This paper proposes a compact and frequency-adjustable/reconfigurable dielectric (DR)-loaded eighth-mode substrate integrated waveguide (EMSIW) antenna for duplex wireless communications. The miniaturization of the resonators is realized using a rectangular slot and high isolation is achieved by keeping a reasonable space between them. The proposed design is simulated using a three-dimensional (3D) full-wave simulator, then analysed with a circuit model and finally validated experimentally. Frequency-reconfigurability in the suggested antenna is achieved by placing DRs with different permittivities in the designated holes that are realized in the open-ended portion of each resonator. Consequently, the lower- and high-resonant bands can be reconfigured from 4.70 to 5.23 GHz and from 5.55 to 6.34 GHz, respectively. It is worth mentioning that both resonant band can be independently reconfigured. Moreover, the inter-resonator coupling is always lower than −23.5 dB in the bands of interest. Furthermore, the peak realized gains are always greater than 4.7 dBi in the lower frequency band and 5.5 dBi in the higher one. The suggested antenna has stable radiation properties in both bands in all frequency ranges. Hence, this design is suitable for compact reconfigurable devices due to its compactness, large frequency ranges, stable radiation patterns, and high isolation. © 2023 Elsevier GmbH