M. Zarkasi, Y.G. Adhiyoga, R.A. Firdaus
This research aims to evaluate the performance characteristics of a 4×4 antenna array operating at the Ku-band frequency of 14 GHz. The evaluation focuses on key parameters such as return loss, VSWR, gain, and bandwidth. The antenna was designed using theoretical calculations based on the Transmission Line Model and optimized through simulations in CST Studio Suite. The substrate used is RT Duroid 5880, with a dielectric constant (ϵr) 2.2 and a thickness (h) of 1.575mm. The patch elements are made of copper with a thickness of 0.035mm. At the initial stage, a single-element antenna was designed to obtain the fundamental parameters, which were then extended into a 4×4 array configuration. The antenna employs the Proximity Coupled feeding technique. The novelty of this study lies in the parametric analysis of inter-element spacing in a 4×4 Ku-band array, which has not been extensively explored in previous research. The optimal spacing of 17.8mm (X-axis) and 17.3mm (Y-axis) yielded a maximum gain of 20.3 dBi with a side lobe level (SLL) of -12.3 dB. These findings contribute to the enhancement, which is a critical factor in satellite communication transmitter applications. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.
Department Of Physics, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Surabaya, Indonesia; Research Center For Telecommunication, National Research And Innovation Agency, Bandung, Indonesia
