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.
Monday 20
"It's our 40th anniversary! Taking place March
27-31, 2017 in Las Vegas,
IWCE 2017
is a venue where people can make the human connections they need to be successful, whether
it is connecting to a future client, boss, employee or business partner. It is also where
people can connect to information about a technology, product or policy that is crucial
to success. See innovation at its best and join us for the premier event for communications
technology ..."
API Technologies has published a white paper titled
An Introduction
to Electromagnetic Compatibility. "By definition, Electromagnetic Compatibility
(EMC) describes the ability of a system, a piece of equipment, or some other electrical
device that utilizes electromagnetic energy, to operate in its intended environment without
suffering an unacceptable degradation in its performance, or negatively impacting the
ability of another device to perform its intended function. This paper is ..."
Harris Space & Intelligence Systems is looking
for an
Engineering Specialist at its Palm Bay, Florida location to provide technical support
to the RF & Microwave Engineering Department and support department labs. Projects/tasks
will vary depending on program requirements. Job duties will require skilled workmanship,
integration, testing, and ability to follow verbal and written instructions. Complexity
of tasks will increase with time in position ...
AM radio station WISE, in Asheville, North Carolina,
today is an ESPN sports broadcasting entity, but until 2004 it was a Top 40 type music
format. It gained notoriety in World War II for being the first commercial broadcast
station whose
entire staff of radio engineers was comprised of women. As reported in a 1945 issue
of Radio Craft of chief engineer Madeline Halleuth, "...she speaks the language of crystal-controlled
frequencies, water-cooled transmitting tubes, condensers, coils, and carries her position
with the ease of a veteran radio technician." While America's ...
"Two-way communication requires, of course, both
send and receive capabilities. But putting them in the same device requires a filter
between the send and receive circuits to provide signal isolation. Without a high performance
filter, communication would be impossible. Researchers in Cornell University's Molnar
lab have devised a method for both transmitting and receiving a radio signal using a
single chip
without the use of a filter. This technology could potentially change
the way wireless ..."
A new application example describes the steps
used to design a microwave
Wilkinson power divider using ideal transmission lines, microstrip implementation,
physical design, and circuit compaction. The entire project is done in
NI AWR Design Environment,
specifically Microwave Office circuit design software, from schematic entry to physical
printed circuit board (PCB) implementation, ACE™ automatic circuit extraction ...
"Sweden's telecoms regulator PTS in February rejected
the idea of an entry-level Amateur Radio license. According to
Sweden's International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) member society
SSA, the PTS 'categorically rejected' the proposal, and that SSA must now find new ways
to motivate prospective radio amateurs. 'Amateur Radio's future in Sweden is an urgent
issue that will be discussed during the upcoming annual meeting on Faro,' SSA said. The
SSA estimates that fewer than 100 new licensees are joining the Amateur Radio ranks in
Sweden each year ..."
Sunday 19
For the sake of avid cruciverbalists amongst us,
each week I create a new
crossword puzzle that has a theme related to engineering, mathematics, chemistry,
physics, and other technical words. Clues in this puzzle with an asterisk (*)
are pulled from this past week's (3/13 - 3/17) "High Tech News" column on the RF Cafe
homepage (see the Headline Archives page for help) ...
Friday 17
Pioneering microwave engineering company
Flann Microwave has celebrated 60 years of success by looking to
the future with an investment in a new coordinate measuring machine (CMM) to further
enhance the precision manufacturing and testing of its market leading waveguide and calibration
technology. With a 60-strong team based in Bodmin, Cornwall, UK, Flann has grown over
six decades to secure a global reputation for innovation and the production of precision
microwave and millimeter ...
"Zander Dejah, 25, pays
$1,900 a month rent to live in a downtown San Francisco house with
at least 40 other people, many of whom sleep in bunk beds. Dejah is a resident of The
Negev, a communal living space that styles itself as a home for millennial tech workers
to brainstorm ideas, write code and create apps, even if they have to share toilets and
bathrooms with dozens of others. Houses like The Negev, located in a neighborhood known
as "SoMa" or South of Market, have cropped up around San Francisco as an influx ..."
This is the third and final installment of Hy
Levy's series on attenuators, line filters, and matching transformers. Audio and low
IF frequencies are used in the examples, but the formulas and principles can be extended
to higher frequencies.
Bifilar windings are covered as a method of minimizing self-inductance in wire-wound
resistors. Although inductance is not desired in resistors, bifilar windings can also
be connected to have current in both wires flowing in the same ...
United Technologies now has openings for two RF
Test Engineers. The
RF Test Engineer is responsible for all aspects of the test process, including first
pass yield, data generation and reporting, and issue identification / resolution. The
candidate must have the ability to plan and execute projects to completion on time at
required performance levels, including complete and accurate documentation. The role
requires a clear understanding of statistical methods/tool utilization for optimization
of test platforms. Understanding, applying, and ...
Join this highly focused one-day seminar sponsored
by Rohde & Schwarz and learn how to uncover, characterize, and solve the most elusive
EMI problems. Lee Hill explains troubleshooting and localizing intermittent signals or
multiple layers of broadband and narrowband signals can be frustrating even for the most
seasoned
EMC troubleshooter and RF engineer. We will discuss and demonstrate
a number of test setups that can help the root causes of EMC test failures and then demonstrate ...
"Everyone's
always asking me when Apple will come out with a cell phone. My answer is, 'Probably
never.'" -
David Pogue, The New York Times, 2006 (now a Scientific
American columnist). The first generation
iPhone
was released on June 29, 2007. Mr. Pogue explains, "Yeah, Okay. I'll admit it. My
prediction was wrong - but my thinking was right. I knew that Steve Jobs would never
tolerate the micromanagement that the carriers ...
"Dr. Christopher Lutz of IBM Research with IBM
Research's Nobel-prize winning microscope he used to store data on a
single-atom magnet. An international team of researchers have produced
the world's smallest magnet and demonstrated that it's possible to use that magnet—an
individual atom—to store a single bit of data. Until this latest research, led by teams
at IBM Research Almaden and École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland,
molecules were the smallest-ever data storage ..."
Thursday 16
Radiocrafts AS, a leading provider
of RF modules, today presents a cloud connection solution for Internet of Things (IoT)
applications, connecting low power radio sensor networks to cloud services. The
FX30 expansion boards from Radiocrafts makes up a complete gateway together with
the 3G/4G LTE modem from Sierra Wireless. By using the Radiocrafts expansion board for
the FX30 and implementing network nodes based on the Radiocrafts RF modules, a complete
IoT sensor ...
"As
consumers become more interested in monitoring health, or tracking fitness training,
or connecting to the internet of things (IoT), the demand for smart wearables will continue
to grow. Currently wrist worn devices seem to be the most popular form factor for these
solutions. However way to collect all this real-time data would be
Smart Clothing. This does not require you to wear an additional device
and is more natural, as the sensors and required circuits are built in to something that
you ..."
In that these
comics from Radio-Craft magazine have an electronics theme, you can claim
looking at them is work-related. You might consider using one of them for your next conference
or project status presentation. There is a list of many more similar comics at the bottom
of the page in case you haven't seen them yet. I missed the comic on page 32 on the first
posting of this page, but it's at the top now. Enjoy ...
Anatech
Electronics offers the industry's largest portfolio of high-performance standard
and customized RF and microwave filters and filter-related products for military, commercial,
aerospace and defense, and industrial applications up to 40 GHz. Anatech has introduced
a new 1 MHz lowpass filter with SMA connectors, a surface mount 890-915 MHz
/ 935-960 MHz SAW filter, and 30 dB fixed attenuator with SMA connectors. Custom
designs are available ...
Harris Space & Intelligence Systems is looking
for an
RF Electrical Engineer at its Palm Bay, Florida location to design and development
of RF circuits, modules, and system architectures as part of a multi-discipline design
team. Duties includes design, specifications, and test of frequency converters, LO generation
circuits, low noise and power amplifiers, antenna and ADC & DAC interfaces, filters,
module and hybrid layout and construction, engineering proof-of-concept testing, transition ...
The third IEEE MTT-S 2017 International Conference
on Microwaves for Intelligent Mobility (ICMIM2017) will be held on 19-21
March, 2017 in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. This conference covers a broad range of topics that
enable intelligent mobile systems through RF / microwave / millimeterwave components,
circuits and systems. Potential applications include cognitive and autonomous automobiles
and robots, wireless communications between ...
GlassDoor published its list of 25 top paying
jobs in the USA. Not surprisingly, doctors are at the top of the list with a median base
salary of $187,876.
Patent attorneys rank #3 at $139,272! Most of the other top paying
jobs are related to software and network engineering - mainly managers. At #22 is a
Scrum
Master, and of course everyone knows what that is ...
Wednesday 15
"The Wi-Fi icon - a dot with radio waves radiating
outward - glows on nearly every internet-connected device, from the iPhone to thermostats
to TVs. But it's starting to fade from the limelight. With every major U.S. wireless
carrier now offering
unlimited data plans, consumers don't need to log on to a Wi-Fi network
to avoid costly overage charges anymore. That's a critical change that threatens to render
Wi-Fi obsolete. And with new competitive technologies crowding in, the future looks even
dimmer ..."
The
TTRM1185 LDMOS amplifier operates at a frequency range of 1400 MHz
to 1800 MHz and has a power output of 100 Watts, while still maintaining a compact form
factor of 5.38 x 4.39 x 1.31 inches. This unit also features internal protection against
over/under voltage and excessive temperature conditions, which coupled with its rugged
construction, ensure fault-free operation in even the most extreme environments. This
class AB LDMOS ...
This latest collection of
RF and microwave articles
from our industry's magazine publishers with a mix of topics. Among them is Jack Browne's
2-part series on FM modulation and demodulation and Mark Blackwood on waveguide plumbing.
Items move onto and off of all homepages quickly, so even ...
•
High Speed RF Sampling ADC
Boosts BW, DR, Lou Frenzel
•
Managing Modulation and
Demodulation, by Jack Browne
•
GaN, GaAs, and LDMOS: A Secure
Place for All, by Tim Galla <more>
National Company, a major manufacturer of radio
components, ran a very long series of advertisements in QST magazine that were
in a format more reminiscent of a short essay than a company promotion. This installment
for the May 1939 edition was number 63. Subjects ran the gamut from technical innovations
from the company's research and development laboratory to social and political issues
relevant to electronics technicians, hobbyists, students, and engineers. Here, company
president James Millen explains the research and motivation for developing a new
inductor
switching arrangement ...
Delve deeper into antenna theory. Radio amateurs
are familiar with antennas and use them every day to communicate on the air. We learned
some basic antenna theory while studying for license exams, and most of us have built
an antenna or two. We know the basics and turn to the ARRL Handbook, ARRL Antenna Book,
and other general texts when thinking about our next antenna project.
Antenna Physics: An Introduction is written to bridge the gap between
basic theory and graduate-level ...
Antenova, manufacturer of antennas and RF antenna modules for M2M and the Internet
of Things, has developed a brand new antenna for the new
Narrow Band IoT (NB-IoT) standard which was ratified last summer,
and will show this antenna at Embedded World in Nuremberg in March. The antenna is small,
measuring just 20 x 11 x 1.6 mm, and is built to a novel design which allows it
to perform well within a device, whilst being easy to integrate onto a small PCB. This
is a chip antenna in the company's lamiiANT antenna family ...
"Eutelsat Communications announced Tuesday at the Satellite 2017 Convention
in Washington D.C. the conclusion of a contract with Blue Origin for a launch on the
New Glenn rocket that is expected to initiate flights in 2020. The new partnership with
Blue Origin reflects Eutelsat's longstanding strategy to source launch services from
multiple agencies in order to secure access to space and partner with launch agencies
that combine the highest levels of performance, flexibility and ..."
Tuesday 14
"Scientists have perfected a technique based on
the usage of graphene, that allows for
terahertz waves to be controlled accurately, paving the way for numerous
applications. THz waves allow for the detection of materials that are undetectable at
other frequencies. However, the use of these waves is severely limited by the absence
of suitable devices and materials allowing to control them. Researchers have developed
a technique based on the use of graphene, which allows for the potentially very quick
control ..."
ConductRF announces the availability of RG & LMR flexible, Hand-formable, and
Flexible performance RF coaxial cable solutions that offer extra shielding, low loss and
higher performance. Please contact ConductRF support engineers for your custom applications
and special requirements ...
Narda Safety Test Solutions has released efficient external RF filters for its
IDA 2 handheld signal analyzer. These optional
RF filters help users to in particular avoid out of band overmodulation without reducing
the necessary measurement sensitivity when making measurements with the IDA 2 in highly
dynamic measurement environments. These overmodulation effects can occur when very weak
RF signals need to be measured in the presence of much stronger signals. This is because
high measurement sensitivity is needed for precise measurement of the relevant low strength
signal. This can lead to ...
Not ten minutes before, a cloud of swirling snowflakes
had been brushing against the front window of
Mac's Radio Service Shop, but now the bright sun had suddenly popped through an opening
in the ragged, wind-torn clouds and was melting the skift of snow that had scarcely had
time to settle on the sidewalk. "Sure is a funny day," mused Barney, the apprentice technician.
"Acts as though it can't decide whether to go forward into spring or backward into winter."
"That's March for you," Mac grunted ...
Guerrilla RF, a leading provider
of high performance RF and microwave integrated circuits (ICs) for wireless applications,
today announces the closing of a
$2.8M
Series D funding round with participation from multiple angel investors. The $2.8M
funding is composed of a combination of equity and debt. Guerrilla RF expects to employ
20 total associates by year-end. The company will be expanding their current facility,
in order to accommodate this projected growth. "Coming out of an exciting year ..."
"IEEE, has announced an upcoming
IEEE 5G Summit to be
held from 17-18 March 2017 in Kolkata, India. Through IEEE 5G Summits and other activities,
the IEEE 5G Initiative is working to connect the unconnected and drive innovation through
next-generation wireless network technology that is expected to significantly increase
data speeds, produce ultra-low latency times, support the connection of many more devices,
and increase energy efficiency of network elements. The IEEE 5G Summit at Kolkata, India ..."
Monday 13
"Three world records in the 'Swiss Silicon Valley.'
Swatch Group is proud to introduce a new
Bluetooth chip with exceptional features unrivaled by any existing
product. The new integrated circuit, designed 100% by EM Microelectronic, Swatch Group
R&D and the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), has already
set the following records: It is – first and foremost – the smallest Bluetooth chip on
the market. The ultra-miniaturization of electronic components is crucial ..."
Audiophiles of the 1950s undoubtedly were impressed
by the mention of a Rek-o-kut twin turntable with Pickering arms and pickups for playing
records, let alone a twin Ampex tape system used both for recording and reproducing.
That was awe-inducing stuff for the day, especially when applied to a
planetarium show with visual and sound effects realistic enough to , "make adult
members of the audience duck under their seats." We don't scare so easily these days.
Here is the story of New York City's famous Hayden Planetarium ...
"Engineers at the University of Manchester are
leading a European effort to develop
remote-sensing satellites that could fly in far lower orbits than
any existing technology. Such spacecraft could provide better resolution images and would
be easier to bring back down to Earth at the end of their lives, thereby reducing the
chances of them contributing to the growing problem of space debris. Widely used for
environmental and defence applications, remote sensing ..."
everything RF posted extended coverage of announcement
made at the
2017 Mobile World Congress. Please see their website for complete
information: Event Overview -- "The GSMA Mobile World Congress is the place where mobile
leaders to gather, collaborate and conduct business. The annual event provides one of
the best venues for mobile industry networking, new business opportunities and deal-making.
Mobile World Congress includes a world-class conference featuring visionary keynotes ..."
RF Cafe visitor Denny C. wrote with news
about International Crystal Manufacturing (ICM),
founded in 1955, having the following posted on their homepage: "We are writing to inform
you that [ICM] is unfortunately going out of business... We are looking at the end of
May... We would like to thank you for your past business... We have tried hard to make
each one of our customers happy..." Also: "ICM is a proud supplier to Radio Shack
[which is filing for
bankruptcy]." ...
"Researchers at Harris Corp. are focusing on advanced
technologies for electronic warfare (EW), optical warfare, and cyber warfare - better-known
as
spectrum warfare - to find ways of integrating these technologies
rapidly into U.S. military weapon systems. Officials of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory
at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, have announced a $24.9 million contract to
the Harris Corp. ..."
Sunday 12
For the sake of avid cruciverbalists amongst us, each week I create a new
crossword puzzle that has a theme related to engineering, mathematics, chemistry,
physics, and other technical words. Clues in this puzzle with an asterisk (*)
are pulled from this past week's (3/6 - 3/10) "High Tech News" column on the RF Cafe
homepage. Enjoy ...
Saelig Company is pleased to introduce the
Cambrionix
ThunderSync16, which provides 16 x USB2.0 ports and a Thunderbolt host connection,
capable of transfer speeds of up to 20Gbits/s to allow large data transfer in the shortest
possible time. For data syncing requirements, the data transfer speed offered by Thunderbolt
delivers a greatly increased data transfer rate between a host Thunderbolt connection
and 16 attached devices than a USB2.0 connection. The ThunderSync 16 ...
Friday 10
John Frye, as it turns out, was way ahead of his
time. Many of the somewhat zany electronics devices his fictitious teenage experimenters
cum hobbyists cum scientists cum Ham radio operators cum amateur sleuths
Carl and Jerry came up with have turned out to be products available and popular
in today's consumer marketplace. This episode can be regarded as an early developmental
version of a wearable calorie burner facilitation device. Jerry's "Blubber Burner" sports
an un-politically-correct name and uses ...