At what frequency do PCB traces start to act as antennas?

Just interested in PCB design. I am wondering whether PCB traces start to act as antennas at some frequency. Anybody knows?

Frequencies where the length of the trace is comparable to 1/10th of the wavelength of the wave in air is a decent rule of thumb I’ve heard.

However, you should still be watching out to avoid accidental antenna problems.

  • Avoid ground loops. Use a single point as ground (usually a plane at the bottom of the PCB), and don’t route the ground of one point through the ground at another point. Ground loops can cause really big signal integrity problems.
  • Where possible, use differential signaling — that is, a pair of wires or traces — to send signals, and receive them with differential amplifiers.

Read More: Telecom Electronics Manufacturing

#PCB Design

Picture of Oliver Smith

Oliver Smith

Oliver is an experienced electronics engineer skilled in PCB design, analog circuits, embedded systems, and prototyping. His deep knowledge spans schematic capture, firmware coding, simulation, layout, testing, and troubleshooting. Oliver excels at taking projects from concept to mass production using his electrical design talents and mechanical aptitude.
Picture of Oliver Smith

Oliver Smith

Oliver is an experienced electronics engineer skilled in PCB design, analog circuits, embedded systems, and prototyping. His deep knowledge spans schematic capture, firmware coding, simulation, layout, testing, and troubleshooting. Oliver excels at taking projects from concept to mass production using his electrical design talents and mechanical aptitude.

What Others Are Asking

Is it OK to bend a VIA in a Flex PBC?

On a Flex Printed Circuit (FPC) made out of Kapton polyimide, will anything bad happen if I put a VIA in a part of the FPC that has to bend? VIA size: 0.2 mm hole diameter in 0.4 mm copper diameter. FPC bend radius: 0.7 mm. Kapton thickness: 0.2 mm. Copper weight: either 2 oz or 1 oz (I haven’t decided yet)

How do you hold SMD part in place while soldering?

I go through this every time I have PCBs I need to populate with SMD parts, and this has become more an issue as pin spacings have gotten tighter, and my hands have become less steady with age. How do you hold SMD part in place while soldering?

Read Detailed Advice From Blog Articles

Scroll to Top