14 dBi panel antenna
This antenna consists of array of 4 dipoles over the aluminium reflector. Most commercial panel antennas are microstrip patch antennas. See this photo for example. NEC2 is not suitable for simulating of such antennas. Zeland software's IE3D full-wave electromagnetic simulator is ideal for the design and simulation of patch antennas.
Figure 1 - Panel antenna
Beda Hammerschmied sent me the photo of the panel antenna he constructed (see figure 1) using my design. He reports 14 dBm improvement over DI-524 2 dBi dipole.
- Frequency range: 2412 - 2472 MHz
- Physical dimensions: 185mm x 185mm x 30mm
- Gain: 14 dBi
- Front to back ratio: 18 dB
- Half power beamwidth: 40 degrees H-plane, 30 degrees E-plane
- SWR < 1.3 (in practice adjust array height over reflector)
- 4NEC2 input file: panel_2x2.nec.txt
Schematics of
the antenna - drawing by Dave Carpenter.
N-Type connector is in the middle of reflector. 4 equal length coax cables
are soldered to connector - coax core to connector core, shield to connector
outer. The cheap RG-58/U coax can be used. Solder a dipole on each
coax's other end - coax core to dipole's upper arm, shield to lower arm.
Dipoles then can be fixed in place with some posts and glue.
Two side reflectors can be added for additional 1.5 dB gain -
panel_2x2a.nec.txt.
Azimuth half power beamwidth will be 30 degrees in that case.
Figure 2 - Elevation pattern
Figure 3 - Azimuth pattern
Figure 4 - SWR graph