8dBi 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.

Yes. PCB antennas can be designed for higher gain while maintaining a relatively compact structure. The Airplux APRIA8008CM-206 delivers 8 dBi gain in a 206 × 206 × 11 mm PCB design and weighs 0.23 kg. This makes it worth considering for RFID equipment and installations that need higher directional gain without using a larger conventional panel antenna. Mounting conditions and nearby materials should still be evaluated.

A 65° horizontal and 64° vertical beamwidth provides a relatively focused coverage area in front of the antenna. This helps define the reading zone for applications such as warehouse inventory checkpoints, access control, and production line identification. The actual coverage area depends on mounting distance, antenna angle, tag orientation, and RF reflections from nearby objects.

VSWR measures impedance matching between an antenna and its connected RF system. A value of ≤1.4 indicates relatively low reflected power at the antenna input, helping transfer RF energy efficiently from the reader to the antenna. The Airplux APRIA8008CM-206 also features a 50Ω impedance and an SMA-Female connector. Suitable cables and connectors are important for maintaining system performance.