Range testing of the skew-planar antenna to determine the antennas gain/loss, polarization immunity and radiation pattern.
The measurements have also been compared with antenna modelling results from MMANA GAL modelling software.
Conclusion
The range test of the Skew Planar Plane Antenna confirmed that its performance closely matches the MMANA-GAL model. The antenna demonstrates strong immunity to path losses due to cross-polarization. Except for directly above the antenna, the radiation pattern is generally uniform and, again, closely aligns with the model.
It is important to note that there are trade-offs: achieving a more omnidirectional radiation pattern and immunity to cross-polarization losses comes at the cost of a gain reduction of approximately -1 to -8 dBd compared to a reference dipole.
The antenna, as used by model aircraft enthusiasts in the 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands for FPV (First Person Video), is well suited for this purpose and may also be beneficial for LEO (Low Earth Orbiting) amateur satellite communication—particularly on the uplink, where additional power can compensate for the slight loss in gain.
Antenna details:
https://vk6ysf.com/skew_planar_wheel_antenna_Mk2_20241022.htmlVideo of Skew Planar Plane Antenna construction:
https://youtu.be/7wSREMFVDFg?si=VHMKd2_Rfeq9O3v0MMANA GAL antenna modelling software:
https://hamsoft.ca/pages/mmana-gal.php