Wideband Dual-polarized Antenna for Wi-Fi Communication Networks

The paper describes a wideband dual-polarized MIMO antenna designed for 5 GHz Wi-Fi communication networks. The antenna consists of two orthogonally linearly polarized 4x4 planar arrays with dipole-like radiating elements providing enhanced bandwidth. Apertures of the two arrays are overlapped by disposal of the corresponding PCBs one above the other that makes the MIMO antenna as compact as a single-polarized one. The antenna is integrated into a water-proofed enclosure with a plastic radome and has two output N-type connectors. Measurement results confirm good impedance matching (reflection coefficient is less than -10 dB) and high cross-polarization isolation of more than 23 dB in the 4.9-6.0 GHz frequency range with 17.5-18.5 dBi gain level. The beamwidth of the antenna is 17-20 deg. in both azimuth and elevation planes. High antenna gain provides increased communication distance (up to several kilometers) of the radios typically needed for any outdoor fixed wireless access applications while the antenna has been primarily developed for trackside communication networks in subways. Thus, it is already used in Moscow metro to provide high-throughput Internet access to passengers.