Homepage Archive - July 2023 (page 3)

See Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | of the July 2023 homepage archives.

Friday the 21st

World's Biggest Radio Telescope

World's Biggest Radio Telescope, June 1964 Radio-Electronics - RF CafeThe National Science Foundation's 1000-meter Arecibo radio telescope, carved into a Puerto Rico mountain valley, was commissioned on November 1, 1963. Justification in funding the colossal project was partly from the Department of Defense because of a need to characterize the Earth's upper atmosphere. Satellites and looming threats of soon to be developed ICBM traffic were of prime concern. One of the renowned uses of the Arecibo radiotelescope was when Carl Sagan's team transmitted a "we are here" message toward the M13 globular cluster in the constellation of Hercules in 1974. The amount of research and data collected over the ensuing six decades has been invaluable from both communications and astronomical perspectives. Tragically, on November 7, 2020, the dish suffered a catastrophic mechanical failure in the suspension supports, resulting in irreparable damage. Planning on the site's future is ongoing...

Vacuum Tube 555 Timer Circuit

Vacuum Tube 555 Timer Circuit - RF CafeImagination and creativity is everywhere today, and actually always has been, but now thanks to the Internet, we are able to find it. I wish I had time to both engage in my own projects like this and to watch endless videos of other people's endeavors. Usagi Electric star David Lovett designed, built and demonstrated "Building the Largest 555 Timer in the World out of Vacuum Tubes" in this video. Not content with merely ginning up a good-enough breadboard, he makes a CNC-routed PCB for the components and tube sockets, but also fabricates mock-ups of IC-type pins for use as legs. As you might expect, Mr. Lovett also has many other interesting videos - most of which feature vacuum tubes - posted, totaling 5 million views to date. Usagi, BTW, is the Japanese word for "rabbit."

Send Your Meters to War

Send Your Meters to War, November 1942 QST - RF CafeMost of us have heard about the neighborhood collections for tires, glass, newspaper, cans, and cloth in order to help support the war effort. Probably not many have also heard about the Signal Corps' call for milliammeters! That's right, the huge, rapid build-up of electrical and electronic equipment for radios, vehicles, and factory equipment. Many meters were needed for monitoring status and making process adjustments. America had an ample supply of meters in the hands of Amateur radio operators; all that was required was to separate the Hams from their meters. Fortunately, an appeal to patriotism was sufficient motivation back then. Numerous ads were placed by companies and special interest groups like the ARRL encouraging milliammeters owners to part with their cherished instruments. Here, from the November 1942 edition of QST magazine, is a printed plea from the ARRL, and a couple examples of companies looking to collect milliammeters...

China Builds Microgravity Space Research Tower

China Builds Microgravity Space Research Tower  - RF Cafe"Scientists in China have built a facility to conduct cost-effective microgravity experiments on Earth and support the country's ever-growing research ambitions in space. The 40-metre (131-foot) tall Microgravity Experiment Facility with Electromagnetic Launch, or MEFEL, uses a linear motor to drive objects up and down and approximate the conditions of weightlessness for 4 seconds. MEFEL can host up to 100 experiments every day and consumes only about 1 kilowatt-hour of electricity for each experiment, according to Zhang Yongkang from the Technology and Engineering Centre for Space Utilisation under the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, which led the development of the facility..."

Motorola Model 8-80 (Golden Voice) Car-Radio

Motorola Model 8-80 (Golden Voice) Car-Radio Set Radio Service Data Sheet, July 1938 Radio-Craft - RF CafeIf you do a search for "acoustinator," you get a certain model of acoustic guitar speaker manufactured by the UK-based company, Eminence. That, however, is not the same as the "Acoustinator" developed by Motorola for their "Golden Voice" series of car radios, as shown in this 1938 Radio−Craft magazine ad. It was essentially what we refer today to as a tone control, or as an equalizer. Not satisfied with creating just one futuristic sounding techno-term, Motorola also came up with the "wobbulator" for use in tuning the receiver IF response. From what I gather in the Radio Service Data Sheet instructions, a wobbulator is a sweep frequency generator for testing a filter response shape. In case there never was a trademark associated with or a current trademark or trade name assigned to "wobbulator," (or alternately "wobulator") let it be known that I hereby formally...

RF & Electronics Symbols for Visio

RF Electronics Wireless Analog Block Diagrams Symbols Shapes for Visio - RF CafeWith more than 1000 custom-built symbols, this has got to be the most comprehensive set of Visio Symbols available for RF, analog, and digital system and schematic drawings! Every object has been built to fit proportionally on the provided A-, B- and C-size drawing page templates (or can use your own). Symbols are provided for equipment racks and test equipment, system block diagrams, conceptual drawings, and schematics. Unlike previous versions, these are NOT Stencils, but instead are all contained on tabbed pages within a single Visio document. That puts everything in front of you in its full glory. Just copy and paste what you need on your drawing. The file format is XML so everything plays nicely with Visio 2013 and later...

Thanks to Anritsu for Their Support!

Anritsu (electronics test equipment) - RF CafeAnritsu has been a global provider of innovative communications test and measurement solutions for more than 120 years. Anritsu manufactures a full line of innovative components and accessories for RF and Microwave Test and Measurement Equipment including attenuators & terminations; coaxial cables, connectors & adapters; o-scopes; power meters & sensors; signal generators; antenna, signal, spectrum, & vector network analyzers (VNAs); calibration kits; Bluetooth & WLAN testers; PIM testers; amplifiers; power dividers; antennas. "We've Got You Covered."

Thursday the 20th

Magic Carpet Antenna

Magic Carpet Antenna, July 1960 Radio-Electronics - RF CafeDespite a natural instinct to be suspicious about new products claiming to to be a panacea to all problems pertaining a particular subject, it seems magazines of all eras have been filled with advertisements pitching such products. Not all are total scams, but the usefulness is often more narrow in scope than implied or explicitly stated in the ad. An example is high gain vacuum tube replacements for televisions which promised to improve picture quality in noisy or low signal strength environments. They could potentially result in a better picture, but often all that happened was both signal and noise levels increased to result in a brighter image, which then required turning down the brightness control; i.e., no overall real improvement. Antennas are another example of "miracle" cures for reception woes. The truth is that unless you lived in a high quality signal area, nothing short of a high gain directional antenna on the roof would do a really good job of pulling in a great picture (and sound). Set-top rabbit ears or wires running up the wall and across the ceiling were shot-in-the-dark efforts. Excluding weather and traffic related multipath signal variations...

Werbel Intros Ultra-Wideband Directional Coupler

Werbel Microwave Intros Ultra-Wideband Directional Coupler - RF CafeWerbel Microwave presents an impressive array of features in our latest offering. The C-1830-10 from Werbel Microwave is an ultra-wideband directional coupler with exceptional performance across frequencies from 0.3 to 8 GHz. It offers excellent coupling flatness, good directivity, and can handle up to 20 W of power. This coupler is well-suited for lab testing and power monitoring applications, among others. With its ultra-wide bandwidth, spanning from 0.3 to 8 GHz, it eliminates the need to switch components for different frequency bands in most lab testing scenarios. The coupler also provides high directivity (24 dB typ.), minimizing detrimental effects from output mismatches. Additionally, it offers excellent coupling flatness of ±0.8 dB typ., eliminating the need for compensation circuits in many cases...

Now: Metal Tubes

Now: Metal Tubes, June 1935 Radio-Craft - RF CafeThe year 1935 could be considered the beginning of a new paradigm in communications thanks to the introduction of metal-encased vacuum tubes. They facilitated a move into higher frequency circuit design and denser component placement (smaller volume). Prior to then, vacuum tubes were almost exclusively encased in a glass envelope with no innate guard against the emission or absorption of electromagnetic fields from nearby components. Metal-encased tubes provide benefits like better heat dissipation, smaller physical size, ruggedness, inherent RF shielding, and lower parasitic values of capacitance and inductance due to smaller plate areas and shorter lead lengths, respectively. The highest barrier to widespread adoption of metal tubes, history would show, was the higher cost of production that made consumer products more expensive at a time when not every household saw the need for a radio or, eventually, a television...

Antenova "Guide to Matching Circuits, Transmission Lines and Antenna Tuning"

Antenova "Guide to Matching Circuits, Transmission Lines and Antenna Tuning" - RF CafeAntenova Ltd, the UK-based manufacturer of antennas and RF antenna modules for M2M and the IoT, has published a whitepaper entitled, "A Guide to Matching Circuits, Transmission Lines and Antenna Tuning." It begins: "Designs thrive in environments with the least restrictions and minimal risk of product failure. Part of creating a product is analysing the risk associated with individual components, identifying and selecting the ones with the most desirable functions. Wireless antennas are not like these other electronic components. Whilst you can predict antenna performance to a certain level, it is highly likely you will face serious compromise if you choose to integrate it at the latter stages of development. Antenna performance is wholly a product of the operating environment. In every different scenario, the performance of an antenna will vary - be that in free space or whilst embedded within...

Apollo Without Electronics

Editorial: Apollo Without Electronics, August 1972 Popular Electronics - RF CafeToday is the July 20, 1969 anniversary of Apollo 11's landing on the moon, so I figured this article would be a timely reminder of the contributions made to electronics technology as part of the immense effort. The thumbnail to the left is the front page of my hometown newspaper on July 21, 1969 (my father was the classified ad department manager there - see inset). Apollo 16 launched on April 16 of 1972 and landed on the moon on April 19. By then, as with Space Shuttle flights, moon landings were no longer front page news; The Evening Capital carried the story on page 2. Popular Electronics magazine editor Snitzer wrote this short piece extolling the critical role that electronics played in mission success. Apollo 17 flew next and December 10, 1972, marked the last time mankind ever set foot on the moon. President Trump has asked NASA to explore the possibilities of returning to the moon by 2019, possibly as a next step toward a mission to Mars. It is now 2023 and we're not there yet...

RF & Electronics Symbols for Office™

RF & Electronics Schematic & Block Diagram Symbols for Office™ r2 - RF CafeIt was a lot of work, but I finally finished a version of the "RF & Electronics Schematic & Block Diagram Symbols"" that works well with Microsoft Office™ programs Word™, Excel™, and Power Point™. This is an equivalent of the extensive set of amplifier, mixer, filter, switch, connector, waveguide, digital, analog, antenna, and other commonly used symbols for system block diagrams and schematics created for Visio™. Each of the 1,000 or so symbols was exported individually from Visio in the EMF file format, then imported into Word on a Drawing Canvas. The EMF format allows an image to be scaled up or down without becoming pixelated, so all the shapes can be resized in a document and still look good. The imported symbols can also be UnGrouped into their original constituent parts for editing. Check them out!

Please Welcome Temwell Back as a Supporter!

Temwell (filters) - RF CafeTemwell is a manufacturer of 5G wireless communications filters for aerospace, satellite communication, AIoT, 5G networking, IoV, drone, mining transmission, IoT, medical, military, laboratory, transportation, energy, broadcasting (CATV), and etc. An RF helical bandpass specialist since 1994, we have posted >5,000 completed spec sheets online for all kinds of RF filters including helical, cavity, LC, and SMD. Standard highpass, lowpass, bandpass, and bandstop, as well as duplexer/diplexer, multiplexer. Also RF combiners, splitters, power dividers, attenuators, circulators, couplers, PA, LNA, and obsolete coil & inductor solutions.

Wednesday the 19th

Interference - Causes, Remedies and Location

Interference - Causes, Remedies and Location, July 1960 Radio-Electronics - RF CafeInterference takes on many forms and can be caused by nearly an infinite number of sources. In 1960 when this article appeared in Radio-Electronics magazine, most manmade interference (QRM) originated in electrical machinery, faulty contacts in switches and lighting, improperly shielded and/or filtered RF generators, and arcing transmission lines. Natural interference (QRN) has not fundamentally changed since the same process continue to occur - lightning, meteoric ionization of the atmosphere, solar particles, etc. It was nearly all caused by analog processes. Nowadays, ambient noise both conducted and induced is as likely - or even more likely - to come from digital circuits. The base level (noise floor) of electromagnetic (EM) signals in a typical urban or suburban environment is significantly higher than it would have been in 1960. Fortunately, the same group of engineers and scientists that generated the condition have also figured out ways to mitigate the issues - for the most part. Some forms of increased EM interference...

Thanks to ISOTEC for Long-Time Support!

ISOTEC Corporation - RF CafeSince 1996, ISOTEC has designed, developed and manufactured an extensive line of RF/microwave connectors, between-series adapters, RF components and filters for wireless service providers including non-magnetic connectors for quantum computing and MRI equipments etc. ISOTEC's product line includes low-PIM RF connectors components such as power dividers and directional couplers. Off-the-shelf and customized products up to 40 GHz and our low-PIM products can meet -160 dBc with 2 tones and 20 W test. Quick prototyping, advanced in-house testing and high-performance. Designs that are cost effective practical and repeatable.

Geometry Formulas for Polygons

Geometry Formulas for Polygons - RF CafeA polygon is a two-dimensional geometric figure that is formed by connecting a sequence of straight line segments to create a closed shape. The segments are called sides, and the points where the sides intersect are called vertices. Polygons can have any number of sides, but they must have at least three sides. The word "polygon" has its origins in the Greek words πολύς ("many") and γωνία (gōnia), meaning "knee" or "angle." Polygons are classified based on the number of sides they have: Triangles: Triangles are polygons with three sides and three vertices. They are further classified into: Equilateral triangle: All three sides are equal in length. Isosceles triangle: Two sides are equal in length. Scalene triangle: All three sides have different lengths. Right triangle: One angle is a right angle (90 degrees). Quadrilaterals: Quadrilaterals are polygons with four sides and four vertices. They include: Square: All four sides are equal in length, and all angles are right angles. Rectangle: Opposite sides are equal in length, and all angles are right angles. Parallelogram: Opposite sides...

Fully Electric Ride for Artemis Crews

Fully Electric Ride for Artemis Crews - RF CafeIn this wanton example of virtue signaling, NASA is attempting to extol the virtue of transporting astronaut crews to the launch pad in an e-vehicle ... to be launched into space in a rocket that will put millions of pounds of exhaust products into the atmosphere. All methods of producing hydrogen fuel (H2) are energy intensive, including extraction from fossil fuels (95%) and electrolysis. It's a greater breach of integrity than a dieting 500-pound (227 kg, 0.25 ton, 36 stone) person at a table full of donuts, with a diet Coke to wash it all down. As stated many times before, I have been a life-long proponent and champion for the development of alternative energy sources and implements for exploiting its use, but what I object to is the shameless lying and deception by politicians, media, and, most unforgivably, the science community, for personal aggrandizement. Prove me wrong.

The Whole Ohm Family - R, X, and Z

The Whole Ohm Family - R, X and Z, June 1931 Radio-Craft - RF CafeHere is yet another treatise on the subject of reactance and resistance. Considering that the date on this Radio−Craft magazine is 1931, it was probably amongst the first to publically discuss such newfangled topics outside of a formal university setting. The layman just was not accustomed to being bothered with such esoteric concepts. After all, not many decades previous a person might be burned at the stake for exercising such witchcraft as speaking of "imaginary" numbers as is required for a complete analysis of alternating circuits. This article, however, does not actually get into complex numbers, but future ones did...

RF Cascade Workbook

RF Cascade Workbook - RF Cafe RF Cascade Workbook is the next phase in the evolution of RF Cafe's long-running series, RF Cascade Workbook. Chances are you have never used a spreadsheet quite like this (click here for screen capture). It is a full-featured RF system cascade parameter and frequency planner that includes filters and mixers for a mere $45. Built in MS Excel, using RF Cascade Workbook 2018 is a cinch and the format is entirely customizable. It is significantly easier and faster than using a multi-thousand dollar simulator when a high level system analysis is all that is needed. An intro video takes you through the main features...

Many Thanks to San Francisco Circuits for Continued Support!

San Francisco CircuitsSF Circuits' specialty is in the complex, advanced technology of PCB fabrication and assembly, producing high quality multi-layered PCBs from elaborate layouts. With them, you receive unparalleled technical expertise at competitive prices as well as the most progressive solutions available. Their customers request PCB production that is outside the capabilities of normal circuit board providers. Please take a moment to visit San Francisco Circuits today. "Printed Circuit Fabrication & Assembly with No Limit on Technology or Quantity."

Tuesday the 18th

Semiconductors for Industrial Controls

Semiconductors for Industrial Controls, July 1960 Radio-Electronics - RF CafeIf I have ever heard of a "trigistor" (aka "dynaquad") before seeing it in the 1960 Radio-Electronics magazine article, I don't remember it. It is a p−n−p−n silicon switch device that is essentially the same as a thyristor in that conduction can be turned on or off with separate control signals that can be removed once the switching action is initiated. According to the Wikipedia entry for the thyristor, it was first introduced in 1956, not so long before this article. The Howard W. Sams Transistor Circuit Manual, 1961, by Allan Lytel provides information on not just the "trigistor," but also the "binistor," another bistable on/off silicon switch. Other process control devices such as unijunction transistors, avalanche diodes, silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs), and cryostats (used for temperature control) are discussed. The electronics industry was in the early stage of transition from vacuum tubes to solid state devices...

Unintended Radiation from Large Satellite Constellations

Unintended Radiation from Large Satellite Constellations Confirmed - RF cafeDuh. Astronomers warned of both visible light and radio frequency electromagnetic interference from the massive satellite constellations being launched by SpaceX, Starlink, and others. Experts who have no direct vested interest in the astronomy assured everyone that once all the birds were "on orbit," their footprints would be too small to matter. A skeptic might be inclined to suspect they have a financial incentive to make their claims - akin to medical "experts" who told us the unvaccinated would all be dead by now and the weather experts who told us the polar ice caps would be gone 10 years ago. Astronomers called "BS" from the beginning; to wit: "Astronomers Stand up to Satellite Mega-Constellations," "Satellite Constellations Are an Existential Threat for Astronomy," "Satellite Megaconstellations Are Threatening Astronomy." As the numbers grow, the true impact will become increasingly evident. At least, though, Internet service will be available at every point on Earth, with heavily government-subsidized subscriptions.

Equations for Cylinders, Cones & Spheres

Equations for Geometry Cylinders, Cones & Spheres - RF CafeHere are handy formulas for some of the most commonly used cylinders, cones, and spheres, all with symmetry about the axis of rotation. Equations for surface area, volume, and circumference are provided. They were gotten from CRC Standard Math Tables, 1987...

Entanglement of Microwave and Optical Photons

Entanglement of Microwave and Optical Photons - RF Cafe"A modular quantum computer with multiple separately cooled processor nodes could solve this. However, single microwave photons - the particles of light that are the native information carriers between superconducting qubits within the processors - are not suitable to be sent through a room temperature environment between the processors. The world at room temperature is bustling with heat, which easily disturbs the microwave photons and their fragile quantum properties like entanglement. Such an entangled quantum state of two photons is the foundation to wire up superconducting quantum computers via room temperature links. This has implications not only for scaling up existing quantum hardware but it is also needed to realize interconnects to other quantum computing platforms as well as for novel quantum-enhanced remote sensing applications..."

Official Radio Service Men's Association

Official Radio Service Men's Association, Inc., April 1932 Radio-Craft - RF CafeAs the advertisement for membership in the Official Radio Service Men's Association says, structured organizations for people of like mind and interests have long been the hallmark of an advanced society where there is a need for directed socialization and the 'strength in numbers' benefit. I suppose most people reading this piece belong to at least one such association like the Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), American Radio Relay League (ARRL), Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA), Association of Old Crows (AOC), Electronics Technicians Association (ETA), etc. Having significant representation in government in the form of lobbyists is essential these days in order to obtain and retain fair treatment and consideration of your professional, hobby, and personal interests. If you don't defend your territory, somebody else WILL take it. I liken the predators to Sentinels in the Matrix movie series that are incessantly and tirelessly seeking out to subdue and destroy the Human Resistance...

Promote Your Company on RF Cafe

Sponsor RF Cafe for as Little as $40 per Month - RF CafeBanner Ads are rotated in all locations on the page! RF Cafe typically receives 8,000-15,000 visits each weekdayRF Cafe is a favorite of engineers, technicians, hobbyists, and students all over the world. With more than 17,000 pages in the Google search index, RF Cafe returns in favorable positions on many types of key searches, both for text and images. Your 728x90-px and 160x600-px Banner Ads are displayed on average 225,000 times per year! New content is added on a daily basis, which keeps the major search engines interested enough to spider it multiple times each day. Items added on the homepage often can be found in a Google search within a few hours of being posted. If you need your company news to be seen, RF Cafe is the place to be...

Thanks to Alliance Test Equipment for Their Support!

Allied Test Equipment Products - RF CafeAlliance Test Equipment sells used / refurbished test equipment and offers short- and long-term rentals. They also offer repair, maintenance and calibration. Prices discounted up to 80% off list price. Agilent/HP, Tektronix, Anritsu, Fluke, R&S and other major brands. A global organization with ability to source hard to find equipment through our network of suppliers. Alliance Test will purchase your excess test equipment in large or small lots. Blog posts offer advice on application and use of a wide range of test equipment. Please visit Allied Test Equipment today to see how they can help your project.

Monday the 17th

Electronics-Themed Comics

Electronics-Themed Comics, May 1964 Radio-Electronics - RF CafeHere we go with four more electronics-themed comics, this time from the May 1964 issue of Radio−Electronics magazine. Man-made satellites were a relatively new phenomenon, so they were fair game for ridicule. A lot of people were afraid of a satellite falling from orbit and crashing through their roofs or strike them down on the golf course. In the ensuing 66 years since Sputnik was launched in 1957, as far as we know Lottie Williams, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the only person ever to have been confirmed to have been hit by a piece of satellite debris. Another comic makes fun of the trend in the day of vacuum tubes being designed with an ever-increasing number of pins. The pin counts on most tubes were typically between 4 and 8. A diode tube had two pins for the heater element and one each for the cathode and anode, for a total of 4. A duotriode like the 12AT7 sported 8 pins. The 6AV11 Compactron Three Triode contained 3 triodes (a triotriode) and had 12 pins, three for each triode, two for the heater, and one N/C. Some cathode ray tubes (CRTs) had 14 or more pins. Attempts were made to build vacuum tube integrated circuits...

West Germany Electronics Market

West Germany Electronics Market, December 27, 1965 Electronics Magazine - RF CafeThis is the electronics market prediction for West Germany, circa 1966. It was part of a comprehensive assessment by the editors of Electronics magazine of the state of commercial, military, and consumer electronics at the end of 1965. West Germany was intent on being a player in the Space Race with Siemens and Telefunken providing expertise. Bochumer Verein was pushing the electronic computer frontiers forward. The article states that only about 5% of West Germany's factories including heavy industry have anything approaching the automation of American industry. Factory automation was viewed as a threat to the German workers. Unless you can find a news story on the state of the industry, detailed reports must be purchased from research companies like Statista. Their website has a lot of charts on Germany's current electronics market showing revenue in the consumer electronics segment amounts of US$2,948M in 2018...

Ferroelectric Switches Reduce Energy in Microelectronics

Ferroelectric Switches Reduce Energy in Microelectronics"A new family of ferroelectric materials could be used to make more energy-efficient microelectronics devices. This is the finding of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and Pennsylvania State University, both in the US, who studied how the polarization of crystalline materials called wurtzites switches when an electric field is applied. The recent observation of ferroelectricity in wurtzites contradicted a 100-year-old belief that these materials were pyroelectric and piezoelectric, and that their polarization could thus not be switched with an electric field. The discovery also sparked interest among electronics engineers because wurtzite-based switches could have applications in logic, memory, high-power, acoustic and electro-optical devices. A further attraction is that wurtzites would be easy to integrate with mainstream semiconductor platforms..."

RF Cascade Workbook

RF Cascade Workbook - RF Cafe RF Cascade Workbook is the next phase in the evolution of RF Cafe's long-running series, RF Cascade Workbook. Chances are you have never used a spreadsheet quite like this (click here for screen capture). It is a full-featured RF system cascade parameter and frequency planner that includes filters and mixers for a mere $45. Built in MS Excel, using RF Cascade Workbook 2018 is a cinch and the format is entirely customizable. It is significantly easier and faster than using a multi-thousand dollar simulator when a high level system analysis is all that is needed. An intro video takes you through the main features...

Motovox Models 10A Moto-Tetradyne Radio

Motovox Models 10A All-Electric and 10E Battery-Operated Moto-Tetradynes Radio Service Data Sheet, July 1933 Radio-Craft - RF CafeThis Radio Service Data Sheet for the Motovox Models 10A All-Electric and 10E Battery-Operated "Moto-Tetradynes" is an example of the dozens of similar schematic and alignment instruction sheets that have been posted on RF Cafe over the years. It appeared in a 1933 issue of Radio−Craft magazine. There was also a small image and brief description of this "motor-car receiver" (moto "moving" + vox "voice") in the August 1933 issue of Radio News magazine. Obtaining technical information on most things, even readily available items, prior to the Internet era was often very difficult - if not impossible. Service centers had what was needed by manufacturers and distributors, but if you wanted to find a part number or service data on a refrigerator, radio, lawn mower, garage door opener, etc., and did not have the original paperwork, you were usually out of luck. Nowadays a Web search will quite often get you what you need thanks to people (like me) who go to the trouble of making the information available. The stuff doesn't just magically appear or get posted by benevolent governmental entities...

Thanks to Copper Mountain Technologies for Continued Support

Copper Mountain TechnologiesCopper Mountain Technologies develops innovative and robust RF test and measurement solutions for engineers all over the world. Copper Mountain's extensive line of unique form factor Vector Network Analyzers include an RF measurement module and a software application which runs on any Windows PC, laptop or tablet, connecting to the measurement hardware via USB interface. The result is a lower cost, faster, more effective test process that fits into the modern workspace in lab, production, field and secure testing environments. 50 Ω and 75 Ω models are available, along with a full line of precision calibration and connector adaptors.

Sunday the 16th

Electronics Theme Crossword for July 15th

Electronics Theme Crossword Puzzle for July 15th, 2023 - RF CafeThis custom RF Cafe electronics-themed crossword puzzle for July 15th contains words and clues which pertain exclusively to the subjects of electronics, science, physics, mechanics, engineering, power distribution, astronomy, chemistry, etc. If you do see names of people or places, they are intimately related to the aforementioned areas of study. Being that "O" is the 15th letter of the alphabet, it is used as the first and/or last letter of many words in today's crossword puzzle - as well as in-between. Those clues are marked with an asterisk (*). As always, you will find no references to numbnut movie stars or fashion designers. Need more crossword RF Cafe puzzles? A list at the bottom of the page links to hundreds of them dating back to the year 2000. Enjoy.

Post Your Engineer & Technician Job Openings on RF Cafe for Free

/jobs.htm">Engineering Job Board - RF CafeRF Cafe's raison d'être is and always has been to provide useful, quality content for engineers, technicians, engineering managers, students, and hobbyists. Part of that mission is offering to post applicable /jobs.htm">job openings. HR department employees and/or managers of hiring companies are welcome to submit opportunities for posting at no charge. 3rd party recruiters and temp agencies are not included so as to assure a high quality of listings. Please read through the easy procedure to benefit from RF Cafe's high quality visitors...

Many Thanks to Reactel for Their Long-Time Support!

Reactel Filters - RF Cafe

Reactel has become one of the industry leaders in the design and manufacture of RF and microwave filters, diplexers, and sub-assemblies. They offer the generally known tubular, LC, cavity, and waveguide designs, as well as state of the art high performance suspended substrate models. Through a continuous process of research and development, they have established a full line of filters of filters of all types - lowpass, highpass, bandpass, bandstop, diplexer, and more. Established in 1979. Please contact Reactel today to see how they might help your project.

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)