FR4 Boards under 2GHZ
What is your experience with FR4 pcbs under 2GHZ for RF circuits?
Make a search of the board on FR4. This topic had been discussed many times here.
It basically amounts to whether your circuit design is lumped element or microstrip circuit. If the design is lumped element then stick with FR4. It is cheaper and easier processing. However model the component pads as part of the circuit as their parasitics have a good deal of influence in this frequency range.
If you are doing microstrip circuits, hairpin filters and what not, then the unpredicable dielectric constant εr range of FR4 may not be not stable enough. There are FR4 substitutes with more controlled εr than FR4 and not as expensive as Rogers but usually you will be limited in PCB vendors.
Hi,
I used FR4 up to 12GHz (made 6GHz PA, 4GHz VCO, 6GHz LNA, 6GHz BPF & 12GHz LPF) no problem.
If you are using it for Space and Mil application you can use Rogers, Arlon, etc.
For commercial use only FR4. Works well with 0201, 0402, 0603, 0805, 1206 & 1210 components (LCR). It has very high peel strength & less loss tangent for small MW/RF circuits.
Good Luck.
Dear,
See this link:
http://www.standardpc.com/fr4.htm
Good Luck!
Added after 1 minutes:
Also see this
http://www.apcircuits.com/resources/...20Laminate.pdf
2GHz no issue for FR4. My 9-18 GHz designs are Rogers 4003. In between freq depending on peformance needed.