How to start learning antenna --- need help

[WimRFP]

If your antennas that make up the array have reasonable separation (so the do not influence each other significantly), and your main focus is on beam forming, you may omit lots of EM theory.

I get the feeling that you don't want to design the array itself (the separate elements), but want to design the phasing to get the correct beam or maximum S/N ratio. You may already know that the phasing issue can be carried out on the RF frequency, but also at IF level (analog or DSP) in case of multi channel receiver/transmitters.

 

[eng.sh]

Actually I want to design both.
I am using microstrip antenna and I have already made one but when I thought in improving it I faced difficulties, that's why I asked you about the right way.
I am supposed to use butler matrix for beamforming, I am currently reading about it, and having some problems with it in hfss.

I cant understand this please:

but also at IF level (analog or DSP) in case of multi channel receiver/transmitters.

May you explain it.
Thanks.