Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Altium Develop adds real-time supply-chain and manufacturing visibility to your design, so missing part numbers and costly fabrication choices get caught long before your board is built: altium.com/develop?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=one-minute-pcb-design-reviews&utm_content=so-many-red-flags-on-this-board
In this Two Minute PCB Design Review, Tech Consultant Zach Peterson reviews a community-submitted security system PCB and finds a whole board's worth of red flags. He walks through nets that go nowhere, an enable net accidentally tied to a regulator's ground pin, and Ethernet pins routed as a pair that were never defined as differential nets with the differential pair directive. He also flags a plated mounting hole sitting precariously close to the U.FL connector — one with no net assigned — that quietly shorts a ground plane onto an undefined net.
From there, Zach digs into signal integrity and manufacturability: why the default Altium stackup Dk values will throw off your controlled-impedance calculations, why the crystal oscillator and RF receiver need real manufacturer part numbers, and where via-in-pad is adding fabrication cost without any real benefit. It's a fast, practical look at the grounding, impedance, RF, and DFM mistakes that slip into real security-system board designs — and how to catch them before you send the design out for fabrication.
💡 Watch Next:
• PCB Stack-up and Controlled Impedance in Altium: youtube.com/watch?v=p3w22veWMbk
• How to Create Differential Pairs in the Schematic | Altium: youtube.com/watch?v=uUran7ogpw4
• One Minute PCB Design Reviews (full series): youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3aaAq2OJU5FGAjpjscqXFRI0HohdrSVT
🔹 Connect with Zach:
Want your design reviewed by Zach? Reach out to him on LinkedIn with your design and production files for a chance to be featured on our channel: linkedin.com/in/zachariah-peterson
💡 Stay Connected:
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth tutorials and tips from @AltiumAcademy Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!
👉 Subscribe for more: youtube.com/@AltiumAcademy?sub_confirmation=1
Don't forget to follow us on social to stay up-to-date on the latest Altium Academy content.
👉 Follow Altium on TikTok: tiktok.com/@altiumdesigner
👉 Follow Altium on Twitter: twitter.com/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Facebook: facebook.com/AltiumOfficial
The Altium Academy is an online experience created to bring modern education to PCB Designers and Engineers all across the world. Here you can access a vast library of free training and educational content covering everything from basic design to advanced principles and step-by-step walkthroughs. Join industry legends as they share their career knowledge, review real-life design projects, or learn how to leverage one of Altium's leading design tools. No matter your level of experience, the Altium Academy can help you become a better Designer and Engineer!
About Altium LLC
Altium LLC (ASX:ALU), a global software company based in San Diego, California, is accelerating the pace of innovation through electronics. From individual inventors to multinational corporations, more PCB designers and engineers choose Altium software to design and realize electronics-based products.
#altium #pcbdesign #rf
Altium Develop adds real-time supply-chain and manufacturing visibility to your design, so missing part numbers and costly fabrication choices get caught long before your board is built: altium.com/develop?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=one-minute-pcb-design-reviews&utm_content=so-many-red-flags-on-this-board
In this Two Minute PCB Design Review, Tech Consultant Zach Peterson reviews a community-submitted security system PCB and finds a whole board's worth of red flags. He walks through nets that go nowhere, an enable net accidentally tied to a regulator's ground pin, and Ethernet pins routed as a pair that were never defined as differential nets with the differential pair directive. He also flags a plated mounting hole sitting precariously close to the U.FL connector — one with no net assigned — that quietly shorts a ground plane onto an undefined net.
From there, Zach digs into signal integrity and manufacturability: why the default Altium stackup Dk values will throw off your controlled-impedance calculations, why the crystal oscillator and RF receiver need real manufacturer part numbers, and where via-in-pad is adding fabrication cost without any real benefit. It's a fast, practical look at the grounding, impedance, RF, and DFM mistakes that slip into real security-system board designs — and how to catch them before you send the design out for fabrication.
💡 Watch Next:
• PCB Stack-up and Controlled Impedance in Altium: youtube.com/watch?v=p3w22veWMbk
• How to Create Differential Pairs in the Schematic | Altium: youtube.com/watch?v=uUran7ogpw4
• One Minute PCB Design Reviews (full series): youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3aaAq2OJU5FGAjpjscqXFRI0HohdrSVT
🔹 Connect with Zach:
Want your design reviewed by Zach? Reach out to him on LinkedIn with your design and production files for a chance to be featured on our channel: linkedin.com/in/zachariah-peterson
💡 Stay Connected:
Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more in-depth tutorials and tips from @AltiumAcademy Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!
👉 Subscribe for more: youtube.com/@AltiumAcademy?sub_confirmation=1
Don't forget to follow us on social to stay up-to-date on the latest Altium Academy content.
👉 Follow Altium on TikTok: tiktok.com/@altiumdesigner
👉 Follow Altium on Twitter: twitter.com/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/altium
👉 Follow Altium on Facebook: facebook.com/AltiumOfficial
The Altium Academy is an online experience created to bring modern education to PCB Designers and Engineers all across the world. Here you can access a vast library of free training and educational content covering everything from basic design to advanced principles and step-by-step walkthroughs. Join industry legends as they share their career knowledge, review real-life design projects, or learn how to leverage one of Altium's leading design tools. No matter your level of experience, the Altium Academy can help you become a better Designer and Engineer!
About Altium LLC
Altium LLC (ASX:ALU), a global software company based in San Diego, California, is accelerating the pace of innovation through electronics. From individual inventors to multinational corporations, more PCB designers and engineers choose Altium software to design and realize electronics-based products.
#altium #pcbdesign #rf
