Antenna Array Design and System for Directional Networking

To help with long range coverage, minimal interference, and reduced energy requirements, recently there have been growing interest in incorporating directional antenna arrays in wireless communication networks. In this paper, we describe the challenges and opportunities in developing directional wireless communication networks and present innovative options that could facilitate this development, with focus on changes in the physical layer and minimal impact on the higher layers in the ISO model. Example of such research activities in the antenna design area is described in details. Specifically, a broadband, dual polarization, and very narrow beam (<12 degrees) antenna array system based on the Long Slot Antenna (LSA) array technology has been developed, prototyped and tested. Experimental results are in excellent agreement with simulation data.