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Homepage Archive July 2015 - page 2

Click for Page 1 of the July 2015 homepage archives.

R&S RTO and RTE Trigger, Decoder

for Manchester- and NRZ-Coded Buses

Rohde-Schwarz-RTO-RTE-Trigger-Decoder-Manchester-NRZ-Buses-85-GHz-7-31-2015.htm" > Analyze Broadband and Pulsed Signals up to 85 GHz with the New R&S FSW85 - RF CafeRohde & Schwarz has again expanded its range of trigger and decoder options for the R&S RTO and R&S RTE. With the R&S RTx-K50, the oscilloscopes help users debug serial protocols that employ Manchester or NRZ coding. The option can be used with a variety of standardized buses such as PROFIBUS, DALI or MVB as well as with proprietary serial protocols such as are typically found in industrial environments and in the aerospace & defense sector. Developers of products that use these types of interfaces can easily find implementation errors and so test and release their designs more quickly. The option, which covers data rates of up to 5 Gbit/s, supports Rohde-Schwarz-RTO-RTE-Trigger-Decoder-Manchester-NRZ-Buses-85-GHz-7-31-2015.htm" ...

Electronics-Themed Comics from

Electronics World & Popular Electronics

Electronics-Themed Comics, October 1961 Electronics World & October 1956 Popular Electronics - RF CafeHere for your Friday afternoon wind-down are these electronics-themed comics from vintage issues of Electronics World and Popular Electronics magazines. The sign on the Telco Rectifier Components president's wall is especially good. These comics make good fodder for opening your technical presentations ...

Power Transistor Specifications

Power Transistor Specifications, January 1963 Electronics World - RF CafeThe basics of power transistor specification and selection have not changed much since they became widely commercially available in the 1960s. Although available package shapes, power handling, cutoff frequencies, and other parameter options have been greatly expanded, still the most important aspect is not just selecting a power transistor but properly mounting it to ensure that the rated heat dissipation capacity will be realized. This article touches on some of those considerations and how to effectively deal with them ...

Saelig Intros 34.4 MHz-4.4 GHz

RF Signal Generator + Power Detector

Saelig-34d4-MHz-4d4-GHz-Signal-Generator-Power-Detector-7-29-2015.htm" > Saelig Introduces Economical 34.4 MHz-4.4 GHz RF Signal Generator + RF Power Detector - RF CafeSaelig Company announces the SynthNV - a programmable 34.4 MHz to 4.4 GHz software-tunable RF signal and sweep generator with a built-in RF power detector. It is controlled and powered from any device running Windows, Linux or Android OS via a USB port. The included onboard RF power detector can be used as a generic RF power meter or combined with the SynthNV's sweep function to create a basic Saelig-34d4-MHz-4d4-GHz-Signal-Generator-Power-Detector-7-29-2015.htm" >RF network analyzer. When the RF signal generator frequency is set, RF power can be measured in less than 400 uS. The SynthNV design also includes nonvolatile memory so it can be programmed to wake up with any frequency, power, sweep, and Saelig-34d4-MHz-4d4-GHz-Signal-Generator-Power-Detector-7-29-2015.htm" ...

Planar Monolithic Industries (PMI)

Intros 4 New RF Products

PMI-Intros-4-New-RF-Products-7-29-2015.htm" > Planar Monolithic Industries (PMI) Intros 4 New RF Products, July 29, 2015 - RF CafePlanar Monolithics Industries (PMI) has introduced 4 new RF components that include an 18-40 GHz successive detection log video amplifier (SDLVA), a 6380 to 7440 GHz voltage variable attenuator (VVA), a 1.0-1.1 GHz single pole, two throw (SPDT) hermetically sealed reflective switch, and a 0-180° bi-phase modulator / phase shifter PMI-Intros-4-New-RF-Products-7-29-2015.htm" ...

Electronics Crosswords

1963 Electronics World Magazine

Electronic Crosswords, January 1963 Electronics World - RF CafeFellow cruciverbalists, here from a 1963 edition of Electronics World is an electronics-themed crossword puzzle for your end-of-the week enjoyment. You can click on the grid for a larger, printable, write-on-able paper version. If you are an avid worker of crosswords and don't already know it, I have created hundreds over the last decade+ that are available here. Unlike this crossword from Electronics World (and most others for that matter), my puzzles have only hand-picked words related to engineering and science ...

Guerrilla RF Ramps Production

of Ultra-LNA Device

Guerrilla-RF-Ramps-Ultra-LNA-7-29-2015.htm" > Guerrilla RF Ramps Production of Ultra-LNA Devices Featuring Industry Leading Noise Figure and Linearity - RF CafeGuerrilla RF, a leading provider of high performance MMICs, today announced it has received volume production orders for its premier ultra-low noise amplifier (Ultra-LNA) devices with industry-leading noise figure, gain and linearity. The GRF2051, along with the higher gain GRF2052, support a wide range of high performance LNA applications including macro base stations, small cells, distributed antenna systems (DAS) and other high performance applications requiring the absolute lowest possible NF along with the highest possible input-referenced linearity."Guerrilla RF is pleased Guerrilla-RF-Ramps-Ultra-LNA-7-29-2015.htm" ...

Radio Telemechanics

Radio Telemechanics, September 1934 Radio-Craft - RF CafeOnce again, electronics and overall tech visionary Hugo Gernsback prognosticated in the 1930s what was then a pipe dream but what is today commonplace - remote control of multi-functioned apparati via secure wireless digital communications. Adolph Hitler had risen to power a year earlier and precursors of what would officially become World War II in 1937 had nations thinking about what kinds of technologies would be necessary should the little mustachioed dictator decide to invade his neighbors' countries in an attempt to rule over the Earth. That this was so is apparent in many magazine articles in the decade of the 1930s: The Saturday Evening Post, Life, Popular Mechanics, and even Good Housekeeping ...

Featured Book: Essentials of RF and

Microwave Grounding

Essentials of RF and Microwave Grounding - RF Cafe"Essentials of RF and Microwave Grounding," by Eric Holzman. Grounding is a widespread and serious problem in microwave and RF engineering and, up until now, there hasn't been a practical, authoritative resource dedicated to the topic. This first-of-its-kind volume offers professionals a comprehensive understanding of the proper grounding techniques to use when working on varied microwave circuit and antenna design projects. Practitioners learn what problems can occur when grounding design is inadequate, and how to avoid them. The book covers a wide range of critical topics, from the fundamentals of low frequency ... [Please support RF Cafe through your purchases.]

Fairview Debuts Complete Family of High

Rel RF & Microwave Power Amplifiers

Fairview-Microwave-High-Reliability-RF-Microwave-Power-Amplifiers-7-28-2015.htm" > Fairview Microwave Debuts a Complete Family of High Reliability RF & Microwave Power Amplifiers - RF CafeFairview Microwave Inc., a supplier of on-demand microwave and RF components, has released a complete portfolio of coaxial high reliability power amplifiers with broadband frequencies ranging from 0.5 MHz to 20 GHz that can operate over extreme temperatures across -55°C to +85°C. These high-rel amplifiers are commonly used in demanding environments for applications involved with electronic warfare, instrumentation, military communications, radar, point-to-point radio, telecom, test & measurement, medical, and SATCOM industries. The new families of hi-rel power amplifiers from Fairview are designed to overcome the electrical and Fairview-Microwave-High-Reliability-RF-Microwave-Power-Amplifiers-7-28-2015.htm" ...

Applications and Characteristics

of Copper-Oxide Rectifiers

Applications and Characteristics of Copper-Oxide Rectifiers, July 1933 Radio-Craft - RF CafeWhile reading through this article on copper-oxide rectifiers, I am once again reminded of how much we take for granted the conveniences of electrical test equipment on today's shop benches. The advent of FET-input multimeters was a huge step forward because the meter input impedance is so high that it has practically no impact on the circuit being measured. Prior to that, most simple meters drew their power from the circuit under test, thereby altering the true value of current or voltage being measured. Of course there were vacuum tube voltmeters (VTVM) with high input impedances, but few hobbyists or laymen could afford them. This piece reports on how the advent of a non-tube-based rectifier permitted AC measurements to be made by DC-driven d'Arsonval meter movements so as to not excessively ...

Keysight Technologies Supports PAM-4

M8000 Series BER Test Solutions

Keysight-Technologies-PAM-4-M8000-BER-Test-Solutions-7-28-2015.htm" > Keysight Technologies Introduces PAM-4 Support on M8000 Series BER Test Solutions - RF CafeKeysight Technologies today expanded its PAM-4 measurement solutions with support for PAM-4 data formats and built-in error counters on the M8000 Series BER test solutions. PAM-4 support and the ability to integrate a device's built-in error counter helps R&D and test engineers characterize and test high-speed digital receivers for the data-center networking, storage and computer industries. R&D and validation teams characterizing next-generation digital designs face several test challenges. With data rates continuously increasing, emerging data center standards like OIF CEI and IEEE 802.3 Ethernet are moving to PAM-4 multilevel signaling formats. In addition, many ASIC Keysight-Technologies-PAM-4-M8000-BER-Test-Solutions-7-28-2015.htm" ...

NI AWR Software on Display

at European Microwave Week

NI-AWR-European-Microwave-Week-7-28-2015.htm" > NI AWR Software on Display at European Microwave Week - RF CafeNI (formerly AWR Corporation) announces that NI AWR Design Environment™ V12 will be featured in a host of activities at NI-AWR-European-Microwave-Week-7-28-2015.htm" >European Microwave Week 2015 (EuMW2015), being held September 8 to 10 in Paris. New load-pull and antenna features, ease-of-use and speed enhancements and third-party integrated flows will be on display in Booth #E112. In addition, key new features will be showcased in several MicroApps presentations and at the combined European venue of AWR Design Forum 2015 (ADF)/European User Group Meeting NI-AWR-European-Microwave-Week-7-28-2015.htm" ...

Werbel Microwave Intros 500-6000 MHz

6-Way Power Divider

Werbel-Microwave-500-6000-MHz-6-Way-Power-Divider-7-27-2015.htm" > Werbel Microwave Intros 500-6000 MHz, 6-Way Power Divider - RF CafeThe 6-way power divider model WMPD06-0.5-6-S is the newest edition to the 500 - 6,000 MHz family of power dividers from Werbel Microwave LLC. This unit comes with SMA connectors; type N is also available. Measures 9.0 x 6.0 x 0.9 inches. Input and output return loss is -11 and -15 dB typ. respectively, isolation is -20 dB typ. and insertion loss is 2.2° max. Phase and amplitude balance are typically 3°/0.4 dB. Rated ta 50 watts input power as a splitter only. Part of Werbel Microwave's growing series Werbel-Microwave-500-6000-MHz-6-Way-Power-Divider-7-27-2015.htm" ...

Notable Quote: Henri Poincaré

Henri Poincaré, mathematician, in "Science and Hypothesis" - RF Cafe"Science is built up of facts, as a house is built of stones; but an accumulation of facts is no more a science than a heap of stones is a house." - Henri Poincaré, mathematician, in Science and Hypothesis

Not Quite Getting It...

A mathematics professor explained to students through various lectures and examples:

Not Quite Getting It (math limit problem) - RF Cafe

It became obvious not everyone understood after one student submitted the following on a pop quiz:

Not Quite Getting It (math limit answer) - RF Cafe

 - originator unknown. 

Radio Service Data Sheets for

RCA Victor and Philco Radios

Philco Model 15 Series, 11-Tube Superheterodyne Chassis Radio Service Data Sheet, August 1932 Radio-Craft - RF CafeAt least for now, I am going to only scan and post Radio Service Data Sheets in graphical format, and run OCR on them to separate the textual content and make it searchable. These featuring Philco Model 15 Series, 11-Tube Superheterodyne (PhilcoRadio.com photo) - RF Cafethe RCA Victor Model R-78 B1-Acoustic 12-Tube Superheterodyne floor console radio and the Philco Model 15 Series, 11-Tube Superheterodyne Chassis, are among what has been added already, with lots more to come. There are still many people who restore and service these vintage radios, and often it can be difficult or impossible to find schematics and/or tuning information. I will keep a running list of all data ...

Triad RF Systems Intros 4.4-5.0 GHz

Bi-Directional Power Amplifier

Triad-RF-Systems-4d4-5-GHz-Bi-Directional-PA-7-27-2015.htm" > Triad RF Systems Intros 4.4-5.0 GHz Bi-Directional Power Amplifier - RF CafeThe TTRM1008 is a high linearity GaAs FET bi-directional SSPA suitable for use with any modulation and signal type. It is currently utilized in UAV data links and long range point-point COFDM video links. High speed T/R switching and sequencing of the PA, LNA, and switch driver circuitry is performed by an on-board CPLD, where switching timing can be adjusted in firmware based on system requirements. The transmit section produces over 25 watts of BPSK power, and over 5 watts of 64 QAM. The unit also features a manual digital gain setting and a three color status LED on the front panel that shows if the SSPA is in transmit or receive mode, or if an alarm condition exists. The amplifier Triad-RF-Systems-4d4-5-GHz-Bi-Directional-PA-7-27-2015.htm" ...

Microelectronics circa 1963

Microelectronics, January 1963 Electronics World - RF CafeIt seemed weird to read of microelectronics device density expressed in parts per cubic foot of semiconductor substrate. Describing density that way makes some sense when considering 3-dimensional devices with vertically stacked elements, but this was in a 1963 article in Electronics World, so that could not have been the case. The motivation, evidently was to be able to compare microcircuit density with that of the human brain in terms of neuron density. In fact, there is an interesting chart presented that shows the evolution in circuit density beginning with vacuum tube circuits, progressing through the state of the art in 1963, projecting for future years, and finally peaking with the brain's density. Interestingly, the brain density shows as about 5x1011/ft3, while the "nonredundant semiconductor device" limit is ...

Saelig Intros TDDS100-48 DDS

1 Hz-100 MHz Signal Generator

Saelig-Intros-TDDS100-48-1-Hz-100-MHz-Signal-Generator-7-22-2015.htm" > Saelig Introduces Tiny TDDS100-48 Direct Digital Synthesized 1 Hz-100 MHz Signal Generator - RF CafeFairport, NY, USA: Saelig Company, Inc., announces the availability of the USB-stick-sized TDDS100-48 - a laboratory quality Direct Digital Synthesized RF signal source with a frequency range of 1 Hz to 100 MHz and a minimum of 0dBm output power that is available from its SMA female socket. The TDDS100-48 is the smallest USB-controlled DDS synthesized source available and is priced significantly below other offerings. The high purity source can be swept in steps as low as 1Hz between any two frequencies in its specified range. Frequency changes are phase-continuous, so there are no glitches and phase noise is better than -140 dBc @ 100 kHz Saelig-Intros-TDDS100-48-1-Hz-100-MHz-Signal-Generator-7-22-2015.htm" ...

Famous Scientists' (FI+LN)

Crossword Puzzle

Famous Scientists' First Initial & Last Name Crossword Puzzle for July 26, 2015 - RF CafeThis Famous Scientists crossword puzzle took a long time to make because of all the names that I managed to squeeze into the matrix. The way this one works is the person's first initial and completely spelled-out last name, indicated by (FI+LN) in the clue, is used as the answer. For instance, filter transfer function developer Stephen Butterworth would be written as SBUTTERWORTH. There are at least sixteen names here with which you should be familiar. Good luck ...

Pasternack Expands Offering of

General Purpose VNA Calibration Kits

Pasternack-General-Purpose-VNA-Calibration-Kits-7-22-2015.htm" > Pasternack Expands Offering of General Purpose VNA Calibration Kits - RF CafePasternack, a leading manufacturer and supplier of RF, microwave and millimeter wave products, has expanded their portfolio of general purpose VNA calibration kits with new 50 and 75 Ohm versions. These new cal kits offer excellent performance characteristics that are specially designed for the fine-tuning and calibration of sensitive test equipment in engineering labs, production environments and quality testing facilities. All of Pasternack's calibration kits are built to withstand years of rigorous use and provide accurate RF equipment calibration for the life of the product. Pasternack's new line of general purpose VNA calibration kits come in three economical versions including a Pasternack-General-Purpose-VNA-Calibration-Kits-7-22-2015.htm" ...

Neil Blaho - "EMI Guy"

Bio & Vintage Test Equipment Ads

Neil Blaho - "EMI Guy" - Bio & Vintage Test Equipment Ads - RF CafeThis could prove to be a popular feature if other RF Cafe visitors care to get involved. Yesterday, Neil Blaho (aka "EMI Guy" - see his helmet for proof), having seen all the vintage magazine articles and advertisements posted here over the years, sent me an e-mail with the ads pages below attached. Wrote Neil, simply, "I'll never admit to using these items years ago…." His statement alludes to what many of us veteran communications electronics industry types recognize as the uncomfortable number of years that have slipped by while we were busy making a living and raising families. I wrote back asking him for permission to post the images and requested a short biography that could be posted along with them. To wit: "Greetings Neil: That's quite an interesting lineup of stuff. I'm sure there are lots of guys like you out there who wax ...

ATEC Rental Distributor Agreement for

OptiView XG Network Analysis Tablet

ATEC-Rental-Distributor-Fluke-OptiView-XG-Network-Analysis-7-23-2015.htm" > Advanced Test Equipment Rentals Announces Rental Distributor Agreement with Fluke Networks to Offer the OptiView XG Network Analysis Tablet - RF CafeAdvanced Test Equipment Rentals (ATEC) today announced an expansion of its authorized rental distributor agreement with Fluke Networks to include the Fluke Networks OptiView® XG Network Analysis Tablet, the first tablet specifically designed for network engineers. Fluke Networks is the world-leading provider of network test and monitoring solutions. ATEC is a leading rental company nationwide of test equipment for telecoms, aerospace, semiconductor, consumer electronics and many other sectors, and now the only Fluke Networks authorized rental partner to provide the next generation in network ATEC-Rental-Distributor-Fluke-OptiView-XG-Network-Analysis-7-23-2015.htm" ...

Join Now! The Official Radio

Service Men's Association, Inc.

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 ...

RFMW Intros Peregrine 9 kHz

T&M Switch That Handles 4 W to 8 GHz

RFMW-Peregrine-9kHz-Broadband-Switch-4W-8GHz-7-23-2015.htm" > RFMW Intros Peregrine 9 kHz Broadband T&M Switch That Handles 4 W to 8 GHz - RF CafeRFMW, Ltd. announces design and sales support for Peregrine Semiconductor's PE42553 SPDT capable of handling 36 dBm of CW input power and 38 dBm of pulsed power at 8GHz. The RFMW-Peregrine-9kHz-Broadband-Switch-4W-8GHz-7-23-2015.htm" >PE42553 covers a broad frequency range of 9 kHz to 8 GHz and is ideal for applications in test and measurement products, automated test equipment (ATE) and general purpose Tx/Rx switching. This Peregrine switch is internally terminated for 50 ohm circuits and offers high linearity (IIP3 is 66 dBm) for performance critical applications such and switched filter banks. Typical mid-band isolation for the RFMW-Peregrine-9kHz-Broadband-Switch-4W-8GHz-7-23-2015.htm" ...

Amateur Radio Specialty

License Plates - 2015

Amateur Radio Specialty License Plates: 2015 - RF CafeAccording to my research, in the year 2015, there are 29 states out of 50 that issue specialty license plates commemorating amateur radio. Those states that do not issue specialty plates offer a vanity plate with an FCC call sign. All require proof of call sign ownership. Some plates simply say "Amateur Radio," while others have a graphic symbol of some sort. I expected Connecticut, being the home base of the ARRL, might have a really nice design, but it is a simple lightning bolt type thing - better than nothing. Vermont is the only state that uses the schematic symbol portion of the ARRL logo. Ohio, host to the world's largest annual Hamfest, merely says "Amateur Radio." Sheesh, how about a tent with an antenna or something, guys? My own favorite is that of New York due to its simple but eye-catching design that includes the ...

NI AWR Design Environment Software

Featured in NIWeek Academic Forum

NI-AWR-Design-Environment-Academic-Forum-5G-RF-Pavilion-NIWeek-7-22-2015.htm" > NI AWR Design Environment Software Featured in Academic Forum, 5G/RF Pavilion and Technical Sessions at NIWeek 2015 - RF CafeNI (formerly AWR Corporation) announces that NI AWR Design Environment™ will be on display within the NIWeek 2015 Academic Forum, 5G/RF Pavilion and two technical sessions - High-Efficiency PAs for High PAR Signals Using an NI-Based Platform and Improving the Semiconductor Design-to-Test Flow. Communication and radar signals have increased peak-to-average power ratios and bandwidths for efficient spectrum use, which implies reduced transmitter average efficiency. Doherty, supply-modulated (ET), and out-phasing transmitters offer possible efficiency improvements. At this session, learn about various microwave monolithic NI-AWR-Design-Environment-Academic-Forum-5G-RF-Pavilion-NIWeek-7-22-2015.htm" ...

50 MHz Dipole Antenna

Made from Crutches

50 MHz Dipole Antenna Made from Crutches - RF CafeI had to check the publication month printed on the cover of the latest Nuts & Volts magazine when I ran across this article last night. It is labeled "August 2015" and not "April 2015," but take a look at the photo below that accompanied an article titled "Build a 50 MHz Dipole out of Crutches" (p25). Author and amateur radio operator Bob Fischer (WB8BEL), aka "The Antenna Sculptor," actually fashioned a working 50 MHz dipole out of a pair of metal-framed crutches. The ones featured in the article were purchased new, but he advises suitable crutches can be bought second-hand for a couple bucks. Admittedly, he says, "I'm certain this novel antenna would never survive high winds or ice loads, but it was not built with permanent installation in mind. I think the best uses for these crutches are teaching antenna ...

RFMW and ParkerVision Announce

Worldwide Distribution Agreement

RFMW-ParkerVision-Worldwide-Distribution-Agreement-7-22-2015.htm" > RFMW Ltd., and ParkerVision Announce Worldwide Distribution Agreement - RF CafeRFMW and ParkerVision  have announced a worldwide distribution agreement for ParkerVision products and services. ParkerVision is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of semiconductor technology solutions for wireless applications. RFMW is a specialized, technology based component distribution organization providing customers and suppliers with a solutions oriented sales and marketing team. RFMW is dedicated to offering the highest levels of customer service and specialized component-engineering support RFMW-ParkerVision-Worldwide-Distribution-Agreement-7-22-2015.htm" ...

Beware the Service Gyp!

Beware the Service Gyp!, September 1934 Radio-Craft - RF CafeRepair service businesses have always gotten a bad rap for deliberately inflating part and labor costs - often deservingly so - but it's a shame the honest brokers are dragged down by the scum ('or 'gyps' as this article calls them). Come to think of it, the word 'gyp' is likely short for 'gypsy,' which is sure to offend someone these days. Along with admonishing customers to beware of shyster servicemen, there is an example of an orchestrated 'sting' operation whereby a radio set was intentionally 'broken' in a certain way with witnesses as to the fault, and then a couple dozen repair services were called upon to troubleshoot and fix it, then present a bill for their work. The result is interesting, and even resulted in one guy being ...

Featured Book - RF Positioning:

Fundamentals, Applications, and Tools

RF Positioning: Fundamentals, Applications, and Tools - RF CafeRF Positioning: Fundamentals, Applications, and Tools, by Campos, Rafael Saraiva. The book is organized to allow readers to progress at a fast pace, from the fundamentals of RF positioning, to the use of advanced tools such as artificial intelligence algorithms and application development environments. The first part of the book covers the fundamentals of RF localization. The second part addresses the application of those fundamentals in several types of wireless networks and technologies as cellular networks, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, sensor networks, UWB, and GPS, GNSS, ...  [Please support RF Cafe through your purchases.]

Planar Monolithic Industries (PMI)

Intros 5 New RF Products

PMI-Intros-5-New-RF-Products-7-21-2015.htm" > Planar Monolithic Industries (PMI) Intros 5 New RF Products, July 21, 2015 - RF CafePlanar Monolithics Industries (PMI) announces the release of 5 new products in its line of RF components. Included are a surface mount high power limiter (18-40 GHz), and a connectorized a SP8T (20-6000 MHz) solid state switch, a phase shifter (2-18 GHz), and two power dividers (3.1-3.5 GHz) PMI-Intros-5-New-RF-Products-7-21-2015.htm" ...

Saelig Intros G326 Ultraminiature VCXO

w/Superior Phase Noise Performance

Saelig-G326-Ultraminiature-VCXO-7-21-2015.htm" > Saelig Introduces G326 Ultraminiature VCXO Oscillators with Superior Phase Noise Performance - RF CafeSaelig Company has introduced a new series of ultra-miniature VCXO that use fundamental mode crystals for superior phase-noise performance. Available in frequencies from 1.0-50 MHz, the new G326 series VCXOs feature integrated phase jitter of 200 fs (typical) and suit a wide range of timing applications, such as PLLs, SONET, ATM, set-top boxes, MPEG, audio-video modulation, video game consoles and HDTV, ONET, 10GbE, Fiber Channel, wireless repeaters, transponders, FPGAs, data acquisition, etc. Unlike standard clock oscillators that have a fixed output frequency, the output of Saelig-G326-Ultraminiature-VCXO-7-21-2015.htm" >G326 VCXOs can be tuned  50 to 200ppm up or Saelig-G326-Ultraminiature-VCXO-7-21-2015.htm" ...

Famous Radio Beginners

Famous Radio Beginners, March 1936 Radio-Craft - RF CafeThis is an all-star cast of radio pioneers if there ever was one. It's not comprehensive by any means, but most of the first-string players are here in this 1936 Radio-Craft article. One thing I like about reading these old pieces is that they, for the most part, are reporting on contemporary events; they are not merely a historian's interpretation of what the original witnesses recorded. That is not to say early writers did not editorialize, err, or outright lie about content, but I give these guys the benefit of the doubt based on the sources. You have certainly heard of people like Hertz, deForest, and Marconi, but what about coherer (early detector) inventor Edouard Branly and ground-breaking commercial radio broadcast engineer Frank Conrad? Magazine editor, publisher, and inventor Hugo Gernsback properly give a short ...

Notable Tech Quote: Benjamin Franklin

Notable Tech Quote: Benjamin Franklin - RF Cafe"An iron rod being placed on the outside of a building from the highest part continued down into the moist earth, in any direction strait or crooked, following the form of the roof or other parts of the building, will receive the lightning at its upper end, attracting it so as to prevent it's striking any other part; and, affording it a good conveyance into the earth, will prevent its damaging any part of the building." - Benjamin Franklin Of Lightning, and the Method (now used in America) of securing Buildings and Persons from its mischievous Effects, Paris 1767. See also Mac's Radio Service Shop - A Little Lightning story.

IF Coil & Transformer Design

I.F. Coil & Transformer Design, April 1932 Radio-Craft - RF CafeThe use of intermediate frequency (IF) coils and interstage coupling transformers were a major feature of vacuum tube based receivers. Both served the dual purpose of impedance matching and frequency selectivity. Resistive losses in the relatively large passive components required careful attention to matters that affect signal sensitivity, especially in the front end where losses add significantly to the overall noise figure. This article appeared in an early 1930s edition of Radio-Craft magazine at a time when superheterodyne receivers were just coming into popularity and were a new challenge for many designers ...

Pasternack Intros Zero Biased

Waveguide Detectors for 26.5-110 GHz

Pasternack-Waveguide-Detectors-26-110-GHz-7-20-2015.htm" > Pasternack Introduces Waveguide Detectors Covering Frequency Ranges from 26.5 to 110 GHz - RF CafePasternack, a leading manufacturer and supplier of RF, microwave and millimeter wave products, rolls out a brand new collection of high performance zero biased waveguide detectors that exhibit optimum performance in Ka, Q, U, V, E and W frequency bands. These waveguide detectors are widely deployed in various aerospace, defense and commercial wireless applications used in instrumentation, power detection, power monitoring, direct detection receivers, high frequency communications, radar, SATCOM, point-to-point radio, telecom, data Pasternack-Waveguide-Detectors-26-110-GHz-7-20-2015.htm" ...

EchoStar Is Looking for a

Senior RF Design Engineer

EchoStar Looking for a Senior RF Design Engineer - RF CafeEchoStar, in Englewood, CO, is looking for a Senior RF Design Engineer who will create RF and electrical engineering designs employed in EchoStar set top boxes. Responsibilities include RF and electrical engineering designs employed in EchoStar set top boxes involving QPSK, 8PSK, QAM, 8VSB and future digital communication methods, RF and electrical engineering designs involving MoCA, RF4CE, Bluetooth, WiFi, and other wireless networking technologies, use and apply RF, Digital, Power, and Analog principles and design techniques, circuit design from specifications, part selection, schematic entry, layout, optimization, validation, to final mass production ...

Free Engineering & Profesisonal

White Papers & Magazines

Engineering White Papers & Books, July 2015 - RF CafeThe free whitepapers, pamphlets, books, magazines, and chapter examples listed here are a small sample of a lot of new items that are offered for FREE through TradePub. The publishers make them available to qualifying people as a promotional campaign for their full line of offerings. Note: I earn a few pennies (literally) when you download one of these or the many other pubs available, so please help yourself ...

Radio Service Data Sheets

Clarion 5 Tube Model 423; 6 Tube 470, 471 and 472; and 10 Tube 480, June 1934 Radio-Craft - RF CafeAt least for now, I am going to only scan and post Radio Service Data Sheets like these featuring the Zenith Challenger Model 740 10 Tube Battery-Operated Superheterodyne floor console radio and the Clarion 5 Tube Model 423; 6 Tube 470, 471 and 472; and 10 Tube 480 radio in graphical format, and also run OCR on them to separate the textual content and make it searchable. There are still many people who restore and service these vintage radios, and often it can be difficult or impossible to find schematics and/or tuning information. I will keep a running list of all data sheets to facilitate a ...

2015 Planetary Exploration

Crossword Puzzle

2015 Planetary Exploration Crossword Puzzle for July 19, 2015 - RF CafeNews services have been busy lately reporting on the latest feat of America's national space agency's resounding success with its interplanetary space probe's closest encounter with our solar system's most remote [minor] planet. Prior to the flyby, even the most powerful Earth- and space-based telescopes could never resolve more than a few lightly contrasted splotches on the celestial orb's surface, and its largest moon was a few pixels worth of indeterminate light. All that changed on July 14, 2015. We now have, for the first time ever, high resolution images of the surface, and are in the process of collection terabits worth of additional physical data from onboard instruments. No doubt many Ph.D.'s will be earned through assimilation ...

RFMW Intros Qorvo/TriQuint

BAW Diplexer Serving B1 & B3 Uplink

RFMW-Qorvo-BAW-Diplexer-B1-B3-Uplink-7-16-2015.htm" > RFMW Intros Qorvo BAW Diplexer Serving B1 & B3 Uplink - RF CafeRFMW, Ltd. announces design and sales support for a highly selective, LowDrift™ BAW diplexer created for use in Band 1 and Band 3 uplinks. The Qorvo TQQ1231 provides 60 MHz of bandwidth centered at 1950 MHz and 75 MHz of bandwidth centered at 1747.5 MHz. Insertion loss for both bands is 3.8 dB. BAW technology allows the Qorvo RFMW-Qorvo-BAW-Diplexer-B1-B3-Uplink-7-16-2015.htm" >TQQ1231 to handle 30 dBm of input power making it suitable for LTE infrastructure like BTS transceivers/repeaters and high performance receivers. The TQQ1231 requires no external matching and is offered in a 3x3 mm SMT package RFMW-Qorvo-BAW-Diplexer-B1-B3-Uplink-7-16-2015.htm" ...

Sangamo Electric Company

Advertisement

Sangamo Electric Company Ad, September 1949 Radio & Television News - RF CafeThis advertisement would never pass muster with the politically correct crowd of today! Even though, as with the Washington Redskins football team, Red Man chewing tobacco, Indian Motorcycles, Land O'Lakes food company (see a huge list of official company trademarks with Indians in them), American Indians are without exception used as a depiction of strength, high quality, high integrity, and beauty, a very, very, very tiny minority of rabble rousers are having their way with the vast, vast, vast majority. Somehow that has become the norm in society today. If the goal is to upset everyone and to pit good people against each other, they ...

RCA Tube Department's

Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Plant

RCA Tube Department's Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Plant, September 1949 Radio & Television News - RF CafeThe old saying "Ignorance is bliss," is often misinterpreted as a happy thing in that keeping one's mind free of uncomfortable facts and details makes for a more content existence. It was probably some tyrannical statist ruler who came up with the line in hopes the peons would simply comply with his edicts while trusting those 'in the know' to look out for their welfare. We see a lot of that today in all societies - both controlling megalomaniacs and willing dupes. A more realistic interpretation of the saying impugns the target as a figurative lemming who will go over a cliff with a smile on his face as long as everyone around him is doing the same - while praising the one who inspired the suicidal behavior. This report in a 1949 edition of Radio & Television News includes a photo of an RCA TV tube factory where part of the manufacturing process involved workers (mostly women) handling ...

Skyworks High Reliability DC6 GHz

GaAs IC SPST Non-Reflective Switch

Skyworks-DC-6-GHz-GaAs-SPST-Non-Reflective-Switch-7-17-2015.htm" > Skyworks Intros High Reliability DC to 6 GHz Hermetic GaAs IC SPST Non-Reflective Switch - RF CafeThrough its Isolink subsidiary, Skyworks introduces a low-loss, high performance wideband DC-6 GHz hermetic GaAs SPST non-reflective switch. The ISO13316 is ideal for high reliability space, satellite, and defense applications. The device performs with 45 dB isolation at 2 GHz and low loss of 1.1 dB at 6 GHz. Testing is available to the screening requirements of MIL-PRF-38535 Class B and S, in addition to the required QCI. The ISO13316 die is produced with Skyworks' GaAs pHEMT process that has shown radiation tolerance to 100 kRad. The device is provided Skyworks-DC-6-GHz-GaAs-SPST-Non-Reflective-Switch-7-17-2015.htm" ...

The Man Before Marconi: A Short

Biography of Dr. Mahlon Loomis

The Man Before Marconi: Joseph Loomis, August 1948 QST - RF CafeBlack Friday is known to most modern-day people as the frenzied first day of Christmas shopping season on the day after Thanksgiving (the 3rd Thursday of November). It is named so because supposedly on that day many retailers finally turn the ink in their accounting books from red to black (net loss to net profit, respectably). However, there was an infamous Black Friday that occurred in the Fall of 1869, when the US. stock market experienced a severe crash. Many know of the 1929 crash that precipitated The Great Depression, but the other Black Friday, per this historical article from a 1948 edition of QST magazine, caused its own 'great depression' in wireless communications pioneer DDr. Mahlon Loomis. Dr. Loomis was a dentist whose side profession was being an electrical experimenter. Decades ...

NI AWR Design Environment V12

MWJ's 'Most Valuable Product'

NI-AWR-Design-Environment-V12-Featured-MWJ-MVP-7-15-2015.htm" > NI AWR Design Environment V12 Featured in Microwave Journal as Most Valuable Product - RF CafeNI announces that NI AWR Design Environment™ V12 has been awarded the Microwave Journal Magazine 2015 Most Valuable Product (MVP) for its productivity enhancements that enable RF and microwave designers to streamline their design process, improve end product performance and accelerate time to market. V12 emphasizes user productivity by focusing on the design flow process for designers of all types of high frequency electronic components, circuits and systems. Enhancements include new amplifier, antenna and radar-specific features, expanded NI-AWR-Design-Environment-V12-Featured-MWJ-MVP-7-15-2015.htm" ...

Infographic:

"Just How Private Is Your Privacy?"

Career and Job Hunting Advice: Your Online PresenceThe world is a scary place. Someone or something, somewhere, is watching most of what you do in public. Whether it be a traffic or parking lot surveillance camera, a phone call, a text message or e-mail, it is safe to assume it is all connected to an NSA (USA), GCHQ (UK), MSS (China), GID (Saudi Arabia), or MID (Russia), a computer and/or human in one or more countries is privy to your activities. They know, for instance, that you are currently reading this article on RF Cafe.com. This interesting 'infographic' appears ...

- How to Prepare for the Second

    Interview

- The Work-Life Equation: Solving

    the Sad Office

- Smart Career Advice for the

    Class of 2015  <more>

Many New Books Added to the

RF Cafe Book Drawing Selection List

Many New Books Added to the RF Cafe Book Drawing Selection ListIt always amazes me how many people are notified of having won a choice of a FREE, recently published engineering book from top publishers like Artech House, McGraw Hill, and Cambridge University Press, but never respond. Each month for the past 8 years I have contacted 1 or 2 people to apprise them of having won the RF Cafe Book Drawing, but probably 1/3 never respond. Maybe my e-mails are being routed into their spam folders. I do not send unsolicited e-mail, so all have received a message from me previously after having order my software. Please, for your own sake, if you have ordered during the month, be sure to watch your inbox at the beginning of the next month - you might be a winner!

PMI Intros 2-18 GHz 8 Bit Digitally

Controlled Phase Shifter

PMI-2-18-GHz-8-Bit-Phase-Shifter-7-15-2015.htm" > Planar Monolithic Industries (PMI) Intros 2.0 to 18.0 GHz 8-Bit Digitally Controlled Phase Shifter - RF CafePMI Model No. PS-255-2G18G-8B-SFF is a 2.0 to 18.0 GHz 8-Bit Digitally Controlled Phase Shifter with capability for phase shifting from 0° to 255° with resolution as fine as 1.0°. This unit has a typical insertion loss of 18 dB and a typical VSWR of 2.5:1. The DC Voltage requirement is +12 V to +15 V with typical current draw of 200 mA. The unit is supplied in a housing measuring 2.0" x 2.1" x 0.5" PMI-2-18-GHz-8-Bit-Phase-Shifter-7-15-2015.htm" ...

Innovative Power Products (IPP) 90 deg Hybrid Couplers
everythingRF RF & Microwave Parts Database (h1)

Innovative Power Products (IPP) Directional Couplers

RF Cascade Workbook 2018 by RF Cafe