RF Troubleshooting

High VSWR Causes

Common causes of high VSWR, poor return loss and bad antenna matching.

Most common causes

  • Antenna length is incorrect.
  • Matching network values are wrong.
  • Ground plane is too small or broken.
  • Coax connector or cable is faulty.
  • Antenna is tuned outside the final enclosure.

How to test

Start with antenna placement, cable loss, power supply noise and final enclosure testing. Then compare RSSI, SNR, packet loss or return loss before and after each change.

What to verify

Check antenna frequency, matching network, connector type, ground plane, cable routing, supply ripple and nearby sources of interference.

People also ask

Can antenna placement reduce range?

Yes. Placement near metal, batteries, displays or cables can reduce range significantly.

Should I test RF in the final product?

Yes. RF behavior often changes after the PCB is installed in the enclosure.