Datasheet vs Device Reality: Connectivity Failures in PCB Layout, Performance, and Certification
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Datasheets and reference designs define expected performance under controlled conditions, but they do not account for how connectivity behaves once the antenna is integrated into a real device. In practice, performance is affected by PCB layout execution, enclosure materials, nearby components, and system-level interactions that are not visible at the specification stage. This gap often leads to failures that only appear after the first prototype, during validation, or at certification.
This webinar walks through three common failure points observed in real devices: mismatch between reviewed PCB layout and manufactured hardware, performance degradation after device environment changes, and certification failures caused by system noise and desense. Each scenario is demonstrated through hands on measurement-driven debugging, including S-parameter analysis, OTA testing, and spectral investigation. The session focuses on how to identify the true root cause and determine whether the issue lies in layout implementation, matching, or the broader system.
Key Takeaways:
- How to identify when the fabricated PCB does not match the intended RF layout, and why this leads to immediate impedance and matching issues
- How to use OTA measurements to validate real-device performance and detect inconsistencies with expected results
- How to determine whether performance degradation is caused by antenna behavior or system-level changes in the device
- How to recognize when certification failures are driven by internal noise and receiver desensitization rather than RF design errors
- How to apply a structured debugging workflow across PCB layout validation, performance testing, and certification readiness
Speaker:
Isidoro Ibañez
Senior Antenna Engineer
Ignion
Isidoro Ibanez is Senior Antenna Engineer at Ignion, with a background in RF engineering, space systems, and applied antenna research. He holds a PhD in Antennas & Electromagnetics from Queen Mary University of London, focused on compact wearable antenna design. Prior to Ignion, he worked at Airbus Defence and Space and in the space sector on antenna design, validation, and system integration. His current work centers on antenna integration, OTA testing, and debugging real device-level RF issues.
