Linx Technologies EVM-868-EUR - Manual (Page 11)

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Loop Style
A loop or trace style antenna is normally printed
directly on a product’s PCB (Figure 11). This makes
it the most cost-effective of antenna styles. The
element can be made self-resonant or externally
resonated with discrete components, but its actual
layout is usually product specific. Despite the cost
advantages, loop style antennas are generally
inefficient and useful only for short range
applications. They are also very sensitive to
changes in layout and PCB dielectric, which can
cause consistency issues during production.
In addition, printed styles are difficult to engineer,
requiring the use of expensive equipment including
a network analyzer. An improperly designed loop
will have a high SWR at the desired frequency
which can cause instability in the RF stage.
Linx offers low-cost planar and chip (Figure 12) antennas that mount
directly to a product’s PCB. These tiny antennas do not require testing
and provide excellent performance in light of their small size. They offer a
preferable alternative to the often problematic “printed” antenna.
Figure 11: Loop or Trace Antenna
Figure 12: SP Series
“Splatch” Antenna