Which term describes the horizontal orientation of an antenna's radiating energy?

• A. Elevation
• B. Azimuth
• C. Bearing
• D. Pitch

Answer: (B)

Azimuth describes the horizontal orientation of the radiated energy. It is the direction around the horizon that the main beam points, usually measured clockwise from north. This is what you use when you need to aim an antenna to cover a specific sector on the ground or in the sky. Elevation refers to the vertical angle above the horizon, describing where the energy goes in the up–down plane. Pitch is the tilt of the antenna around a horizontal axis, changing the vertical orientation but not the horizontal direction. Bear in mind that bearing is a general directional term, common in navigation, but for antenna radiation patterns azimuth is the standard term for horizontal direction.