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3 of the August 2018
homepage archives.
Friday 31
 Newbies in the electronics realm are fairly
frequent visitors on RF Cafe, so I like to make sure their needs are fulfilled as
well as the seasoned pros than hang around. This article by Arthur Pini titled,
"Measure Phase Difference with an Oscilloscope," on the END website,
is good fodder for that objective. "All periodic signals can be described in terms
of amplitude and phase. We all learned that in basic circuit theory. You surely
recall having to calculate signal's phase change when it passed through a network.
Fortunately, you can also measure phase with an oscilloscope using several methods.
The phase of a periodic electrical waveform describes a specific position at a point
in time..."
 I checked out the printed circuit board maze
and, as implied, all those beginning paths lead to $. RCA (Radio
Corporation of America), along with other companies like NRI (National Radio Institute),
CIE (Cleveland Institute of Electronics, all had a unique angle. Every company attempts
to pique interest in its products and/or service by creating buzzwords such as,
in RCA's case,
AUTOTEXT. AUTOTEXT is "a system of programmed instructions, a
method of learning proved with thousands of students. This beginning source in electronics
is accurately planned so that as you read a series of statements, questions, and
answers, you learn almost without realizing it. It's fast! It's easy! It's fun!"
Learning by osmosis. What more could an aspiring technician ask for?...
 Honglei Chen and Rick Gentile, of MathWorks,
have an interesting piece at Microwave Journal titled, "Spatial Multiplexing for 5G Wireless Communications." Beamforming,
once the nearly exclusive purview of radar system, is now an essential element of
high datarate wireless communications. "Increasing demand for higher data rates
and channel capacity is driving the need to use the RF spectrum more efficiently.
As a result, 5G wireless systems will use mmWave frequency bands to take advantage
of the increased bandwidth. The higher operating frequencies enable large-scale
antenna arrays, which can be used to mitigate severe propagation loss in the mmWave
band. Large arrays can also be used to implement a MIMO system..."
 ERZIA serves critical aerospace and defense
missions by designing and manufacturing RF, microwave, and mm-wave amplifiers, integrated assemblies operating
from low frequencies up to 100 GHz, and by providing high reliable satellite
communications. The company was founded in 2002 to become a worldwide reference
of advanced engineering, performance, reliability and ruggedness. Their catalogue
of standard amplifier modules comprises more than 100 different models, having also
a high capacity of customization for amplifiers and integrated assemblies. Some
of products have space heritage and are used in aerospace, commercial, military
and scientific systems, having a wide range of final applications...
 Anne
Dorsey, owner of TechNote Time
Electrical Trade Gifts, contacted me recently to give thanks for having links
to her online store that specializes in electrical-themed gifts. It was about 13
years ago, when first starting, that I learned of her unique collection. TNT is
not just another collection of printed T-shirts and coffee mugs. Lamps, pins, posters,
ornaments, books, models, statuettes, jewelry, and more can be found. Find retirement,
recognition, and celebration gifts for an electric lineman, trouble man, ground
man, foreman, underground or overhead lineman, equipment operator, lineman apprentice,
pole climber, power line technician, hooker, high-liner, line mechanic or tech,
ham radio operator, electronics engineer or technician. Christmas is coming...
 Engineers Say Jobs Are Changing, Not Getting
More Satisfying. "The pace of engineering is getting faster and faster, and that
means electrical engineers are working harder and harder to teach themselves about
the latest technology and integrate it into new products. But many remain optimistic
about their profession: Nearly 90% of survey respondents say that they enjoy their
current jobs, according to
Electronic Design's annual reader survey, which polled around
1,350 engineers. Nearly two-thirds indicate employers pay them what they deserve,
while around 90% say they take pleasure in the challenges that accompany new product
design, according to the 2018 Electronic Design Salary Survey. Respondents generally
say that persistent concerns about working conditions..."
Thursday 30
 Prior to the availability of high speed semiconductor
circuitry, there was not enough computational power available - particularly in
airborne platforms - to perform a significant amount of real-time signal processing
in
radar systems. Analog methods were available to do things like
stationary target cancellation (moving target indication, MTI) and noise reduction
to eliminate clutter on the plan position indicator (PPI, aka radar scope), range
and azimuth blanking of selected regions of the scan, signal discriminators and
integrators, and false target elimination via pulse repetition rate (PRR) and pulse
repetition interval (PRI). There was nothing, really, in the older vacuum tube based
systems to derive a target profile based on radar cross section (RCS) and signal
vector (amplitude and phase) processing. This 1971 article reported on what was
at the time information about very new technology that was just being...
 Triad RF Systems designs and manufactures
RF power amplifiers and systems.
Triad RF Systems comprises three partners (hence 'Triad')
with over 40 years of accumulated knowledge of what is required to design, manufacture,
market, sell and service RF/Microwave amplifiers and amplifier systems. PA, LNA,
bi-directional, and frequency translating amplifiers are available, in formats including
tower mount, benchtop, rack mount, and chassis mount. "We view Triad more as a technology
partner than a vendor for our line-of-sight communications product line." Please
check to see how they can help your project...
 "Researchers are testing the properties of
graphene after it has been launched into the stratosphere. Two-dimensional
graphene has a unique combination of being extremely flexible, harder than diamond,
and stronger than steel. To put graphene's versatility to the test, a substrate
was coated with a single layer of graphene and the sample was launched within a
CubeSat. It was subjected to harsh conditions like rapid acceleration, vibration,
acoustic shock, strong pressure, and a wide range in temperature fluctuations. The
test results could open up new opportunities for graphene to be incorporated into
technologies suitable for outer space and aerospace missions..."
 Electronics magazine editor Lewis H.
Young dedicated a series of issues in 1965 to reporting on the state of
electronics research and production in Japan. The December 13
edition had many articles on the subject. The world was still in the early phase
of a major transition from vacuum tubes and discrete components to transistors and
integrated circuits. Japan was at the leading edge of that effort - and it was very
successful. Ample evidence of the not-quite-there-yet status of the transition is
all the advertisements in this edition of the magazine. Products showcased by manufacturers
were discrete, not integrated - that applies to both electronic and mechanical subjects.
When you look at those components and assemblies, you get feel for what made them
work because the individual parts are in view. Many modern products are integrated
into packaged and tested subassemblies that are ready to be integrated...
Rohde & Schwarz USA (R&S USA) is
offering a step-by-step guide on
Designing for EMI Testing. Today, R&D engineers face challenging
time-to-market goals. Nearly 50% of products fail EMC compliance the first time
and this leads to a longer delay to market and lost time on other projects. To address
these challenges, it makes sense to perform EMI tests during the product design
cycle in order to reduce the possibility of failing EMC compliance, which typically
comes at the end of the development cycle of a product...
 everything RF is now offering
website development services! Get a new website or upgrade your
existing website - All for only $99/month (can go up to $299/month based
on the number of products). There is no design or development charge, nor is there
a lock-in or contract. There is a simple monthly cost which includes everything
- design, development, hosting, backups, data porting and anything else. You do
not need to hire an agency and spend thousands of dollars to create a website...
 "Researchers at Rutgers University–New Brunswick
have claimed regular Wi-Fi technology can be used to detect hazardous materials
in bags at public places. The team has published a paper stating that their suspicious
Wi-Fi object detection system is easy to set up, reduces security
screening costs and avoids invading privacy such as when screeners open and inspect
bags, backpacks and luggage. Traditional screening typically requires high staffing
levels and costly specialized equipment. This could have a great impact in protecting
the public from dangerous objects, believes Yingying (Jennifer) Chen, study co-author
and a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering in
Rutgers..."
Wednesday 29
 February 1953 was just a little more than
four years since Messrs. Brattain, Shockley, and Bardeen announced their invention
of the transistor. This full-page advertisement by Raytheon ran in Radio-Electronics
magazine announcing the world's first commercially available
PNP germanium transistors. It was a big deal. Model numbers CK721
and CK722. CK721 handled about twice the collector current (12 mA) as the CK722,
both with collector voltages maxing out at around 8 volts. The introductory
price for the CK722 was $7.60, which in 2018 money is equivalent to $72.27* At that
cost, it is hard to believe they got anyone to replace vacuum tubes with transistors.
Fortunately, economy of scale rapidly brought prices down. Interestingly, CK722
inventor Norman Krim promoted a business...
 Nova Microwave is a leader in technically
differentiated electronic and radio frequency Ferrite
Circulators and Isolators
that connect, protect and control critical commercial and military wireless telecommunications
systems. Our staff is dedicated to research and development of standard and custom
design quality Ferrite Circulators and Isolators from 380 MHz to 26.5 GHz.
Please visit Nova Microwave today...
 "Startup The Elefante Group wants to provide
wide area 5G coverage from 'airships' located 65,000 feet above earth. The firm, which is
working Lockheed Martin on the project, has asked the U.S. Federal Communications
Commission to consider opening up spectrum in the 22 GHz, 23 GHz, 26 GHz, 70 GHz
and 80 GHz bands. And now Facebook, which has itself dabbled in delivering broadband
from airborne delivery systems, is throwing its support behind the novel concept,
according to an Aug. 15 filing with the FCC. A priority for the social media giant
is 'connecting the unconnected and under-connected.' 'As such, Facebook has supported
research and development efforts..."
 Mr. Lothar Stern, of Motorola Semi, published
a 3-part series on transistor theory in Popular Electronics magazine in
1973. This is part 3. Part 1 introduced the basics of the bipolar transistor,
and Part 2 addressed transistor circuit configurations - common emitter, common
gate, common collector, Darlington, differential - as well as presenting gain equations
and delving a bit into the physical construction of the semiconductor elements.
Finally, the author talks about the newest processes in use at the time and what
was available for low power and high power RF applications. In 1973, high power
semiconductors were just pushing past the 100 MHz barrier. GaAs and GaN were
still in university and corporate laboratories being prepared for the amazing devices...
 Chris Hare, of Coilcraft, has a short tutorial
on the subject of common mode chokes on their website. "A common mode choke is an
electrical filter that blocks high frequency noise common to two or more data or
power lines while allowing the desired DC or low-frequency signal to pass. Common
mode (CM) noise current is typically radiated from sources such as unwanted radio
signals, unshielded electronics, inverters and motors. Left unfiltered, this noise
presents interference problems in electronics and electrical circuits..."
 Providing full solution service is our motto,
not just selling goods. RF & Connector Technology has persistently pursued a
management policy stressing quality assurance system and technological advancement.
From your very first contact, you will be supported by competent RF specialists;
all of them have several years of field experience in this industry allowing them
to suggest a fundamental solution and troubleshooting approach. Coaxial RF connectors,
cable assemblies, antennas, terminations, attenuators, couplers, dividers, and more.
Practically, we put priority on process inspection at each step of workflow as well
as during final inspection in order to actualize "Zero Defects..."
 "Researchers have developed a single-atom
transistor, the world's smallest. This quantum electronics component switches electrical
current by controlled repositioning of a single atom, now also in the solid state
in a gel electrolyte. The single-atom transistor works at room temperature and consumes
very little energy, which opens up entirely new perspectives for information technology.
At Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), physicist Professor Thomas Schimmel
and his team have developed a
single-atom transistor, the world's smallest. This quantum electronics
component switches electrical current by controlled..."
Tuesday 28
  Many of John T. Frye's episodes of "Mac's
Service Shop" have referenced for-real products, but I do not recall any other than
this one being a dedicated, undisguised promotion for a single item. Now, I am not
accusing Mr. Frye of benefitting from a good old-fashioned payola-type scheme,
but I can understand someone else concluding so. The vaunted
TEL-A-TURN pitched in "A Good Turn" is actually a game-changer
in the business of television and radio servicing, and therefore deserving of special
consideration. A Google search of the term "tel-a-turn" did not, surprisingly, turn
up a single photo or even a vintage magazine advertisement. A quick check of my
extensive collection of magazines of the same era resulted in finding a couple different
versions of ads run by the fixture's maker...
 With more than 780 custom-built
symbols, this has got to be the most comprehensive set of
Visio Stencils available for RF, analog, and digital system and
schematic drawings! Every object has been built from scratch to fit proportionally
on the provided A- and B-size drawing page templates (you
can use your own page if preferred). Components are provided for equipment
racks (EIA and ETSI) and test equipment, system block
diagrams and conceptual drawings, and for schematics...
 A love-hate relationship between major nations
competing for leadership and
dominance in the military and aerospace technology realms has
existed in earnest at least since the space race began. Often, the pilots, astronauts,
scientists and engineers are much more willing to set aside political differences
in order to more effectively and efficiently advance the state of the art and/or
basic knowledge. Maybe archeologists, biologists, endocrinologists, climatologists,
zoologists, pathologists, and you-name-it-ologists feel the same way, but those
types, dealing with squishy living things, are probably more altruistic than your
typical physical sciences guy (or gal). It is the government management sides of
the equation agonizing over the need to solicit or accept foreign assistance. There
is (or was at the time) no better example than the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R., particularly
for space-based communications...
 Rohde & Schwarz develops, produces and
markets
test & measurement, information and communications technology.
It focuses on test and measurement, broadcast and media, cybersecurity, secure communications
and monitoring and network testing, areas that address many different industry and
government-sector market segments. Specifically: T&M for the wireless market,
automotive, aerospace and defense, industrial electronics and research and education,
broadcast, consumer electronics manufacturers, cybersecurity for business and government
authorities, communications and security solutions, reconnaissance equipment for
security, and communications equipment for armed forces...
 "A UNSW study published this week resolves
key challenges in creation of
hole-based artificial atoms, with excellent potential for more-stable,
faster, more scalable quantum computing. Artificial atoms in quantum computing The
spin states of electrons confined to semiconductor quantum dots are a promising
platform for quantum computation. Such a device is known as an artificial atom.
Using the spin states of holes instead of electrons could resolve several important
challenges regarding coherence and switching speed. A particle's 'spin' is its intrinsic
angular momentum. Defining holes Electricity is usually thought of as the flow of
electrons. However, this is not always true: in semiconductors, electricity can
also be carried by a different type of particle, called holes..."
Monday 27
 Here is a chart you don't see every day -
"Temperature Rise in Rigid Waveguide." The company, Engineering
Antenna Systems, of Manchester, New Hampshire, that published the chart in a 1965
edition of Engineering magazine, does not exist anymore. They were probably
bought by someone else, but I could not even find an honorable mention of them in
a Google search. Given the very low attenuation of properly sized and installed
waveguide, it is hard to imagine a temperature rise of 500°F; however, when megawatts
are pumped into it even a couple tenths of a decibel of attenuation per 100 feet
results in a lot of power loss. Noted is how attenuation - and therefore temperature
rise - is greater for frequencies at the lower end of the waveguide's operational
range. Temperature rise numbers are for natural convection in free air...
 RF Cafe's raison d'être is and always has been
to provide useful, quality content for engineers, technicians, engineering managers,
students, and hobbyists. Part of that mission is offering to post applicable job
openings. HR department employees and/or managers of hiring companies are welcome
to submit opportunities for posting at no charge (of course a gratuity will be graciously
accepted). 3rd party recruiters and temp agencies are not included so as to assure
a high quality of listings. Please read through the easy procedure to benefit from
RF Cafe's high quality visitors...
Saelig Company announces the availability
of the range of ultra-low-noise and fast-switching
microwave signal generators covering a continuous frequency range from 100 kHz
up to 6, 12.75, 20, 26, and 40 GHz with 1 mHz resolution. The Model 865
generators provide an accurately flat signal range and high spurious suppression.
Advanced frequency synthesis combines the fastest switching speeds with ultra-low
SSB phase noise and fine resolution of both frequency and power. The standard
Model 865 includes intra/pulse chirp modulations, frequency chirps, pulse modulation
with programmable patterns, and phase modulation. The Model 865 allows fast analog
and digital sweeps including flexible list sweeps, where frequency, power and dwell
times can be set individually. A flexible triggering...
 A
well-laid-out and routed chassis, control panel, equipment rack,
or circuit breaker panel has always invoked the same sort of appreciation and awe
in me that a Rembrandt painting invokes in an art cognoscente or a Beethoven concert
invokes in a music aficionado. Many moons ago when I work as an electrician, I prided
myself in obsessively neat and orderly runs of conduit and Romex™ cable (with no
twists), squarely mounted receptacle and switch boxes, and rigid compliance with
NEC requirements. Once I entered into the RF and microwave realm, an entirely new
kind of eye candy appeared in the form of semi-rigid coaxial cable and waveguide
runs. Knowing the technical (electrical) requirements and limitations based on power,
wavelength, and VSWR concerns served to enhance the appreciation. Electrical wiring
has its own unique requirements for bend radii, enclosure fill, and voltage levels,
due to heating, mechanical stress, and voltage induction...
  Please take a few moments to visit the
everythingRF website to see how they can assist you with your
project. everythingRF is a product discovery platform for RF and microwave products
and services. They currently have 222,383 products from more than 1182 companies
across 282 categories in their database and enable engineers to search for them
using their customized parametric search tool. Please visit everythingRF today to
see how they can help you...
 "Spectrum warfare experts at Mercury Systems
in Andover, Mass., will help the U.S. Air Force find new ways of protecting aircraft
and air crews from sophisticated enemy
integrated air defense systems (IADS) under terms of a $550,132
contract announced Monday. Officials of the Air Force Research Laboratory at Wright-Patterson
Air Force Base, Ohio, are asking Mercury to find ways of defeating enemy software-defined
weapons and communications in electromagnetically contested and congested environments
as part of the Spectrum Warfare Enduring Challenges (SWEC) program. This project
involves defeating cyber threats to U.S. and allied avionics; using trusted computing
approaches to foil enemy..."
Friday 24
 This
Electronics Metals Quiz appeared in the October 1964 edition of
Popular Electronics. Given the era and obsolescence of some technologies,
a couple of the drawings might not be recognizable to you. Accordingly, I feel obligated
to clue you in on those. "B" is a television iconoscope, which was used in early
TV video cameras. "D" is a phonograph stylus. For "F," keep in mind the prevailing
semiconductor material at the time. "I" is a type of heater element that could be
screwed into a light bulb socket (I used to have a couple). "J" is supposed to be
a needle for a meter movement. Now that you know, have at it. The process of elimination
should result in a good score. I got 10:10, but then I'm older than the quiz...
 The best part about this news story is the
viewer comments at the bottom. "Russian arms maker
Kalashnikov on Thursday presented its new electric car inspired
by a rare 1970s model, saying the new technology will rival Elon Musk's Tesla. The
brand, best known for the AK-47 machine gun, presented the decidedly retro-looking
pale blue prototype, the CV-1, at a defense expo outside Moscow. The look was inspired
by a Soviet hatchback model developed in the 1970s called 'Izh-Kombi,' a a statement
on the Kalashnikov website said. Holding company Kalashnikov Concern said it has
developed some cutting-edge elements for the 'electric supercar,' including a 'revolutionary
inverter..."
 The December 1965 issue of Electronics
magazine reported in multiple articles on the state of
Japan's electronics industry. Japan's indisputable lead today
in many realms of semiconductor, commercial, and consumer products proves successful
implementation of the strategy described in these articles. Per this piece's NTT
employee authors, "In one decade, Japan's semiconductor industry has become the
world's second largest. Pioneering engineers, a variety of unusual devices, and
breakthroughs in miniaturization techniques account for phenomenal growth." A notable
claim is taking credit for inventing the ceramic "pill" packaging format for high
frequency transistors...
 Read this statement and see if you feel a
bit screwed, "The key to building an affordable electric vehicle today is to have
other vehicles that can subsidize the EV, [the senior analyst for Navigant Research]
told us. 'Since the day they sold their first Volt,
GM has been subsidizing all their plug-in vehicles based on the sales
of Silverados and Sierras,' he said. 'Ford and Volkswagen do the same with their
electric vehicles. Tesla's problem is they can't do that." It is probably a government
mandate that is part of the CAFE standard requirements. Here's the full article:
"Musk Says Tesla Could Build $25,000 EV in Three Years..."
 QuinStar Technology designs and manufactures
mm-wave products for communication,
scientific, and test applications along with providing microelectronic assembly,
rapid prototyping, and mass customization. Amplifiers, Oscillators, Switches, Attenuators,
Circulators, Isolators, Filters, Waveguide, Antennas, Phase Shifters, Transceivers,
Mixers, Detectors. QuinStar specializes in cryogenic amplifiers,
circulators, and isolators. Please visit QuinStar today to see how they can help
your project...
 "A team of researchers has recently published
a study that they believe shows that the widely revered
Wiedemann–Franz law could be flawed. Using super-cooled fermionic
lithium atoms the team appears to have demonstrated that the law breaks down at
the quantum level. This discovery is not just interesting, it could open up new
avenues to test novel applications for the thermoelectric devices of the future.
What is the Wiedemann–Franz law? The Wiedemann–Franz law was first formulated in
1853 and describes the connection between thermal and electrical conductivity in
metals with freely moving electrons..."
Thursday 23
RF Superstore, an RF and microwave component
supply outlet created by Pasternack founder Murray Pasternack and business partner
Jason Wright, announces the addition of to its line of antennas,
connectors, cable assemblies, adapters, and lightning arrestors. PL-259 connectors
are frequently used for amateur or ham radio applications. The UHF male connectors
with silver plating and Teflon dielectric for RG8 and RG213 coaxial are on sale
for only $1.59 through October. Precision RF adapters have been added to its large
selection of in-stock interconnect RF components. The 3.5mm male or female to 7mm
adapter options made with passivated stainless steel are priced below $150...
 RF Cascade Workbook 2018 is the next phase in the evolution
of RF Cafe's long-running series, RF Cascade Workbook. It is a full-featured
RF system cascade parameter and frequency planner that includes filters and mixers
for a mere $45. Built in MS Excel, using RF Cascade Workbook 2018
is a cinch and the format is entirely customizable. It is significantly easier and
faster than using a multi-thousand dollar simulator when a high level system analysis
is all that is needed. An intro video takes you through the main features...
 Admittedly, the only thing I remember about
Gray Code (aka reflected binary) from college courses is that
successive count values change only one bit per increment, saving power in some
digital circuits. The power savings comes from the fact that, especially for CMOS
circuits, current only flows during the transition of a state change from "0" to
"1" or from "1" to "0." Shaft position encoders were and still are a primary application
of Gray Code switching. If the encoder output digital code is going to be used in
a binary computation system, then there is an advantage in generating a direct binary
("natural") count that does not require a Gray-Code-to-Binary conversion circuit
(or software routine). When the Wayne-George Corporation introduced its paradigm-changing
"Natural Code Non-Ambiguous Optical Encoder" in 1964, those conversion circuits
were probably not simple, compact, inexpensive semiconductor IC's...
 When I see things like this article in the
July / August 2018 issue of Nuts & Volts magazine, a feeling of extreme
inadequacy overwhelms me. Mr. David Goodsell, in his spare time, conceived
of, designed, assembled, and rendered functional an electromechanical (EM) wonder
he calls "The Past Calls the Present." A combination of EM step-by-step
(SXS) switches, 7-segment EM digital displays, EM relays, an Arduino μ-processor
board, and a couple hands full of IC's and RLC's enables Goodsell's museum quality
contraption to perform sort of the telephone exchange equivalent of a Hertz-to-cycles-per-second
conversion. The aesthetic quality of the display's visual arrangement and classic
wiring technique compliments perfectly the opposing vintage dial-type phone and
touchtone / iPhone stations on either end. Throw in the audible clacking of the
EM 7-segment displays that reveal the dialed phone number and you have old-time
PBX Nirvana...
RF Cafe's raison
d'être is and always has been to provide useful, quality content for engineers,
technicians, engineering managers, students, and hobbyists. Part of that mission
is offering to post applicable job openings. HR department employees and/or managers
of hiring companies are welcome to submit opportunities for posting at no charge
(of course a gratuity will be graciously accepted). 3rd party recruiters and temp
agencies are not included so as to assure a high quality of listings. Please read
through the easy procedure to benefit from RF Cafe's high quality visitors...
 "New automated approach could help make STM
probe memory commercially viable. Researchers at the University of Alberta in Canada
have developed a new approach to rewritable data storage technology by using a scanning
tunneling microscope (STM) to remove and replace hydrogen atoms from the surface
of a silicon wafer. If this approach realizes its potential, it could lead to a
data storage technology capable of storing 1,000 times more data than today's hard
drives, up to
138 terabytes per square inch. As a bit of background, Gerd Binnig
and Heinrich Rohrer developed the first STM in 1986 for which they later received
the Nobel Prize in physics..."
Wednesday 22
 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...
 "Gallium Nitride (GaN) due to its high efficiency
and excellent electric characteristics is being considered for use in space applications.
NASA researchers are currently examining the use of
gallium nitride, a crystal-type semiconductor compound first discovered
in the 1980s, for space applications. Among its many attributes, gallium nitride
demonstrates less electrical resistance than other materials and thus loses only
a small proportion of power as heat. The material can handle 10 times the electrical
current of silicon, enabling smaller, faster, and more efficient devices. In addition,
it is tolerant to a wide range of temperatures, resistant to radiation, an..."
  Lotus Communication Systems is a supplier of
high performance connectorized
RF modular system components, shielded project cases, and special purpose solutions
up through 40 GHz. Lotus is a privately owned company with mechanical and electronic
design, manufacture, test controlled from its Middlesex, MA, facility. They have
multiple 4 axis CNC machines and LPKF circuit plotters. Lotus can provide custom
extension of our standard products, custom designs for specific applications and
prototyping for your new products...
 Electronics industry news has reported lately
that there is a
shortage of qualified technicians in the U.S., brought on because
of the increased levels of manufacturing activity. The military has historically
been a good source of techs that have four or more years of hands-on experience
and a healthy dose of theoretical training. For the past couple decades, the overall
troop size has been decreasing, contributing to the lack of technicians. Two-year
colleges and vocational centers are still turning out graduates, but not many who
also have field experience. This is not a new dilemma for employers, however. The
industry goes through cycles just like necktie styles and sunspots; to wit, this
article from a 1967 issue of Popular Electronics. I had to laugh...
 everythingRF recently launched a service
to
create websites for RF & microwave companies. Manufacturers
no longer need to pay agencies thousands of dollars to develop their website. Service
starts at only $100/month and includes everything - design, development, hosting,
backups, data porting and everything else. Companies get access to a control panel
from where they can manage their website. Add your complete product catalog, press
releases / news stories, events, distributors, application notes and white papers
and much more. Lead generation is also built into the platform, allowing you to
capture leads. All websites are optimized for SEO (search engine optimization) and
support HTTPS encryption. We have created features specifically with RF & microwave
companies in mind...
 "Purdue University researchers have created
a design for FETs which makes them promising candidates for next generation nanodevices.
The re-engineered
Purdue FET can offer better switching behaviour for computers
and devices than traditional FETs, says the university. 'Our technology merges lasers
and transistors,' said Purdue's Tillmann Kubis, 'there is traditionally not a lot
of overlap between these two areas, even though the combination can be powerful
with the Internet of Things and other related fields.' The combination of the quantum..."
Tuesday 21
 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...
 "Researchers in the U.K. have demonstrated
a dry contact-printing system that enables the transfer of multiple
silicon
nanowires onto flexible large-area substrates to develop high-performance ultra-thin
electronic layers with good control over its electronic properties. This opens up
the opportunity for large-scale use of flexible and bendable electronics including
in internet of things (IoT) and smart city applications. 'Single-crystal silicon
is a brittle material, and the moment you bend it, it cracks,' said professor Ravinder
Dahiya, who led the research..."
 Good luck trying to find a good
ham radio related comic in any magazine today. I am convinced
that publisher boards either discourage or outright prohibit comics these day for
fear of hurting some overly sensitive person's feelings and inviting lawsuits, or
worse yet social media flaming frenzies. Fortunately, I am not afraid and am glad
to make these vintage comics available. You and I, being reasonable people, cannot
possibly find anything insulting or denigrating in any of these five comics, but
somebody could. BTW, for the non-ham, a "pink ticket" from the FCC is a notice of
violation, which could be anything from neglecting to announce your call sign every
ten minutes to having a faulty transmitter that is spewing noise outside your band...
Transient Specialists, a leader in EMC rentals
for over 30 years, announces that they will be offering rentals of the
NSG 3150 and
CDN 3153. This 15 kV combination wave/surge generator system
by Teseq can be rented together or separately to facilitate testing needs. Transient
Specialists conveniently located in the mid-west offers a variety of EMC test equipment
rentals to accommodate your testing needs. Our rentals include technical support
on the equipment, weekly and monthly rentals, and 2 days each way of transit time
free with each rental. With the experience and equipment Transient Specialists is
solution when testing needs...
  KR Electronics designs and manufactures
high quality filters for both the commercial and military markets. KR Electronics
manufactures all filter types:
lowpass, highpass, bandpass, bandstop and individually synthesizes filters for special
applications. State of the art computer synthesis, analysis and test methods are
used to meet the most challenging specifications. Please visit their website today
to see how they might be of assistance...
 "Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
(HKUST) and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Ltd have been jointly developing
integrated capacitors for p-type gallium nitride (p-GaN) gate high-frequency power transistors on silicon substrate.
GaN transistors with a p-gate enable enhancement-mode operation where transistors
are in the current-off state with zero gate potential. This reduces power consumption
and allows fail-safe operation. GaN transistors are being developed for high-frequency
power applications with a view to high conversion efficiency and power density.
Production on silicon should reduce manufacturing cost..."
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