Development of a dual-port wideband MIMO antenna for Sub-7 GHz 5G applications

This research introduces a two-port MIMO antenna suitable for 5G, demonstrating enhanced data rates, throughput, capacity, and resistance to multipath fading. The antenna operates within the sub-7 GHz frequency range and adheres to the standards for 5G connections employed in many countries. The antenna possesses a wideband response spanning from 3.7 to 7.60 GHz and demonstrates an isolation surpassing 20 dB among its components. The singular component consists of interlinked circular patches and a partial base with a rectangular extension. The dimensions are minimal, measuring 22 × 28 mm² (0.27λ × 0.35λ) for a single element and 28 × 60 mm² (0.35λ × 0.74λ at 3.7 GHz) for the two-port arrangement, with a substrate height of 0.8 mm. Hardware prototyping demonstrates MIMO compliance with a maximum gain of 4.6 dBi and an ECC of less than 0.001. The evaluation of diversity gain (DG) and mean effective gain (MEG) further confirms its compatibility across several communication bands, including unlicensed LTE band 46, ISM bands, WLAN bands, 5G NR bands n77 and n79, and 5 GHz WLAN within the sub-7 GHz spectrum. Additionally, it is compatible with Wi-Fi 6, the Indian National Satellite System INSAT-C, and V2X/DSRC services, highlighting its adaptability across many communication standards and frequency bands.