See Page 1 |
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4 | 5 of the June 2019 homepage archives.
 Here is the last engineering- and
science-themed crossword puzzle for June. These custom-made crosswords are done
weekly for the brain-exercising benefit and pleasure of RF Cafe visitors who are
fellow cruciverbalists. The jury is out on whether or not this type of mental challenge
helps keep your gray matter from atrophying in old age, but it certainly helps maintain
your vocabulary and cognitive skills at all ages. A database of thousands of words
has been built up over the years and contains only clues and terms associated with
engineering, science, physical, astronomy, mathematics, chemistry, etc. You will
never find a word taxing your knowledge of a numbnut soap opera star or the name
of some obscure village in the Andes mountains ...
Friday 28
 A
shortage of aluminum for manufacturing seems impossible given its abundance
in the form of bauxite - an ore of aluminum and iron - in many places of the world.
It is the third most abundant element in the Earth's crust after oxygen (20% of
the atmosphere) and silicon (sand)*, and is easy to mine because it is found close
to the surface. Today, aluminum is extracted and processed primarily in Australia
and - no surprise - China. The U.S., as with so many areas of production, has surrendered
its aluminum mining operations to offshore sources, thus exposing its critical
supply to the whims of trade deals. During the early days of World War II,
aluminum was being produced domestically, but enough foreign sources were being
used that the danger of shipping trade routes due to German U-boats ...
 Mr. Dave Engelder, of Keysight Technologies,
will on July 16 at 1:00 pm ET present a webinar entitled "Analog Demodulation Measurements with Spectrum Analyzers." "Learn
the basics of amplitude and frequency modulation. This webinar reviews analog modulation
types AM, FM, and PM to give you insights into your circuit performance. Two live
demonstrations using a signal analyzer and application software reinforce these
concepts. You'll see examples of: Advantages of an all-digital measurement architecture,
IF sampler, and digital signal processing (DSP), How to use the functions and features
of the N9063 analog demod app using your X-Series signal analyzer ..."
 If
you visited the good folks at the
QuinStar Technology
booth at the IMS show in Boston this year (2019), you were probably offered one
of the T-shirts shown here. As you might expect from a company of engineers and
scientists, the design on the T-shirt includes a thinking exercise. Rumor has it
that this is the first question put to interviewees. Can you decode the license
plate message? I asked Ms. Carol Clasby, who probably handed you your T-shirt
at IMS2019 (if you got one), whether someone at QuinStar actually has the license
plate and she responded not yet, but maybe in the near future. I went to the California
Department of Transportation website to see what such a license plate might look
like. It allowed me to reserve the plate, although of course ...
 Television interference (TVI) was a major
concern for amateur radio operators back in the heyday of broadcast TV. Other than
radio broadcasts, magazines, and newspapers, it was the only other major form of
media available; there was no Internet. Even the lowest priced TV sets represented
a significant portion of a typical family's disposable income. There was no government
handout program that provided every household with a television set and antenna.
Consequently, people were very irritated by nearby electrical or electronic equipment
that dared to interfere with their reception - and rightly so. Ham radio operators
broadcast on bands that were fairly well separate from the TV channel frequencies;
however, harmonics and intermodulation products often fell in the TV bands, and
that caused real problems with the public perception of amateur radio. Articles
like this were aimed at helping people tame ...
 "Swarms of nanorobots (usually referred to
as
nanobots) are the stuff of science-fiction movies
(mostly scary, some not). However, they're getting closer to reality as tiny, insect-like
electromechanical ''creatures' are being created and evaluated. But why not instead
use extensions of silicon-based IC processes and leverage the many attributes and
high areal density of this well-known, low-cost mass-production technique to create
nanobots without discrete mechanical parts? That's what a team headed by Prof. Marc
Miskin, assistant professor in the Department of Electrical and Systems Engineering
at the University of Pennsylvania has done, fabricating their nanobots directly
on special silicon wafers ..."
 SF Circuits' specialty is in the complex,
advanced technology of
PCB fabrication and assembly, producing high quality multi-layered
PCBs from elaborate layouts. With them, you receive unparalleled technical expertise
at competitive prices as well as the most progressive solutions available. Their
customers request PCB production that is outside the capabilities of normal circuit
board providers. Please take a moment to visit San Francisco Circuits today.
Thursday 27
 My grandfather, Roland (my middle name) Somers,
on my mother's side was a residential (aka house) builder. He owned and operated
a small (2-3 employees) business in Mayo, Maryland in the middle of the last century.
Being his only grandson, I got what survived of his books like this
Audel's Handy Book of Practical Electricity, c1942, by Theo. Audel & Co.
Publishers. I also have a couple of his carpentry and hand tool books of the era. The
scanned page below is entitled, "List of Abbreviations to Be Used Radio Communication,"
as dictated by the International Radiotelegraphic Convention (IRC). Amateur radio
operators will recognize the list as being a collection of the familiar "Q" Signals,
although stated in sometimes archaic prose; e.g., QRN = "Are the atmospherics strong?"
and QSB = "Is my spark bad? ...
 It seems impossible that you can buy
Visio Professional 2019 and Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 for less
than $10 each, but according to the research I did the offers seems to be legitimate.
Evidently, sellers buy corporate subscriptions and then are licensed to distribute
copies to it agents (we, the buyers). This is nothing new because I have seen it
done for many years. After purchasing a product, you are provided with a hyperlink
for downloading the software directly from the Microsoft.com website, and also an
activation key. Heeding the old saying about if something seems too good to be true,
it probably isn't, I decided to test the system. Back in March, I purchased one
copy each of Visio Professional 2019 and Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019
for $5.99 and $9.99 ...
 Robert Balin created many quizzes for
Popular Electronics magazine back in the 1960s and 1970s. This particular "Electronic
Numbers Quiz" presents various objects and your challenge is to match one of
the provided numerical values to each item. For example, a tuning fork is most commonly,
in the Western world, associated with a certain frequency for tuning musical instruments
(electronic and mechanical). As is often the case, being familiar with the "standards"
of the era is helpful on a few of the items like the tuning capacitor and the IF
transformer, but you should be able to eliminate some options by knowing the impedance
of the twin lead transmission line and the phase relationship of current and voltage
in a pure inductance ...
 Microwave Journal has released audio
podcasts versions of its long running, popular RF and microwave update video series,
Frequency Matters. All of the episodes for 2019 are now
and linked on the Microwave Journal home page's main navigation menu under
"Multimedia." In addition, special audio interviews with industry analysts and executives
will be included in this podcast series. Listeners can find the series on iTunes
and Google Play and subscribe to the feed for easy listening on the go. If you don't
have time to watch the videos, just download the podcasts to listen to them at your
leisure in the car ride to work or on your flight to a business meeting. The
Frequency Matters RF and microwave update series ...
 "The radio frequency spectrum for wireless
telecommunications, is a limited resource which needs effective management in order
to satisfy the surplus data demands. In a bid to help operators manage these excessive
demands posed by the growth in users of wireless internet access, researchers at
IMDEA Networks have developed a novel communications architecture for future
ultrafast wireless networks that can achieve
data rates previously only possible with optical fiber. Global technology company,
Facebook, initiated the Terragraph project that uses a mesh of reconfigurable millimeter-wave
links to provide reliable, high-speed Internet access in urban and suburban environments.
It previously experimented with networks of solar-powered drones ...
 Alliance Test sells
used / refurbished
test equipment and offers short- and long-term rentals. They also offer repair,
maintenance and calibration. Prices discounted up to 80% off list price. Agilent/HP,
Tektronix, Anritsu, Fluke, R&S and other major brands. A global organization
with ability to source hard to find equipment through our network of suppliers.
Please visit Allied Test Equipment today to see how they can help your project.
Wednesday 26
 This installment of "Stereo
Scene" was the 12th in a series run by Popular Electronics magazine
in the early 1970s. As mentioned previously, stereo equipment was a big deal in
the 1960s and 1970s. Amazingly - or maybe not amazingly - some of the issues of
the day have persisted through today's audiophile community. One of the most fervently
debated topic is whether audio power amplifiers that use vacuum tubes produce higher
quality sound than do transistorized power amplifiers. The pro-tube argument holds
that the physical flow of electrons and the ability of metal internal components
to vibrate microscopically in response to signals imparts a quality to the output
that rigid semiconductors cannot. Many attempts at designing circuits to artificially
add such "quality" to transistorized amplifiers ...
 Lockheed Martin recognized 27 small business
suppliers that made exemplary contributions to its Missiles and Fire Control business
area's products and services in 2018.
Custom MMIC received an award for their exemplary work in helping Lockheed Martin
deliver crucial missions to their customers. Paul Blount, President and CEO of Custom
MMIC, and Charlie Trantanella, Chief Scientist, attended the award ceremony and
accepted the award on behalf of the Custom MMIC team. "We are excited and honored
to have been selected for this prestigious award from Lockheed Martin," said Paul
Blount ...
 Radio & Television News ran
a two-part article on the state of the art of computers in the late 1950s (this
is part 1). It had only been since ENIAC's (Electronic
Numerical Integrator And Computer) debut in 1946 at Massachusetts Institute
of Technology (MIT) that the public (or science community for that matter) was getting
used to regularly hearing about computers in the news. By 1957 there were many companies
popping up with electronic computer offerings. Originally the exclusive purview
of university research labs and defense installations, the size and cost of computers
was moving into the realm of affordability by corporations that used them for accounting
and bookkeeping, and in some cases even rented idle time to outside users. Desktop
PCs and notebook computers were still the realm of crazy dreamers ...
 Mr. Mike Kappes, of IQ-Analog Corporation,
has an article in Microwave Journal entitled, "All-Digital Antennas for mmWave Systems." It
begins: "To realize high performance mmWave communications, beamforming antenna
systems will need to be smarter, faster, smaller, lower power, cost less, have lower
latency and be easier to integrate than current technologies. Much like with previous
telecommunication systems, integrating important processing and signal conditioning
functions will enable more cost-effective and compact mmWave beamforming antennas.
The development of complex mmWave RF and analog hardware for 5G ..."
 "The U.S. Army is researching how to leverage
smart cities of the future where networks of sensors will be used to enable services
for civilian and government use, such as environmental monitoring or traffic flow
optimization. Smart city environments have emerged from continued growth in
urban internet of things, or IoT, infrastructure,
where devices connect to the web, integrate capabilities and use data analytics
to extract meaningful information. Researchers at the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities
Development Command's Army Research Laboratory, the Army's corporate research laboratory
also known as ARL, are investigating how IoT could complement the capabilities of
military assets in urban operations ..."
At VidaRF, the phrase 'Providing Simple
Solutions for Complex Connections' is more than just a slogan – it's a mindset,
a mission, and a driving force behind everything we do. Their pledge is to design
and distribute high performance, cost effective
RF Microwave products to fit each customer's unique applications.
Please visit VidaRF today to see how their lines of attenuators & terminations,
directional couplers, power dividers, coaxial connectors, and circulator & isolators
can be of use to your project. "When the standard just will not do, VidaRF has the
solution for you!"
Tuesday 25
 When you read about price wars in the
integrated circuit (IC) realm, you naturally think of manufacturers in Asian
countries, since even the products of American companies are made overseas nowadays
(unfortunately). Such was not the case in the early days of ICs when corporations
kept their trade secrets within the shores of their home countries, and government
technology export laws prohibited practices that would have required processing
knowledge and equipment to be located offshore in order to be successful. In the
1960s, it was companies like Fairchild, Clevite, Motorola, Texas Instruments, IBM,
Westinghouse, General Electric, et al, who were in fierce competition to dominate
the semiconductor markets. Lead design engineers and scientists were offered significant
salary and benefit deals to bring their expertise onboard. Magazine articles of
the era ...
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 we can help
your project ...
Please check to see how they can help your project.
 Keysight Technologies is conducting a free
webinar on June 26, 2019, 1:00 p.m. ET entitled, "Get More Out of Your Instrument with FPGAs." Planned speakers
are Eric Wilson, R&D engineer, Brian Durwood, planner for PathWave FPGA, and
Dr. John Guilford, R&D engineer, and Eddie Rodriguez, real-time software
architect. "FPGA enabled arbitrary waveform generators, digitizers and DSP modules
offer new levels of control and customization that can shave months off of prototyping
your high frequency project. Join us to learn how to program these instruments and
insert your custom logic, in-line with the signal path ..."
 "Ground
is ground the world around," is an oft repeated saying when talking about making
electrical connections to Earth ground. In a general sense that is true, especially
when referring to electromagnetic radio signals and antenna systems that are in
some manner dependent on the common connection. However, when you are working within
the confines of a localized electronic circuit such as on a printed circuit board
or inside a chassis, there is no guarantee that without proper precautions ground
is not at the same potential everywhere. Poor (high impedance) soldered, crimped,
and bolted connections are among the prime offenders that cause voltage differentials
to arise between points intended to be equipotential. RF frequency signals are particularly
sensitive to even a minor divergence ...
PCB Directory is the largest directory of Printed Circuit Board (PCB) Manufacturers,
Assembly houses, and Design Services on the Internet. We have listed the leading
printed circuit board manufacturers around the world and made them searchable by
their capabilities - Number of laminates used, Board thicknesses supported, Number
of layers supported, Types of substrates (e.g., material, flexible, rigid), Geographical
location, and more.
 "The US Department of Transportation put
out an announcement of the 3rd of June informing companies that they are looking
to conduct field demonstrations of technologies capable of providing backup and/or
complementary positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) in the event of a temporary
disruption to GPS. In response to this Globalstar and Echo Ridge
have informed the U.S. Department of Transportation that the companies have developed
and are prepared to participate in and support a live field demonstration of a stand-alone
positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) capability that can provide accurate and
reliable PNT services ..."
 RF Superstore launched in 2017, marking
the return of Murray Pasternack, founder of Pasternack Enterprises, to the RF and
microwave Industry. Pasternack fundamentally changed the way RF components were
sold. Partner Jason Wright manages day-to-day operations, while working closely
with Mr. Pasternack to develop RF Superstore into a world class RF and
microwave
component supplier. RF coaxial connectors & adapters, coaxial cable &
cable assemblies, surge protectors, attenuators. Items added daily. Free shipping
on orders over $99. We're leading the way again!
Monday 24
 From the mid 1950s and through mid 1970s,
Popular Electronics magazine ran a series of articles entitled "Solid State"
in order to facilitate the electronics industry's effort to move people from vacuum
tubes to semiconductors. In fact, if Solid State ran every months since its beginning,
this being installment 182 means it began in 1956 - just eight years after the transistor
was invented. Even though the commercial industry had already shifted to almost
exclusively transistorized products, a large part of the consumer base had been
raised on tube radios and televisions. In this case, the news is in regard to Bell
Telephone Labs' recent invention of the
semiconductor charge coupled device (CCD) - the heart of all modern imaging
systems. Prior to the CCD, a vidicon tube, which as the name ...
 ConductRF offer RF Engineers a large selection
of
Hi Flex cables for RF vector network analyzers (VNAs). We have standards for
applications at 18-40 GHz, 50 GHz & 70 GHz. Our torque resistant
connector heads and phase stable constructions ensure great performance for many
tests to come. Other key features include: 2.92 mm, 2.4 mm & 1.85 mm
connector options, low VSWR & insertion loss, low phase change with flexing,
options available swept right angle connectors ...
 You don't see jobs advertisements like this
anymore. Here is an ad that appeared in the the July 1944 edition of QST
(the American Radio Relay League's, ARRL's, monthly magazine), placed by
Raytheon
Manufacturing Company (now just Raytheon Company), looking for tube design,
test, and processing engineers. Licensed amateur radio operators were in high demand
during the war years because of their knowledge and enthusiasm for electronics and
wireless communications. I hope you didn't come to this page hoping to really find
a tube designer job available. Of course, there are still vacuum tubes being designed
for TWTs and magnetrons, but those are few and far between ...
 San Francisco Components (SFC), a recognized
leader in Printed Circuit Board (PCB) fabrication, assembly, and testing, is now
offering expanded
PCB testing and inspection capabilities to its customers, further ensuring high-yield
PCBs that meet rigid design and performance specifications across all applications
and industries. San Francisco Circuits offers PCB testing for Bare Boards (before
the board is assembled) and Assembled Boards (once the board is assembled), that
will detect and minimize issues that would affect performance. "PCBs need to be
tested early in the design and production phases in order to control component tolerances,
part-to-part performance variations ..."
 "U.S. Navy communications experts plan to
approach industry for a prototype low-power secure military cell phone network for
warfighters operating on the forward edge of the battlefield. Officials of the Naval
Information Warfare Center (NIWC) Atlantic in North Charleston, S.C., issued a planning
document on Tuesday (N65236-19-R-T006) for two initiatives in the Information Warfare
Research Project (IWRP). Solicitations for these projects should be released around
25 June 2019. The first project, called Tactical Microcell (19-LANT-0072), seeks
to develop a military ground microcell for forward-deployed warfighters that uses
software-defined radios to create communications microcells ..."
 Reactel
has become one of the industry leaders in the design and manufacture of
RF and microwave
filters, diplexers, and sub-assemblies. Through a continuous process of research
and development, they have established a full line of filters of all types - lowpass,
highpass, bandpass, bandstop, diplexer, and more. They offer the generally known
tubular, LC, cavity, and waveguide designs, as well as state of the art high performance
suspended substrate models. Established in 1979. Please contact Reactel today to
see how they might help your project.
Sunday 23
 Since 2000, I have been creating custom engineering-
and
science-themed crossword puzzles for the brain-exercising benefit and pleasure
of RF Cafe visitors who are fellow cruciverbalists. The jury is out on whether or
not this type of mental challenge helps keep your gray matter from atrophying in
old age, but it certainly helps maintain your vocabulary and cognitive skills at
all ages. A database of thousands of words has been built up over the years and
contains only clues and terms associated with engineering, science, physical, astronomy,
mathematics, chemistry, etc. You will never find a word taxing your knowledge of
a numbnut soap opera star or the name of some obscure village in the Andes mountains.
You might, however ...
These archive pages are provided in order to make it easier for you to find items
that you remember seeing on the RF Cafe homepage. Of course probably the easiest
way to find anything on the website is to use the "Search
RF Cafe" box at the top of every page.
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