Design a Yagi Antenna with Five Reflector Elements to Strengthen 4G Signals in Sub-Urban Areas

Abstract

Suburban areas face significant challenges with 4G network connectivity, primarily due to factors such as population density, hills, and tree coverage, which can contribute to signal issues and even poverty. However, these areas also hold considerable potential for improved connectivity due to their natural environment and relative proximity to urban centers. To enhance 4G signal reception, repeaters in the form of antennas are necessary. This research focused on designing a five reflector elements Yagi antenna for an operating frequency of 1800 MHz for 4G LTE, aiming for a gain of at least 13.16 dBi with a focused beam. The designed process was carried out using CST Studio Suite software, achieving optimized results with a return loss of -22 dB, a VSWR of 1.192, and a gain of 13.16 dBi. Measurements indicated that the Yagi antenna performed effectively at 1800 MHz, with a return loss of -33.45 dB, a VSWR of 1.315, and unidirectional radiation. By optimizing the antenna parameters and adding five reflector elements, the gain was improved, albeit modestly, while also narrowing the HPBW. The fabricated Yagi antenna was tested across three distance scenarios. The result indicated that that the increased gain could improve  4G signal speeds in suburban regions