Thanks for your reply.
The issue has gotten a bit more attention over here Photon SMD Antena, keepout zones, and ground loops
In my 3rd revision I am using the header version of photon, and still having the keepout area, but with chinese new year it will be late february before I get my hands on that.
I may be able to get my board to a working state, since softAP works some times, so I guess the board is borderline ok, but every revision is a few weeks wait and while not expensive, not free either 