FM microstrip antenna? - RF Cafe Forums

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Student4Life
 Post subject: FM microstrip antenna?
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 9:58 am 
Hi,

Is there a program or online tool that I can use to help me design an FM antenna that I can etch on a PCboard? I was thinking of just soldering a piece of wire for my primitive FM receiver, but I wondered if it is possible to just implement a copper trace on a PCB. That way it will look nicer. :)

Is this possible? Thank you!


 
  
 
Karthik
 Post subject:
Posted: Tue Feb 07, 2006 10:26 am 
Hi,

It can be done, but, I am not sure you want to do that at FM frequencies. The size of the antenna would be very big and I dont think you would want to have such a big chunk of pcb lying around!!


 
  
 
Student4Life
 Post subject:
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:18 am 
Hi! I wanted to squeeze an antenna into a matchbox, so I thought if I etched a copper trace and zigzag it around a small board so I can get close to a quarter wavelength of say 100MHz, then that would do the job. But I guess not? Any tips of squeezing an antenna into a small box? I read that other small FM receivers use the actual headphone cables for the antenna, but I measured a headphone cable and it seems pretty short. Can't I just etch this same length into a board?

thanks!


 
  
 
Karthik
 Post subject:
Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 11:50 am 
Well, you could do that. If you have a zigzag line, or etch a multi turn loop, you could possibly achieve a small size. But, matching it would be the tricky part, coz the loop will be inductive, and the inductance will vary depending on the spacing between each turn of the loop. As another thought, why not wind the wire itself inside the box? That might be simpler.

Posted  11/12/2012