NeocCortec is a manufacturer of a unique Meshnet protocol stack with a battery-powered router and gateway. NeoCortec‘s stack operates at 2400 MHz and 868/915 MHz and complies with the European Duty Cycle.

Several of  NeoCortec’s customers had complained that after completing designs, their products had suffered from a lack of range.  In order to understand the reasons why this could be happening the company placed an order for a study of the designs and performance of their customers’ self-built PCB antennas. It turned out that the reason for this lack of range was more often than not due to faulty antenna design rather than any issue with the NeoCortec components.

To minimise NeoCortec’s support costs to their customers, the design of an L and F antenna was explored in great detail and documented in an 80 page study. The study outlines how a series of design changes can effect the final system performance and how to apply them effectively to allow NeoCortec’s customers a better chance of getting satisfactory results.

The hundreds of antenna simulations we conducted were recorded and summarised in the 80 page report. It concludes with a software model for a rectangular PCB with antenna, battery and housing in the size and shape of a US quarter. Key design parameters, such as PCB dimensions, antenna free space, the PCB to enclosure and antenna to enclosure gaps, the enclosure and PCB material impedence,/ PCB size and position of the battery in the enclosure can be all adjusted with a few mouse clicks.

This model is now available to Crout customers to perform antenna simulations for various bands including. 433, 868, 915 or 2400 MHz for a flat rate of Euro 480.

The end result is a PCB antenna with procurement cost of 0 Euro, manufacturing cost of 0 Euro, 0 components in the matching network and consequently 0 dB loss in the matching network, 0 days delivery time and no End of Life.