A study of a dual-band PC card mounted folded microstrip patch antenna is presented for use with a laptop computer. The antenna operates in the wireless local area network (WLAN) bands from 5.15-5.35 GHz and from 5.725-5.825 GHz within 2.5:1 VSWR. Three cases are considered. First, the PC-card-mounted antenna is studied without a laptop. Next, it is attached externally to a laptop and its characteristics are analyzed. Finally the antenna is studied as packaged within a laptop. Detailed antenna characteristics, including current distribution, VSWR, radiation pattern, and gain, are given. (C) 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.