Design, simulation and implementation of low cost microstrip array antenna for KU–band satellite system

Abstract

Abstract This paper present 32 Element microstrip rectangular patch array antenna for KU-Band. The aim of the design is to achieve low cost, low weight and high gain antenna for the transmissions frequency range of KU – Band satellite system. The paper also present 5 designs for array antenna 2, 4,8,16 and 32 elements and the results comparison between them. The substrate material is FR-4 with 1.58 mm thickens. The simulation made by CST Microwave studio 2017. The size of final design is 85×98.81 mm and the bandwidth is 1.489 GHz. The frequency range of design starting from 13.318 GHz to 14.842 GHz with maximum Gain 13.7 dB. The final design of 32 elements array antenna has been fabricated and compared with the simulation results, a good agreements were obtained and the difference between fabrication and measurements results was due to fabrication and measurements tools tolerance. The fabricated design has been measured using Vector network analyzer ROHDE & SCHWARZ ZVB20.