Highly resistive (HR) silicon (Si) can behave as a switch when illuminated by optical source of suitable wavelength. Different reconfigurable passive structures, such as filters, waveguides, and antennas, can be constructed using such silicon switches. This letter presents experimental characterization of high and low resistive (HR & LR) silicon for switching application. In the experiment, HR Si is modeled on a switched transmission line by halogen lamp and a laser source. The experiment of utilizing halogen lamp for Si switch characterization is cost‐effective and can assist engineers in designing reconfigurable antennas. In future, this experiment could be utilized in designing novel reconfigurable antennas.