# All About Antennas with Katerina Galitskaya

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2024-10-01
- Episode: 678
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-10-01-all-about-antennas-with-katerina-galitskaya
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/678-all-about-antennas-with-katerina-galitskaya/

## Summary

Katerina Galitskaya, a Senior Antenna Engineer, explains the physics of antenna design, emphasizing that ground plane size is critical for efficiency and that lower frequencies require larger PCB areas. She outlines practical rules for PCB placement, such as positioning antennas on the shorter edge and maintaining clearance, while discussing the challenges of human body interaction, SAR regulations, and testing in anechoic chambers. The conversation also covers the limitations of off-the-shelf modules, the complexity of beamforming and millimeter-wave 5G, and the use of simulation tools like EMS to visualize electromagnetic fields.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-10-01-all-about-antennas-with-katerina-galitskaya#t=0) Introduction and Ubiquity of Antennas
- [5:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-10-01-all-about-antennas-with-katerina-galitskaya#t=326) Physics of Antennas and Ground Planes
- [11:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-10-01-all-about-antennas-with-katerina-galitskaya#t=672) PCB Placement Rules and Clearance
- [19:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-10-01-all-about-antennas-with-katerina-galitskaya#t=1145) Antenna Environments and Human Body Effects
- [24:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-10-01-all-about-antennas-with-katerina-galitskaya#t=1456) Testing, SAR, and Anechoic Chambers
- [31:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-10-01-all-about-antennas-with-katerina-galitskaya#t=1894) When to Design vs. Buy Antennas
- [37:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-10-01-all-about-antennas-with-katerina-galitskaya#t=2270) Beamforming, 5G, and Satellite Challenges
- [46:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-10-01-all-about-antennas-with-katerina-galitskaya#t=2812) Simulation Tools and Troubleshooting

## Topics

- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Test & measurement](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/test-and-measurement)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- ESP32 (chip)
- iPhone 4 (product)
- iPhone 12 (product)
- Adafruit (company)
- LoRa (chip)
- NRAF 9160 (chip)
- HackRF (product)
- Starlink (product)
- EMS (tool)
- KiCad (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [398: Clocks Get Into Everything](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-01-14-398-clocks-get-into-everything) (Embedded.fm)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-11-26-the-spark-gap-episode-21) (The Spark Gap)
- [PCB Grounding Mistakes Your Datasheet Taught You](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-09-23-pcb-grounding-mistakes-your-datasheet-taught-you) (OnTrack)
- [EMC Expert Debunks Common PCB Grounding Myths](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-01-27-emc-expert-debunks-common-pcb-grounding-myths) (OnTrack)
- [Intro  EMC: Compliance, Opportunities & Pitfalls with Anton Tishchenko](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2024-05-01-intro-emc-compliance-opportunities-pitfalls-with-anton-tishchenko) (OnTrack)

## Citing this page

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