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5 of the October 2018 homepage archives. Friday 12
 Out of the nearly half a hundred quizzes I have
posted from vintage Popular Electronics magazines, this
Semiconductor Quiz that appeared in a 1967 issue is the first I can
remember that was not created by Robert P. Balin. A fellow named Warren Todd
made it. If you are younger than maybe 50 years old, symbols B and I might stump
you, but the rest are still pretty common. Some of the labels (names) presented
in the quiz are a little outdated so I have identified the abbreviations for
you. That will make things much easier. For example, SBS is a silicon
bidirectional switch. Bonne chance...
 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...
 "ICANN has scheduled the
Root Zone Key Signing Key (KSK) Rollover
for today, and it could affect some DNS users all over the world. By Rolling the
KSK, ICANN implies that a new cryptographic public and private key pair will be
generated and the private key will be distributed to internet service providers,
enterprise network administrators, and Domain Name System (DNS) resolver
operators. KSK Rollover operations began in October 2016 and were scheduled for
October 2017. However, ICANN announced that the rollover has been postponed due
to the fact that 'a significant number of resolvers used by Internet Service
Providers (ISPs) and Network Operators are not yet ready for the Key
Rollover..."
 Copper Mountain Technologies' VNA software is now available for Linux
OS, specifically for Ubuntu and Mint distributions. The CMT VNA software for Linux includes
all the same features as our VNA software for Windows. Any CMT VNA can now operate in
a Linux environment, whether it is controlled manually or its operation is automated
using SCPI commands via TCP/IP sockets. A first in the industry, Copper Mountain Technologies'
USB VNAs operating in Linux OS extend the reach of engineers who can now incorporate
precision VNAs into their Linux test environment. Test
Drive Copper Mountain Technologies software without needing to have the physical hardware...
 This advertisement for General Radio Company's
Recording Wave Analyzer caught my eye due to the chain-driven interface between the
upper Type 1900-A Wave Analyzer and lower Type 1521-B Graphic Level Recorder chassis.
Maybe that can be considered an early form of the GPIB - General
[Instruments] Physical Interface Bus. I
wonder how many neckties, a rigidly-enforced item of professional dress code of
the era, got caught in those exposed gears? ...or fingers for that matter? OSHA
would condemn such a platform these days. It is not apparent from the photograph
whether there is also an electrical interface. The quality of the printed chart
output is phenomenally good for 1965 equipment - and in color, no less. I also
found it interesting that a reference was made to "M. Fourier," as though maybe
Fourier's first name began with an "M," but in fact his full name is
Jean-Baptiste Joseph Fourier (French)...
 Rohde & Schwarz develops, produces and markets
test & measurement,
information and communications technology. Focus is on test and measurement,
broadcast and media, cybersecurity, secure communications, monitoring and
network testing. Markets serviced are wireless, the automotive industry,
aerospace and defense, industrial electronics, research and education, broadcast
and media network operations, consumer electronics, cybersecurity for business
and governments, communications and security solutions for critical
infrastructures and the armed forces, reconnaissance equipment for homeland and
external security, and much more...
 "A satellite no bigger than a shoebox may one day
help. Small enough to fit inside a backpack, the aptly named
RainCube (Radar in a CubeSat) uses experimental technology to see
storms by detecting rain and snow with very small instruments. The people behind the
miniature mission celebrated after RainCube sent back its first images of a storm over
Mexico in a technology demonstration in August. Its second wave of images in September
caught the first rainfall of Hurricane Florence. The small satellite is a prototype for
a possible fleet of RainCubes that could one day help monitor severe storms,
lead to improving the accuracy of weather forecasts and track climate change
over time..."
Thursday 11
 Here is the second of a two-part article on
operational amplifiers (opamps). Part 1 appeared in the August 1971 issue of
Popular Electronics, which I have and will post soon (it still needs to be OCR'ed). Fortunately,
you don't need it to find Part 2 useful. Barely half a decade had passed since Bob
Widlar introduced his μA709 integrated circuit operational amplifier. Clunky
attempts at vacuum tube operational amplifiers were introduced in the 1950's,
but they were not overly popular. Early bipolar junction transistor opamps
offered a significant reduction in size, weight, and power consumption over
tubes, but did not have as high of an input impedance, had a lower
gain-bandwidth product, and handled much lower power levels, which relegated
their use to IF and baseband circuits...
 TotalTemp Technologies, leaders in thermal testing
solutions, offers an app note on
reprogramming bus controller software for automated test equipment
(ATE) when the time inevitably comes to replace older devices. It describes the methodology
used to transition from communicating with a Sigma temperature controller to Tidal Engineering's
Synergy line of temperature controllers of the type actually used by TotalTemp Technologies
for their products. The methodology presented can be applied to other equipment. Check
TotalTemp's blog for other articles...
Notable Quote by Albert Bandura on Self-Efficacy
 "People with high assurance in their capabilities
approach difficult tasks as challenges to be mastered rather than as threats to be avoided."
-
Albert Bandura, psychologist specializing in self-efficacy and observational
learning. For the record, I rarely find anything quotable from psychologists, but I found
this one recommended by "Aviation Through Aviation" editor Bill Pritchett, of the
Academy of Model Aviation's
Model Aviation magazine...
 This is the electronics market prediction for
Italy, circa 1966. It was part of a comprehensive assessment by the editors of
Electronics magazine of the state of commercial, military, and consumer
electronics at the end of 1965. Computers, military communications, numerically
controlled factory automation, and consumer electronics drove the Italian
markets, as was the case for every first-world nation. A bigger concentration on
exports was becoming an important part of the equation. Unless you can find a
news story on the state of the industry, detailed reports must be purchased from
research companies. Their websites have a lot of charts on Italy's current
electronics market showing revenue...
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...
  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...
 "Through-silicon vias
(TSVs) are the standard way to stack chips these days. They're basically
micrometer-scale vertical wires embedded in a sliver of silicon that link one
chip, such as a processor, to another, such as a memory chip, stacked atop the
first. That way signals don't have to travel very far between the two chips.
Done right, they should save time, energy, and space. But, at the moment, they
don't add any intelligence. Engineers in Germany want to change that by making
TSVs smart. Their answer is a 'through-silicon transistor,' and if they're
right, it should let designers actively control which signals are allowed to go
from one chip to another. The implications aren't just more intelligent
control..."
Wednesday 10
 This is part 4 of the "All About IC's" series that
appeared in Radio-Electronics magazine in 1969, where author Bob Hibberd
discusses the various types of integrate circuit (IC) families. He is not
referring to TTL and CMOS with divisions into small scale integration (SSI),
medium scale integration (MSI), large scale integration (LSI), and very large
scale integration (VLSI) like we have today. Back in 1969 the IC world was still
evolving through basic circuit structures like diode-diode logic (DDL),
diode-transistor logic (DTL), resistor-transistor logic (RTL), direct-coupled
transistor logic (DCTL), etc. What seems obvious now needed to be learned and
dealt with then. It is like struggling with a homework problem and being able to
look at the answer worked out in the back of the book where the solution then
looks obvious...
 KP Performance Antennas, a manufacturer of wireless
network antennas, has debuted its new
ProLine
antennas, a series of high-performance parabolic and sector antennas that are perfectly
suited for high-density, point-to-point, point-to-multipoint and backhaul applications.
KP's new ProLine parabolic antennas are engineered to deliver high, stable gain over
wide bandwidths with side-lobe and back-lobe suppression for mitigating inter-sector
interference. These 5 GHz antennas are available in 1-foot and 2-foot diameters
with gain performance of 24 dBi and 29 dBi respectively. Single-band
and dual-band options are available in 2.3-2.7 GHz, 3.5-4.2 GHz and
4.9-6.4 GHz...
Switzerland Electronics Market
 This is the electronics market prediction for
Switzerland, circa 1966. It was part of a comprehensive assessment by the editors
of Electronics magazine of the state of commercial, military, and
consumer electronics at the end of 1965. This statement was a bit unexpected:
"Although the Swiss are renowned for their precision work in watchmaking,
machine tools and instruments, their country is regarded as 'a bit backward' in
electronics." Not many major national production companies resided in
Switzerland; IBM and RCA had a large presence, though. Unless you can find a
news story on the state of the industry, detailed reports must be purchased from
research companies...
 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...
Satellite Operators Form C-Band Consortium
to Protect Existing Use of Spectrum
 "A group of global satellite operators today announced
the formation of an alliance to protect existing use of the 3.7-4.2 GHz band while also
clearing a portion of the
C-Band spectrum for 5G wireless services. The C-Band Alliance, or
CBA, which is comprised of Intelsat, SES, Eutelsat and Telesat, wants to wrest
some control over the process by which the C-Band will be freed up for
terrestrial wireless use. In July, the FCC voted unanimously to study and seek
comment on ways to free up some or all of the 500 MHz of mid-band spectrum for
5G. Options include an incentive auction-type approach or a market-based auction
by which incumbents would voluntarily..."
Tuesday 9
 The
World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC) is associated with the
International Telecommunications Union (ITU). It is hard to pin down exactly
when the organization's name official became the WARC since it is no longer a
separate entity, and good luck locating a definitive history on the WARC proper.
The closest I could come to determining a time when it was first referred to as
the World Administrative Radio Conference was from this list of all radio
conferences on the ITU website. The Geneva 1967 WARC is it. Previous events did
not include the word "World" in them, from what I could find. Please let me know
if you have another authoritative source...
 Empower RF is pleased to announce the release
of Model 2223,
a single band solid state GaN system amplifier, capable of delivering a minimum
150 W across its entire 0.6 to 6 GHz band. Equally suited for the production
floor, engineering lab, or anechoic chamber, the 2223 comes complete with
internal DDC, external forward and reverse sample ports, and an easy to use web
served GUI with dedicated features for simplifying integration into your test
application. For Machine to Machine (M2M) applications the 2223 utilizes TCP/IP
or UDP protocol sockets. In depth health monitoring with alarms visible on the
front panel are also pushed out the LAN port...
 Take a look at this
ARRA (Antenna & Radome Research
Associates) attenuator advertisement that appeared in the September 2018 issue of
Microwaves & RF magazine a tell me if it reminds you of
something you might have seen in the 1960's through 1980's. That might not have
been the intention, but seeing it sure triggered my nostalgia mechanism. Even
the tag line, "When it comes to attenuators, nobody - but nobody - can fill our
shoes," idiom, being somewhat dated, conjures up memories of vintage company
slogans. Of course the black and white motif feeds the perception. Maybe I'm
wrong, but if it appeals to me for any reason, the ad designers have done their
job...
 This is the electronics market prediction for
West Germany, circa 1966. It was part of a comprehensive assessment by the editors
of Electronics magazine of the state of commercial, military, and consumer electronics
at the end of 1965. West Germany was intent on being a player in the Space Race with
Siemens and Telefunken providing expertise. Bochumer Verein was pushing the
electronic computer frontiers forward. The article states that only about 5% of
West Germany's factories including heavy industry have anything approaching the
automation of American industry. Factory automation was viewed as a threat to
the German workers. Unless you can find a news story on the state of the
industry, detailed reports must be purchased from research companies...
 Transient Specialists, a leader in EMC rentals
for over 30 years, announces that they will be offering additional testing capabilities
for IEC 60601-1-2. The Compliance West MegaPulse in addition to the already existing
surge, EFT, ringwave, dips, automotive and conducted RF will continue to make Transient
Specialists a resource for
Medical EMC test equipment. 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...
 "The prestigious award was given this year to
three physicists 'for groundbreaking inventions in the field of laser physics.' The event
also marks the third time a woman wins the prize. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
announced today the winners of the
Nobel Prize in Physics 2018 'for groundbreaking inventions in the
field of laser physics.' The prestigious award was given with one half to Arthur Ashkin
and the other half jointly to Gérard Mourou and Donna Strickland. Arthur Ashkin was recognized
for inventing "optical tweezers that grab particles, atoms, viruses and other living
cells with their laser beam fingers." Most notably in 1987, Ashkin used the
novel tweezers to capture living bacteria without causing harm to them..."
Monday 8
 Empower RF Systems, Inc., is an industry-leading
provider of high power RF amplifiers. Founded in 1999 and located in Inglewood, CA, the
company designs and manufactures solid-state, high power amplifier systems and modules
for commercial and military customers worldwide. Our next generation technology is a
game changer in the market and we are seeking a well-connected and dynamic sales professional
to join our Sales Team to drive accelerated growth with these products. Position
Summary: This sales and leadership position is focused on driving business growth
and results from our key markets of EW, Communications, Radar, and Test & Measurement.
The RF Sales Account Executive has a technical background, strong credentials and contacts
in OEM's and Agencies, and a demonstrated track record of partnering, team building,
and strategic selling.
 Rohde & Schwarz has been publishing a series
of good old-fashioned printed (aka hard copy) Pocket Guides on RF test and measurement
topics. This latest one titled, "Key
Characteristics of Signal Generators and Modulation Methods: Pocket Guide,"
arrived in my mailbox (the physical one at the curb, not Outlook). There are 116
pages chock full of an amazing amount of descriptions, equations, tables, and
graphs. The main topic areas are analog, vector, and arbitrary (ARB) waveform
generators, and analog and digital modulation methods. It also reviews
associated topics like phase noise, VSWR, intercept points, etc. A sampling of
them are reproduced below. You can get your own free copy by filling out the
form on the R&S website...
Anatech Electronics (AEI) manufactures and supplies
RF and microwave
filters for military and commercial communication systems, providing
standard LP, HP, BP, BS, notch, diplexer, and custom RF filters, and RF
products. Standard RF filter and cable assembly products are published in our
website database for ease of procurement. Custom RF filters designs are used
when a standard cannot be found, or the requirements dictate a custom approach.
Please visit Anatech today to see how they can help your project succeed...
 According to authors Neal Jensen and Alexander
Burawa,
magnetic reed switches were developed as recently as 1940 at the Bell
Telephone Laboratories to replace the expensive and power-hungry traditional
solenoid-based relays. Development cost was reportedly $100 million ($750M in
2018 dollars). I would have guessed reed switches were invented half a century
earlier, given how fundamental their concept and construction is. Maybe there
was no perceived urgency back when power efficiency was not such a big concern
given the wattage used by vacuum tube circuits that often employed the relays.
As in increasing number of homes and businesses had telephones installed and
party lines (shared by two or more users) gave way to private lines, the
physical...
 This is the electronics market prediction for
United Kingdom, circa 1966. It was part of a comprehensive assessment by the editors
of Electronics magazine of the state of commercial, military, and consumer electronics
at the end of 1965. The British post office was investing in communications and automation,
while Thorn Electric was cranking out TV's. Ecko Electronics Plessey, and
Marconi were manufacturing defense electronics and dabbling in newfangled
computers. Unless you can find a news story on the state of the industry,
detailed reports must be purchased from research companies. Their websites have
a lot of charts on the UK's current electronics market...
 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...
 "Chinese scientists are working on a
laser satellite device they hope will be able to detect the location
of a submerged submarine target located as far as 1,600 feet below the ocean surface
from space. The South China Morning Post reports. It is the latest addition to China's
expanding deep-sea surveillance program, and aside from targeting submarines - most submerged
submarines operate at a depth of less than 1,600 feet - it also could collect data on
the world's oceans. Project Guanlan, meaning 'watching the big waves,'
officially was launched in May at the Pilot National Laboratory for Marine
Science and Technology..."
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