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Original question:

LAUNCHXL-CC2640R2: Long range test

LAUNCHXL-CC2640R2: How to connect an external antenna to the CC2640R2F launchpad

Zhangshun Lu
Prodigy 50 points
Part Number: LAUNCHXL-CC2640R2
Other Parts Discussed in Thread: CC2640R2F, CC-ANTENNA-DK2

Hi there,

I want to connect an external whip antenna to the CC2640R2F luanchpad via the JSC connector. As from the schematic, I need to unmount  C51 and mount a capacitor at C58 instead. Is that right? If this is the correct way, how should I do it, should I solder the capacitor?

Below is the current state of my board. I removed C51 by force...

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks,

Zhangshun

  • 0
    TI__Guru**** 317180 points

    You can use a 0 ohm resistor for C58 since C24 is used. 

    The easiest way to do this is by using hot air soldering or a hot plate (also made for soldering). If you remove C51 by force like you have done you also remove the pads the component are placed on and it's mot possible to put a different component here. 

    What is the main reason for using a whip antenna since the PCB antenna has good effictivity? 

  • 0 in reply to TER
    Prodigy 50 points

    Hi TER,

    Thanks for your answer, it helped!

    The reason for using a whip antenna is there is not enough ground place for placing a PCB antenna on my customized PCB. Using a whip antenna seems much feasiable. And I want to test the performance of this whip antenna to decide if there is any need for an impedance matching circuit. Another alternative is using  the chip antenna from the CC-Antenna-DK2 (#Board 3).

    According to your opinion, since the mounting pads are removed from my board, there will be no current flows into the feed point of the PCB antenna. Meaning I need to buy a new launchpad if I want to use it for OAD purposes, correct?

    Best

    Zhangshun 

  • 0 in reply to TER
    Prodigy 50 points

    Hi TER,

    Thanks for your answer, it helped!

    About using the whip antenna, I want to use a whip antenna on my design since there is not enough ground space for the PCB antenna on my customized PCB design. Another alternative is using the chip antenna from the CC-Antenna-DK2 (#Board 3). I want to test the antenna performance for both antenna, and then decide the proper length of the whip antenna or design an impedance matching circuit for the chip antenna.

    According to your answer, since the mounting pads are removed on my launchpad, meaning there will be no current flows into the feedpoint of the PCB antenna on the launchpad. So I need buy a new launchpad if I want to use it as host for OAD purposes, correct?

    Best

    Zhangshun

  • 0 in reply to Zhangshun Lu
    TI__Guru**** 317180 points

    If you want to test performance you need to get a new launchpad. But if you just want to test basic functionality you will probably manage to get up to 1 m range without the antenna.