nRF51822QFAA RF range achievable with JOHANSON 2450BM14E0003 and SMD Chip Antenna 2450AT18B100

[Prashant]

Hi, We are in the process of creating our 2nd pass boards with following components to achieve good RF range>20 meters. JOHANSON 2450BM14E0003 and SMD Chip Antenna 2450AT18B100 Has anyone used the above components and achieved a good range>20 meters? Ours is a 2 layer FR4 PCB. Of course we need to perform impedance matching to minimize RF losses and also optimum layout of RF section. Attached is the snapshot of our 2nd pass schematics.

[Asbjørn]

Using an integrated balun such as JOHANSON 2450BM14E0003 is a nice way to make your design smaller and also having really good performance out of the radio. Our tests show that in most implementations the overall performance of baluns such as this one is slightly better than a discrete balun. The antenna should be fine as well, especially since you have implemented components for tuning the antenna input impedance. With a balun placement according to Johansons recommendations and tuning the antenna I don't see achieving 20+ meters as an issue.

White paper on tuning antenna.