of experience in microwave and millimeter-wave design, Mi-Wave develops standard gain horn antennas optimized for accurate gain values, low VSWR, and controlled beamwidths across broad operating bandwidths.

Precision Manufacturing and Quality Control

Each antenna is manufactured using precision machining and controlled assembly processes to ensure repeatable electrical performance, mechanical stability, and long-term reliability, which are essential for calibration and reference applications.

Broad Frequency and Application Support

Mi-Wave supports standard gain horn antennas across a wide range of RF, microwave, and millimeter-wave frequency bands, making them suitable for antenna calibration, communications, radar, telemetry, and test environments.

Custom Antenna Solutions

In addition to standard offerings, Mi-Wave provides custom standard gain horn antenna designs tailored to specific frequency ranges, gain requirements, polarization options, waveguide interfaces, and mechanical constraints. Our sales engineering team works closely with customers to ensure seamless system integration.

What Standard Gain Horn Antennas Are and What They Do

Standard gain horn antennas are directional horn antennas designed to provide known, predictable gain values and stable radiation patterns over a specified frequency range. They are commonly used as reference standards in antenna measurements and system calibration.

Unlike broadband horns optimized primarily for coverage, standard gain horns are designed with controlled geometry and known electrical characteristics, allowing engineers to accurately measure antenna gain, verify system performance, and establish traceable calibration references.

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How Standard Gain Horn Antennas Work

RF energy enters the antenna through a standard waveguide interface and propagates toward the horn aperture. As the signal travels through the horn flare, the electromagnetic fields are shaped to produce a well-defined main beam with controlled sidelobes and predictable polarization behavior.

This design provides:

• Accurate and repeatable gain values

• Stable beamwidth and radiation patterns

• Low VSWR and minimal signal reflections

• Consistent polarization characteristics

These attributes are essential for antenna calibration, pattern measurement, and system verification.

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Frequency Coverage and Waveguide Interfaces

Mi-Wave Series 261 standard gain horn antennas support operation across a wide range of RF, microwave, and millimeter-wave frequencies, depending on configuration. Typical coverage spans from X-Band through W-Band, with custom frequency ranges available.

Common supported WR waveguide interfaces include:

• WR-90 | X-Band

• WR-62 | Ku-Band

• WR-42 | K-Band

• WR-28 | Ka-Band

• WR-22 | Q-Band

• WR-15 | V-Band

• WR-10 | W-Band

Additional waveguide sizes and frequency extensions are available upon request.

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Why Standard Gain Horns Matter

Standard gain horn antennas play a critical role in high-frequency systems because they provide a reliable reference for performance measurement and validation. Their known gain and stable radiation patterns allow engineers to:

• Accurately measure and compare antenna performance

• Calibrate test ranges and measurement equipment

• Validate RF, microwave, and millimeter-wave systems

• Ensure repeatability and traceability in test results

These capabilities are essential in communications, radar, telemetry, and research environments where measurement accuracy directly impacts system performance.

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Features

• Known, calibrated gain characteristics
  Designed to provide accurate and repeatable gain values, making Series 261 horns ideal as reference antennas for measurement and calibration applications.

• Stable and predictable radiation patterns
  Produces well-defined main beams with controlled sidelobes, ensuring consistent and repeatable performance across the operating frequency band.

• Low VSWR across the operating band
  Ensures efficient power transfer, minimal signal reflection, and improved measurement accuracy in high-frequency RF systems.

• Controlled beamwidth and sidelobe performance
  Optimized horn geometry provides reliable beam shape and directivity, supporting precise antenna characterization and system verification.

• Stable polarization characteristics
  Maintains consistent polarization behavior across frequency, supporting accurate polarization measurements and system alignment.

• Wideband frequency support within defined bands
  Each standard gain horn is designed to operate predictably across its designated RF, microwave, or millimeter-wave band.

• High power handling capability
  Suitable for both transmit and receive applications, including demanding test and validation environments.

• Precision mechanical construction
  Manufactured with tight tolerances to ensure mechanical stability, repeatability, and long-term reliability.

• Compatibility with standard WR waveguide interfaces
  Allows easy integration into existing RF, microwave, and millimeter-wave signal chains.

• Laboratory and field-ready design
  Suitable for use in controlled lab environments as well as portable or field-deployed test setups.

• Custom configurations available
  Optional customization for frequency range, waveguide interface, polarization, and mechanical mounting requirements.

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Applications

• Antenna Calibration and Gain Measurements
  Widely used as reference antennas for determining absolute gain and verifying antenna performance in calibrated test ranges.

• RF, Microwave, and Millimeter-Wave Test & Measurement
  Supports system characterization, component testing, and validation across high-frequency bands.

• Antenna Pattern and Polarization Characterization
  Used to measure radiation patterns, beamwidth, sidelobe levels, and polarization purity of antennas under test.

• System Calibration and Verification
  Enables repeatable calibration of RF systems, test equipment, and measurement setups.

• Radar and Telemetry Systems
  Suitable for radar and telemetry applications requiring predictable beam characteristics and stable gain.

• Point-to-Point Communication Systems
  Used in line-of-sight communication links where controlled directivity and known gain are required.

• EMC, EMI, and RCS Measurement Environments
  Supports electromagnetic compatibility testing and radar cross-section measurements where repeatable antenna performance is critical.

• Research and Development Platforms
  Ideal for R&D environments requiring reliable reference antennas for experimentation and system evaluation.

• Production Test and Quality Assurance
  Used in manufacturing and QA environments to verify antenna and system performance before deployment.