Performance of 4×4 Circular Microstrip Antenna Array for C-Band Himawari-8 Satellite Application

The development of microstrip antenna has continually been done by many researchers to explore the benefit of microstrip itself. Microstrip offers small dimensions and a lower price to increase efficiency. Besides that, microstrip also comes with a lightweight and compact form to keep up with today's technology. Microstrip antenna array potentially can be used as a replacement for the feeder in the satellite data reception system. This paper proposed a design of a 4×4 circular microstrip antenna array to meet the requirements of the feed horn antenna that has been being used currently for C-band frequency (3–5 GHz). This design is made of copper for its patch and ground, while RT Duroid 5880 is used for its substrate. The substrate's height and dielectric constants are 1.575 mm and 2.2, respectively. The result of the simulation of the 4×4 circular microstrip antenna array yields a gain of 15.63 dB for 4.14 GHz frequency with VSWR 1.38 and a return loss of −15.87 dB. Fabrication and measurement have also been done for this antenna. This antenna's performance in the anechoic chamber is nearly identical to the simulation results. This antenna works at 4.17 GHz, return loss −15.17 dB, VSWR 1.4, and reaches a gain of 14.9 dB (4.14 GHz). Those parameter results show that the design, in general, meets the requirement of a feed horn antenna. Combining this design of a 4×4 circular microstrip antenna array with a parabolic reflector can achieve a high-gain antenna for satellite data reception.