3dBi UHF RFID PCB Antenna

An 865–868 MHz antenna is designed for UHF RFID and low-power wireless applications operating in the European ETSI SRD band. Typical uses include UHF RFID readers (EPC Gen2 / ISO 18000-6C), asset tracking, warehouse management, access control, smart retail, race timing, and IoT/M2M systems deployed in Europe and other regions following ETSI regulations.
Airplux offers this band across multiple product families: the ETSI 865–868 MHz RFID antenna line (3–15 dBi PCB, panel and mat antennas), near-field RFID antennas, narrow-beam antennas, and ETSI UHF integrated reader antennas. For example, the 3 dBi circular-polarized PCB antenna APRIA8003CM-137 suits compact desktop readers, while high-gain panel models support long-range portal and gate applications.

ETSI 865–868 MHz antennas are tuned for the European UHF RFID band (ETSI EN 302 208), while FCC 902–928 MHz antennas cover the North American band (FCC Part 15). The two bands do not overlap, so an antenna optimized for one will have degraded VSWR, gain and read range on the other. Choose the version that matches your reader’s regional profile.
Airplux manufactures both variants with matching mechanical designs — e.g., the ETSI 865–868 MHz panel series and the FCC 902–928 MHz series are available at the same gain levels (3–15 dBi). For global or multi-region deployments that need one SKU for both markets, the wideband UHF 860–960 MHz antenna line covers both bands in a single antenna, ideal for asset tracking and smart retail projects shipped worldwide.

It is not recommended. A 915 MHz antenna is resonant around 902–928 MHz; at 865–868 MHz its impedance match detunes, VSWR rises, and radiated efficiency drops — typically reducing RFID read range by 20–40% or more, and in some regions pushing the system out of regulatory compliance. Always match the antenna to the device’s operating band.
If your hardware must serve both Europe (865–868 MHz) and North America (902–928 MHz), use a genuinely wideband model instead of compromising with a single-band antenna. Airplux’s UHF 860–960 MHz RFID antenna series maintains consistent gain and low VSWR across the entire 860–960 MHz range, so one antenna design can be certified and deployed in both regions.

PCB RFID antennas can be designed in compact sizes to fit equipment with limited internal or mounting space. The Airplux APRIA8003CM-137 measures 137 × 137 × 3 mm and weighs 0.13 kg, making it suitable for space-conscious RFID equipment integration. The available mounting area, nearby materials, and antenna orientation should be checked to maintain reliable RF performance.

A 73° horizontal and 78° vertical beamwidth describes the angular coverage of the antenna’s main radiation pattern. The slightly wider vertical beam provides more angular coverage in that plane than in the horizontal plane. This can help when planning a localized reading zone, although the actual coverage depends on antenna positioning, mounting distance, and tag placement.

Yes. A 3 dBi circularly polarized antenna can be considered for access control systems where tagged cards or objects pass through a relatively defined reading area. The Airplux APRIA8003CM-137 operates in the 865–868 MHz band and can accommodate variations in tag orientation more flexibly than a linearly polarized antenna. Reader compatibility, tag placement, and antenna positioning should be verified during installation.