A meander line antenna (MLA) can be used as a small antenna for personal communication systems. The MLA is small, on the order of 0.1 wavelength, and consists of one line and two strips. The MLA input impedance can be easily matched by using impedance step-up and balance mode impedance loading. A method for increasing the bandwidth of the 2-strip MLA makes use of its equivalent circuit that is represented by the balance mode impedance as an open- or short-circuited shut stubs. On the basis of the equivalent circuit, numerical analysis of the impedance characteristics of the MLA are discussed.