Overview
Understand how antenna gain affects link range, coverage pattern and installation.
Design checklist
Check wavelength, impedance, matching, ground plane, antenna placement, cable loss, connectors and final enclosure.
Practical notes
RF behavior changes after installation. Test with the final PCB, enclosure, cable and antenna position.
Common mistakes
Common mistakes include poor ground plane, long lossy coax, wrong connector type, metal near antenna and tuning outside the final product.