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Friday 19
 In 1969 when this article appeared in Electronics World
magazine,
laser technology was still in the realm of rare earth elements and bulky gas chambers with monster
power supplies. Efficiencies for conversion of input line AC power to output laser light power was measured
in the low single digits. Real science was a long, long way from the predictions of science fiction
in terms of size and capability of lasers. Although laser technology has made much better progress than
futurists' visions of flying cars and nuclear fusion power generation, we are just now deploying the
first serious laser weapons. Semiconductor-based lasers have enabled ...
 A
new NI AWR Design Environment application
note describes how the original design of a simple coffee-can radar from the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology (MIT) OpenCourseWare (OCW) online course was redesigned and optimized using the system,
circuit and electromagnetic (EM) analysis capabilities of NI AWR software. The redesign was done using
Visual System Simulator™ (VSS) system-level design software and AXIEM and Analyst™ EM simulators such
that the "re-caffeinated" radar system ...
 This
year at
IMS 2017, Pasternack's team of engineers will be in booth #514 promoting hundreds
of newly released products. Since the 2016 exhibition, the company greatly expanded its portfolio of
waveguide products including waveguide direct read attenuators, waveguide directional couplers, waveguide
bends, transitions and much more. Additionally, Pasternack will be exhibiting new active components
including USB controlled PLL synthesizers, high-power GaN amplifiers, active frequency ...
 "RF
and microwave experts at the Raytheon Co. are helping U.S. Air Force researchers find ways to integrate
high-power electromagnetics (HPEM) technology into military cyber and electronic
warfare (EW) systems. Officials of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Directed Energy Directorate's
High-Powered Electromagnetics Division (RDH) at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., announced a $10 million
contract Wednesday to the Raytheon Missile Systems segment in Tucson, AZ, for the High Power Electromagnetics
Cyber Electronic Warfare Applications (HPEM ..."
 General Electric engineers were really thinking 'outside of the
box' when designing the 1938-vintage
Model G-106 console radio. In addition to its stylish wooden cabinet, the 13-station, piano-keyboard-like
'Touch-Tuning' tuning scheme employed a motor-driven variable resonant tank circuit. No doubt the sound
of a motor spinning inside was a major selling point for hooking techno-audiophiles of the era. There
are some good photos of a restored GE Model G-106 console radio on the Radio Museum website that includes
details of the tuning mechanism ...
 Axiom Test Equipment, a provider of efficient and cost effective
solutions customers' test equipment needs, publishes a blog containing how-to
articles and tutorials covering the
use and application of many types of test equipment. Examples include "Measuring Phase Noise And Why
It Matters," "Gain Some Guidance On Amplifier Measurements," "Add an Amplifier for High-Power RF Testing,"
and "Considerations In Choosing an Environmental Chamber." Since 2005, Axiom Test Equipment has ...
 Troll's
LinkBox manages IP network payloads, cameras, antennas, encoding, decoding, encryption,
reception and transmission using DVB-T, TCDLs and MIMO. The LinkBox is compatible with leading mapping
interfaces and provides seamless network bridge between air and ground operations. Its multi-port Ethernet
switch and power distribution systems allows for the rapid integration of third-party equipment, ensuring
that ...
 Anatech Electronics, a
manufacturer of RF and microwave filters, has published its April newsletter. As always, it includes
both company news and some tidbits about relevant industry happenings. In it, Sam Benzacar discusses,
among other topics, the challenge the Department of Defense will have with commercial services looking
to operate in the millimeter-wave bands for 5G, where military satellite and radars now operate without
significant threat of interference. He also mentions research in progress that allows Wi-Fi to generate
3D tracking maps ...
Thursday 18
 "Massive ray guns that use microwaves to instantaneously down a swarm of incoming
enemy drones are approaching prime-time reality, and could propel New Mexico into a leadership role
in the next wave of modern defense technology. The Air Force Research Laboratory at Kirtland Air Force
Base is leading an effort to move such weapons out of the lab and into the hands of war fighters, with
help from industry partners like Raytheon Missile Systems' Ktech division in Albuquerque. Those efforts
have strong backing from New Mexico's congressional delegation ..."
 The new
IsoLOG 3D
Mobile, Aaronia's latest development, is an ultra-light and small isotropic antenna which is compatible
to any spectrum analyzer. It is directly ready for use and is a perfect plug and play solution for 3D
measurements in limited time frames. The antenna requires no software installation, no power connection
and no hardware changes. It is connectable via the N (male) connector to any analyzer or oscilloscope.
Each IsoLOG 3D Mobile includes an internal, rechargeable battery, offering a run-time of 6 hours, and
a switchable low ...
 Since Tuesday,
May 16, I have received half a dozen orders from people using e-mail addresses in EU countries that
return sever error notices when I reply to the e-mail address provided by PayPal. It happens both with
and without a file attached. The strange thing is all the order amounts are for $20 items, and every
e-mail fails. I called PayPal and they claim no knowledge of any problems. Please contact me ASAP if
you placed an order and have not received your file.
 Here are a couple more
electronics-themed comics from vintage Popular Electronics magazines. Only one comic appeared
in each of the May 1962 and April 1974 issues, so I combined them onto a single page. The comic from
1962 has a message I had not considered before about otherwise unassociated businesses horning in on
a traditional business' purview, in this case drug stores selling replacement vacuum tubes, thereby
robbing sales from the electronics repair shops ...
 "Mobile operators will spend more than $21 billion on standardized
5G New Radio (NR) infrastructure by the end of 2025, according to SNS Research.
Of course, pre-standards 5G work is already well underway and SNS Research previously released an estimate
saying that by the end of 2017, pre-standards 5G network investments are expected to account for over
$250 million. Based on early contract wins, it is evident that existing vendors including Ericsson,
Nokia, Samsung and Huawei will benefit the most ..."
 On Tuesday, June 6th, Empower RF's CTO, Paulo Correa, will be
presenting the topic "Multi-Use
Interoperable RF Amplifier" to an audience of IMS attendees at the Exhibitor Workshop, 1pm to 3pm,
Room 318/319 of the Hawaii Convention Center. The RF system amplifier has not evolved in any significant
way since the inclusion of the microcontroller twenty years ago. That's a remarkable statement given
the advancements seen in virtually every other application of RF products and test systems. In this
workshop, we will define and evaluate power amplifier ...
 Microwave Journal has released a redesigned
web site on ePublishing's latest responsive platform for the best viewing experience on all types of
devices and screen sizes. The ePublishing platform is a SEO-friendly, taxonomy-driven web site that
automatically presents related content, community, commerce, advertising and special offers. The new
Microwave Journal home page is more image-driven providing a more visual experience for the user and
features embedded video, featured stories, white papers, current issue, buyer's guide ...
 "A
team of researchers at Duke University have 3-D printed potent
electromagnetic metamaterials, using an electrically conductive material compatible
with a standard 3-D printer. The demonstration can revolutionize the rapid design and prototyping of
radio frequency applications such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, wireless sensing and communications devices.
Metamaterials are synthetic materials composed of many individual, engineered devices called cells that
together produce properties not found in nature. As an electromagnetic wave moves ..."
 Triad RF Systems introduces the
TTRM1019
broadband bi-directional low SWAP amplifier utilizing GaN devices, making it well suited for EW
/ SIGINT applications. Its extremely fast switching speed and high linearity also make the TTRM1019
an ideal solution for JTRS applications. This class AB GaN module is designed for both military and
commercial applications. It is capable of supporting any signal type and modulation format, including
but not limited to 3-4G telecom, WLAN, OFDM, DVB, and CW/AM/FM ...
Wednesday 17
 "Smartphones with
batteries that fully charge in five minutes could be available to consumers next year. The technology
was first shown off in 2015, when Israeli start-up StoreDot demonstrated its FlashBattery at the CES
tech show in Las Vegas. Chief executive Doron Myersdorf told the BBC it is now expected to enter production
in early 2018. However, Ben Wood, a technology analyst at CCS Insight, said he had doubts about the
claims. Mr Myersdorf said he could not reveal which manufacturers were ..."
 Innovative Power Products, Inc., is proud to introduce one of
its newest broadband Dual Directional Couplers, Model
IPP-3206,
a 200 watt coupler covering 20-520 MHz., in a very small 1.16" X 1.76" package with SMA
connectors. Insertion loss is <0.40 dB, main line VSWR is <1.25:1, coupled flatness is +/-0.60 dB
and directivity is greater than 20 dB ...
 'DXing,'
or long distance communications, has been a goal of amateur radio operators since the inception of radio.
The sport is a popular today as it was in 1959 when this article appeared in Popular Electronics
magazine. As you might expect, achieving success at making contacts like-minded hobbyists half-way around
the world has been made quite a bit easier both by vastly improved transmitters, receivers, and antennas
and by a much greater knowledge of propagation paths and accommodating atmospheric ...
 The latest release of the
Modelithics COMPLETE Library™ for NI AWR
Design Environment™, version 17.1, is now available, containing 44 new models and introducing several
new model features. New advanced scalable simulation models for RF and microwave components from twenty
(20) different vendors have been added to the version 17.1 release, including Microwave Global Models™
for capacitors from ATC, AVX, IPDiA (now part of Murata), Johanson Technology, KEMET, Murata, ST Microelectronics,
and Taiyo Yuden. New inductor models are ...
 "The Army's Rapid
Equipping Force is testing a wave relay radio technology that enables soldiers to connect with one another
while fighting underground,
service officials said. When in a subterranean environment, line-of-sight radio connectivity and other
forms of networking are often compromised. To address the issue, the Army is evaluating a small terrestrial-based
ad hoc radio that uses frequency modulation, said Lt. Col. Dominic Ciaramitaro, Chief of Outreach and
Assessments ..."
 Saelig Company announces the availability of the
Spectran HF-80200 V5 RSA rack-mounted
real-time 9 kHz-20 GHz Spectrum Analyzer that can capture even intermittent signal transmissions.
Most spectrum analyzers take time to scan through the frequency range and can miss sporadic signals.
But the Spectran HF-80200 V5 RSA has been designed with a remarkable scanning speed and recording time:
the analyzer scans from 9 kHz to 20 GHz in less than 20 ms, so that even erratic transmissions
or interference can be captured ...
 "JFW Industries, specialists in attenuation and RF switching,
designs and manufactures a wide range of solutions fortesting military radios. For those test engineers wanting to build their own testbed
by piecing together individual components, JFW provides the necessary programmable attenuators, as well
as the power divider/combiners to be cabled together. JFW also provides RF test systems with components
already packaged together with a computer interface for test engineers in need of an all-in-one solution.
These test ..."
Tuesday 16
 This
new resource by author Geoff Varrall provides key insight into future 5G radio systems and the technical
and economic impact on industries, communities and end-users.
5G Spectrum and Standards offers a comprehensive understanding of the options available
for teams tasked with bringing 5G products and services to market or developing supporting standards
and regulatory frameworks ...
 Just leaked
from the super-secret laboratories of RF Cafe are these screen shots of a new cascade calculator code
named "Wireless
System Designer!" For more than a decade, "RF Cascade Workbook 2005" has been the de facto standard
for spreadsheet-based RF system cascade analysis. "Wireless System Designer" is the next
(at last!) phase in the evolution. Detailed information will be provided
as the planned release date of June 1, 2017 gets nearer, but for now feast your eyes upon these screen
shots of what is to come. Following hundreds of hours of user interface, formula, and VBA design, I
am in the final testing and tweaking phase. Sure, neither Keysight Technologies nor NI AWR have anything
to worry about in terms of overall capability, but "Wireless System Designer ...
 Copper Mountain Technologies has made available a whitepaper titled
How to Test an RF Coaxial Cable using a VNA. "RF coaxial cables are high precision
test assemblies, which along with a calibration kit, adapters and a torque wrench ensure the integrity
of the measurements taken by test equipment such as a Vector Network Analyzer. An ideal cable transfers
maximum RF energy while incurring as little loss as possible. To choose the best cable for a test solution,
one has to consider several factors such as: operating frequency ..."
 I'm old enough to remember the
1973 Oil Crisis era (the subject of Mac McGregor's and Barney's discussion)
that resulted from an oil embargo instituted by Arab oil producing nations during the Yom Kippur War
where Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel. I didn't get my driver's license until Fall
of 1974 (turned 16 on August 18th), so the worst of it was pretty much
over by then. However, I clearly remember sitting in long lines at the gas station with my father, and
then being limited in the amount that could be purchased (i.e., no fill-ups).
Gas prices jumped from a national average of 38.5¢/gallon in May 1973 to 55.1¢/gallon in June
1974 ...
 Centric RF is a company offering from stock various
RF and Microwave coaxial components,
including attenuators, adapters, cable assemblies, terminations, power
 dividers, and more.
We believe in offering high performance parts from stock at a reasonable cost. Frequency ranges of 0-110 GHz
at power levels from 0.5-500 watts. Order today, ship today! Centric RF is currently looking for vendors
to partner with them. Please visit Centric RF today ...
 Skyworks has launched
its new ultra-low loss DPDT switch, the
SKY13698-694LF,
which is designed for smartphones, data cards, and MiFi® hotspots. This device delivers the lowest insertion
loss, high isolation antenna swap DPDT switch currently available on the market. With industry-leading
insertion loss across all cellular bands, the switch maintains isolation >30 dB at 3.8 GHz,
preventing signal leakage and mitigating Rx desense issues. Its wide frequency range of 0.4 to 5.9 GHz
makes it the first cellular antenna swap device to support ...
 "An Iranian immigrant in Silicon Valley is challenging the $500
million behemoths and touting night shots that pierce cloud cover. A young company in Palo Alto called
Capella Space, which announced $12M in new funding on May 9, has figured out
a way to create much smaller, cheaper versions of SAR satellites. For decades, spy agencies have had
access to a magic-seeming technology known as SAR, or synthetic aperture radar. A satellite with SAR
onboard can send radar beams from space that bounce off Earth and then return to a sensor, which assembles
the information ..."
Monday 15
 "Recent Radar and Phased-Array Breakthroughs" webinar sponsored by Microwave
Journal and Rohde & Schwarz on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at 11:00 am EDT. Presented by Dr. Eli
Brookner. Abstract: The advent of the active phased array enabled significant improvements in radar
capabilities. Beyond just the change in architecture, however, system capabilities are increasing, the
confluence of improvements in microwave and signal processing technologies: GaN power amplifiers, MMIC
and Extreme MMIC integration, T/R module cost reduction ...
 Did you happen
to see Dilbert's take on global warming
in yesterday's comics? Scott Adams is a brave man for taking on the issue and its fervent congregation
of believers. The publication was followed today with an article on his Scott Adam's Blog titled, "How to Know You Won a Political Debate on the Internet."
 "Pasternack, a leading provider of RF, microwave and millimeter
wave products, has released 18 new
4.3-10 connectors and adapters with maximum operating frequency of 6 GHz and VSWR
as low as 1.08:1. Typical applications include custom cable assemblies, feeder cables, mobile communications
systems, base stations, distributed antenna systems (DAS) and small cells. Pasternack's new 4.3-10 connectors
and adapters feature low coupling torque and low-PIM performance ..."
 Believe it or not, there are still people out there - engineers
and hobbyists - who design circuits using
discrete transistors. Sure, there is a plethora of integrated circuits that combine multiple functions
into a single package that performs often nearly like ideal components, and for a lot less money than
building an equivalent circuit from individual components. Still, sometimes a lone transistor with a
couple biasing resistors will do the job, and sometimes the designer just wants to do something different.
There are also plenty of instances where you need to find a replacement of a failed transistor that
has similar ...
 ConductRF's skill
in the manufacturing of Phase Matched RF Cable Solutions is second to none. We have
phase matched a diverse array of solutions from
Low Frequency RG and LMR Cables to more premium exotic cables up to 70 GHz. With a broad base of standard
connectors and cables in stock, we turn solutions around fast. Phase Matched cables are required in
many applications and for various reasons. Common application include Phase Arrayed Radar & Broadcasting
systems to allow directional focus, but ...
 This free
49-page "Test & Measurement Fundamentals" e-Book from Microwaves & RF and National
Instruments. "This book addresses the knowledge needs of engineers, managers, and other technical professionals
already working in or new to the wireless field who have not learned the basics of test and measurement
(T&M), either through experience or other means. With fundamental T&M knowledge foundation,
engineers will be better prepared to dig deeper as required by their work with ..."
 "'There's
a great deal of interest in being able to control cell behaviour in relation to semiconductors – that's
the underlying idea behind bioelectronics,' said Albena Ivanisevic, a professor of materials science
and engineering at NC State and corresponding author of the study. 'Our work here effectively adds another
tool to the toolbox for the development of new bioelectronic devices.' The new approach is said to make
use of persistent photoconductivity. Materials that exhibit persistent photoconductivity
become more conductive when light is shone ..."
 LadyBug Technologies means Peak Performance in Power Sensors:
9 kHz - 40 GHz and 80 dB dynamic range. LadyBug makes a broad line of First Tier NIST traceable
USB power sensors that
 are compatible with Windows systems, along with Linux. LadyBug
has the only SPI & I2C sensor available. Patented NoZero NoCal feature - Simply connect and measure
to receive a high accuracy measurement. Please contact LadyBug today to find out how they can help you
...
Sunday 14
 Avid cruciverbalists amongst us will appreciate this new
RF & Microwave crossword puzzle
that has a theme related to engineering, mathematics, chemistry, physics, and other technical words.
You will never be asked the name of a movie star unless he/she was involved in a technical endeavor (e.g., Hedy Lamarr). Enjoy! ...
Friday 12
 This
crossword puzzle appeared in the May 1963 edition of Electronics World. If you happen to
be an avid cruciverbalist, then you might want to try a few of the RF and microwave engineering themed
crosswords that I have been publishing weekly for a decade. Unlike the crosswords I create that use
only science- and technology-related words and clues, this one does contain a few irrelevant words ...
 NI will sponsor an upcoming Microwave Journal technical webinar
on
RF
and microwave filter design. Presented by Dr. Bob Froelich, an RF and microwave engineer with 30
years of experience in designing circuits and systems for radar, radio astronomy and wireless communications,
the webinar introduces attendees to core filter concepts, parameters and topologies. Topics covered
will include low-pass filters with lumped elements, using filter tables, transformation to band pass,
the importance of Q, the impedance inverter concept and coupled-resonator filters ...
 Model 2PSZ525
from Werbel Microwave is a low frequency broadband
splitter, covering 5-2,500 MHz in a continuous band. Werbel's own, hand-wound coils make it
possible to achieve such broadband performance. Typical SWR is 1.4:1, typical isolation 20 dB across
the band. Phase and amp balance is 5 degrees, 0.7 dB max across the entire band. Case measures
1.8x1.5x0.9 inches. SMA or N female options available ...
 Saelig
sells and supports a wide range of electronic control and instrumentation equipment and components to
customers ranging from Fortune 500 industrial users, military, educational institutions and hospitals
to individual end-users. They've found remarkable test equipment and components from around the world
with specs or prices you won't find anywhere else. Please visit Saelig today for your test equipment
needs ...
 As wireless
devices and systems spread across every industry, spectrum analyzers serve as an essential RF test tool
for characterizing signals and making frequency measurements. Download Rohde & Schwarz's definitive
guide to understanding the technology behind spectrum analyzer measurements. In this primer you will
learn about:
Basics of Spectrum Analysis: Time and frequency domains, FFT analyzers, analyzers
using the heterodyne principle, settings for using a spectrum ...
 Anatech
Electronics offers the industry's largest portfolio of high-performance standard and customized
RF and microwave filters and filter-related products for military, commercial, aerospace and defense,
and industrial applications up to 40 GHz. Anatech has introduced 3 new products for your convenience:
a connectorized 1.300-1.530 GHz circulator, a 10.7 MHz crystal filter, and a 902-928 MHz ceramic
bandpass Filter for the ISM band ...
 "Advanced
electronics, such as
quantum computers,, have taken a huge step forward thanks to the work of scientists
at University of California, Irvine. The UCI researchers worked in conjunction with physicists and scientists
from a variety of institutions, including Princeton University, Fudan University, the University of
Maryland, UC Berkeley, and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, to create new 2D superconductor materials
that could change the future of the advanced electronics. Over the course ..."
Thursday 11
 Here are a few more tech-themed comics from older editions (1962
and 1970) of Popular Electronics magazine. The first comic with the transistors and fuse is really clever,
IMHO. There is a hyperlinked list at the bottom of the page of most of the other comics I've posted
over the years. It's a shame that comics rarely appear in contemporary technical ...
 After
over 2 years in space, advanced U.S. re-entry
X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle spacecraft successfully landed at NASA's Kennedy Space
Center. According to the US Air Force, the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle is 'the newest and most advanced
re-entry spacecraft.' This was the fourth flight of this vehicle. Boeing started the secret X-37B Orbital
Test Vehicle project under NASA's aegis in 1999. Originally, the reusable X-37 was intended to repair
satellites in orbit. However, in 2004 the program ..."
 The
National Company of Cambridge,
Massachusetts, was one of the first large distributors of electronics components and appliances. It
began life as the National Toy Company. Under the leadership of Mr. James Millen, W1HRX, National quickly
became a market leader in designing and marketing high quality radio products for both amateur radio
operators and casual listeners of shortwave radios. National Company very often ran full-page advertisements
in the American Radio Relay League's QST magazine, that were more in the form ...
 "Walmart
has long been active in the
RFID
space, but now comes evidence that it's increasingly taking on the internet of things (IoT) with a patent
application unearthed by CB Insights. The data provider says the system outlined in the application
is reminiscent of the Amazon Dash, the connected buttons offered by Amazon that let users quickly reorder
products. Walmart's system would require even less effort than Amazon's, integrating IoT into the products
themselves for automatic reordering with no user input at all. The patent application, filed in October,
described adding IoT tags to products based on Bluetooth ..."
 Newly available is Empower RF Systems latest brochure describing
the capabilities and features of the most advanced RF amplifier systems available in the world. Topics
include: Big Power Best in Class SWaP, Industry First Scalable Pulsed Power, Software Definable – Future
Proof - Reconfigurable, Interoperable – Multi Domain, Remote Control, Monitoring, and Debug, Multi Function
Building Block Modules. Empower RF Systems is the technological leader in smart ...
 "Internet
of things (IoT) systems usually link networks of sensors via radio, but radios demand battery
power thus limit their usability. Disney Research has determined that one solution may be to get rid
of the radios all together and communicate via the ambient radio waves from TV, radio and cell phones.
Researchers led by Alanson Sample, associate lab director and leader of Disney Research's Wireless Systems
group, devised an ultra-low-power system of sensors that transmit data to a central receiver by reflecting
the ambient radio waves from commercial broadcasting systems that already bathe most office ..."
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