Homepage Archive - March 2018 (page 2)

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. About RF Cafe.

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See Page 1 | 2 of the March 2018 homepage archives.

Friday 30

Canada Partners with Thales to Help Develop 5G Superhighway

Canada Partners with Thales to Help Develop 5G Superhighway - RF Cafe"Today, together with its industry partners, the Government of Canada and the provincial governments of Ontario and Quebec, Thales Canada announced its $25M investment in ENCQOR, a $400M public-private partnership in ultra-high-speed communications infrastructure that will focus on research and innovation. ENCQOR brings together governments, small and medium businesses, and academia to link research facilities and laboratories across Eastern Canada to collaborate on 5G technology ..."

Top 10 Semiconductor Companies 2017

Top 10 Semiconductor Companies 2017 - RF Cafe"The semiconductor industry closed out 2017 in blockbuster fashion, posting the highest year-over-year growth in 14 years, reports IHS Markit. Semiconductor revenue grew 21.7%, reaching $429.1 billion. Recording year-over-year growth of 53.6%, and its highest semiconductor revenue ever, Samsung replaced Intel as the new market leader of the semiconductor industry in 2017. Intel was followed by Hynix, in third position. Among the top 20 semiconductor suppliers, Hynix and Micron enjoyed the largest year-over-year revenue growth ..."

I Will Not Bite His Ear, Or the Rover Radio Boys on the Moon

I Will Not Bite His Ear, Or the Rover Radio Boys on the Moon, April 1933 QST - RF CafeIf you think the title of this piece has anything to do with the story, think again, or at least as far as I can reckon. Keeping in mind that this mini-novel appeared in the April 1933 issue of QST magazine, wherewith the past couple days of Fools' pieces accompanied it, I read with caution. The image of Queen Elizabeth cradling a vacuum valve (not tube!) under her arm like a rugby football (to continue the Eurocentric theme) in the comic certainly grabs one's attention, as do the "250-watter lights" on the the royal bathroom wall. You need to switch into a early twentieth ...

Skyworks Joins European Standards Organization ETSI

Skyworks Joins European Standards Organization ETSI - RF CafeSkyworks Solutions is pleased to announce that it has become a member of ETSI, the European Telecommunications Standards Institute - an independent, non-profit organization that establishes global standards for telecommunications, broadcasting and other electronic communication networks and services. ETSI is a key channel through which the 3GPP organization submits contributions for 5G requirements. Membership is comprised of over 800 organizations from more than 60 countries across five continents ...

Tiangong-1 Space Station Re-Entry Set for Easter Sunday

Tiangong-1 Space Station Re-Entry Set for Easter Sunday - RF Cafe"Out-of-control Chinese space station, Tiangong-1, is predicted to reenter Earth's atmosphere at 6:33 am ET on Easter Sunday. The space craft is carrying highly toxic chemicals and could crash into a number of highly populated areas, researchers claim. Areas that could be hit include New York, Barcelona, Beijing, Chicago, Istanbul, Rome and Toronto. When the station does eventually enter the atmosphere it could unleash a 'series of fireballs' that will be seen by observers. Scientists still do not yet know where the satellite fragments are likely to land ..."

Proton Battery Could Offer Lithium Ion Alternative

Proton Battery Could Offer Lithium Ion Alternative - RF Cafe"A new experimental proton battery is capable of achieving a promising energy density on par with commercially available lithium ion batteries. A traditional proton exchange membrane (PEM) hydrogen fuel cells uses platinum catalysts to combine gaseous hydrogen and oxygen from the atmosphere to produce electricity, water vapor, and heat. Producing, transporting, and storing hydrogen gas, however, have proven to be speed bumps on the road to adoption of fuel cells in the mainstream transportation sector. RMIT University in Melbourne, Australia has announced a new a 'proton battery' that eliminates ..."

Thursday 29

Worldwide Spectrum Allocations Poster

Worldwide Spectrum Allocations Poster - RF CafeRohde & Schwarz is offering a free Worldwide Spectrum Allocations Poster to the first 250 people who request it. You'd better hurry because they won't last long ...

Boeing HorizonX Invests Nanosatellite Communications Startup Myriota

Boeing HorizonX Invests Nanosatellite Communications Startup Myriota - RF Cafe"Boeing announced its investment in Adelaide, Australia-based Myriota, an Internet of Things (IoT) startup seeking to revolutionize satellite communications by providing low-cost access to high-value data in remote locations. Myriota developed technology enabling two-way communications between ground-based micro-transmitters and low Earth orbit (LEO) nanosatellites to securely share data over narrow bandwidths. This direct-to-orbit platform enables applications across the logistics, defense, utilities, agricultural, environmental and maritime ..."

Edith Clarke: 1st Female Professor of Electrical Engineering

Edith Clarke: 1st Female Professor of Electrical Engineering - RF Cafe"Edith Clarke was the world's first female electrical engineer and Professor of Electrical Engineering. Her trailblazing career has long been an inspiration for young women. Edith Clarke was the world's first female electrical engineer. She later became the first female Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Texas in Austin. Edith specialized in electrical power system analysis and later wrote the seminal book Circuit Analysis of A-C Power Systems. Born in February of 1883 she would lead a stellar career breaking many firsts for women the electrical engineering community ..."

Akihabara - Tokyo's "Radio Row"

Akihabara Tokyo's "Radio Row", May 1966 Popular Electronics - RF CafeThe September 1932 issue of Radio Craft contained an article titled, "Radio a la Cortlandt Street!," the original "Radio Row" located at the corner of Cortlandt and Washington Streets in Manhattan. It was a mecca of new and used electronics components and assemblies. After World War II there was a huge supply of surplus parts and equipment made available to the public as a means to clear out inventory and also as a "thank you" to the citizens who voluntarily donated critically needed panel meters, tuning capacitors, connectors, and other items to the War Department. That really helped the market boom. Post-war ...

Many Thanks to everythingRF for Continued Support!

everything RFPlease 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 everythingRF products - RF Cafemicrowave products and services. They currently have 213,080 products from more than 1090 companies across 267 categories in our database and enable engineers to search for them using their customized parametric search tool ...

Quiescent Autonomous Magnification Superintendence

Quiescent Autonomous Magnification Superintendence, April 1933 QST - RF CafeMoral standards seem to rigidly obey the second law of thermodynamics, which states that entropy (disorder) increases in a closed system. Most people would say society is more rude and corrupt today than in days gone by - count me among them. However, believing so does not obviate or excuse acts of deviance in the past. Indeed, even esteemed organizations like the ARRL seems to have been guilty of promoting dishonest acts. To wit, consider this offer appearing in the "Strayed" column of the April 1933 issue of QST magazine, "For Sale: QSL Cards of any country. Win your WAC ..."

"Mad Mike" Launches Himself into the Desert Sky

"Mad Mike" Launches Himself into the Desert Sky - RF Cafe"This video is part of a series of video clips make while on my way to watch Mad Mike Hughes launch his steam-powered Flat Earth rocket on March 24th, 2018. I first met 'Mad Mike' and his friend 'Pioneer Pat' back in 2017 during one of Mike's first launch attempts. I decided to ride my motorcycle out to the desert to root him on for today's planned launch. Go Mike!!! The launch was a perfect success!! 1872 feet! Mike's hurt, but he will be alright. This was one of the most interesting and moving <video>"

Wednesday 28

Test Measurements Profile

Test Measurements Profile, April 1966 Popular Electronics - RF CafeHigh quality test equipment (TE) typically costs more than the knockoff stuff, but a lot more of the former is still around in regular use compared to the latter. The retained value of vintage TE can be quantitatively measured on eBay - as can most things for that matter. An item is worth what the market will bear. Hewlett Packard (HP), Tektronix, Bird, Simpson, B&K, Triplett, even Heathkit, typically sell for often surprisingly high prices when in working order. Accordingly, a lot of people are looking for specifications on the older equipment as well as schematics and alignment manuals. A Google search almost always ...

Tutorial: Massive MIMO for cm-wave and mm-wave Bands

Recent Progress and Future Evolution of Massive MIMO for cm-wave and mm-wave Bands - RF CafeIEEE Communications Society (ComSoc) just released a tutorial titled, "Recent Progress and Future Evolution of Massive MIMO for cm-wave and mm-wave Bands" - sponsored by R&S. "Massive MIMO is considered as the main game-changing technology from 4G to 5G. The benefits brought by Massive MIMO in terms of capacity and coverage are key enablers towards significant spectral efficient enhancements in cm-wave bands and the effective utilization of mm-wave bands for mobile communications. In recent years, major advances have been made by mobile vendors in order to bring Massive MIMO to reality ...

High-Power Microwaves and Lasers Destroy Multiple Drones

High-Power Microwaves and Lasers Destroy Multiple Drones - RF Cafe"Forty-five unmanned aerial vehicles and drones fell out of the sky during a U.S. Army exercise after Raytheon's advanced high-power microwave and laser dune buggy engaged and destroyed them. These common threats were knocked down during a Maneuver Fires Integrated Experiment at the U.S. Army Fires Center of Excellence. The event, known as MFIX, brought military and industry leaders together to demonstrate ways to bridge the Army's capability gaps in long-range fires and maneuver short-range air defense ..."

The American Radiator Delay League

The American Radiator Delay League, April 1933 QST - RF CafeQST, the American Radio Relay League's flagship monthly publication, has been around since December of 1915. It has for decades included Fools' articles in the April editions, as do many other magazines. Each year I peruse April issues with a bit of trepidation for fear that I will not be savvy enough to spot the phony article. Usually there is some aspect that is clearly not right, thereby giving up the scam. This year's April QST arrived a week ago and a quick scan has not revealed to me anything suspicious. Maybe this one requires the knowledge of a seasoned, practicing Ham for detection; book knowledge alone might not cut it this time ...

Wireless & Wired Pet Fences

Wireless Pet Fence - RF CafeIt is fairly rare anymore to see dogs running loose in the neighborhood - unlike 40+ years ago when I had a paper route and was harassed daily by rogue curs. Some municipalities will fine or arrest you if your dog leaves your property unattended. Lawsuits have ensued over Rover marking his assumed territory on someone's car tire. For the safety of both your dog and your neighbors, train him/her to remain within the confines of your yard. Both wireless (far field) and wired (near field) systems have been used extensively and successfully to help with training, and do not harm your dog.

DARPA Grant for Seamless Comms Technology for Adverse Conditions

$750k Grant from DARPA to Develop Seamless Communication Technology for Adverse Conditions - RF Cafe"Scientists from IDLab, a core IMEC research group embedded in the universities of Ghent and Antwerp, are working on an innovative system for wireless networks to enable smooth communication even in crisis situations. The project recently received $750k from DARPA, the American Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, through the DARPA Grand Challenge. The prestigious DARPA challenges are global competitions in which teams of researchers work around a specific theme to overcome a problem that affects the entire world ..."

Tuesday 27

Physicists Create Quantum Electronic Material Known as 'Kagome Metal'

Quantum Electronic Material Known as 'Kagome Metal' - RF Cafe"Researchers from the MIT, Harvard and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have announced that they have created an exotic new material as 'kagome metal.' This is an electrically conductive crystal consisting of layers of iron and tin atoms arranged in a kagome lattice pattern. Kagome is derived from traditional Japanese basket-making techniques. The kagome pattern consists of interlaced, symmetrical triangles arranged in a lattice. Physicists have been fascinated by this pattern for decades and they ..."

How to Etch Professional Printed Circuit Boards

How to Etch Professional Printed Circuit Boards, March 1966 Popular Electronics - RF CafeIt's a good thing that ferric chloride does not turn unstable and explosive after sitting in the dark for many years or I might be in trouble. My bottle was bought back when Radio Shack was the electronic hobbyists local source for project parts. There is probably not much demand for either ferric chloride, FeCl3, or ammonium persulfate, (NH4)2S2O8, these days since fewer people are making their own printed circuit boards (PCB's) and there is a host of companies who offer low quantity PCB fabrication at a good price. However, for those who still engage in home brew projects and want an alternative to point-to ...

How Low (in Frequency) Can You Go?

How Low (in Frequency) Can You Go? - RF Cafe

Lou Frenzel - who writes on various topics du jour - has a short article titled "How Low (in Frequency) Can You Go?," on the Microwaves & RF website. He gives a few examples of application of the electromagnetic spectrum bands below 15 MHz. Among them is the 160/190 kHz band, which is a Part 15 unlicensed region for ISM applications. It is fairly empty and begging for use. Of course the AM commercial radio broadcast band still occupies 535-1,705 kHz (I listen there daily). Also mentioned is the newly salvaged (after the USAF abandoned it), 33-acre High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) antenna in Alaska. Per Lou, "HAARP research is not for weather control" --- That's a joke, son ...

Nanomagnetic Devices and the Zero Field Switching Effect

Nanomagnetic Devices and the Zero Field Switching Effect - RF Cafe"Scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology as well as John Hopkins University have discovered a powerful phenomenon that could improve memory and computing devices in a number of ways. This phenomenon is known as zero field switching (ZFS). Scientists believe it could be key to creating smaller, lower-power computing and memory devices than ever before. The phenomenon begins with a layering of platinum and tungsten over a cobalt-iron-boron magnet. This is sandwiched between gold electrodes that have been placed ..."

Monday 26

Elon Musk Deletes Facebook Accounts for SpaceX & Tesla

Elon Musk Deletes Facebook Accounts - RF CafeWhile I don't agree with everything Elon Musk says and does, I have a great deal of respect for his technical acumen and willingness to push the frontiers of technology forward. He has helped to fill the gap in space vehicle research while NASA concentrated instead on reaching out to a particular religious group. Musk made electric cars cool. He recently announced his intention to remove SpaceX and Tesla Facebook pages after news broke of continued massive data breeches on the social venue. RF Cafe no longer posts there, either BTW - only on LinkedIn and on Twitter ...

The Tangled Fate of Graphene and 5G

The Tangled Fate of Graphene and 5G - RF Cafe"These two technologies have long been hyped, and proponents of each are finally starting to work together. Graphene has been heralded as a 'wonder material' for well over a decade now, and 5G has been marketed as the next big thing for at least the past five years. Analysts have suggested that 5G could be the golden ticket to virtual reality and artificial intelligence, and promised that graphene could improve technologies within electronics and optoelectronics. But proponents of both graphene and 5G have also been accused of stirring up hype. There now seems to be ..."

RCA Institutes Home Training Ad

RCA Institutes Home Training Ad, March 1965 Popular Electronics - RF CafeAs one who enthusiastically followed the manned space program from its early days in the 1960's, reading news stories and magazine articles on new technology and research never ceases to amaze me. When China or Russia flies the next man to the moon, the level of fanfare will be more focused on how the U.S. is no longer considered the leader than on how much more improved technology is and how much lower the risk is. We now have over a million total hours of men living in space versus a thousand or so in 1969. Semiconductors have totally replaced vacuum tubes - with vastly better capability and ruggedness. Mechanics and ...

Many Thanks to ConductRF for Continued Support!

ConductRF coaxial cables & connectors - RF CafeConductRF is continually innovating and developing new and improved solutions for RF Interconnect needs. See the latest TESTeCON RF Test Cables for labs. ConductRF makes production and test coax cable assemblies as well as standard & precision RF connectors. Over 1,000 solutions for low PIM in-building to choose from in the iBwave component library. They also provide custom coax solutions for applications where some standard just won't do. Please visit ConductRF today to see how they can help your project!

World's 1st Radio Broadcast from Moving Train

World's 1st Radio Broadcast from a Moving Train - RF CafeYou might have noticed that since last November the engineering and science themed daily RF Cafe header images have been much larger than those which graced the pages in the past. The change was motivated mainly by a desire to make them more viewable on the tiny screens of mobile phones. It also gave me the opportunity to include more information. In the process, I took the occasion of being on each daily engineering and technology history page to check on the validity of the long ago included hyperlinks to pages which validated dates of events. Use Wikipedia was avoided because of the joke-worthy reputation it had for bogus ...

STRATCOM Leader Pushes Back on Space Force Idea

STRATCOM Leader Pushes Back on Space Force Idea - RF Cafe"The head of U.S. Strategic Command said the nation doesn't need a 'Space Force' right now. 'I think that someday we'll have a Space Corps and Space Force in this country. But I don't think the time is right for that right now,' STRATCOM's Commander Gen. John Hyten said during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing March 20 to discuss fiscal 2019 budget priorities. Hyten's response followed comments President Donald Trump made earlier this month in a speech to the military in San Diego ..."

Sunday 25

RF Cafe Engineering & Science Crossword Puzzle March 25

RF Cafe Engineering & Science Crossword Puzzle March 25, 2018Each week, for the sake of all avid cruciverbalists amongst us, I create a new technology-themed crossword puzzle using only words from my custom-created lexicon related to engineering, science, mathematics, chemistry, physics, astronomy, etc. You will never find among the words names of politicians, mountain ranges, exotic foods or plants, movie stars, or anything of the sort. You might, however, see someone or something in the exclusion list who or that is directly related to this puzzle's theme, such as Hedy Lamar or the Bikini Atoll, respectively ...

Friday 23

Old World Standards Breaking Through: Reader Response

Old World Standards Breaking Through - Reader Response, August 1966 Popular Electronics - RF CafePopular Electronics reader Frederic D. Barber, Jr., was having none of the newfangled designations for standard physical units as reported in the April 1966 issue. He, and evidently many others, was not ready to accept the replacement of terms such as cycles per second (cps) with Hertz (Hz), or seemingly any other change that included honoring a person by using his/her name. We don't know whether ...

STRATCOM Leader Pushes Back on Space Force Idea

STRATCOM Leader Pushes Back on Space Force Idea - RF Cafe"The head of U.S. Strategic Command said the nation doesn't need a 'Space Force' right now. 'I think that someday we'll have a Space Corps and Space Force in this country. But I don't think the time is right for that right now,' STRATCOM's Commander Gen. John Hyten said during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing March 20 to discuss fiscal 2019 budget priorities. Hyten's response followed comments President Donald Trump made earlier this month in a speech to the military in San Diego ..."

Old World Standards Breaking Through

Old World Standards Breaking Through, April 1966 Popular Electronics - RF CafeMaking format changes to magazines after many years of an established standard always ruffles the figurative feathers of a significant portion of regular readers. Two magazines I read monthly, Model Aviation and QST, recently underwent a format change - both of which I considered very nice. However, reader comments in the aftermath showed a few who were not impressed. Popular Electronics magazine in 1966 made announcements regarding plans to adopt some of the newer base units for physical measurements, including this one for beginning to use "Hertz" (Hz), along with its various ...

3 New App Notes from Rohde & Schwarz

Digital Pre-Distortion, Envelope, Outphasing and Doherty Transmitter - RF CafeThree new application notes are available from Rohde & Schwarz on the topics of:

- Envelope Tracking and Digital Predistortion for RF Amplifiers, Outphasing

- Envelope and Doherty Transmitter T&M

- Wideband mm−Wave Signal Generation and Analysis.

As always, they can be downloaded at no charge.

Canadian Radio Amateur Finds Resurrected NASA Satellite

Canadian Radio Amateur Finds Resurrected NASA Satellite - RF Cafe"When he's not on ham radio, Scott Tilley, VE7TIL, an amateur astronomer, hunts spy satellites. Using an S-band radio from his home in Roberts Creek, British Columbia, Tilley routinely scans the skies for radio signals from classified objects orbiting Earth, according to a recent article on Spaceweather.com. Since starting 5 years ago, Tilley has located dozens of secret or unlisted satellites. Earlier this month, while hunting for ZUMA - an undisclosed US government spacecraft lost in a January 8 launch mishap - when he saw the signature of IMAGE (Imager for Magnetopause-to-Aurora Global Exploration) ..."

Thursday 22

Mystifying Physics of Paint-on Semiconductors

Mystifying Physics of Paint-on Semiconductors - RF Cafe"It defies conventional wisdom about semiconductors. It's baffling that it even works. It eludes physics models that try to explain it. This newly tested class of light-emitting semiconductors is so easy to produce from solution that it could be painted onto surfaces to light up our future in myriad colors shining from affordable lasers, LEDs, and even window glass. These materials are very radiant. The nagging question of whether hybrid organic-inorganic perovskites (HOIPs) could really work just ..."

The MOSFET

The MOSFET, May 1973 Popular Electronics - RF CafeThe metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) was patented in its present form by Bell Labs in 1959, following the original patent by inventor Julius Edgar Lilienfeld, in 1925. It had only been on the open market for designers to use for a bit over a decade when this article appeared in Popular Electronics. Adolph Mangieri wrote a number of articles for the magazine in the early 1970s introducing readers to the many new types of semiconductor devices coming out of research laboratories and into the commercial marketplace; e.g., "Understanding the Junction Field Effect Transistor." MOSFET's are nowadays the primary building ...

Transient Specialists Offers Automotive Immunity Transient Test Generator

Transient Specialists Offers Automotive EMC Immunity Transient Test Generator - RF CafeTransient Specialists, a leader in electromagnetic compatibility rentals for over 30 years, announces that they will be offering rentals of the NSG 5500 by Teseq this coming May. This compact Automotive immunity transient test generator allows for testing for to meet standards of ISO, SAE, DIN and JASO, and many others. 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 ...

Encyclopedia of Electronic Components Volumes 1, 2 & 3

Encyclopedia of Electronic Components Volumes 1, 2 & 3 - RF CafeNot everyone who visits RF Cafe is a seasoned hobbyist, technician, or engineer. Some are newcomers to the realm and are in search of knowledge to educate and encourage them. This 3-volume set of Encyclopedia of Electronic Components is a contemporary printing of modern day parts. All standard passive and active types are covered, as are topics like sensors and human input, audio, heat, light, sound, and much more. A couple hundred reviewers give the books 4.5 stars ...

Radio Shack Has Some Good Prices on Clearance Items

Radio Shack Still Open for Business - RF CafeBelieve it or not Radio Shack is still open for business both online and in some brick and mortar locations. They have some really good prices on clearance (aka going out of business) parts that you might need. I just ordered some connector adapters, coin cell batteries, and antenna mount kit for dirt cheap. Shipping is free for a minimum $39 purchase. Use coupon code RADIO15 to get an additional 15% discount ...

mm-Wave Far More Resilient Than Expected

mm-Wave Far More Resilient Than Expected - RF Cafe"Millimeter wave signals were more found to be more robust than expected and provided high speeds - although not gigabit speeds - at distances of several thousand feet from a node, Signals Research Group found in recent testing of Verizon's 28 GHz fixed wireless access network in Houston. 'Millimeter wave signals are far more resilient than we expected, even at distances exceeding several thousand feet. Tree foliage, passing school buses, buildings, glass ..."

Wednesday 21

Anatech Electronics Newsletter - March 2018

Anatech Electronics Newsletter for March 2018 - RF CafeAnatech Electronics, a manufacturer of RF and microwave filters, has published its February newsletter. In it, Sam Benzacar notes the impressive of rapid transformation of T-Mobile from virtual insignificance in the wireless world to the top of the hill. He cites Open Signal's January 2018 report titled, "State of the Networks: USA" as evidence. Sam offers his take on the reason for T-Mobile's success and for why Verizon and AT&T fell behind. As usual, it's a worthwhile read ...

Spark Kicks off 5G Era in New Zealand with Live Trial

Spark Kicks off 5G Era in New Zealand with Live Trial - RF Cafe"New Zealand telecom operator Spark announced what it claims to be the country's first live 5G mobile test site in Wellington. The 5G trial used equipment and technical support from Chinese vendor Huawei. It will test speeds, coverage and the parameters of the spectrum in a real-world environment, and run throughout March connecting equipment in a specialized vehicle drive-testing the streets of Wellington. 'We intend to be at the forefront of deploying this technology in New Zealand once ..."

The Connubially-Oriented Computer of Otto Tronix

The Connubially-Oriented Computer of Otto Tronix, July 1966 Popular Electronics - RF CafeAdmittedly, I needed to look up the meaning of "connubial" when seeing the title of this tongue-in-cheek article by Carl Kohler in the July 1969 issue of Popular Electronics magazine. Nobody knows for sure whether the over-enthusiastic starring male in the series of techie stories that ran in Popular Electronics magazine in the 1950s was actually Carl himself or an alter ego version of himself. Carl was also the artist of numerous tech-related comics. This episode deviates a bit from the already-married type to report on the exploits of born loser Otto Tronix ...

ARRL Urges FCC to Reinstate Noise Floor Study

ARRL Urges FCC to Reinstate Noise Floor Study - RF Cafe"It seems like the FCC's recent interest in doing an in depth study of the growing RF spectrum noise floor has taken a new twist. The FCC's apparent lack of real action in gathering the data needed to make serious inroads into RF noise pollution has drawn the attention of the ARRL, which voiced their concerns in a recent ARRL Letter as well as in their formal response to the FCC. The ARRL 'took the opportunity to strongly urge the FCC to reinstate a 2016 TAC noise floor study, which, ARRL asserted, apparently was terminated before it even got started.' It would seem ..."

Group Delay Measurements with Signal and Spectrum Analyzers

Group Delay Measurements with Signal and Spectrum Analyzers - RF CafeThe available bandwidth of RF channels are often limited by the bandpass characteristic of filters, amplifiers and mixers. Detecting amplitude flatness and phase distortion is crucial in characterizing the quality of a transmission channel. The amplitude flatness within the used bandwidth may have an influence on the signal quality. Knowledge about phase distortion is essential to maintain low bit error rates in data transmissions and VNAs commonly perform amplitude flatness and phase distortion measurements ...

Analysts Predict >500 Million NB-IoT Connected Devices by 2025

Analysts Predict Over 500 Million NB-IoT Connected Devices in Use by 2025 - RF Cafe"Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) has reached critical mass as network operators all over the world have announced their deployment plans. Last year, the NB-IoT market was driven by a handful of operators, primarily in Asia and Europe. U.S. operators Verizon, Sprint and T-Mobile have started to fast track their NB-IoT development. By the end of 2018, most of the U.S., Europe and Asia Pacific will be covered by at least one NB-IoT network. Despite the early lead by unlicensed Low Power Wide Area ..."

Tuesday 20

A New Way to Gauge Growth of Nanowires

A New Way to Gauge Growth of Nanowires - RF Cafe"In a new study, researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Argonne and Brookhaven National Laboratories observed the formation of two kinds of defects in individual nanowires, which are smaller in diameter than a human hair. These nanowires, made of indium gallium arsenide, could be useful for a wide range of applications in a field scientists have termed optoelectronics, which encompasses devices that work by converting light energy into electrical impulses. Fiber optic relays are a good example ..."

MEMS Technology Shrinks Loudspeakers

MEMS Technology Shrinks Loudspeakers  - RF Cafe"Miniature MEMS-based speakers could revolutionize speech and music reproduction in mobile communication devices. They combine the advantages of a large frequency bandwidth and high acoustic quality with the ability to generate very high sound levels. Nevertheless, they are so tiny that they can be integrated into headphones. Such micro-loudspeakers were developed by the Fraunhofer Institutes for Digital Media Technology (IDMT) and Silicon Technology (ISIT). MEMS technology stands for microelectromechanical systems and combines classical ..."

Microwave Power Diodes

Microwave Power Diodes, July 1969 Electronics World - RF CafeEveryone who is interested enough in microwave diodes to read this article surely knows* what IMPATT, GUNN, and PIN diodes are, but have you heard of Read-effect, TRAPATT, LSA, or QMD diodes? If not, it is likely because you entered the microwaves field long after 1969 when this edition of Electronics World was mailed to subscribers. Device improvement and obsolescence accounts for familiarity with the former and unfamiliarity with the latter, respectively. The article below by two Sylvania Electronic Products engineers describes the properties of various up-and- ...

Webinar: Introduction to Radar

Introduction to Radar Webinar - RF CafeMicrowave Journal is conducting along with National Instruments and Wolfspeed a webinar titled, "Introduction to Radar," on Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at 11:00 AM. Mr. Scott Bullock presents on the topics of radar detection and ranging, pulse vs. CW, radar modulation, radar path budget, basic radar equation, radar range equation, range ambiguity and mitigation, maximum and minimum detectable range, and more ...

Receiving Antennas for the Radio Amateur

Receiving Antennas for the Radio Amateur - RF CafeHere is a brand new book being offered by the ARRL: Receiving Antennas for the Radio Amateur, by Eric P Nichols (KL7AJ). "Although the fundamental characteristics of antennas apply to both transmission and reception, the requirements and priorities of receiving antennas can be vastly different from those of transmitting antennas. Receiving Antennas for the Radio Amateur focuses entirely on active and passive receiving antennas and their associated circuits. There are relatively few cases where a radio amateur ..."

5G to Alter RF Front-End Landscape

5G to Alter RF Front-End Landscape - RF Cafe"While the mobile industry is done with its annual Mobile World lovefest - held last month in Barcelona - tech suppliers, system OEMs, and mobile operators now face a host of 5G obstacles not yet overcome. In fact, they're just getting started. The technical issues of 5G are manifold. Among them, smart antennas and RF front ends for 5G mmWave - typically expected to operate at frequencies such as 28 GHz, 39 GHz, or 60 GHz - could seriously affect the performance of yet-to-emerge 5G mmWave mobile phones ..."

Monday 19

What Is the Role of Satellite Communications in 5G?

What Is the Role of Satellite Communications in 5G? - RF Cafe"Satellite communications have been in use for decades now, providing connectivity to remote areas, acting as backup in disaster relief situations, and being a major access mechanism for TV in certain parts of the world. Satellite use has been vital for government, military, and remote operations, while geostationary orbit (GEO) satellites are providing global coverage for voice, TV, and, in some cases, broadband Internet services. The telco industry is now working toward the standardization and commercialization of the next generation of cellular standards ..."

High Exposure Advertising Plan Now Includes a 728x90-px Banner

High Exposure Advertising Plan Now Includes a 728x90-px Banner - RF CafeIn an ongoing effort to provide the best return on investment to RF Cafe website sponsors (aka advertisers), I have decided to allocate the 728x90-pixel banner ad slot at the bottom of all web pages to companies who participate in the High Exposure plan. That is in addition to the other features that have always been included. The cost is still only $150 per month; i.e., no price increase. A full list of advertising options is available on the Sponsorship Rates page, but just the features which are part of the High Exposure plan are highlighted in the screen capture ...

Electrochemistry Quiz

Electrochemistry Quiz, March 1966 Popular Electronics - RF CafeA lot of RF Cafe visitors might not be familiar with some of the electronic devices presented in this Electrochemistry Quiz by Popular Electronics' resident quizmaster, Robert Balin (a big list of his other quizzes is at the bottom of the page). I offer my assistance. A is a photocell, B is an early type of rectifier, C is a varistor, D is a cathode ray tube (CRT), E is an electrolytic capacitor, F is a heated cathode in a vacuum tube, G is a flashlight battery, H is an early receiver crystal detector, I is a magnetic audio recording tape, and J is phonograph cartridge. I scored ...

Codan Radio Communications in the Arctic

Codan Radio Communications in the Arctic - RF Cafe"During Exercise Northern Warrior 2018, 35 Canadian Brigade Group (35 CBG) Communications Detachment did an impressive job of testing and solving problems. The detachment's two objectives were to provide high-quality communications to the Arctic Response Company Group (ACG) personnel and test new equipment in an arctic environment. 'The arid and austere environment of the Canadian Arctic requires effective communications. The work done by the G6 35 GBC team has undoubtedly demonstrated the relevance of the HF communications that are essential to operate effectively in this hostile climate ..."

3-D Measurements Improve Understanding of Geomagnetic Storms

3-D Measurements Improve Understanding of Geomagnetic Storm Hazards - RF Cafe"Measurements of the three-dimensional structure of the earth, as opposed to the one-dimensional models typically used, can help scientists more accurately determine which areas of the United States are most vulnerable to blackouts during hazardous geomagnetic storms. Space weather events such as geomagnetic storms can disturb the earth's magnetic field, interfering with electric power grids, radio communication, GPS systems, satellite operations, oil and gas drilling and air travel. Scientists use models of the earth's structure and measurements of Earth's ..."

Sunday 18

** New E-Mail Address for RF Cafe **

New E-Mail Address for RF CafeEarthlink no longer provides Internet service in the Erie area, and they want to charge a monthly fee to retain the current e-mail address, which is not worth the expense. Accordingly, please note that effective immediately RF Cafe's primary e-mail address will be kirtrfc@aol.com. The Earthlink e-mail will be kept for a month or two so as not to miss any useful message, but please begin using the Yahoo e-mail now. I apologize for any inconvenience.

RF Cafe Engineering & Science Crossword Puzzle for March 18

RF Cafe Engineering & Science Crossword Puzzle March 18, 2018For the sake of all the avid cruciverbalists amongst us, each week I create a new technology-themed crossword puzzle using only words from my custom-created lexicon related to engineering, science, mathematics, chemistry, physics, astronomy, etc. You will never find among the words names of politicians, mountain ranges, exotic foods or plants, movie stars, or anything of the sort. You might, however, see someone or something in the exclusion list who or that is directly related to this puzzle's theme, such as Hedy Lamar or the Bikini Atoll, respectively. Enjoy! ...

Friday 16

Methods of Suppressing PIM in Multicarrier Systems

Methods of Suppressing PIM in Multicarrier Systems - RF CafeSteve Ellis, product manager at Pasternack, wrote an article titled, "Methods of Suppressing PIM in Multicarrier Systems," that appeared in the February 2018 issue of Microwaves & RF magazine. "Passive intermodulation distortion (PIM) - the nonlinear effects that are observed from the passive components (i.e. antennas, cables, connectors, power dividers, and mixers) of a system at high signal levels - is a phenomena of particular relevance in wireless infrastructures dedicated to the propagation of vast amounts of traffic. Cellular and ...

Comics with an Electronics Theme, March 1967 Popular Electronics

Comics with an Electronics Theme, March 1967 Popular Electronics - RF CafeHere are a couple more electronics-themed comics from the March 1967 issue of Popular Electronics magazine for your TGIF enjoyment. The comic on page 100 especially appeals to me since I am finishing the installation of a Channel Master CM-5020 antenna. It has been a long time since I installed a traditional style TV antenna - about 40 years ago when I put a Radio Shack antenna on the roof of my mother's house. The entire 109" long by 100" wide antenna, including mounting hardware, weighs only 11.5 pounds and presents a wind resistance of 30 pounds. This is Channel Master's best antenna ...

Existence of New Form of Electronic Matter Demonstrated

Existence of New Form of Electronic Matter Demonstrated - RF Cafe"Researchers have produced a 'human scale' demonstration of a new phase of matter called quadrupole topological insulators that was recently predicted using theoretical physics. These are the first experimental findings to validate this theory. The researchers report their findings in the journal Nature. The team's work with QTIs was born out of the decade-old understanding of the properties of a class of materials called topological insulators. 'TIs are electrical insulators on the inside and ..."

8th RF & Microwave Paris Exposé

8th RF & Microwave Paris Exposé - RF Cafe

The 8th RF & Microwave Paris Exposé will be held March 21 & 22, 2018, at Porte de Versailles, Paris, France. Vendors will have products on exhibit, and conferences include EMC and RF simulation, IoT and Radio, Reliability of Components and Electronic Systems, GaN for Microwave Applications , Antennas Made by 3D Printing, GaN for Microwave Applications, Evolution ...

Arecibo Radio Observatory Saved from Closure

Arecibo Radio Observatory Saved from Closure - RF Cafe"The Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico has been saved following an agreement signed by a consortium led by the University of Central Florida (UCF) in Orlando. The announcement was made on 22 February by the National Science Foundation (NSF), which has been looking for an alternative sponsor for the iconic, 305 m-diameter radio telescope since 2006. The NSF currently spends around $8M a year to keep Arecibo operating. The final impetus for the NSF to find new funding sources came in September 2017 when the telescope was damaged by Hurricane Maria ..."