Antenna and a method of manufacturing an antenna

A dielectrically loaded antenna for operation at a frequency in excess of 200 MHz comprising:

• an electrically insulative core of a solid material having a relative dielectric constant greater than 5 and having an outer surface including oppositely directed transversely extending end surface portions and a side surface portion extending between the transversely extending surface portions, the core outer surface defining an interior volume the major part of which is occupied by the solid material of the core;
• a three-dimensional antenna element structure including at least a pair of elongate conductive antenna elements disposed on or adjacent the side surface of the core and extending from one of the transversely extending surface portions towards the other transversely extending surface portion, and conductive surface connection elements on said one transversely extending surface portion of the core, the connection elements being connected to the elongate antenna elements;
• a feeder:
• and
• a matching section comprising a transversely extending laminate board secured to said one transversely extending surface portion of the core, and, on the board, feed connections and antenna element connections;
• wherein the laminate board is spaced from said one transversely extending surface portion of the core and the feed connections and the antenna. element connections on the board are connected to the feeder and to the surface connection elements on the transversely extending surface portion by a ball grid array.