When developing a wireless product, the quality of the antenna can determine the success or failure of the entire design. A well-designed antenna must match your product’s specifications—its operating frequency, PCB size, enclosure materials, and real-world environment.
To design the ideal solution, engineers need structured technical information from the client. This guide explains exactly what details to provide so that the custom antenna can be accurately modeled, simulated, and optimized from the very beginning.
1. Provide Your Target Frequency Bands
The most important antenna parameter is the set of operating frequencies. Include:
- Supported communication standards
- Center frequencies
- Bandwidth requirements
- Regional variations (e.g., EU, US, Japan)
Examples:
- Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz
- LTE Band 4 (1710–1755 MHz / 2110–2155 MHz)
- UWB 6.5–9.5 GHz
- Custom telemetry: 433 MHz
If the product is multi-band, list all required bands. This avoids redesign later and ensures proper matching.
2. Mechanical & Size Constraints
Even a high-performance antenna cannot be used if it does not fit in the product.
Provide:
- Maximum footprint dimensions
- Available PCB area
- Keep-out zones
- Distance to nearby components
- PCB thickness and stack-up
If a mechanical model is available, send:
- STEP (.stp)
- SolidWorks (.sldprt / .sldasm)
- DXF or mechanical drawings
This enables accurate electromagnetic simulation inside the product geometry.
3. PCB Layout and Ground Details
The PCB design has a major impact on antenna performance. Share:
- PCB layer stack
- Ground plane area
- RF trace geometry
- Mounting holes and cutouts
- Connector or feed location
Exporting Gerber or ODB++ files is ideal since they allow direct import into simulation software such as HFSS, CST, or ADS.
4. Enclosure Material and Environment
Materials surrounding the antenna can shift frequency and reduce efficiency. Include:
- Enclosure material (ABS, PC, metal, stainless steel, carbon fiber, TPU, etc.)
- Wall thickness
- Distance between antenna and housing
- Whether users hold the device in hand
- Nearby batteries, screens, motors, or metal parts
For products worn on the body (e.g., wearables, medical devices), specify:
- Whether the antenna sits on skin, clothing, wrist, etc.
- Any required specific absorption rate (SAR) limits
Providing this information ensures the simulation reflects real-world performance—not just idealized results.
5. Target Communication Range & Performance Goals
Indicate what your product must achieve in real usage:
- Target communication distance
- Indoor, outdoor, or mixed environment
- Power budget and transmit power
- Required minimum RSSI or link margin
Example:
- 1 km LoRa range in rural environment
- 20 meters indoor BLE range
These details help tune gain, efficiency, and pattern shape for your application.
6. Regulatory Requirements (If Applicable)
Different regions require different certification standards. If available, provide:
- Market region (FCC / CE / IC / TELEC / SRRC / etc.)
- Certification class or limits
- Power restrictions
- Bandwidth compliance requirements
An early understanding of certification ensures the antenna is designed with adequate margin to pass lab testing.
7. Preferred Output Format
Inform the design team how you want the final deliverables to be packaged. Common options include:
- HFSS, CST, ADS, or FEKO simulation files
- S-parameter data (Touchstone .s2p)
- Radiation patterns (2D/3D)
- Gain, efficiency, and impedance reports
- Tuning recommendations for your PCB
This ensures compatibility with your workflow and engineering tools.
8. Optional: Example Specification Template
To simplify communication, you can send information using the following format:
Product Application:
Wearable medical tracker
Frequency Bands:
BLE 2.4 GHz
PCB Area Available:
18 × 7 mm
Materials:
ABS enclosure, 1.5 mm wall
Environment:
Used on the wrist, device touches skin
Certification:
FCC + CE
Output Needed:
- Simulation model (HFSS)
- Touchstone S-parameters
- Radiation patterns
- PCB tuning recommendations
Providing details in this format accelerates design and reduces iterations.
Final Thoughts
Well-defined antenna requirements allow engineering teams to begin design confidently and deliver predictable, optimized performance. By sharing electrical, mechanical, and usage information early in the process, you ensure:
- Faster development
- Accurate simulations
- Higher antenna efficiency
- Reduced redesign and certification delays
If you are preparing a new wireless product, storing these details in a standard design package makes future antenna revisions and upgrades far easier.
Would you like a downloadable PDF version of this guide for clients? I can generate one on request.