nRF24L01+ PCB layout with SMA

[tabrown]

Hi, are there drawings available of the PCB layout with a SMA antenna rather than a meandering antenna, for the nRF24L01+.

[Jørn]

Hello tabrown

Unfortunately, we do not have a PCB layout example with SMA connectors for the nRF24L01+. What you can do however is first follow the guidelines for the schematic and layout as stated in the product specification, this will match the chip output to 50 Ohm. Then you can use a surface mounted SMA connector specified for 50 Ohm, and use the layout of the nRF51 development kits as reference for the SMA (the devkit uses an MM8130-2600 from Murata, unbroken ground plane on bottom layer, good ground surrounding on top layer, no mid-layers, vias connecting top and bottom).

You should then use an antenna with 50 Ohm input impedance to minimize matching loss, or you will need a matching network after the SMA.

Best regards

Jørn Frøysa