Adding UFL connector to Bluetooth amplifier board ?

I would like to add an external antenna for extended range to a Aiyima 100W TPA3116 bluetooth amplifier board. I assume I have to add a ufl connector. How can I do that ?
 

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There is a later version of the F-6988 BT module that has solder pads for a ufl connector on the reverse, which may affer some clues as to where the connections can be made. I would suggest that the central pin fo the connector is connected to the current antenna trace, with the outer annulus connected to the adjacent solder pad, shown as L1 in some images, such as this one:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32828745452.html

Looking at this site, it suggests that v2.3 of the board, as used on your module, also has the ufl solder pad on the reverse. :

https://www.blmworld.com/html_news/?12-BK3266-40PIN-audio-data-transmission-bluetooth-module-12.html
 
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There is a later version of the F-6988 BT module that has solder pads for a ufl connector on the reverse, which may affer some clues as to where the connections can be made. I would suggest that the central pin fo the connector is connected to the current antenna trace, with the outer annulus connected to the adjacent solder pad, shown as L1 in some images, such as this one:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32828745452.html

Looking at this site, it suggests that v2.3 of the board, as used on your module, also has the ufl solder pad on the reverse. :

https://www.blmworld.com/html_news/?12-BK3266-40PIN-audio-data-transmission-bluetooth-module-12.html
Ok, thanks. Should the existing antenna be disconnected ?
 
Good luck with this. Bluetooth works at 2.4GHz which does not survive any length of coax cable, especially thin cables. Likewise, connectors are going to be a signal degradation issue. Commercial "microwave" systems use waveguides, ie pipes. Microwave means wavelengths shorter than 30cm. Bluetooth is 12.5cm. Putting an antenna on a Bluetooth device is like putting car tires on a bicycle.
 
Good luck with this. Bluetooth works at 2.4GHz which does not survive any length of coax cable, especially thin cables. Likewise, connectors are going to be a signal degradation issue. Commercial "microwave" systems use waveguides, ie pipes. Microwave means wavelengths shorter than 30cm. Bluetooth is 12.5cm. Putting an antenna on a Bluetooth device is like putting car tires on a bicycle.
Are these connectors waveguides/pipes ?
 

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Should the existing antenna be disconnected ?
Yes, otherwise you have effectively two antennas in parallel and the impedance will no longer be 50 Ohms.

Can the antenna sma connector be connected to ground/(metal) chassis ?

Yes, ideally, but since most wifi router cases are plastic the connector is grounded via the coax shield to the pcb ground.

Are these connectors waveguides/pipes ?

Its a connector, a waveguide is normally a hollow tube either circular or rectangular used at microwave frequencies for example 10GHz

I plan to use this small 4dB antenna and solder it directly to the board, without wires

This probably won't work so well. The best solution is to find an external 2.4GHz antenna with a coaxial cable so that you can solder the coax onto the pcb and mount the antenna externally on the case.

Something similar to this:

1 icau7OiojpQW_BJLAq-k1w.jpeg
 
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Yes, otherwise you have effectively two antennas in parallel and the impedance will no longer be 50 Ohms.



Yes, ideally, but since most wifi router cases are plastic the connector is grounded via the coax shield to the pcb ground.



Its a connector, a waveguide is normally a hollow tube either circular or rectangular used at microwave frequencies for example 10GHz



This probably won't work so well. The best solution is to find an external 2.4GHz antenna with a coaxial cable so that you can solder the coax onto the pcb and mount the antenna externally on the case.

Something similar to this:

View attachment 1066852
Thanks. Will do
 
The pcb layout includes the use of a SMA connector in the design from the outset where the connector body is soldered to the ground plane and the pcb track from the RF output to the connector is 50 Ohms , in your bluetooth module in post #1 there's no ground plane at the edge of the pcb. There's only the microstrip antenna.
 
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In RF systems, the RF amplifier output, the pcb tracks, connectors and antennas are all designed to be 50 Ohms impedance, this ensures maximum power transfer and minimum losses. What looks like a squiggly pcb track is actually a microstrip antenna at 2.4GHz and has an impedance of 50 Ohms to match the output of the RF amplifier inside the bluetooth chip.