AbstractA novel frequency‐reconfigurable patch antenna is proposed and analysed using the finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) method. The simulated results indicate that the antenna is capable of shifting its operating frequency over a one‐octave bandwidth from 0.6 GHz to 1.2 GHz with the radiation pattern essentially unaffected by the frequency tuning. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 36: 295–297, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.10746