Long Range Backhaul Microwave Connectivity in Wireless Sensor Networks via a New Antenna Designed for ISM 2.4 GHz Band

Abstract

This study aimed to explore a metallic striped grid array planar antenna, analyze it numerically in terms of its parameters, and optimize it for best performance. It may be an appropriate candidate for long-range point-to-point connectivity in wireless sensor networks. Antenna gain and frequency impedance bandwidth are two important performance parameters. For an efficient antenna, its gain should be high while maintaining operating bandwidth wide enough to accommodate the entire frequency range for which it has been designed. Concurrently, antenna size should also be small. In this study, antenna dimensions were kept as small as possible without compromising its performance. Its dimensions were 300 mm × 210 mm × 9.9 mm, which made it compact and miniature. It had a maximum gain of 16.72 dB at 2.45 GHz and maximum frequency impedance bandwidth of 7.68% relative to 50 Ω. It operated across a frequency band ranging from 2.38 GHz to 2.57 GHz, encapsulating the entire ISM 2.4 GHz band. Its radiation efficiency remained above 93% in this band with a maximum of 98.5% at 2.45 GHz. Moreover, it also had narrow HPBWs in horizontal and vertical planes having values of 18.52° and 31.25°, respectively.