|
 Here we go with three new "What's
Your EQ?" challenges from the July 1961 issue of Radio-Electronics
magazine. Readers submit the problems, which typically involve creating a circuit
to perform a specified function, or determining how a given circuit works. The first
of these is more of a puzzle, since the author shows you how to go about arriving
at the answer. Since incandescent light bulbs are not overly familiar to a lot of
people these days, it might be to the advantage of pre-Millennials who grew up using
them and are acquainted with their properties. The second is an old-fashioned Black
Box challenge that some readers will solve without much...
 "Japanese operator SoftBank announced that
the Sunglaider, its large-scale solar-powered uncrewed aircraft system (UAS) designed
for
High Altitude Platform Station (HAPS) stratospheric telecommunications, was
utilized in a field trial conducted by AeroVironment and the U.S. DoD in New Mexico,
the U.S. During the trial, carried out in early August, Sunglider succeeded in achieving
stratospheric flight, the Japanese operator said. With a wingspan of 78 meters and
the capability to carry payloads weighing up to 75kg, the Sunglider is larger than
other publicly announced HAPS UAS..."
 Monday (any day, for that matter) is a good
day for Carl and Jerry stories, Mac's Electronics Service Shop sagas, Hobnobbing
with Harbaugh, electronics-themed comics, electronics quizzes, and other forms of
nerd entertainment. Here is another of Robert P. Balin's great challenges titled,
"Diagram
Quiz," this one from a 1966 issue of Popular Electronics magazine.
Most RF Cafe visitors will easily identify eight or nine of the ten diagrams. Relatively
few will be familiar with the Rieke diagram (hint: power amplifier designers will
know about it). The Biasing diagram is a bit misnamed IMHO, and could cause confusion...
 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. Three new ceramic bandpass filters have
been announced for October 2024 - a 2275 MHz center frequency filter with a
bandwidth of 250 MHz, a 2275 MHz center frequency filter with a bandwidth
of 250 MHz, and a 6245 MHz center frequency filter with a bandwidth of
360 MHz. Custom RF power filter and directional couplers designs can be designed
and produced with required connector types when a standard cannot be found, or the
requirements are such that a custom approach is necessary.
 When you read this 1963 Electronics
World magazine article's title, I doubt you immediately assumed it would be
about a vacuum tube circuit, or even one that uses discrete transistors to implement
the circuit. Rather you most likely though it would be about an integrated circuit
(IC).
Operational amplifiers (opamp) are building blocks characterized (ideally) by
their infinite input impedance, zero output impedance, infinite open-loop bandwidth
and gain, zero input offset voltage, amongst other defined parameters. The first
commercially produced integrated circuit (IC) opamp came to market in 1964 via Fairchild
Semiconductor (the µA702, brainchild of Bob Widlar)...
 Nickel-cadmium (NiCad) batteries have a
long and significant history in energy storage, with their invention attributed
to Swedish engineer Waldemar Jungner in 1899. Jungner's work laid the foundation
for an electrochemical power source based on nickel oxide hydroxide and cadmium,
leading to the development of the rechargeable NiCad battery. It was a pioneering
breakthrough because it represented one of the earliest forms of rechargeable energy
storage systems. This battery technology found widespread use in various industries
due to its robust performance and ability to be recharged multiple times. At its
core, the chemistry of NiCad batteries involves the reaction between cadmium (the
negative electrode) and nickel oxide hydroxide (the positive electrode), with potassium
hydroxide as the electrolyte. During...
 These two
tech-themed comics from the September 1969 issue of Electronics World
magazine are pretty good. I especially like the one where the guy's wife entered
his printed circuit board layout in an art contest. PCBs were just starting to gain
momentum in production electronics as they replaced the old point-to-point wiring
method. Also popular in that era was high fidelity stereo equipment. Owning a system
with speakers that operated from 1 Hz through 30 to 40 kHz was major evidence
of an audiophile's technical savvy, even though the human ear con only detect frequencies
in the 30 Hz to 20 kHz range. Dogs can hear frequencies up into the 45 kHz
range. Porpoises can hear up to 150 kHz. A ferret can hear from 16 Hz...
 TotalTemp Technologies offers advanced
and innovative methods for meeting and optimizing your thermal testing requirements.
We specialize in benchtop thermal testing because small batches are typically the
most cost-effective approach. We offer heat transfer by conduction with thermal
platforms, forced convection as in traditional temperature chambers, combined systems,
and thermal vacuum for Space Simulation.
Thermal testing of Traveling Wave Tube Amplifiers and other devices with dramatically
uneven power dissipation can easily be achieved with a dual zone thermal platform.
Managing the heat produced by the electron gun side allows for the RF outputs side
to be tested at various required temperatures. The Dual Zone Thermal Platforms allows
the user to maintain safe controlling...
• Ham
Radio Serving Southeast U.S. Recovery Efforts
• Radio
"A Godsend for So Many" in Helene's Aftermath
• Estate
Planning for Hams
• Intel's Woes Damaging
U.S. Chip Indpendence
• Is
Gen-Z Low Car Ownership a Threat to Radio? (they
can't afford cars due to massive inflation - not because they don't want a car)
 Amrad, American Radio & Research Corporation,
was based in Medford Hillside, Massachusetts and was founded in 1915 with funds
from J. Pierpont Morgan. The company's first manager, Harold James Power, was an
amateur radio enthusiast and built a research laboratory. In 1916, Amrad made its
first broadcast to J. Pierpont Morgan Jr., who was aboard the ocean liner "Philadelphia."
Amrad received orders for military radio equipment during World War I, but discontinued
these orders after the war ended. To keep the company afloat, Amrad produced items
such as electric egg beaters and cigar lighters. In 1919, Amrad was awarded a contract
to make 400 SE1420 receivers, and it began advertising components for amateur radio
enthusiasts...
 This "Which
Dry Battery for You" article is a follow-on from the previous month's "Dry Cell
Battery Types" in Radio-Electronics magazine. It was a time long before the dominance
of rechargeable lithium batteries. In 1963, battery-powered devices were nowhere
near as widespread and diverse as they are nowadays. Hand tools like drills, saws,
routers, planers, and screwdrivers got their power either from a wall outlet or
the user's arm and hand muscles. Lawn mowers, grass and hedge trimmers, chain saws,
and snow blowers were powered mostly by gasoline, although some models plugged into
the wall. Those devices which did use batteries most often had no built-in...
 "Researchers have developed a new architecture
for optical computing called
diffraction casting, offering power-efficient processing by using light waves.
This method promises better integration and flexibility for high-performance computing
tasks and could be used in fields like AI and machine learning. As artificial intelligence
and other complex applications demand ever more powerful and energy-intensive computers,
optical computing emerges as a promising solution to enhance speed and power efficiency.
However, its practical application has faced numerous challenges..."
 The Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) was established
in 1946 as a result of the Atomic Energy Act, signed into law by President Harry
S. Truman. This legislative decision marked the United States' formal entry into
managing and controlling atomic energy, a rapidly advancing field that had been
essential in concluding World War II through the development and use of nuclear
weapons. The AEC was conceived to handle not only military applications of atomic
energy but also to develop peaceful uses, such as energy production, medical research,
and industrial applications. The creation of the AEC emerged from the Manhattan
Project, the secret wartime effort to develop atomic bombs. The Manhattan Project
brought together prominent scientists like J. Robert Oppenheimer, Enrico Fermi,
and Niels Bohr. After the war, however, the question arose...
 Empower RF Systems, the technology leading
provider of high-performance RF amplifiers, is proud to announce the launch of the
Model 2221 X-Band Pulsed High Power Amplifier. The Empower RF 2221 amplifier
operates in the 9-10 GHz X-band, delivering an impressive 8000 W peak
output power with long and short pulse widths. Its applications encompass radar
systems, electronic warfare, HPM research, and electromagnetics effects testing.
With a rugged, modular design, the 2221 offers a reliable, high-performance solution
for applications demanding significant X-band power. Key Features and Specifications
The model 2221 amplifier operates in the 9-10 GHz X-band frequency range, delivering
an impressive 8 kW of peak pulsed output power...
 Although not in the title as it used to
be, this 1964 Electronics World magazine piece by John T. Frye is
a "Mac's
Service Shop" story. If Mac and Barney are the stars of the saga, then it can
be none other. The story is about how the misdeeds of a few dishonest operators
can taint the reputation of an entire industry - nothing new there. Barney is telling
Mac about a "sting" ploy pulled by a consumer protection group whereby TV sets with
a specific easy-to-troubleshoot problem introduced to see how repair technicians
from a suspect company would bill the service. I'll not spoil the ending for you;
however, a comment mentioned that $10 would have been a reasonable price for a house
call that included the fix. According to the BLS's inflation calculator, $10 in
1964 was the equivalent of about $102 in 2024...
 Ever the futurist, in 1962 Radio-Electronics
magazine editor Hugo Gernsback was making the case for occupying
millimeter- and submillimeter-wave bands. In fact, he first proposed the concept
back in 1959. He refers to it as "gap between the infrared (IR) and radio regions."
IR is generally understood to include wavelengths from around 750 nm (400 THz)
to 1 mm (300 GHz). Gernsback cites work done by Professor Gwyn O. Jones,
of Queen Mary College of the University of London, with the claim that among other
advantages of millimeter-wave (mm-wave) is an ability to penetrate certain wavelength
"windows" in the atmosphere where lower frequencies do not propagate efficiently,
more "channels" of communications can be accommodated, smaller antennas could be
used, and narrower focused transmission beams possible...
 Werbel Microwave's WMRD10-7.2-S is a
10-way resistive splitter that covers up to 7.2 GHz with ultra-wide bandwidth.
This unique design accomplishes extremely flat frequency response in a small radial
package. Our unique design approach provides higher than expected isolation between
outputs at far ports than would be achieved in a typical star topology. It has applications
in markets such as CATV, test and measurement, and military radio. Its small size
makes it easy to integrate into compact systems. Designed, assembled, and tested
in the USA.
 Hugo Gernsback, often heralded as the "Father
of Science Fiction," was an extraordinary figure whose influence extended beyond
the realm of speculative literature into the world of electronics, radio communication,
and futurism. His life, inventions, and publications shaped not only popular science
but also the practical development of radio and electronics, making him a pivotal
figure in early 20th-century technological advancements. Gernsback was born Hugo
Gernsbacher on August 16, 1884, in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, to a wealthy family.
His father, Moritz Gernsbacher, was a winemaker and merchant, while his mother,
Bertha, came from a prominent local family. Hugo had several siblings, though details
of his early family life remain somewhat obscure. From a young age, Hugo showed
a strong interest in science and technology, particularly in electricity and wireless
communication. He attended local schools in Luxembourg and later pursued formal
education at the Technikum in Bingen, Germany...
 These government programs take forever to
implement, then a major portion of the money gets wasted in bureaucracies, payoffs,
and misappropriations (e.g.,
8 EV charging stations after spending $7.5B). "If you know CostQuest at all
you probably think of it as the company that the FCC hired to clean up and refine
its national broadband map. But the company is also working with state broadband
offices on their
Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) programs. To give a little background,
CostQuest works with the FCC on its national broadband map. But it was also hired,
separately, by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
to work with states..."
 The
Radio Corporation of America (RCA) holds a significant place in the history
of American technology and business. Founded in 1919, RCA was initially created
as a government-sanctioned monopoly to manage the United States' growing interest
in wireless communication. During its peak, RCA was a dominant player across multiple
industries, including consumer electronics, communications, broadcasting, and defense
technology. Its influence extended through radio, television, radar, semiconductors,
and beyond. The inception of RCA was rooted in the growing importance of wireless
communication during and after World War I. The company was established by General
Electric (GE), which was pressured by the U.S. government to create a new entity
that would ensure...
 When this was originally posted it was the
beginning of the IEEE's 2007
Microwave Theory and Techniques Society's (MTT-S) International Microwave Symposium
(IMS) in Honolulu, Hawaii. This advertisement from the January 1969 issue of Electronics
World magazine promoted Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
annual symposium. Per the MTT.org website, the very first IMS show was held in 1995,
in Orlando, Florida. The 1969 IEEE International Convention & Exhibition, which
was not specifically a microwave electronics theme, was held in the New York Coliseum,
located in New York City...
 If you have been wanting access to
nitrous oxide (N2O), aka laughing gas, in order to "encourage" someone
to divulge subconscious (or intentionally suppressed) information, but don't want
to pay the high cost of storage bottles and refilling, then here are instructions
in a 1949 issue of Popular Science magazine for brewing some on your own.
Purchase of N2O is legal, and is used, among other things, as an engine supercharger
which is injected into the intake manifold. I had a friend back in the 1970s with
such a system installed on his 1968 Camaro that had a 454 cu. in. big
block in it. It could easily pop the front wheels off the ground. Dentists and doctors
still use it as an anesthetic, food products like whipped cream...
 The evolution of
Crosley
radio products is a fascinating journey through the golden age of radio, a period
marked by significant technological advancements and changing consumer preferences.
Powel Crosley Jr.'s genius lay in his ability to combine affordability with cutting-edge
features, making his radios highly desirable for the average American household.
Crosley Radio Corporation's products evolved rapidly, reflecting the company's commitment
to innovation and its response to market demands. Crosley's radio journey began
in 1921 when he created the Harko, an affordable crystal set that was small and
compact enough to sit on a tabletop. Early radios at the time were relatively...
 It is amazing how some substrate layouts
look exactly like a block diagram of circuit they represent. "With increasing data
rates in mobile communications, the need for more powerful high-frequency electronics
is growing. This is particularly true for satellite-based global communication networks,
which must function reliably and securely in all weather conditions and at any location.
In the ESA Magellan project, researchers at Fraunhofer IAF, together with UMS and
TESAT, are therefore developing novel efficient
GaN transistors and high-power amplifiers for LEO and GEO communication satellites
to provide high..."
 Allen B. DuMont, a pivotal figure in the
early days of television and electronics, was born on January 29, 1901, in Brooklyn,
New York. His contributions to the advancement of television technology, particularly
through his work on cathode-ray tubes, and the founding of the DuMont Television
Network, left a lasting mark on the broadcasting industry. DuMont's early years
were marked by adversity. As a young boy, he contracted polio, which left him bedridden
for several months. Despite the physical limitations imposed by the disease, DuMont's
intellectual curiosity flourished, and he turned to reading and tinkering with electronics
to occupy his time. This early exposure to electrical engineering would shape his
future. DuMont's passion for electronics was evident from an early age. By the time
he was a teenager, he had built his own radio receiver. He attended Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute (RPI)...
 Ever heard of "sferics?" That's a new word
in my technical lexicon as of right now. Sferics (aka spherics), is a contraction,
derived from "atmospheric" phenomena, specifically referring to the electromagnetic
signals generated by natural events in the atmosphere, such as lightning discharges.
Over time, its use has become specialized in the field of meteorology, physics,
and certain branches of electrical engineering, where it is used to describe specific
types of electromagnetic emissions. It was mentioned in this "News
Briefs" column in a 1961 issue of Radio Electronics magazine. Also
in the news was the decreasing conductivity of the atmosphere due to low sunspot
activity. Ham DX'ers love sunspots since by charging the upper atmosphere, it facilitates
long distance communications. Japanese color TV sets were deemed "impressive." Much
more...
 "Recent advancements in
phonon laser technology, which utilizes sound waves rather than light, show
promising new applications in medical imaging and deep-sea exploration. A novel
technique enhances these lasers by stabilizing and strengthening the sound waves,
allowing for more precise and powerful outputs. This development not only improves
existing uses in medical and underwater applications but also extends potential
uses to material science and quantum computing. Scientists in China have made a
significant leap in developing lasers that use sound waves instead of light. These
'phonon lasers' hold promise for advancements in medical..."
 Powel Crosley Jr., an American inventor,
entrepreneur, and industrialist, was born on September 18, 1886, in Cincinnati,
Ohio. He became one of the most prolific figures in American industry, with contributions
spanning from radios to cars, and from kitchen appliances to television broadcasting.
His innovative spirit, coupled with a keen business sense, enabled him to leave
an indelible mark on American consumer culture during the first half of the 20th
century. Crosley's early years were shaped by a supportive, middle-class family.
His father, Powel Crosley Sr., was a successful attorney, which afforded young Powel
and his siblings a comfortable upbringing. Crosley was drawn to mechanical and electrical
engineering from an early age, demonstrating an innate talent for tinkering. As
a boy, he built his own working model of a car...
 "In these modern times, electronic systems
are usually operating within an
electromagnetic-interference (EMI) environment that contains many other electronic
systems. These systems need to exist and fully operate undisturbed while meeting
electromagnetic compatibility (EMC). EMC requirements are separated into two main
parts: Electromagnetic immunity - a system must not be disturbed by any other systems.
The electromagnetic interference in a system can't disturb any other system. Then,
if immunity and emission requirements are individually met, the electronic product,
such as an integrated circuit (IC), may be marketed from an EMC point of view. Measurement
methods for EMI and electromagnetic emission (EME) are fully described for ICs in
the IEC62132-4 (immunity) and IEC61967-4 (emission)..."
 The
Space Race was one of the most significant geopolitical and scientific competitions
of the 20th century, driven by the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet
Union during the Cold War. It spanned from the late 1940s through the 1970s, with
a focus on achieving superiority in space exploration, a domain viewed as critical
not only for scientific advancement but also for military and strategic dominance.
Rooted in rocket technology developed during World War II, the Space Race transformed
the world's understanding of science and technology, culminating in the most dramatic
achievement: the landing of humans on the Moon in 1969. This treatise explores the
key milestones, the countries and key players involved, technological developments,
the interplay between military...
 Anatech Electronics (AEI) manufactures and
supplies RF and microwave
filters for military and commercial communication systems, providing standard
LP, HP, BP, BS, notch, diplexer, and custom RF filters, and RF products. Standard
RF filter and cable assembly products are published in our website database for
ease of procurement. Custom RF filters designs are used when a standard cannot be
found, or the requirements dictate a custom approach for your military and commercial
communications needs. Sam Benzacar's monthly newsletters address contemporary wireless
subjects. Please visit Anatech today to see how they can help your project succeed.
 Yay, Friday is here at last! To help you
wind down the week, take a gander at these four
electronics-themed
comics which appeared in a 1961 issue of Radio-Electronics magazine.
The one on page 106 is my favorite. It reminds me of an old Bugs Bunny cartoon from
back in the 1970s, where a freeway was going to built over his rabbit hole (warren),
and Bugs thwarted all efforts by construction crews from violating his humble abode
(see "No Parking Hare"). There was another similar episode where skyscrapers were
built around his hole, but I cannot find it. The page 95 comic reflects the public's
fascination with rocket flights in an era when the first satellites were being launched,
and manned spaceflight filled the imaginations of young and old. By coincidence,
today's (October 4th) RF Cafe header logo features the Sputnik launch...
 "Iridium Communications Inc., a leader in
global voice and data satellite communications, has taken a significant step forward
in its mission to enhance connectivity. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)
has officially accepted Iridium's request to expand the functionality of
Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) for Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTN) into
the Work Plan for 3GPP Release 19. This marks a pivotal moment for Iridium's upcoming
service, Iridium NTN Direct?, which aims to provide unprecedented access to satellite
services via standard chipsets. What is Iridium NTN Direct?...
 The Space Race was at its peak in 1964 when
this advertisement by the
Capitol Radio Engineering Institute (CREI) Program in Space Electronics appeared
in Electronics World magazine. Although it all began in 1957 with the International
Geophysical Year, the heat was turned up that year when the USSR successfully launched
Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite. President John F. Kennedy
made his famous speech before the U.S. Congress in 1961, where he said in part,
"This nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before the decade is out,
of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth." A huge push
was made by colleges...
|
 It is common in electronics courses for an
analogy to be drawn between electrical and mechanical phenomena. In fact, a lot
of circuit analysis methods and equations apply directly to mechanics, and vice
versa. An LC (inductor-capacitor) oscillating tank circuit is akin to a spring and
dashpot. Resistance of a wire is likened to skin friction of water flowing through
a hose. Who among us can forget those lessons? This
Electronic Analogy Quiz from the November 1961 edition of Popular Electronics
presents a challenge both because some not-so-familiar examples of analogies are
offered, and because some are a real stretch. Therefore, don't feel too bad if you
don't get a few. That's my way of saying that I didn't get all of them right ;-)...
 Klystron is a household word these days -
literally - since every microwave oven contains one. Do you know who registered
the trade name originally? Per this advertisement from a 1945 edition of Radio-Craft
magazine, Sperry Gyroscope Company did. It was actually scientists at Stanford University
(Russell and Sigurd Varian) who developed the klystron tube, financed by Sperry
as part of its blind aircraft landing system. In an act of magnanimity that would
never be considered in today's competitive markets, Sperry issued the following
statement: "From now on, the name Klystron belongs to the public, and may be used
by anyone as the designation for velocity-modulated tubes of any manufacture." Right
decent of them.
 I have to laugh a bit when seeing this article
on how to wire up a set of
3-way switches "[i]f you only have a two-wire cable to work with."
There have been many times when I needed to wire a set of 3-way switches and only
had 2-wire Romex cable on-hand. The simple solution is to simply run two pieces
of 2-wire cable and only use one wire from the second piece. A 250' roll of 14-3
w/ground costs about $79 at the hardware store. A 250' roll of 14-2 w/ground costs
about $45. For short runs, the additional cost of using two pieces of 14-2 compared
to a single piece of 14-3 is diddly. However, if you want...
 Electronics hobbyists are always anxious
to hear the announcement of a new device that is forecast to revolutionize the tech
world. In the late 1950s something as relatively tame as a
crystal photocell satisfied that urge. This 1957 article in Radio &
Television News magazine is a prime example. Today it takes something like
a negative refractive index metamaterial to invoke the same sense of awe and wonder.
Those were simpler times, but then again even today's beginners in the world of
electronics circuit designing and building have to start somewhere, and these types
of circuits are as good as any place...
 This assortment of custom-designed themes
by RF Cafe includes T-Shirts, Mouse Pads, Clocks, Tote Bags, Coffee Mugs and Steins,
Purses, Sweatshirts, Baseball Caps, and more, all sporting my amazingly clever "RF Engineers - We Are the World's Matchmakers"
Smith chart design. These would make excellent gifts for husbands, wives, kids,
significant others, and for handing out at company events or as rewards for excellent
service. My graphic has been ripped off by other people and used on their products,
so please be sure to purchase only official RF Cafe gear. I only make a couple bucks
on each sale - the rest goes to Cafe Press. It's a great way to help support RF
Cafe. Thanks...
 Banner Ads are rotated in all locations
on the page! RF Cafe typically receives 8,000-15,000 visits each
weekday. RF 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 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...
 Werner von Braun and his team of rocket scientists
are credited with developing the first useful inertial stabilization platforms for
ballistic missiles. The infamous and formidable V2 rocket wreaked terror upon the
heads of Londoners during the latter days of World War II. It served to keep
the rocket in a fixed orientation during the boost phase of the flight, but did
not serve any active targeting function.
Inertial navigation systems, on the other hand, are used to provide both accurate
positional and attitude information for the pilot (if the platform has one) and
to steer the platform (vehicle) to a predetermined destination. Inertial navigation
systems are therefore much more complex. Early inertial navigation systems relied
on physical spinning gyroscopes mounted within a series of nearly frictionless gimbals
to maintain a fixed reference position in space. Contactless encoders about the
rotation axes of the gimbals sent positional information to a computer, which then
performed necessary calculations and sent formatted data to visual flight instruments...
 "So if I can work out a really efficient
way of changing part of this wasted noise into electrical energy, it can be charging
batteries and taking some of the load off the plane's generating plant." That passage,
from the April 1960
Carl and Jerry adventure story, reads like a modern day energy harvesting project.
Each month Popular Electronics included an electronics saga that normally
included some high tech sleuthing by the teenagers a la the Hardy Boys. This is
a particular favorite of mine because it involves a radio controlled airplane model.
BTW, according to the Google translator, the title of this story is "The Electronic
Bull."
 Dr. Lee DeForest might have had something
like National Public Radio (est. 1970) in mind when he penned this article in 1933.
In it, the famous vacuum tube amplifier inventor lamented and criticized the commercialization
of broadcasts because of all the paid product announcements (aka commercials) that
had been steadily increasing over the years. He also was critical of the "hit-or-miss,
higgeldy-piggeldy mélange program basis" of programing; i.e., the same station playing
a mix of jazz, opera, swing, syndicated story-telling, etc. The good doctor did
not elaborate on where funding for such dedicated, uncorrupted broadcasts would
originate if not from paying advertisers, and I do not recall ever reading about
a DeForest Radio Network paid for by his vast fortune. I don't like commercials
any more than the next person, but a company deserves time to pitch its products
and/or services if it helps deliver a source of entertainment to you that...
 I usually try to post something a little
less serious and technical on Fridays to help everyone wind down from the long week
just passed. It could be a Carl & Jerry or a Mac's Radio Service Shop story,
an electronics quiz, or even something I found out on the Internet. This time it
is a "believe-it-or-not" type feature entitled "Curiosa
in Radio," about radio manufacturing, operating, and infrastructure. One factoid
claims "Only 1.1% of set manufacturers in business in 1924 are building sets today."
It could due to being in the middle of the Depression Era so almost nobody was making
/ buying radios, but more likely it reflects the reality of the many people who
jumped into the fledgling radio industry early on and then could not gain market
share. Enjoy.
 Audio distortion is most often expressed as total
harmonic distortion (THD) as opposed to
intermodulation distortion (IMD). As the name suggests, THD is a measure of harmonic
power content relative to the fundamental frequency (a single tone) from which harmonics
are created. IMD on the other hand, is generated from the nonlinear mixing of two or
more tones, with the products being non-harmonically related to the original tones. The
author's discussion of audio frequency IMD applies equally to radio frequency IMD. Intentionally
generated harmonic components can enhance sound quality due to being consonant, whereas
IM products create dissonant tones not directly related to the originals...
 As radio equipment builders and operators,
we still battle two fundamental issues that have been around since the beginning
of time (well, from Marconi's time, anyway) -
grounding and power supply fluxuations. Both topics are addressed briefly here
in this editorial column from a 1932 The Wireless World magazine. Back
in the day, grounding was referred to as "earthing," and was/is essential to optimal
wireless and wired performance. Line voltage fluxuations are generally much less
severe today than in the 1930s thanks to better transformers, automated monitoring
and adjusting of line voltages, and better distribution designs. The worst type
of power line fluxuation - a lightning-induced surge - has been greatly reduced
thanks to superior engineering, primarily by the simple running of a grounded neutral
"static" wire running at the top of all the lines below it on utility poles and
transmission towers...
 When many people hear the name of
Bell Telephone Company, the first thing they think of is the court-directed
breakup of Bell System into what became known as "Baby Bells" after being sued for
monopolistic policies. What is too often forgotten - or more likely never realized
- is the immense role Bell played in the building of America into an industrial
and technology giant. Vintage magazines like this 1949 issue of Radio-Electronics
as well as many other types including The Saturday Evening Post, Popular
Mechanics, Family Circle, and many other publications commonly found
in homes, contained full-page advertisements by Bell Telephone Laboratories promoting
their work and reminding subscribers of how their hard-earned money was being invested
on improvements. Along with the Interstate Highway System, America's robust, dependable,
and high quality personal communications...
 The December 1958 (my 1st Christmas) issue
of Radio-Electronics magazine featured a clever take-off of the famous
children's story "Twas the Night Before Christmas," by Clement Clarke Moore (originally
titled A Visit from St. Nicholas). "The
Day Before Christmas," by Jack Darr, might contain some terms not familiar to
a more contemporary crowd. For instance, how many even know that "Gunsmoke" was
a Prime Time television shown from the 1950's, and is not just a forbidden word
in today's public schools (since it contains the word "gun")? How about an antenna
on the roof, or a telephone with a "dial" on it? Most people don't even carry paper
"pelf" around anymore. If you're under 30 years old and run across an unfamiliar
word or phase, simply speak it into your smartphone and Siri (or some variant) will
be glad to look it up for you ;-) ...
 If you need a cheap, quick
lightning arrestor for your antenna or just about any type of wired system,
this idea from Mr. Burgess Brownson looks like a good idea. He used an automotive
spare plug. Voltage breakover points can be set by varying the spark gap distance.
The old vacuum tube transmitters and receivers had a better of chance of surviving
a lightning strike because the components were able to handle much more of a shock
than our modern semiconductor sets with miniature, closely spaced components. Still,
the spark plug setup is better than nothing, if for no other reason than to protect
the shelter. it should suffice. This and many more "kinks" are offered in this 1935
issue of Short Wave Craft magazine...
 This Science Theme crossword puzzle for
January 24th contains only words and clues related to engineering, mathematics,
chemistry, physics, and other technical words. As always, this crossword contains
no names of politicians, mountain ranges, exotic foods or plants, movie stars, or
anything of the sort unless it/he/she is related to this puzzle's technology theme
(e.g., Hedy Lamarr or the Bikini Atoll). The technically inclined cruciverbalists
amongst us will appreciate the effort. Enjoy!
 This
Radio
Theme Crossword Puzzle for July 4th has a few words paying homage to what remains
of the freedoms and promises of America, along with words and clues related to RF,
microwave, and mm-wave engineering, optics, mathematics, chemistry, physics, and
other technical subjects. As always, this crossword contains no names of politicians,
mountain ranges, exotic foods or plants, movie stars, or anything of the sort unless
it/he/she is related to this puzzle's technology theme (e.g., Reginald Denny or
the Tunguska event in Siberia). The technically inclined cruciverbalists amongst
us will appreciate the effort. Enjoy!
 Hmmm... this is the first time recall either
of Carl's or Jerry's father, at least where either was present in the story. Their
mothers are mentioned on occasion for providing sandwiches or uttering words of
caution when embarking on a sleuthing mission. In this episode entitled "Two Tough Customers," creator and author John T. Frye have
the techno-teens set out on an adventure to shop for a good deal on a fundamentally
sound car - which they would own in a partnership set up by their fathers. As you
would expect if you are an ardent C&J follower, their effort includes inspecting
not just the mechanical integrity but also the electrical system health. Frye always
used his stories as the basis for a lesson on some technical aspect of everyday
life. The boys broke teenage car owners into three groups: Hot-Rodders, Show-Offs,
and Mechs. They seemed to assign one trait or the other, but not a combination
thereof. Personally, I was a bit of all three with my first car - a 1969
Camaro SS. While reading, see if you notice what I did about the battery
measurement...
 Always a good way to end a busy week, here
is a collection of
electronics-themed comics that appeared in a 1967 issue of
Popular Electronics magazine. A few of the artists you will recognize if you
are a regular reader. Some drawing styles are immediately identifiable, such as
those by Dave Harbaugh (of "Hobnobbing with Harbaugh" fame). Others, at least to
me, are not quite so familiar. Frank Tabor, George White, Stan Fine, and JAS (I'm
sure I know those initials, but can't place them) are amongst the others. I have
to admit to not really knowing what the gag is in the comic with the guy in his
pajamas. The party guy is cutting a wire to his ear buds ...
 An alternate title for this article that
appeared in a 1969 issue of Radio-Electronics magazine could have been,
"How
to Build a J-K Flip-Flop." Author Leonard Geisler takes the reader through a
step-by-step assembly of a functional J-K flip-flop using a collection of 1- 2-
and 3-input NAND gates. The 1-input NAND, in case you are wondering, is used as
an inverter. The piece reads like an in-depth first-semester electrical engineering
technician course textbook. In the process of building the J-K, an R-S (reset/set)
flip-flop is described. Nowhere does Geisler offer an explanation of from where
the "J" and the "K" input labels come. According to electrical engineer Sourav
Bhattacharya blog, it was Dr. Eldred Nelson of Hughes Aircraft who first coined
the term J-K flip-flop...
 Most of us probably never give much thought
to how vulnerable we could be in a lawsuit related to our professional activities
- until it's too late. That is particularly true if you are not directly involved
in the sales or service business. Even when it is reasonable to believe that there
is no way a jury or judge could
find you liable for a charge levied against you, the skill of
a talented lawyer and/or whims and prejudices of judges and/or jurors can doom you.
Although a bit dated, the legal cases cited in this Radio-Electronics article
give a little insight into why you would do well to give some thought to what the
consequences of your actions and/or statements might invite if someone decides you
have offended him or her. Remember that settled legal cases are regarded as precedence...
 Each week, for the sake of all avid cruciverbalists
amongst us, I create a new
technology-themed crossword puzzle using only words from my custom-created lexicon
related to engineering, science, mathematics, chemistry, physics, astronomy, etc. You
will never find among the words names of politicians, mountain ranges, exotic foods or
plants, movie stars, or anything of the sort. You might, however, see someone or something
in the exclusion list who or that is directly related to this puzzle's theme, such as
Hedy Lamar or the Bikini Atoll, respectively...
 We all know that for the most part television
stinks. Back in 1951 when this article appeared in Radio-Electronics magazine,
the technology was very new and it was considered a miracle not to be wasted on
inane programming. Newscasts actually presented news and not opinion, movies and
sitcoms cast the nuclear family, law enforcement, the military, religion, and patriotism
in a positive light rather than as the purveyors of evil in the world. By the end
of the 1960s to early 1970s a lot of that had changed. Political and social agendas
weaseled their way into nearly all programming to the extent that terms like "boob
tube" and even, yes, "smellivision,"
became common monikers for television. The form of smellivision presented in this
article was granted patent (US2540144A) protection in 1951 under the title, Television
with scent effects..."
 Maybe it is because I recently rebuilt a
set of stereo speakers that this article on frequency
crossover circuits seemed appropriate for posting. Crossovers
networks are essentially an audio version of a an RF multiplexer filter. The speakers
were just some cheap jobs from an old system where one had a split in the 8" bass
speaker cone. I wanted to keep the enclosures since they match the receiver and
turntable and replace just the speakers themselves. The so-called crossover circuit
consisted of a series capacitor in one line of each of the midrange and tweeter
speakers. Good quality stereo speakers and a good crossover circuit would have cost
a couple hundred dollars - well beyond my budget, so I opted for some just-above-low-end
car speakers...
 Since 2000, I have been creating custom engineering-
and
science-themed crossword puzzles for the brain-exercising benefit and pleasure
of RF Cafe visitors who are fellow cruciverbalists. The jury is out on whether or
not this type of mental challenge helps keep your gray matter from atrophying in
old age, but it certainly helps maintain your vocabulary and cognitive skills at
all ages. A database of thousands of words has been built up over the years and
contains only clues and terms associated with engineering, science, physical, astronomy,
mathematics, chemistry, etc. You will never find a word taxing your knowledge of
a numbnut soap opera star or the name of some obscure village in the Andes mountains.
You might, however ...
 John Gill published many
electronics-themed crossword puzzles in Electronics World
magazine in the 1950s and 1960s. Unlike the weekly RF Cafe engineering crossword
puzzles, some of the words used herein are not directly related to science, engineering,
mathematics, etc. You will find the level of difficulty much less than that of a
Sunday edition New York Times crossword, but there are some challenging
clues, particularly given the era that it was created. Bon chance...
 With a last name like Blattenberger and an
unusually spelled first (Kirt), I learned a long time ago not to poke fun at anybody's
name, but surely the parents of Dr. Hal F. Fruth had a sense of humor when
assigning their little bundle of joy in such a manner (HalF Truth?). Maybe I assume
too much. Anyway, the good doctor published in this issue of Radio News
magazine a very extensive treatise on the art and science of mass producing
radio frequency crystals at a time when the country - and free
world - was in urgent need of them. He notes that, "Prior to Pearl Harbor Day,
the world production of these plates and bars could be counted by the thousands.
The present production rate has skyrocketed more than one hundred fold so that
the present production rate is nearly 30,000,000 units per year...
 At first look this antenna from Bell Telephone
Laboratories appears to be a
phased array, but in fact it is a "lens" that uses reflecting metal fins to
direct incoming and outgoing radio waves into a narrow beam. This is a new approach
to the standard method of using a curved (usually parabolic) reflective dish with
a feedhorn. No detail is given about how, if at all, the phases of the received
signals are phase-adjusted at the point they converge on the back-side waveguide
feed. It is sort of akin to the Osgood optical lens used in lighthouses. Shortly
after the end of World War II, Bell Telephone Labs began a major effort to
interconnect the entire country with microwave relay stations to enhance efficiency
and reliability of long distance telephone calls...
 It 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+ 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...
 In 1958, most people were not accustomed
to seeing the now-familiar maps plotting the sinusoidal courses of satellites across
the face of the earth. It had only been in October of the previous year that any
object other than the moon was in orbit around our home planet - that was U.S.S.R.'s
Sputnik. Just as people of all ages and all backgrounds enthusiastically joined
in the newfangled phenomenon of aeroplanes after the Wright Brothers flew their
fragile craft at Kitty Hawk, electronics communications and scientists worldwide
hopped aboard the satellite train (so to speak). This article from a 1958 issue
of Radio & TV News magazine provided insight into the construction
and flight characteristics of
early U.S. satellites, and offered advice on how to
participate in the ongoing International Geophysical Year (IGY) research effort
by tuning in and reporting your signal reception characteristics. Activity was
not just the domain of operators with sophisticated equipment...
 Some of what you and I consider common knowledge
is largely unrealized by most people. Call me a geek, but I take pleasure in pointing
out to people that the
Fahrenheit and Centigrade scales are equal at -40°, and I especially enjoy working
out the simple proof for them. Most people appreciated the effort and are amazed,
claiming to have never seen that before. When I read the following in Smithsonian
magazine, "Winter temperatures here, some 250 miles northeast of St. Petersburg,
sometimes plunge to minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit," I wondered whether the author
knew that -40°F = -40°C. Maybe he just didn't want to confuse his readers by omitting
the redundant superfluous 'F' or 'C,' and it couldn't be 'K' because there are no
negative Kelvin degrees. It could also be that he knew but figured most people do
not... |
