Base Station Antenna with Enhanced Cross Polarization Discrimination Performance by Using Horizontal Meandered Dipole and Vertical Parasitic Elements

Abstract

This study is related with the design of a ± 45° dual polarized base station antenna with improved cross-polarization discrimination (XPD) values. Parasitic elements are added to antenna design formed by orthogonal two compact meandered dipole above ground plane. The antenna designed with CST Microwave Studio program has VSWR ≤ 2 within 1.71-2.69 GHz frequency band, which covers GSM 1800/3G/LTE bands. The antenna has minimum of 0 dBi gain in the beamwidth of 120° ( 60°) at azimuth plane (ϕ = 0°) along the band, and XPD values being minimum of 2 dB at 1.71-2.4 GHz for  60° without parasitic elements are improved to 10 dB with parasitic elements. This design initially had two horizontal straight monopoles on the ground plane perpendicular to each other. Afterwards, antenna with microstrip balun feed applied but the XPD values were not appropriate to expected results. Because of that, by using image theory, vertical parasitic elements were added to get appropriate XPD values. Later, meandered structure used to make antenna smaller. Finally, according to base station applications, antenna frequencies optimized to 1.71 GHz and 2.69 GHz. The designed and optimized antenna produced and measured in laboratory environment. Return losses for port 1 and port 2 are measured above the 10 dB and isolation between the port 1 and port 2 are measured above the 20 dB. In addition, the maximum gain values are measured between 3 dB and 7 dB in 1.71 GHz and 2.69 GHz frequency band.  Finally, XPD values are measured more than 10 dB in bandwidth.