The Antenna Podcast

Ep 16: “You’ll Never Retire”: Why Antenna Engineers Are Still Irreplaceable

In this episode of The Antenna Podcast, Dermot O’Shea sits down with Professor Gabriel Rebeiz (UC San Diego), a globally recognized leader in antennas, phased arrays, and millimetre-wave systems, with over three decades of experience spanning academia and industry. Gabriel shares his journey into electromagnetics from circuits at Caltech to becoming one of the pioneers behind breakthroughs in terahertz antennas, RFICs, MEMS technologies, and early phased array systems. He walks through the evolution of his work, including foundational contributions to terahertz antenna design, the development of beamformer ICs, and some of the earliest fully integrated 5G phased arrays - built before the technology became mainstream. The conversation dives deep into how antenna engineering has evolved across applications such as SATCOM, automotive radar, and 5G communications. Gabriel explains why modern antenna systems are becoming increasingly complex, requiring tight integration across RF, mechanical, thermal, and system-level design disciplines. He highlights the real-world challenges engineers face when scaling arrays to thousands of elements, managing isolation, wideband performance, and preventing instability in high-frequency systems. Beyond the technical discussion, this episode explores the broader realities of the RF industry. Despite the explosion in wireless technologies, Gabriel argues that antenna engineering remains a highly specialized and under-supplied field. As more graduates gravitate toward software and AI, the demand for RF and antenna expertise continues to outpace supply -creating long-term career opportunities for engineers willing to master the fundamentals. A key theme throughout the episode is the importance of hands-on engineering. Gabriel emphasizes that true understanding comes not just from simulation, but from building, testing, and iterating real hardware. He shares lessons learned from working closely with companies like Rockwell Collins, Qualcomm, and Keysight, where cross-functional collaboration is essential to turning designs into reliable, high-performance products. The episode closes with practical advice for aspiring engineers: study antennas, embrace the challenge of electromagnetics, and most importantly -build things. Because in a field where detail matters and complexity is the norm, experience is everything. Welcome to The Antenna Podcast with Dermot O’Shea, your go-to source for in-depth discussions, expert insights, and cutting-edge developments in the world of antennas and wireless communication.

Ep 15: How Engineers Actually Make Tiny Antennas Work at Low Frequencies

In this episode of The Antenna Podcast, Dermot O’Shea is joined by Jaime Molins Benlliure, PhD, Antenna and RF Engineer at Taoglas, to unpack one of the toughest challenges in RF engineering: designing efficient small antennas at low frequencies. Jaime walks through the real physics that limit antenna miniaturisation, explaining why shrinking antennas isn’t just a layout problem - but a fundamental trade‑off between size, efficiency, and bandwidth. Using real examples from his work on 433 MHz LPWAN antennas, he discusses material loading, meandering techniques, PCB‑driven radiation, and why the PCB often matters more than the antenna element itself. The conversation dives deep into Characteristic Modes Analysis (CMA) and how it can be used to understand natural resonances of a PCB, guide antenna placement, and predict radiation behaviour before hardware is built. Jaime also shares why simulation alone isn’t enough, the importance of hands‑on lab work, and how real‑world integration regularly exposes issues no simulator can fully capture. The episode finishes with practical advice on learning antenna engineering properly - balancing theory, discipline, and experimentation. The final of 3 sessions recorded in person at EUCAP (the European Conference on Antennas and Propagation) and is a must‑listen for early‑stage antenna engineers, RF designers, and PhD researchers working on small, integrated antenna systems. Welcome to The Antenna Podcast with Dermot O’Shea, your go-to source for in-depth discussions, expert insights, and cutting-edge developments in the world of antennas and wireless communication.

Ep 14: The Irish Engineer Who Put UWB Inside Your Smartphone

In this episode of The Antenna Podcast, Dermot O’Shea speaks with Michael McLaughlin, co‑founder and former CTO of Decawave, about the engineering journey behind ultra‑wideband (UWB) technology and its path to global adoption.  Michael shares how his career began in Ireland during a tough job market, his early years in the semiconductor industry, and how that experience led to founding Decawave.  The discussion explores the technical breakthroughs that made centimetre‑level positioning possible, why UWB succeeded where other wireless technologies struggled, and how standards work through the IEEE and ITU helped bring UWB into smartphones, cars, and secure access systems.  This episode offers a fascinating and rare behind‑the‑scenes look at the engineering, persistence, and innovation required to turn a niche RF technology into a global standard. Recorded in person at EUCAP (the European Conference on Antennas and Propagation), this conversation offers practical insight into how today’s antenna measurement tools are shaping better design decisions and more reliable real‑world performance. Visit the Website: https://www.theantennapodcast.com [https://www.theantennapodcast.com/] Welcome to The Antenna Podcast with Dermot O’Shea, your go-to source for in-depth discussions, expert insights, and cutting-edge developments in the world of antennas and wireless communication.

Ep 13: From Satellite Antennas to OTA Testing: The Science of Accurate Measurement

In this episode of The Antenna Podcast, host Dermot O’Shea is joined by Lars Jakob Foged, Vice President of R&D at Microwave Vision Group (MVG), for a deep dive into antenna measurement and why it remains critical to real‑world antenna performance. Lars shares insights from his career spanning satellite antenna design, space systems, and advanced measurement technologies. The discussion covers the practical challenges of validating complex antennas, including mechanical constraints, thermal distortion, material variation, and the limits of simulation alone. A key focus is how modern measurement data can be transformed into accurate electromagnetic models using equivalent current techniques, allowing engineers to study antenna interaction, placement, and co‑existence on platforms such as satellites, vehicles, and connected devices. The episode also explores advances in over‑the‑air (OTA) testing, radar cross section (RCS) measurements, and emerging approaches to compact far‑field testing and plane wave generation. Recorded in person at EUCAP (the European Conference on Antennas and Propagation), this conversation offers practical insight into how today’s antenna measurement tools are shaping better design decisions and more reliable real‑world performance. Visit the Website: https://www.theantennapodcast.com [https://www.theantennapodcast.com/] Welcome to The Antenna Podcast with Dermot O’Shea, your go-to source for in-depth discussions, expert insights, and cutting-edge developments in the world of antennas and wireless communication.

Ep 12: How One Lens Antenna Can Replace 400 Dishes and how the Future of Cellular Capacity May Not Be More Towers

In this episode of The Antenna Podcast, Dermot O'Shea speaks with Leo Maddison, co-founder of Matsingh Inc., about the science and real-world impact of lens antennas. Leo Maddison explains how lens-based designs use refraction rather than reflection, enabling multiple independent beams from a single antenna with strong isolation and broad frequency coverage.  The conversation explores how that approach can increase cellular capacity without adding more towers, why it has proven valuable in stadiums, major live events, and disaster-response scenarios, and how Matsingh Inc. built its business around proprietary materials and tightly controlled manufacturing.  The episode also dives into the tradeoffs between lens antennas, dishes, and phased arrays, while offering practical advice for students and engineers who want to build careers in antennas through hands-on experience. Visit the Website: https://www.theantennapodcast.com [https://www.theantennapodcast.com/] Welcome to The Antenna Podcast with Dermot O’Shea, your go-to source for in-depth discussions, expert insights, and cutting-edge developments in the world of antennas and wireless communication.