Homepage Archive #7 |
|
These archive pages are provided in order to make it easier for you to find items that you remember seeing on the RF Cafe homepage. Of course probably the easiest way to find anything on the website is to use the "Search RF Cafe" box at the top of every page. About RF Cafe. Homepage Archive Pages 2024: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec 2023: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec 2022: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec 2021: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec 2020: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec 2019: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec 2018: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec 2017: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec 2016: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec 2015: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec 2014: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec 2013: Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec 2012: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 (no archives before 2012) A Winding Machine for Spaced-Turn Chokes There are still a lot of people who wind their own coils, whether it be for an amateur radio rig or for work in the lab. I know I've wound many a coil around a drill bit or wooden dowel. This simple coil winding machine that appeared in a 1931 edition of QST magazine would be a handy addition to anyone's bag of tricks, especially if find yourself winding single-layer coils that have a fixed space between the windings. The home stores like Lowes and Home Depot sell small pieces of oak that would be perfect for this kind of project. A little stain and a coat of varnish would give it a real vintage look. Use your soldering iron to burn your name onto the base. PMI Intros 10 GHz Integrated Dielectric Resonator Oscillator PMI Model No. PIA-10G-CD-1 is a 10 GHz Integrated, Dielectric Resonator Oscillator (DRO) Module with 3 outputs, each having a 0-360 degree analog controlled, variable phase shifter and 0-10 dB analog controlled, variable output control capability on each output. Provides low harmonic output of -50 dBc typical and output power of +19 dBm typical. ±15 VDC, 6.25” x 2.5” x 1.0” package. Other frequency ranges available. Notable Quote
MECA Electronics Intros Line of Unequal Power Splitters MECA Electronics' new line of unequal power splitters consists of six models offering a 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, or 10:1 signal-split ratio respectively, over 698-2700 MHz (Cellular, PCS, AWS, and BRS/EBS frequencies) and feature low PIM ratings – (better than -150 dBc.), with ultra-low VSWR and minimal coupling variation over the entire frequency band. They easily handle high power levels of 300 W (CW) and have an operational temperature range of -55°C to +85°C. As with all MECA products, they are MADE IN THE USA and are offered with a standard 36 month warranty. NuWaves Engineering Adds to Its Int'l Reseller Network NuWaves Engineering, a Radio Frequency (RF) and Embedded Systems solutions provider, announced today that the company has increased its international presence by adding authorized resellers in Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. These new partners will represent the company's high-performance module-level RF products and engineering design services. Entry Level RF Applications Engineer Wanted
Webinar: Precise Cable and Antenna Measurements
Les Fantômes de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale These photos are the result of superimposing images of scenes during World War II on top of modern images of the same locations in France today. It was a time when Americans were not asked for passports when entering the country by sea and air. Historical expert Jo Teeuwisse, from Amsterdam, began the project after finding 300 old negatives at a flea market in her home city depicting familiar places in a very different context. Scientist Wrong = Jail Bureaucrat Wrong = Promotion
Copper Mountain Technologies Featured in MW&RF Copper Mountain Technologies' website declares, "Virtual Instruments. Real Performance. Real Value." What that means is their line of "virtual" instruments are as "real" as an all-in-one test box. CMT's network analyzers have a USB interface to your computer, where supplied software provides the user interface and number crunching power. Portability and price is a huge benefit. Their 300 kHz - 1.2 GHz model starts at just $2.5k. Going to 8 GHz costs you $17k. Microwaves & RF magazine did a nice feature article on them. The origin of the company name, detailed in the column, is kinda cool, too. Amateur Broadcasting - A Menace J.K. Bach (not Johann S.) was amazingly prescient in 1944 with the specific types of RF-based devices that would come to be common place in our modern world. Dig this: "Radar can even be applied to the home, as a burglar-alarm, for example, or to detect obstructions on the cellar steps. Electronic devices will find many other uses as high-frequency paint-dryers, veneer-gluers, and even cordless permanent-waving machines for the ladies. Garage-door openers and other remote-control devices are not only possible but practical. Then there are certain to be other applications such as personal pedestrian telephones, two-way wrist-radios and nursery baby-cry announcing systems." Nostradamus' divination record might not even be that good. His tongue-in-cheek thesis of ubiquitous RF interference due to the presence of Ham radio operators is not far off either, although the accused "menace" would have to be extended to include all the many varied emissive devices being used by tech-ladened pedestrians. RFMD Intros Control Components for Cable Apps RFMD today unveiled two new CATV control components, in conjunction with the SCTE Cable-TEC Expo, in Orlando, FL. The new components include the RFSA2654, a 75-ohm broadband digital step attenuator, and the RFSW1012, a high power handling single-pole, double-throw switch (SPDT). Microwave Office Designs "Right the First Time" Amplifier Technology, Ltd., (ATL) a provider of leading-edge RF power amplifiers (PAs) for defense, commercial, industrial, scientific, and medical applications, used a unique combination of AWR's Microwave Office RF/microwave design suite and AMPSA's MultiMatch Amplifier Design Wizard to design a complex multi-octave bandwidth, high power, high efficiency PA. Please Thank Hittite Microwave for Their Support Hittite Microwave manufactures ICs, modules, subsystems & instrumentation for technically demanding digital, RF, microwave and millimeter wave applications covering DC to 110 GHz. The Company's standard and custom products apply analog, digital & mixed-signal semiconductor technologies, which are used in a wide variety of wireless / wired communication and sensor applications for automotive, broadband, cellular infrastructure, fiber optics, microwave & millimeter wave communications. Analog Engineering Theme Crossword for 10/21/2012 For the sake of avid cruciverbalists, each week I create a new crossword puzzle that has a theme related to engineering, mathematics, chemistry, physics, and other technical words. You will never be asked the name of a movie star unless he/she was involved in a technical endeavor (e.g., Hedy Lamar). Calculus of Negligence aka "Hand Rule"
"[T]he owner's duty, as in other similar situations, to provide against resulting injuries is a function of three variables: (1) The probability that she will break away; (2) the gravity of the resulting injury, if she does; (3) the burden of adequate precautions. In mathematical terms: B < PL, where B is the cost (burden) of taking precautions, and P is the probability of loss, and L is the gravity of loss. Simply stated, negligence is ruled if the effort required to prevent an event is less than the likelihood that the event will occur, multiplied by the severity of the loss. This, of course, is all subjective, which is why he who hires the lawyer best able to define values for B, P, and L wins the case. I propose an alternate name for it: Fuzzy Law. RFMD Unveils GaN-Based Amps for CATV Applications RF Micro Devices unveiled multiple leading-edge GaN-based CATV amplifiers, in conjunction with the SCTE Cable-TEC Expo in Orlando, FL. The new CATV amplifiers include the RFPD2940 – a best-in-class, high-power GaN-based CATV power-doubler amplifier, as well as a new family of GaN-based push-pull CATV amplifiers, led by the RFPP2870 and RFCM3080. Many Thanks to SigaTek for Their Support SigaTek microwave specializes in high quality, high frequency microwave communication components up to 60 GHz. As a pioneer supplier of microwave RF components, the main products include directional couplers, bias tees networks, power dividers / combiners, 3 dB hybrids 90° and 180°, microwave mixers, frequency doublers, load terminations, and coaxial connectors and adapters. Undersampling Changes Bandwidths, by Jon Titus Jon Titus is a lot like Bob Pease - only without the scraggly beard - when it comes to analog circuits. Along with having a PhD and being the former editor of EDN and Test & Measurement magazines, Jon has an innate knowledge of circuit theory and is very good at presenting complex information to lesser beings like myownself[sic]. Most of us want to be like them when we grow up. One big difference between Jon and Bob, though, is that Jon does not eschew the use of computers. I think Mr. Pease might have been OK with the ENIAC, but once IBM introduced the XT, it surely dumbed down every future engineer from that point forward according to his oft-repeated denouncements of anything with a silicon-based processor. Fortunately for Bob - and for those of us to whom he addressed - he didn't need a computer for most tasks. This short column from Jon Titus titled "Undersampling Changes Bandwidths" is a great primer on how undersampling works. In a Pease-esque way, Jon uses hand-drawn sketches to illustrate the sampling phenomenon. Quiz: LCP for Microwave Packages and Modules This quiz is based on the information presented in LCP for Microwave Packages and Modules, by Anh-Vu H. Pham, Morgan J. Chen, and Kunia Aihara. Note: Some of the books used for quizzes are available as prizes in the monthly RF Cafe Giveaway. Thanks to Test Equipment Connection for Support! Test Equipment Connection handles sales, rentals and leasing of refurbished electronic test and measurement equipment to the R&D, manufacturing and quality assurance industries. All major lines including Agilent, Tektronix, Anritsu, Rohde & Schwarz, Advantest and Fluke. A Surprising Message from Scott Adams The creator of Dilbert, Dogbert, Catbert, Wally, Alice, Asok, and the pointy-haired boss has just endorsed a presidential candidate based on a medical marijuana prosecution. Keep in mind that Scott Adams suffered a rather severe nervous system malady in the middle of the last decade. Although I cannot find anything for certain about whether he uses it himself, there is a good chance that he does. Adams, you might recall, lost his ability to speak and to draw for a couple years, then miraculously gained back most of his functionality. The Dilbert cartoon rarely ventures overtly into political themes, so it will be interesting to see if a strip on the subject appears between now and election day. An Old Spark Soliloquizes If it has been a while since you read a story with terms and phrases like "splinters of galena," "the day of the tuning coil that stretched from the front bedroom to the back library; or from the attic to the cellar," and "Ether God," then this article from the December 1931 edition of QST is for you. Galena, by the way, is a semiconductor with a bandgap of about 0.4 eV that was used as the crystal in crystal radio sets. It was used as a point-contact diode along with a safety pin or similar sharp wire, commonly known as a "cat's whisker". Please Welcome DCH Systems as a New Supporter DCH Systems is engaged in the design and manufacture of RF power amplifiers and systems. Their mission is to provide advanced, highly linear, and efficient RF amplification solutions for customers in the aerospace / defense, telecommunications, and science communities. DCH Systems' core competency is the ability to design and manufacture RFPAs utilizing pre-distortion techniques, and possesses the expertise to implement the high-complexity analog and digital circuitry to produce user-friendly, reliable RFPA products that are suited for both low and high volume manufacture. How to Talk to Non-Hams
Job Hunting Articles/Tips RFMD® Intros 915 MHz ISM Tx/Rx Module w/Diversity Sw. RFMD's new RFFM6901 is a single-chip front end module (FEM) for applications in the 868/915 MHz ISM Band. The RFFM6901 addresses the need for aggressive size reduction for typical portable equipment RF front end design and greatly reduces the number of components outside of the core chipset, thus minimizing the footprint and assembly cost of the overall solution. High Frequency Electronics October 2012 Articles Applications (p.32), by S. Kumar, K. Story, R. Kielmeyer, T. Lodhi, and I. Hardcastle, RFMD (p.22) S. Akamatsu, S. Muir, L. Dunleavy Microwave Journal Articles October 2012 by Brian Avenell Interconnections, by J. Moon, S. Yun, C. Ahn, S. Kim by J. Pierzchlewski, T. Larsen Webinar: RF Recording to Resolve Interference Problems
GreenPeak ZigBee Success Using AWR Software Using AWR's Microwave Office/AXIEM software, GreenPeak was able to successfully perform RF board analysis, validation, and optimization for best RF performance, certification margin, and production yield, while at the same time cutting design iterations down to one or two when integrating its custom design into the ZigBee remote control device. Notable Quote
Please Welcome Mayfield Plastics as a New Supporter! Mayfield Plastics provides in-house thermoforming and twin sheet forming processes that can achieve the look and feel of injection molding without the expensive tooling charge. Pressure forming is able to form details normally found only in injection molding. Thermoforming has many advantages over the use of sheet metal, such as lower unit cost, lighter weight, and enhanced appearance. Radomes, device enclosures, and control panels are among possible applications. Please Visit IPP to Thank Them for Their Sponsorship IPP is a manufacturer of RF passive components - 90° Couplers, directional couplers, RF resistors and terminations. Connectorized, surface mount. Custom designs are available. Thanks to Antenna Factor for Long-Time Support Antenna Factor, a division of Linx Technologies, manufactures standard and custom antennas - monopole, dipole, embeddable, specialty, dualband, GPS, fixed point, Yagi, evaluation systems, custom designs. Hole-mount and magnetic bases available. Anaconda Copper Mining Company Advertisement
GE "Black-Daylight" TV Ad in 1950 Saturday Evening Post
Amateur Radio Stations VE2CP When the caption for a photograph in a 1931 article refers to an "antiquated" motor, you can be sure you're looking at a really old motor. Indeed it does look very old. Whenever I see vintage photos or films of electrical / electronic apparati[sic] and operators, I always look for safety issues like no eye protection while soldering or when using powered tools to fabricate enclosures, lack of protective shields around electrical connections and mechanical drive mechanisms, wearing of inappropriate clothing near rotating machinery, etc. In this case you can see a very long, totally exposed drive belt running between that aforementioned antiquated motor and DC generator that it drives (to power the transmitter). The author mentions how the floor shook while it was running. I wonder if the filaments were shaken enough to introduce the vibration frequency into the audio (mircophonics)? Ah, the not quite so good old days. AWR Announces Slate of Activities during EuMW 2012 AWR Announces Slate of Activities during European Microwave Week 2012. Highlights Include Software Demos in Booth #416 of AWR 2011 Product Portfolio and Analyst™; AWR and Partners MicroApps; AWR/National Instruments Workshop; and Customer Appreciation Event. SNL Skit on iPhone 5 Issues
Many Thanks for Backing by Linx Technologies Linx Technologies' RF modules, remote controls, evaluation kits and master development systems feature straightforward hardware configuration and clear documentation. Linx products make it simple for engineers and hobbyists to integrate wireless features without the hassle and expense of engineering RF functionality from scratch. Sherlock Ohms: These Fuses Melt in Water
Free IEEE-USA eBook Writing for Success—An Engineer's Guide, Volume 1: Designing for Success. In the first book of this four-book series, award-winning author Tom Moran presents writing from an engineer's perspective: looking at comparisons between the steps that lead to good engineering practice, and those that result in writing excellence. Free download for members through October 31, 2012. Felix Baumgartner Sets Jump Height & Speed Record
Please Thank Apex Wireless for Its Continued Support Since 1985, Apex Wireless has offered consulting, engineering, and design services focusing on high-performance, cost-optimized products that employ wireless RF transmitters, receivers, and transceivers. To complement our RF design expertise, we work with local experts in DSP, ultra low power design, packaging, certification, and manufacturing. Thanks to Alliance Test Equipment for Support! Sales, rentals and leasing of refurbished electronic test and measurement equipment to the R&D, manufacturing and quality assurance industries. Alliance Test Equipment carries all major manufacturers' equipment. Parallel Water Filters Increase Flow Like Parallel Resistors
120,000-foot Parachute Jump in Process Live
Watch Felix Baumgartner make his ascent in the Red Bull Stratos capsule to 23 miles above Earth, then do a free fall that could make him the first skydiver to break the sound barrier. SUCCESS!!! |
Nitronex LLC has new opportunity for a junior
or entry level engineer that is looking to aid in the applications engineering of
discrete and MMIC RF and Microwave power products on Nitronex's unique GaN-on-Silicon
process. You'll be driving the post production applications development of MMICs
and discrete devices that span from UHF to X-Band. Nitronex is a quickly growing
company that requires driven, talented individuals to bring new technologies to
market that will enable devices to operate to X-band and as high as 65V. Candidates
must hold a BSEE and a demonstrated interest in RF electronics, including hobbyist/enthusiast
experience, senior design work, elective coursework etc. and a desire to work in
a fast paced, startup environment. Alternatively, candidates can possess an MSEE
with relevant coursework/thesis in RF and Wireless design. 
Techniques for Precise Cable and Antenna Measurements
in the Field Date
