Modular narrow-band dipole antennas

A method for assembling a narrow-band dipole antenna, the method comprising:

• assembling a circuit assembly comprising an input printed circuit board having a transmit connector and a receive connector thereon for connecting to an antenna-driving circuit, a matching printed circuit board having lumped element matching components and a plurality of terminal blocks thereon, each of the terminal blocks is configured to receive an antenna element of a plurality of antenna elements, a pair of coaxial feed lines connected between the input printed circuit board and the matching printed circuit board, each of the pair of coaxial feed lines having coil formed therein such that pair of coaxial feed lines acts as a balun, and at least one rigid support member connected between the input printed circuit board and the matching printed circuit board to hold the matching printed circuit board at a fixed distance from the input printed circuit board;
• inserting the circuit assembly into a housing comprising a base plate having an opening defined therein and a hollow post extending from the opening in the base plate, the hollow post having a plurality of antenna openings defined therein near a distal end thereof such that when the input printed circuit board is mounted to an underside of the base plate, the terminal blocks on matching printed circuit board are adjacent the antenna openings in the hollow post;
• and
• connecting the plurality of antenna elements to the plurality of terminal blocks.

A system comprising:

• a housing comprising a base plate having an opening defined therein, and a hollow post extending from the opening in the base plate, the hollow post having a plurality of antenna openings defined therein near a distal end thereof, wherein a height of the hollow post is configured to be adjusted;
• a circuit assembly configured for insertion into the housing, the circuit assembly comprising:
• an input printed circuit board having a transmit connector and a receive connector thereon for connecting to an antenna-driving circuit;
• a matching printed circuit board having lumped element matching components and a plurality of terminal blocks thereon;
• a plurality of antenna elements configured to be received through the antenna openings and connected to the terminal blocks;
• wherein each of the terminal blocks is configured to receive an antenna element of the plurality of antenna elements;
• a pair of coaxial feed lines connected between the input printed circuit board and the matching printed circuit board;
• and
• at least one rigid support member connected between the input printed circuit board and the matching printed circuit board to hold the matching printed circuit board at a fixed distance from the input printed circuit board such that when the input printed circuit board is mounted to an underside of the base plate, the terminal blocks on the matching printed circuit board are adjacent the antenna openings in the hollow post;
• and
• wherein lengths of the antenna elements of the plurality of antenna elements are configured to be adjusted.