Design of indoor microstrip TV antenna for integrated services digital broadcast — Terrestrial (ISDB-T) signal reception at 677 MHz

This study will eventually provide a great help to the Philippines in its transition from analog TV to digital TV. Through this study, just before the full adaptation of digital TV transmission, a new indoor digital microstrip TV antenna will be made available for indoor use. The antenna designed is specific to 677 MHz with target characteristics: gain in the range of −5 dB to −2 dB, VSWR of around 1.5, return loss of −10 dB and a bandwidth of 400 MHz. Through the use of simulation tool, High Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS), the antenna was designed and optimized at 677 MHz. The actual field measurements and testing at the farthest distance of 2000 m around the service coverage area of PTV station helped in validating that the rectangular design has a maximum gain of-2.1623 dB, VSWR of 1.595, return loss of −14.0905 dB, and a bandwidth of 421.9 MHz. With these findings, the antenna designed was limited to a size of 17 cm by 17 cm using a fiber glass printed circuit board as the material.