PCB antenna design
Custom antenna geometries optimized for your PCB and enclosure, including inverted-F, meander, slot, and chip antenna integration.
RF and Wireless Design
RF and antenna design that reaches full range and passes certification
Wireless connectivity engineered for the real world, from PCB antenna design and impedance matching to measured 3D radiation patterns, so your product works in the enclosure and not just in simulation.
20+ years experience
Clients in 15+ countries
Bench-tested in-house
No strings attached
20+
years of professional electronics design
20+ yearsIn electronics design
15+Countries served
Concept to prototypeEnd to end delivery
In-house labBench-verified, not just simulated
Why it matters
An antenna that shines in simulation still fails in the enclosure. I design it, then I measure it.
RF design is iterative by nature. Electromagnetic simulation gives a starting point, but real performance depends on enclosure materials, nearby components, and how the product is held and used. I fabricate prototypes quickly, measure impedance on my VNA, characterize the full 3D radiation pattern, and iterate until the antenna reaches maximum range while meeting your regulatory targets. This covers BLE product design on Nordic nRF52 and cellular IoT device design on the nRF91 for LTE-M and NB-IoT, from the antenna and matching through to the certification path. That includes BLE product design on Nordic nRF52 and nRF53, cellular IoT design on the nRF9160 and nRF9151 for LTE-M and NB-IoT, and the matching network and antenna tuning that decide whether either one actually reaches range.
What you get
Everything you need to build and certify the RF front end
A key strength is PCB-integrated antenna design. By designing antennas directly into the PCB, I reduce product cost while matching or improving on external antenna solutions.
Matching network design
Optimized impedance matching networks with component values verified by VNA measurement.
Radiation pattern data
Full 3D radiation pattern measurements showing antenna gain and directivity.
RF layout guidelines
Detailed guidelines for PCB layout including ground plane requirements, component placement, and trace routing.
Link budget analysis
Calculation of expected range under various conditions including path loss, antenna gains, and receiver sensitivity.
Regulatory guidance
Recommendations for meeting FCC, CE, and other regulatory requirements for intentional radiators.
Test reports
Documented measurements of return loss, efficiency, and radiation pattern.
What it prevents
The wireless failures a proper RF design avoids
Poor antenna matching
High VSWR causing reduced range and wasted power dissipated as heat.
Detuning from enclosure
Antenna performance changing dramatically when placed in the final enclosure.
Ground plane issues
Insufficient or improperly shaped ground planes degrading antenna performance.
Interference problems
Digital noise coupling into RF sections and degrading receiver sensitivity.
Regulatory failures
Spurious emissions or excessive harmonics causing certification failures.
Range shortfalls
Products that work on the bench but fail to achieve expected range in deployment.
How it works
From band requirements to a certified antenna
1
Requirements
I define frequency bands, range requirements, antenna constraints, and regulatory targets, and evaluate enclosure materials and available PCB space.
2
Antenna design
I select the antenna topology based on your constraints. For PCB antennas, I develop the initial geometry through simulation, considering ground plane size and keep-out areas.
3
Prototype and measure
I fabricate prototype boards and measure antenna impedance with the VNA, tuning the matching network for optimal return loss at the target frequency.
4
Pattern characterization
I measure the full 3D radiation pattern to verify antenna gain, directivity, and polarization, and identify any pattern nulls or unexpected behavior.
5
In-enclosure optimization
I test performance in the final enclosure and iterate on the matching network if needed, then document the final performance specifications.
Who does the work
George Saliba
An electronics design engineer with 20+ years of professional experience across analog, digital, RF, and power designs, delivered to clients in 15+ countries. Your project is handled by the person who has shipped hardware like it, start to finish.
See the project portfolio
Questions
Frequently asked
What RF work do you cover?
Sub-GHz and 2.4 GHz wireless, PCB and chip antennas, matching networks, and the RF front end of connected products. I handle layout, impedance control and the antenna tuning rather than just dropping in a module.
Do you measure antennas or only simulate them?
I measure. I tune matching on a VNA and check radiation patterns, so the antenna works in the real enclosure and not only in a simulation.
Can you improve range or certification problems on an existing board?
Yes. I review the existing RF section, find what is hurting efficiency or emissions, and revise the matching, layout or antenna to fix it.
Which regions do you work with?
Clients across Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and South Africa. The work is remote, with prototyping and RF measurement done in my lab.
Do you do BLE product design?
Yes. BLE product design on Nordic nRF52 and similar Bluetooth Low Energy SoCs is a regular part of the work: antenna and matching, RF layout, coexistence, low-power firmware bring-up, and getting the radio through certification with real range.
Can you design a cellular IoT device around the nRF91?
Yes. Cellular IoT and nRF91 device design covers the LTE-M and NB-IoT front end, antenna and matching for the cellular bands, power and energy budgeting for battery operation, SIM or eSIM integration, and the path to carrier and regulatory approval.
Do you design and tune the BLE or cellular antenna?
Yes. Antenna choice, the matching network, and tuning against a VNA are part of the work, whether it is a chip or PCB antenna for a wearable BLE product on nRF52 or nRF53, or a cellular antenna for an nRF9160 or nRF9151 design on LTE-M and NB-IoT. Getting the match right is usually the difference between a link that holds and one that drops.
Can you design a GPS or GNSS asset tracker?
Yes. A GPS and GNSS tracker design combines the cellular link, often an nRF9160 or a SIM7600 modem, with a GNSS receiver, a power path sized for the duty cycle, and careful antenna isolation so the radios do not desensitise each other. The board is taken from schematic through layout to a tested prototype.
Ready when you are
Get your wireless product to range and through certification
From Bluetooth to custom RF links, professional RF design ensures your wireless product achieves maximum range and passes certification.
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