A highly-directive hybrid-fractal radiator-based printed array for X-band amateur radio applications

This article provides a 4-elements planar array of fractal patch antennas for X-band wireless communication, especially amateur-radio (10.00–10.50 GHz) applications. The single constituent of the indicated array is a freshly designed hybrid-fractal antenna with a modest gain and low cross-pol. level along the primary beam's path. The exhibited hybrid-fractal design was created using the Minkowski $ 1^{\rm st} $ 1st iteration, followed by a $ 50\% $ 50% scaling to a square geometry in the next stride. The compact planar array structure incorporates the Wilkinson power divider-based corporate feed network. The solo antenna built resonates at 10.02 GHz and offers 10.67 dBi of massive gain and 0.395 GHz of return-loss bandwidth, respectively. At 10.05 GHz resonating frequency, the array prototype gives 16.54 dBi absolute gain and 0.318 GHz impedance bandwidth. Printed prototypes achieved radiation efficiency of $ 96\% $ 96% and $ 86\% $ 86%, respectively. Both prototypes had computed aperture efficiency of $ 73\% $ 73% and $ 76\% $ 76%, respectively. There is a great deal of agreement between the prototypes' measured and simulated findings.