PCA10000 vs PCA20006 for better range

[Jose Xavier]

Hello,

I have a development kit with the PCA10000 and I can comunicate with the PCA10004 for about 5/6 meters what is ok for my application but now I want to comunicate using two small pcbs like PCA10000 that I'll design. To get best range result should I use PCA10000 or PCA20006 antenna reference design?

Thank you

[Jose Xavier]

I don't have space for the antenna on the PCA10001. I'll follow the PCA10000 design, thank you.

Can you just tell me why there is a 0R resistor (R17)?

[Asbjørn]

The 0 Ohm resistor in R17 is to have the option of tuning the antenna if needed. Since the antenna behaved as expected there wasn't any need for a inductor or capacitor in this foot print to help tune the antenna so we put in a 0 Ohm. In future releases we might replace it with a normal PCB trace instead. Antenna tuning white paper for more information.

[Jose Xavier]

So I can remove the R17 by a trace? I understand that radio is a little black magic if we don't have the right tools like me so I'll made my design similar as possible to yours.

[Asbjørn]

I would leave it as your board will probably be slightly different from ours, so if you have the foot print there, you could, if needed, use it for tuning. For now, set it to 0 Ohm.

[Jose Xavier]

PCD done and tested, it works great :)