>> A ground plane

Is the loop in the GND/Power signals in this design really so much of =20
a problem?  With many modern chips having power on each side, I've =20
done (or rather, thought about doing) similar things in order to keep =20
a PCB single-sided.

1) The chips involved are small, so it's not a BIG loop.
2) As an antenna, you'd be looking at relevant frequencies of ~1GHz or =20
more; well above the operating frequency of the circuits.
3) Bypassing at each end (or at multiple points?) ought to mostly =20
negate inductance issues of the "long" traces.
4) I like having a loop of GND around the edge of my board even if =20
it's not specifically required by power wiring.  It feels like cheap =20
protection against ESD (contact with 'stuff' quickly shorts to GND =20
rather than entering a chip signal pin.)  Does this become a bad =20
idea?  (This includes a loop of GND on the PCB side opposite the =20
Ground plane, when doing a double-sided PCB.)

Trying to keep the PCB single-sided, is star-shaped gnd/power made of =20
jumper wires any better?  In the interests of short straight jumpers, =20
I've shaped GND/PWR into loop-like structures around the chips and =20
components on a board, rather than splayed or grid-like structure.  No ?

Thanks
BillW

--=20
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