I'm doing a small board with a 915 MHz transceiver. A small helical antenna is used, which is located on board with a very short path (10 mm) from the IC, including balun and a matching network. There are no RF connectors or real state available to include any. Since I'm constrained with the board space and the board needs a plastic case, I couldn't follow the manufacturer's guidelines for them so I need to at least do some antenna matching to ensure maximum transfer. The problem is that I don't have access to a network analyzer, so I'd like to know if there is some manual method I could use, besides randomly trying L and C values and measure the output. I don't need serious antenna performance, but some reasonably "good" one (a relative term, I know).
The board has footprints for two 0402 components, one series and one parallel. IC's crude power output is around 20 dBm. From the IC's development kit I've got boards that have a good antenna and good matching for it (other kind of antenna). I was thinking I could do some continous transmission from my board and get a relative power measurement from the dev kit receiver's perceived RSSI. I could compare the results with measures obtained from another dev kit board in countinuous transmission. Then I would perform some brute force by trying out L and C values. I could also choose from 10 different channels in the 915 MHz band (902~928) and see what diference I get. I know that's terrible, but hey, that's why it's called brute force.
Is there a better method? Is there any cheap (<$100) equipment I could use to get some measurements? Please mind that I live in an underdeveloped country so "buy some xxx on eBay" is not within my possibilities.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Best Answer
Without more information about your design I can't comment on the matching techniques. But here is some help for your test setup.
You can attempt to make relative measurements, but RSSI is a poor parameter for verification because you have to make sure you're in the linear range of the RSSI for the comparisons to be somewhat similar. Be aware that RSSI is just a current measurement of how saturated the amplifiers are and in general is not very accurate.
A spectrum analyzer would tell you much more and be able to give you a quick idea of how your device performs across the band.
Barring all that...you'll need to test this in an open area, outside, to avoid multipath interference. The more open and lacking of objects (especially metal), the better. Make two movable test stands (plastic or fiberglass is best) with batteries for power. Measure the distance between your reference receiver and your test transmitter (DUT).
Start with the manufacturers reference and characterize it at low/mid/high bands. Make sure your RSSI readings are stable and your background measurements (with no transmitter in operation) are quiet. The ISM900MHz band can be very noisey, so be careful of false readings using RSSI. You might find you're constantly turning on and off the transmitter to check background levels.
The RSSI needs to be in about the middle of it's range. If it is not, move the units closer or further apart. Measure this distance carefully so you can repeat it in the future...and don't loose your reference receiver! Also keep track of the orientations used and make sure the cables are carefully laid out, taped down for repeatability (both receiver and DUT). You might even want to lay down some copper screen material under the receiver and DUT to provide a more consistent ground plane for testing. Try to run the wires down through the center of the screen under the device.
Then take your design at the same distance and repeat the measurements across the band. With RSSI +/-3 dB is probably about all the accuracy you could expect. And since your design is physically different you might need to test a variety of orientations to insure you're getting consistent results and not testing at some antenna null or lobe.