BLE antenna and connector

[Victor Ruiz 26]

Hi,

I was trying to use two nrf52840 boards for testing differences between BLE Codec PHY and BLE 1M PHY. So, firstly I made the test without considering neither radio antennas nor polarization of the boards.

Then, I wanted to repeat the same test, but using boxes for the board and BLE antennas. For this reason come my question.

From where the board emits its BLE waves? I would need to know because in the absence of antennas, I would face the boards against each other on the site where they emit from.

Other question, I tried to use antennas for that, but I think the board ufl connector is not as standard as I thought. I mean, I have many pigtails (IPEX1-SMA or ufl-SMA) for connecting the board connector to an BLE antenna, but none of them connect correctly to the connector on the board, and I don't think it is a good match with the antenna.

These are the photos of my pigtail

None of them match correctly the board connector. 

Do you know where I could find the correct pigtail?

[Elfving]

Hello Victor,

You can see the antenna going out at the end there past J1. 

And I believe thats an SWF connector on the DK. Try an SWF cable.

Then, I wanted to repeat the same test, but using boxes for the board and BLE antennas. For this reason come my question.

If you want to test this with antennas in a chamber then SWF is also the way to go, as that breaks the signal to the antenna and passes it only through the SWF connector. UFL wouldn't do that.

Regards,

Elfving

[Victor Ruiz 26]

Elfving said:

You can see the antenna going out at the end there past J1. 

Ok thanks. I guess that this antenna is directional in terms of that it only (or at the highest power) emits BLE from the surface of the board, not from the bottom, so I should face them against each other, as I said before.

Related to SWF cable you mentioned. Which is this cable? I have searched the Internet and I did not find any cables with this name. I found connectors called IPEX1 and UFL connectors. So, which antenna could I connect to nrf52840?

I don't know if I'm explaining myself well?

[Elfving]

From where the board emits its BLE waves? I would need to know because in the absence of antennas, I would face the boards against each other on the site where they emit from.

Victor Ruiz 26 said:

Ok thanks. I guess that this antenna is directional in terms of that it only (or at the highest power) emits BLE from the surface of the board, not from the bottom, so I should face them against each other, as I said before.

I am not sure if that would matter much in just a preliminary test using the DKs itself, before using an actual testing chamber (if that was what you were planning on doing).

You could use the antenna pattern of the DKs to find this direction that you are after. But we do not measure this antenna pattern, as it is typically not useful information for us. The DK is mainly for development purposes after all.

Victor Ruiz 26 said:

Related to SWF cable you mentioned. Which is this cable? I have searched the Internet and I did not find any cables with this name. I found connectors called IPEX1 and UFL connectors. So, which antenna could I connect to nrf52840?

Have a look here. Its a 50 Ohms rf cable rated for 2.4GHz, the one side has an swf connector, the other would have an sma. You could for instance get something like this.

Regards,

Elfving

[Victor Ruiz 26]

Elfving said:

Have a look here. Its a 50 Ohms rf cable rated for 2.4GHz, the one side has an swf connector, the other would have an sma

Where I could buy that cable? In the website you posted I did not find any shop website.

I don't know if we are understanding each other, but what I want to do is simply connect an antenna to the board so that BLE Codec can reach further.

[Elfving]

Victor Ruiz 26 said:

I don't know if we are understanding each other, but what I want to do is simply connect an antenna to the board so that BLE Codec can reach further.

Well unfortunately I can't/shouldn't recommend a certain store or distributor. You would have to search around in order to find a store that works for you.

What I am trying to do is mainly describe to you what you would need to get. And you would need to get a cable that fits with the swf connector on the board and and sma on your antenna. I assume you have an antenna similar to the one in this case, right?

Regards,

Elfving