Antennas for Difficult Platforms Part 2: How the benefits of a platform agnostic antenna translates into real-world engineering wins

In Antennas for Difficult Platforms Part 1: What it means to be platform agnostic and the benefits for wireless device design, we set out the practical benefits for wireless system engineers designing for wearables or devices to be deployed on other difficult platforms such as on or close to metal.

In this article, you will learn:

• What platform agnostic antennas offer by way of flexibility in design
• That PCB shape and size specifications are not dictated by housing materials and nearby components
• How the benefits of a platform agnostic antenna translate into real-world engineering wins

For more in-depth technical material, download the whitepaper: The BodyWave Antenna – the next generation in wearable antenna technology

Selecting a platform agnostic antenna for your wearable device results in fewer restrictions in antenna placement,

Meaning you can, for example:

• Enjoy fewer restrictions in the placement of the antenna on the PCB as it is less sensitive to nearby components and housing.

• Dispense with the requirement to reserve a ground plane keep-out area. This allows the back of the PCB to be populated with components, connectors or the battery. Our customers report that they are using this space for additional functionality and features without having to increase the form factor – creating an opportunity for competitive advantage.
  
  Let’s look at one such customer’s deployment of the BodyWave™ antenna and how they maximised value from the opportunity to be innovative with the PCB layout.
  

When Hollyland released the latest version of the Solidcom BPK01 Beltpack in September-25, the additional layout flexibility had allowed them to replace the traditional whip-style antenna with an embedded BodyWave™ DECT antenna.

As whip antennas are vulnerable to breakage, this resulted in a more robust device, reducing repair and maintenance costs. And due to BodyWave’s improved performance, they were able to achieve this with no deterioration in performance, in fact Hollyland’s own rigorous testing showed an extended range of over 330 metres, a greater than previously possible.

Read more about Hollyland's innovation with BodyWave™ antennas

Another customer involved in specialist localisation utilised the additional internal PCB space for increased battery size and power, in addition to adding new functionality – all without increasing the form factor. This has given them a significant advantage over competing solutions.

Unlike alternative antenna solutions which rely on the PCB for radiation and have strict requirements for, our platform agnostic antennas enable PCB shapes and sizes optimized for the product rather than the antenna. The diagrams above show a selection of PCB shapes and sizes used in real customer projects.

Unlike antennas such as PIFA or chip antennas that are highly sensitive to their environment, AntennaWare antennas retain high radiation efficiency and impedance stability regardless of where, or who they are mounted on. This video captured at our stand at Embedded World 2025 compares the radiation efficiency and impedance stability of a BodyWave antenna compared to a printed F antenna.

To see this demo in person, join us at the Embedded World exhibition and conference (Hall 3, Booth Number 3-423) running in Nürnberg (Nuremberg), Germany from 10-12 March 2026. (Link to company event page to find out more & book a meeting: https://antennaware.com/resour...

Visit BodyWave™ Antenna or Omni-Wave™ Antenna to find out more. Or if you have a project you would like to discuss, please get in touch.