PCB Antenna Design for 1090 MHz
Thought for 3 sec
Use this as the PCB antenna geometry for 1090 MHz ADS-B:
- Type: edge-fed quarter-wave PCB monopole
- Target electrical length: ~68.8 mm in free space
- Practical PCB trace starting length: 63–66 mm
- Trace width: match your PCB’s 50 Ω feed; for common 1.6 mm FR-4, start around 3.0 mm wide microstrip over solid ground
- Antenna section: straight trace extending from the SMA center pin at the board edge
- Ground: solid ground plane behind/around the SMA, but no ground copper under the radiating antenna trace
- Keepout: at least 5–10 mm clearance around the antenna trace from copper, components, vias, and board edges except the feed edge
- Tuning: make the antenna trace slightly long, around 66–68 mm, then trim shorter during VNA tuning
Recommended layout:
Text
SMA edge connector │ center pin │ ├── 50 Ω feed trace, short │ └═══════════════════════════════════════ 63–66 mm PCB monopole antenna trace Ground plane only near SMA/feed. No ground underneath the antenna trace.
If board space allows, make it a straight 65 mm trace. If not, meander it, but expect lower efficiency and more tuning sensitivity.
Create layout guide
Calculate board dimensions
Explain keepout
Check antenna feed
Meandered version
