Antenna Fundamentals and Integration Phased Arrays Informational

How do I calculate the EIRP of a phased array from the per-element power and number of elements?

The EIRP of a phased array is: EIRP = Pelement + 10·log10(N) + Gelement + array taper loss (dB), where Pelement is the power per element in dBm, N is the number of elements, and Gelement is the element gain in dBi. The 10·log10(N) term accounts for the coherent power combining of N elements. Total array gain: Garray = Gelement + 10·log10(N) + taper correction. Example: 256-element array, +10 dBm per element, 5 dBi element gain, -1 dB taper loss: EIRP = 10 + 24.1 + 5 - 1 = 38.1 dBm = 6.5W EIRP. Note: the total radiated power is N × Pelement = 256 × 10 mW = 2.56W; the EIRP is higher because the array gain concentrates this power in one direction.
Category: Antenna Fundamentals and Integration
Updated: April 2026
Product Tie-In: Phased Arrays, Phase Shifters, Beamformers

Array EIRP

The EIRP is the most important system-level parameter for a transmit phased array because it determines the signal strength at the receiver. The EIRP combines two effects of increasing the array size: (1) more total power (N × Pelement) and (2) higher gain (G ∝ N). Together, EIRP increases as N²: EIRP = N × Pelement × N × Gelement_area = N² × Pelement × Gelement_area. In dB: EIRP = Pelement + 20·log10(N) + Gelement_area. However, this assumes that Gelement already includes the element spacing factor; when Gelement is the standalone element gain: EIRP = Pelement + 10·log10(N) + Garray.

ParameterLow GainMedium GainHigh Gain
Gain Range2-6 dBi6-15 dBi15-45 dBi
Beamwidth60-360°15-60°1-15°
Typical TypesDipole, monopole, patchYagi, helical, hornParabolic, array, Cassegrain
BandwidthNarrow to wideModerateNarrow to moderate
ComplexityLowMediumHigh

Design Considerations

The distinction between total radiated power and EIRP is important: total radiated power = N × Pelement (spread over the antenna's beamwidth), while EIRP is the total radiated power multiplied by the array gain. For a 1000-element array: the EIRP is 30 dB higher than the per-element power, even though the total radiated power is only 30 dB higher than one element.

Performance Trade-offs

Practical EIRP calculation must include: feed network loss (reduces power reaching the elements), amplitude taper loss (reduces the gain from the ideal N×Gelement), scan loss (reduces EIRP at wide scan angles by cos^n(θ)), and T/R module gain variation (requires calibration to maintain the design EIRP).

Practical Implementation

When evaluating calculate the eirp of a phased array from the per-element power and number of elements?, engineers must account for the specific requirements of their target application. The optimal choice depends on the frequency range, power level, environmental conditions, and cost constraints of the overall system design.

  • Performance verification: confirm specifications against the application requirements before finalizing the design
  • Environmental factors: temperature range, humidity, and vibration affect long-term reliability and parameter drift
  • Cost vs. performance: evaluate whether the application demands premium components or standard commercial grades
  • Interface compatibility: verify impedance, connector type, and mechanical form factor match the system architecture
  • Margin allocation: include sufficient design margin to account for manufacturing tolerances and aging effects

Frequency and Bandwidth Effects

When evaluating calculate the eirp of a phased array from the per-element power and number of elements?, engineers must account for the specific requirements of their target application. The optimal choice depends on the frequency range, power level, environmental conditions, and cost constraints of the overall system design.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

How much EIRP do I need for 5G?

5G NR mmWave base station: 55-65 dBm EIRP for outdoor macro coverage (300-500m range). Indoor small cell: 35-45 dBm EIRP. 5G handset: 20-25 dBm EIRP. The EIRP requirement drives the number of elements and the per-element power.

Does EIRP change with scan angle?

Yes. EIRP at scan angle θ = broadside EIRP - scan loss (dB). For cos^1.5(θ) scan loss: at 60° scan, EIRP drops by about 4.5 dB. The system must be designed with sufficient broadside EIRP to maintain the link margin at the maximum scan angle.

What about receive sensitivity?

The receive equivalent of EIRP is G/T (gain-to-temperature ratio). For a phased array receiver: G/T improves by 10·log10(N) compared to a single element if the noise contributions are uncorrelated. Array receive gain: Grx = Gelement + 10·log10(N). Array noise temperature: approximately equal to the element noise temperature (dominant) plus sky noise.

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