Routing is blocked by a preflight error I can’t safely fix automatically: the router reports five P1 “components” still set to position:auto, but layout inspection shows P1 only as normal pads inside already-placed parts, not standalone components.
What I did:
Confirmed placement is still single-sided and clean.
Re-ran placement cleanup; it found no movable standalone P1 objects.
Re-ran router preflight; the same blocker remains.
Reported the likely router/preflight misclassification internally.
Open item:
Routing was not started, so no new DRC/JLCPCB counts are available yet. The blocker needs manual/platform resolution or a deeper cleanup of the affected library pad rules before auto-routing can run.
J1 (the pogo connector) was rotated and no longer points to the top edge. Fix it:
rotate J1 so its cable/contact opening points in the +Y direction, i.e. toward
the TOP board edge (exits off the top edge, not into the board), and keep J1 on
the top edge.
Verify the other three connectors too:
J2 opening faces the BOTTOM edge
J3 opening faces the LEFT edge (270 deg)
J4 opening faces the RIGHT edge (90 deg)
Report the final rotation (degrees) of J1, J2, J3, J4.
Chosen antenna option: PCB inverted-F antenna (IFA) at a short board edge.
Reasoning:
Zero BOM cost, best aligned with the 15,000-unit cost target.
Avoids chip-antenna sourcing/placement cost and supply risk.
Requires RF layout discipline and prototype tuning, but the long ~65 mm board dimension gives enough edge length for a 2.4 GHz PCB IFA keepout region.
A chip antenna may be safer for schedule/repeatability if the final enclosure/rail geometry strongly detunes the PCB antenna, but it adds BOM cost and still requires the vendor reference layout and tuning.
Nordic nRF52810 QFAA reference RF matching values
Nordic nRF52810 QFAA/QFN48 single-ended RF reference values used here:
Table
Component
Value
Function
Population
C12
0.8 pF NP0/C0G 0402
Shunt RF match from RF_ANT to GND
Fitted
L3
3.9 nH 0402
Series RF matching inductor from RF_ANT to ANT_50R_FEED
Fitted
C13
DNP shunt placeholder
Antenna-side tuning capacitor to GND
Not fitted by default
Existing L2 = 15 nH remains between U1 ANT and RF_ANT from the earlier Nordic DC/DC/RF reference support. The new network starts from RF_ANT as requested.
Nets
RF_ANT: controlled-impedance 50 Ω high-speed RF net, U1-side match node.
ANT_50R_FEED: controlled-impedance 50 Ω high-speed RF feed to PCB IFA.
Layout constraints for next PCB phase
Put the PCB IFA on a short board edge, preferably centered on the 20 mm edge if the mechanical clip permits.
Keep the ANT_50R_FEED trace as short and straight as practical.
Route ANT_50R_FEED as a 50 Ω controlled-impedance trace referenced to the bottom GND plane/ground pour according to the final JLCPCB 2-layer stackup.
Add via stitching along the RF feed ground boundary, but not under the antenna radiator.
Create a copper/ground keepout under and around the IFA radiator on all copper layers; no ground pour, traces, or components under the antenna area.
Final antenna dimensions and C13 population must be tuned with a VNA on the actual PCB/enclosure/rail-contact mechanical assembly.
Verification status
Schematic RF matching components have been added and connected. Physical PCB antenna geometry/keepout should be generated during the layout phase once the final board outline and clip-side orientation are fixed.