May 21, 2012 -- Selecting the right antennas for a device, particularly cellular antennas, and testing and integrating them properly, can prove the difference between a device that passes network certification and testing like PCS-1900 Type Certification Review Board (PTCRB) testing, and one that does not. Good radio frequency (RF) optimization and OTA (over-the-air) performance in wireless devices is critical for these certifications, and incorrect antenna selection and integration can often be blamed when M2M devices fail certification testing. Often, it is a system issue, such as the overall design of the system or how that device is interacting. As with many things, system optimization is the key to success.

This article discusses the important process of antenna selection, how to incorporate antennas in M2M devices and the recipe for connectivity success. First, let's take a look at selecting the proper antenna.

By Dermot O'Shea. (O'Shea is co-founder and joint managing director of Taoglas.)