A Low Profile Wideband RHCP Printed Archimedean Spiral Antenna for Glacial Telemetry Applications

Suitability of a RHCP printed Archimedean spiral antenna for glacier telemetry applications in the 433 MHz band has been assessed for the first time. The developed antenna provides a gain of 7.4 dBic at 433 MHz and a -10 dB fractional bandwidth of 47% in snow. The antenna beamwidths in the vertical planes cater for misalignments between the transmitter and receiver antennas due to basal sliding. The measured axial ratio remained below 1.4 dB between 330–580 MHz. Lastly, evidence has been provided towards suitability of the 433 MHz band for achieving communication ranges up to 2300 metres in ice.