Cutting through the noise: Modern strategies for RF PCB design

In season three of the Printed Circuit Podcast, host Steph Chavez sat down with Per Viklund, Director of IC Packaging and RF Product Lines at Siemens, for a focused discussion on one of the most complex—and increasingly common—areas of board design: RF PCB design.

With over 45 years in electronics hardware and EDA software, Viklund brought both historical depth and a modern lens to a domain often described as “black magic.” But as he and Chavez made clear, today’s RF design is less about mysticism and more about systems thinking, simulation, and smart tooling.

Radio Frequency (RF) PCB is everywhere

“Back in the day, RF was rare and siloed. Only specialists touched it,” Viklund explained. “But with 5G, digital beamforming, and IoT, almost every designer will face RF challenges at some point.”

He recounted his own journey, starting with ham radios and tube amplifiers as a teenager. “I’ve always been a radio nerd,” he said. That passion ultimately translated into building RF and IC packaging solutions for Siemens.

Chavez noted a similar trajectory. “RF was intimidating when I started. It was mythical. We learned through scars—by trial, error, and respins.”

Though governed by the same physics, RF behaves differently at high frequencies—and that matters.

“One example is the use of quarter-wavelength conductors,” Viklund said. “You might intentionally connect a signal to ground after a certain distance to create a specific effect. But traditional tools interpret that as a short circuit and start flagging errors.”

This mismatch between RF design logic and digital EDA assumptions caused headaches for years. But as Viklund explained, Siemens tools like Xpedition and PADS Pro now natively understand RF design principles, reducing the friction between intent and implementation.

Chavez added, “You don’t have time for tool fights anymore. The goal is to get it right the first time, with high yield and low cost.”

Analog/digital/RF co-design: It’s all one system now

Modern PCBs rarely contain isolated RF, digital, or analog sections. They’re tightly integrated systems—and must be designed as such.

“Each domain has to see the full picture,” Viklund emphasized. “You can’t design RF in isolation. You need to consider how digital and analog signals will impact each other.”

This integrated approach is what Siemens calls co-design, and it’s critical to success. “Passing designs over the wall doesn’t work anymore,” Chavez said. “Concurrent, contextual collaboration is the only path forward.”

Simulation is no longer optional

“In the past, companies would skip simulation and just expect three board spins,” Chavez observed. “Now, simulation is the first step.”

Viklund agreed: “All designs are simulated today—RF especially. And not just for signal integrity, but for EMI, resonance, and multi-domain effects.”

With growing complexity, simulation becomes the safeguard against invisible design flaws. “It’s not about perfection,” Viklund said. “It’s about visibility.”

Most PCB tools were historically built for digital logic. RF structures—especially curved traces, odd impedance tapers, and grounded stubs—were often flagged as errors or treated as dumb metal.

“That’s changed,” Viklund explained. “Tools like Xpedition Layout and PADS Pro have RF support built in. They understand what you’re trying to do.”

These tools also integrate directly with simulation environments like ANSYS HFSS and Keysight PathWave. “There are usually five to ten design round trips between layout and simulation,” he noted. “You don’t want to manually clean up data every time.”

This tight loop can cut total PCB design time by more than 50%, making intelligent tool integration a competitive advantage—not a luxury.

Advice for new RF designers: Learn the why before the what

Asked for guidance to the next generation, Viklund was direct: “RF isn’t black magic. Everything has a scientific reason.”

He recommends starting with RF fundamentals: electromagnetic fields, resonance, standing waves, and transmission line effects. “You don’t have to master the math, but you do have to understand the behavior.”

And just as important, he emphasized the practical side: “Learn how these concepts apply to a PCB layout, not just to equations in a textbook.” Chavez and Viklund agreed that modern RF design is as much about community as it is about capability.

“Attend conferences like PCB West, IPC events, or PCEA meetups,” Viklund urged. “That’s where theory meets practice.”

Chavez echoed that sentiment: “90% of my growth came from these conferences. The golden nuggets you get from industry experts are priceless.”

They both emphasized the need for continuous education and professional development, especially in a fast-moving space like RF and microwave design.

Conclusion

As Viklund summarized: “RF isn’t something only specialists do anymore. It’s becoming a standard part of PCB design. That means designers need the right tools, the right mindset, and the right education to succeed.”

With tighter board real estate, increasing signal speeds, and rising system complexity, RF-aware design isn’t optional—it’s essential.

Learn more expert advice on RF PCB design, and listen to the  Printed Circuit Podcast.