The Internet of Things (IoT) is a concept closely linked to the use of networks and digital technology. IoT enables various electronic devices we use in our daily lives to connect and communicate via the internet, creating a smarter and more efficient ecosystem.

Optimal utilization of network connectivity provides greater flexibility in data exchange, whether for entertainment, work, or academic activities. Furthermore, interconnectivity between devices accelerates the integrated sharing of information, opening up vast opportunities for system automation on scales ranging from households and campuses to entire smart cities.

Wireless technology emerges as the answer to the speed- and flexibility-oriented era of the Internet of Things. In addition to offering broad coverage, this technology reduces the need for costly and time-consuming wired infrastructure. Optimal signal utilization can serve as a vital foundation for IoT, which in turn becomes the backbone of smart city development—a city with transportation, energy, security, and public service systems that are interconnected in real time.

However, wireless infrastructure must also be developed properly and maintained regularly to ensure optimal connection quality. One of the main challenges in wireless technology is noise, or signal interference, caused by factors such as weather, network traffic congestion in a single area, geographical location, excessive data transfer distances, transmitter antenna size, and interference from other networks operating on similar frequencies. Such disruptions can reduce data transmission speed, quality, and stability.

Addressing these challenges in the era of the Internet of Things, the Electrical Engineering Department of Universitas Dian Nusantara (UNDIRA) plays an active role through research focused on improving network quality efficiently. One of its innovations is the use of a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), which essentially operates on the same principle as a repeater, functioning to strengthen signals in hard-to-reach areas.

In research conducted by one of UNDIRA’s Electrical Engineering lecturers, the LNA is designed using the two-stage cascading method—a dual-stage amplification technique with a two-input and two-output channel configuration. This design maximizes both incoming and outgoing signals without significant power loss due to signal reflection or interference, whether external or internal.

The advantages of this research extend beyond current networks, serving as an important foundation for future applications such as terahertz networks. While terahertz waves have high potential network capacity, they are relatively vulnerable to atmospheric changes, which can weaken the signal. Terahertz frequencies promise ultra-high data transmission speeds but face significant attenuation challenges caused by air and humidity.

However, despite their great potential, LNAs—especially in high-frequency network management—can consume relatively large amounts of power and be costly to produce. Moreover, with ever-increasing bandwidth traffic, LNAs continue to evolve to better adapt to network demands, particularly adjustments for 300 THz networks, which may cause overload, ensuring optimal performance across devices with varying capacities.

With expertise in electromagnetic wave management, the Electrical Engineering Department of UNDIRA continues to develop solutions to minimize such attenuation effects, ensuring that new technologies can be effectively integrated into smart city infrastructures.

Through excellence in both theoretical and applied aspects of electromagnetic wave management, UNDIRA’s Electrical Engineering research demonstrates its commitment not only to overcoming today’s connectivity challenges but also to preparing for a future that is more efficient, interconnected, and adaptive to the latest technological developments.

Journal of Reference:

Ajie, Ari Pangesti. 2024. High Gain Cascaded Two-Stage Low Noise Amplifier Design Using T-Matching Stub Resonator