Lower Costs with Optimized Antenna Design: 5 Tips

In today’s competitive tech landscape, every dollar counts. At Radientum, we’ve seen firsthand how smart antenna design can significantly cut costs for companies developing wireless products. Let’s look at five key ways our antenna expertise can help you save money.

Choosing the right materials is crucial for cost-effective antenna design. Efficient antenna design minimizes the need for expensive materials. It leverages cost-effective materials without compromising performance. By simplifying the design, you reduce manufacturing complexity and save time. Fewer parts and simpler assembly processes translate directly to lower production costs.

We have helped our partners reduce costs by up to 30% by suggesting alternative materials that perform just as well. Often, there are multiple material options that can meet performance requirements, but at vastly different price point. For example, while ceramic antennas offer excellent performance, they can be expensive. In many cases, a professionally optimized and carefully custom designed PCB antenna can provide similar performance at a fraction of the cost.

The key is to understand the specific requirements of your product and match them with the most cost-effective material solution without compromising the performance. This approach often leads to significant savings, especially in high-volume production.

Read more about Materials or PCB Antenna Design

Smart design choices can make production smoother and cheaper. This involves considering the manufacturing process from the early stages of design. What should be taken into consideration:

• Reduce the number of assembly steps
• Minimize the need for manual tuning
• Design for automated production

For instance, an antenna that requires minimal manual tuning can significantly reduce labor costs and increase production speed. Similarly, designs that are compatible with automated manufacturing processes can lead to substantial savings in high-volume production scenarios. One of our smartphone clients saved 15% on manufacturing costs after we redesigned their antenna for easier assembly.

A comprehensive design approach that integrates antenna design with EMI, EMC, and electronics considerations reduces the need for multiple rounds of testing and certification attempts. By addressing these disciplines early in the design process and getting the design right the first time has a significant impact on the budget. It also improves overall system performance, minimizes interference, and ensures compliance with standards. Poor designs often require numerous rounds of testing, which can be expensive and time-consuming.  Professionally optimized design meets regulatory requirements like EMC & EMI standards on the first attempt, reducing costs related to lab work, certifications and compliance.

This is where advanced simulation tools and expertise come into play. By accurately modeling antenna performance before physical prototyping, we can:

• Cut down on prototype iterations
• Reduce time-to-market
• Minimize costly redesigns

While simulation services require upfront investment, they pay for themselves many times over by avoiding expensive and time-consuming physical prototyping cycles. A streamlined development process reduces the time spent troubleshooting issues, redesigning, and re-testing. By investing in professional antenna design early, you can avoid costly redesigns and delays and accelerate your product’s entry into the market, allowing you to capture sales opportunities sooner.

An IoT company we recently worked with avoided many rounds of prototyping by partnering with us and letting us do simulations of the antenna design. We identified a potential issue early and they ended up not having to do a full redesign, saving an estimated of development time.

Read more about EMC / EMI Testing or Antenna Design

Why use multiple antennas when one can do the job? We excel at designing multi-band and multi-function antennas. Designing multi-band and multi-function antennas can lead to significant cost savings. This approach offers several benefits:

• Reduces component count
• Saves valuable PCB space
• Lowers overall BOM costs

For example, a single antenna designed to handle both LTE Cat M1 and LoRa can be more cost-effective than separate antennas for each function. This not only reduces direct component costs but can also allow for smaller PCB designs, further driving costs down. For a wearable device partner, we combined GPS and Bluetooth antennas. This didn’t only cut costs by 20% but also freed up space for a larger battery, improving customer experience and enabling the devices’ success!

Read about Cellular Multiband Antennas.

In the long run it’s important to have a reliable product. A robust, well-optimized antenna reduces the chances of signal degradation, dropouts, and failures. This leads to fewer customer complaints and warranty claims. Lower warranty costs mean direct savings and improved customer satisfaction. Antenna design plays a critical role in overall product reliability.

Another way to plan ahead is to ‘future-proof’ the designs. Wireless technologies are rapidly evolving, and the next best thing is always around the corner. This is highlighted on the advancements in cellular technologies in recent years. The early 2000s saw the rise of 3G, which enabled mobile internet and multimedia services. By the early 2010s, 4G LTE dramatically increased data speeds and reduced latency, transforming how we use mobile devices. The transition from 4G to 5G came even faster, driven by the demand for ultra-fast data rates, minimal latency, and massive device connectivity.

Now, the focus is shifting to 6G, anticipated in the early 2030s, which promises even higher speeds, terahertz frequencies, and AI-driven optimization. This rapid progression from 3G to 6G highlights how important it is to plan to have a product that stays functional as long as possible.

Designing with the future in mind can be done in multiple different ways:

• Plan for upcoming wireless standards
• Design flexible antenna solutions
• Create modular designs for easy updates

For instance, an antenna design that can be easily modified to support both 4G and 5G frequencies can save a company from a complete product redesign when transitioning between standards. This foresight can prevent major redevelopment costs down the line.

Check out Custom Antenna Design -page for more insights about innovative antennas.

At Radientum, we offer much more than just consulting and testing – we are your allies in creating efficient, cost-effective wireless solutions. We specialize in antenna design and consulting services tailored to your specific needs. Our team of experts ensures your antenna is optimized for performance, cost, and compliance, providing support at every stage of the design process. We are ready to help you navigate the complex world of antenna design, RF and EMC/EMI challenges.

By focusing on these five areas – material optimization, streamlined manufacturing, first-time-right design, multi-functionality, and future-proofing – we can help you significantly reduce costs throughout your product’s lifecycle. Let us help you reduce costs, enhance reliability, and get to the market faster!

Ready to lower your costs through smart antenna design? Let’s talk about how we can support your next project. Contact us today to start your journey towards more cost-effective wireless products. Not convinced? Check out our References with testimonials from companies Radientum has already helped.