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Micro Cat Tracker PCB design
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Caster 3 years ago
I would appreciate any advice how to improve PCB design to achieve the highest sensitivity for the GPS signal. The design is based on [S76G chip](http://www.acsip.com.tw/index.php?action=products-detail&fid1=19&fid2=&fid3=&id=41&lang=3). The tracker will be sewn or encapsulated in plastic into cat collar together with two dipole wire antennas (GPS 9.04 cm, LORA 8.20 cm, lambda/2 & lambda/4 - 5%) and fine tuned by NanoVNA. I am not sure if I should include GND pads for both antennas to signal via shielding (GPS & LORA) and make separate grounds for digital, GPS and LORA signals, connected in one place only. The PCB is 27 x 12 mm four layers: VF signal/GND, VF GND, Power lines, Digital signals/GND. The CPWG is designed to 50 Ohms (189/90/100/4.05 w/space/er height [um]/er). X1 is MEMS LSE 32.768kHz oscillator, X2 TCVCXO 26MHz and U2 is LDO 1.8V ![image](https://i.stack.imgur.com/CVauF.jpg) Very first PCB design, see antennas: ![Very first PCB design, see antennas](https://i.stack.imgur.com/2EWo9.jpg) <br> <br>
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andyfierman 3 years ago
Sorry but without sight of your project, it is difficult to offer meaningful advice because your screenshots do not give enough information.
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Caster 3 years ago
I published the project [here](https://oshwlab.com/Caster/tracker)
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andyfierman 3 years ago
Is there a datasheet for the S76G chip showing a typical application schematic, recommended PCB layout and antenna construction? Are your antennas just lengths of wire cut to length and soldered on the PCB?
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Caster 3 years ago
Unfortunately there is no S76G datasheet showing a typical application schematic, recommended PCB layout and antenna design... even though I conculted my design with the AcSip company from the very beginning. Attachment: [S76G LoRa and GNSS Wireless Communication Module](https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwiviq7Q59ntAhXIzaQKHaDfB8IQFjAAegQIARAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fedit.wpgdadawant.com%2Fuploads%2Fnews_file%2Fprogram%2F2020%2F35687%2Ftech_files%2FS76G_SPEC_Ver.E.pdf&usg=AOvVaw1uaGgL3EMmElMU1fsyNTZz) (pdf)
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andyfierman 3 years ago
"I conculted my design with the AcSip company from the very beginning." What did they say about it when you consulted with them?
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Caster 3 years ago
They corrected same basic problems i.e. not connected required pins but unfortunately they didn't corrected my PCB design. I have also available the S76G development kit, but with no detail plans of PCB. [EK-S76GXB User Guide](https://www.glynstore.com/content/docs/acsip/EK-S76GXB%20User%20Guide%20Rev.B.pdf) (pdf) [26MHz TCXO Management](https://i.ibb.co/7tpLXKL/Ac-Si-P-26-MHz.jpg) [RTC Low-speed external clock](https://i.ibb.co/RSXCKhH/S76-G-LSE-Application-Note.jpg). I had troubles with it, it didn't oscillate so I replace it with the MEMS oscillator working well. [Layout Guide](https://i.ibb.co/S5mfq4N/S76-G-Layout-Guide.jpg)<br> <br> I have just registered on [techship.com](https://techship.com/products/acsip-s76gxb-developer-kit/) and when I will get access I will have a look at AcSIP S7xGXB Reference Schematic V.1~~~~
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andyfierman 3 years ago
There seem to be a lot of chips, modules and SiP (System in Package) that are on the market with next to no proper documentation. It is then left to users to come up with designs that "work" with no kind of benchmarks as to what performance can be expected from them in any kind of proven reference design. There appears to be no documentation on the tx/rx port impedances or examples of impedance matching networks so trying to match an antenna to them is just guesswork. Whilst this might be fun for hobbyists to play with, it is a huge waste of time and resources for anyone who wants to produce a professional product with reliable, repeatable performance in a cost effective way. What would be worth looking into is datasheets and applications notes for the Semtech SX1276 and SONY CXD5603GF chips and assume that the  S76G packaging has negligible effect. I would also be tempted to add more local supply decoupling of around 1nF across the S76G supply pins because there is no indication of how this is done inside the SiP package.
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GrouchoDuke 3 years ago
Caster, how’s this project coming along? I’m just starting on my first S76G project & the lack of documentation is frustrating. The dev board & T-Motion schematics help a lot, but I’m not convinced they did everything by the book on the T-Motion. Still, I have a couple T-<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Motion boards and they work.</span><br> <br> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Have you found a good place to get PCBs assembled with the S76G? I sent a couple messages to Acsip asking for supply & assembly recommendations through their contact form, but haven’t heard anything back.</span><br> <br> <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%;">Good luck with it!</span>
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Caster 3 years ago
@GrouchoDuke The project is waiting now. I have discovered when S76G is awaken from the deep sleep it is trying to get a GPS fix. Unfortunately when there is no GPS signal it still tries indefinitely and it is not going back to deep sleep. I asked to get the firmware to be able to modify it or I need to get a new function to send dummy LORA message "NOGPSSIGNAL" to allow LoRa triangulation instead of sending IPSO message when the GPS signal is not available for e.g. 60 seconds to allow S76G go back automatically to deep sleep. I let the PCS assembled locally without any problems.
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