Bug Sniffers
Kirt's Cogitations™ #154

RF Cafe University "Factoids," "Kirt's Cogitations," and "Tech Topics Smorgasbord" are all manifestations of my ranting on various subjects relevant (usually) to the overall RF Cafe theme. All may be accessed on these pages:

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Bug Sniffers

Back in the early days of digital computers, engineers would often troubleshoot hardware by writing "musical software." Portable AM radios would be used as "sniffers" in circuit areas where tubes and/or relays would be turning on and off with rhythms that were determined by the test software. If the chosen familiar tune did not sound as it should, then the problem could be deduced to be associated with that area of the processor known to be controlled by the program.

Anatech Electronics RF & Microwave Filters - RF Cafe Website

RF Cafe began life in 1996 as "RF Tools" in an AOL screen name web space totaling 2 MB. Its primary purpose was to provide me with ready access to commonly needed formulas and reference material while performing my work as an RF system and circuit design engineer. The World Wide Web (Internet) was largely an unknown entity at the time and bandwidth was a scarce commodity. Dial-up modems blazed along at 14.4 kbps while tying up your telephone line, and a lady's voice announced "You've Got Mail" when a new message arrived...