Design notes for PCB antenna devices

Position PCB antenna devices so there are no ground planes or metal objects above or below the antenna. For best results, do not place the device in a metal enclosure, as this may greatly reduce the range. Place the device at the edge of the PCB on which it is mounted. Make sure the ground, power and signal planes are vacant immediately below the antenna section.

The following drawings illustrate important recommendations when you are designing with PCB antenna devices. For optimal performance, do not mount the device on the RF pad footprint described in the next section, because the footprint requires a ground plane within the PCB antenna keep out area.

Surface-mount keepout area

Through-hole keepout area

Notes

1. We recommend non-metal enclosures. For metal enclosures, use an external antenna.
2. Keep metal chassis or mounting structures in the keepout area at least 2.54 cm (1 in) from the antenna.
3. Maximize the distance between the antenna and metal objects that might be mounted in the keepout area.
4. These keepout area guidelines do not apply for wire whip antennas or external RF connectors. Wire whip antennas radiate best over the center of a ground plane.