Low Aperture High Gain Antenna for Wi-Fi Applications

Abstract

This article proposes a design for a low-aperture, high-gain antenna specifically tailored for Wi-Fi applications. This project aims to enhance the performance of Wi-Fi networks by increasing signal strength and coverage area. Conventional dielectric rod antennas face three main challenges: first, they typically have low gain and excessive length; second, they exhibit high side lobe levels; and third, as the antenna length increases, side lobe levels also rise alongside gain. The proposed antenna structure effectively addresses these issues. The novelty of the proposed antenna lies in its ability to achieve greater gain at the same length compared to conventional antennas while maintaining low side lobe levels that do not increase with antenna length. The proposed design features a Yagi-Uda configuration on a printed circuit board (PCB) made from FR4 epoxy with a dielectric constant of 4.4, combined with a tapering dielectric Teflon rod with a dielectric constant of 2.1. The antenna was simulated using HFSS software, fabricated, and then tested to compare simulated and experimental results, which indicate that the proposed structure primarily operates at a frequency of 5 GHz. It achieves performance within the frequency band of 4.8–5.3 GHz, with a fractional bandwidth of 10%. At these frequencies, the structure provides a directivity of 16.4 dBi. A comparison of results demonstrates that the presented antenna outperforms traditional antennas in the same class, making it suitable for Wi-Fi, WLAN, and satellite applications. This revision enhances clarity, coherence, and overall readability while preserving the original intent and details.