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Tuesday 31
 Unlike with the Mac's Service Shop episodes that typically
were published in monthly issues that jived with the story setting, the Carl & Jerry plots
did not necessarily correspond with the month in which they appeared. To wit, this "How
to Haunt a House" story appeared in the February edition of Popular Electronics.
I saved it for Halloween. As always, author John Frye mixes technical descriptions with the
storyline to lend credibility to the teens' escapades. Modern teenagers might use slightly
different methods and materials, but the end results are the came. Enjoy the adventure ...
 Although not routinely referred to as plasma displays
at the time, the "thin TV displays" reported in this 1973 article in Popular Electronics
magazine was one of the first instances of commercially viable schemes. According to Wikipedia,
Fujitsu introduced the first full-color
plasma display panel (PDP) in 1992 - with a 21" screen - two decades after this device
80x212-pixel monochrome designed by Zenith. I remember seeing the 42" Fujitsu plasma TVs in
Best Buy with a $10,000 price tag sometime in the mid 1990s, which jives with Fujitsu's stated
plan of selling the first units at around ...
 A few days ago, Mr. Adam Guha sent me a short note along
with a couple of photos of a vintage
Crosley
Model 03CB console radio that he refurbished for a friend. Note that unlike the Crosley
03CB that I refinished, Adam's still has the striped burl trim pattern on the chassis and
dowels in front of the speaker - very nice! They appeared to be plastic decals because when
I stripped the varnish off mine, they melted away. It would have been nice if it was actual
wood veneer with that pattern. Said Adam: "I found your website upon searching to see who
else had a Crosley 03CB and what issues they had with it. Very nice job on the cabinet on
yours, it's tough to deal ...
 Saelig has introduced the Kaltman Invisible
Waves
RF-ResQ™ (Receiver Enhancement System) - an eight-channel antenna signal processor that
can open up portions of unusable RF spectra, while substantially reducing channel interference.
Working with industry standard antennas and with both analog and digital wireless microphones
in the 470 MHz to 928 MHz range, this solution solves many of the RF congestion
issues that plague the professional audio industry. Housed in a rugged 1U rackmount unit,
the RF-ResQ is a standalone wireless microphone ...
 "In their search for silicon-compatible
photonic materials for the on-chip integration of optical communications,
a group of researchers at MIT investigated MoTe2, a two-dimensional transition-metal dichalcogenide
(TMD) yielding promising results. While III–V light sources grown on silicon through heteroepitaxy
suffer from inherent lattice mismatch and surface defects (as well as requiring high process
temperatures which may damage underlying CMOS circuitry), 2D MoTe2 layers can be directly
adhered to a silicon substrate via van der Waals interactions. Publishing their ..."
Monday 30
 "This week, Albert Einstein's 'Theory of Happiness'
fetched a record
$1.56 million at a Jerusalem auction house. If you're thinking this is
a misprint from an editor or an unreleased companion piece to the Theory of Relativity, you're
wrong. It's actually no more than a couple of hand-written notes. The story behind why the
note was written, however, is almost as interesting as the document itself. In 1922, a relatively
young Albert Einstein was a guest at the Imperial Hotel in Tokyo. His star was definitely
on the rise in this ..."
 If you are a seasoned reader of episodes of "Mac's
Service Shop," you might have noticed that the stories almost always begin with either
Mac or Barney commenting on the weather, which corresponds to the time of year in which the
story was originally published. Note the reference to the "bleak, cold November morning" in
this November edition of Popular Electronics. This time around, the boss and trusty
employee discuss the value of electronics kits, Heathkits in particular. BTW, Heathkit is
now making an impressive comeback into the kit realm with new designs. Manuals for some of
the more popular vintage Heathkit projects are available again, which are a welcome thing ...
 "When a spacecraft falls to earth, where does it end
up? Most fallen large satellites, space stations, and other space objects end up in
Point Nemo, an area miles off the southeast coast of New Zealand. It's
also referred to as the most remote place on Earth. 'It's in the Pacific Ocean and is pretty
much the farthest place from any human civilization you can find,' NASA reiterated. Astronauts
aboard the International Space Station (ISS) orbit closer to this spacecraft graveyard than
any other object on earth. ISS orbits 250 miles above Earth. This graveyard ..."
 Fairview Microwave Inc., a supplier of on-demand
microwave and RF components, has launched a new line of
low-PIM, plenum-rated SPP-250-LLPL cable assemblies for use in wireless
infrastructure. Typical applications include multi-carrier communication systems, indoor wireless
systems, distributed antenna systems (DAS) and PIM testing. Fairview's 36 new low-PIM jumper
cables feature a maximum PIM level of -155 dBc and are made with UL910 plenum-rated SPP-250-LLPL
cable. The PIM levels ...
Sunday 29
 For the sake of avid
cruciverbalists amongst us, each week I create a new technology-themed crossword puzzle
using only words related to engineering, science, mathematics, chemistry, physics, astronomy,
etc. At least 10 clues in this puzzle with an asterisk (*) are pulled from
this past week's (10/23 - 10/27) "Tech Industry Headlines" column on the RF Cafe homepage
(see the Headline Archives page for help). Enjoy ...
Friday 27
 Precision Ruggedized VNA Cables from ConductRF offer
RF Engineers great alternatives to costly OEM cables that are now past their best days. We
have many standards for applications at 18 GHz, 27 GHz and 40 GHz. Our torque
resistant connector heads and phase stable constructions ensure great performance for many
tests to come. ConductRF VNA series provides customers with reliable ruggedized solutions
for lab and production VNA testing ...
 "Researchers have discovered a new way to produce high
energy photon beams. The new method makes it possible to produce these
gamma rays in a highly efficient way, compared with today's technique.
The obtained energy is a billion times higher than the energy of photons in visible light.
These high intensity gamma rays significantly exceed all known limits, and pave the way towards
new fundamental studies. 'When we exceed the limit of what is currently possible, we ..."
 Phased-locked loop (PLL)
oscillator circuits are the standard implementation for tunable frequency sources these days,
as opposed to LC tank circuits with either mechanical (variable capacitor and/or inductor)
or electrical (varactor) control elements. Crystal oscillators have been around for many decades,
nearly a century in fact, but it was not until the advent of PLL circuitry using solid state
digital ICs that such stability and accuracy was available across a wide range of frequencies.
As author Klaus Peter states, using a huge bank of fixed frequency crystals with selector
switches, even when using double and triple conversion schemes, is totally impractical from
physical implementation, production, and cost perspectives. These ...
 Here is a great opportunity to help design products
that millions of people will use. The
Sr. RF Design Engineer will play a central role in the development and design of important
new products where RF performance is very important for our remote controls and connected
products. You will be able to take pride in seeing your designs used by your friends, neighbors,
and in seeing them on the shelves at home stores. This highly visible senior role will involve
close collaboration with the rest of the new product development team to produce new sub-gigahertz
(UHF) remote ...
 "Brown University researchers have demonstrated for
the first time a method of substantially changing the spatial coherence of light. In a paper
published in the journal Science Advances, the researchers show that they can use surface
plasmon polaritons - propagating electromagnetic waves confined at a metal-dielectric
interface - to transform light from completely incoherent to almost fully coherent and vice
versa. The ability to modulate coherence could be useful in a wide variety of ..."
Thursday 26
 "Electronics design is often limited by the shape of
the battery - a critical, but frequently uncompromising product component. A new kind of battery
conforms to meet the specific shape of a given device. The battery, developed by the Columbus,
Ohio-based technology R&D company Battelle, won the Consumer category award in this year's
'Create the Future' Design Contest. Steven Risser, Research Leader at Battelle, spoke with
Tech Briefs about how the battery innovation could radically impact design as consumers ..."
 For many years now I have been scanning and posting
Radio Service Data Sheets like this one featuring the
Clarion De Luxe Models AC-280 and 25-280, 12-tube superheterodyne radio receiver. There
are still many people who restore and service these vintage radios, and often it can be difficult
or impossible to find schematics and/or tuning information. The
Majestic Model 290 is a tabletop, vacuum tube, superheterodyne radio receiver of the popular
'tombstone' configuration. Grigsby-Grunow produced radios under the trade name of "Majestic."
 I have noticed with my reading of the history of radio
communications that in the early days - during Marconi's time - most people referred to radio
as "wireless." A person would say he has a "wireless set" or "wireless receiver" in his home.
Sometime around World War II the vernacular migrated to speaking of "radio." That lasted
through the mid to late 1990s as the current "wireless" phenomenon took hold. Everything today
is "wireless," even though you and I know that means a radio of some sort is involved. Even
smartphones are a form of radio - but don't tell your typical Millennial that lest a safe
space be breached.
 "U.S. Air Force researchers are kicking off a program
to develop new trusted computing microelectronics technologies to enable broader use of
commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) electronic components in military systems.
Officials of the Air Force Research Laboratory have issued a presolicitation (FA8650-18-S-1201)
for the Assured and Trusted Microelectronics Solutions (ATMS) ..."
 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 ...
Wednesday 25
 "Tech workers of all ages think older engineers are
highly qualified, have good experience, and can share wisdom. But many older engineers are
worried about losing their jobs as the tech workforce skews heavily towards Millennials. That's
the conclusion of a survey of 1011 currently employed U.S. tech workers conducted by job site
Indeed.com. The study had a number of startling - and some not so surprising - takeaways.
First surprise: an
'old' tech worker is defined as over 40 ..."
 You probably know that it was Scottish engineer Robert
Watson-Watt who pioneered the first successful radar systems. During World War II,
America benefitted from improved magnetron designs from Great Britain to help build both ground-based
air defense radars and, later in the war, airborne radars. This article from a 1972 issue
of Popular Electronics reports on state-of-the-art
marine radars from England for pleasure boats. In 1972, a radar with a 16-mile range was
priced at around $2,000, which is equivalent to a little more than $11,000 in 2017 dollars.
By comparison, you can now buy a compact microprocessor-controlled color marine radar ...
 "Air Force officials at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
are working with microwave experts from companies including Raytheon and Booz Allen Hamilton
to conduct experiments with high power electromagnetic (HPEM)
technology. The work offers the potential to enhance missile defense and electronic warfare
capabilities. 'AFRL will innovate the technology for future warfighter needs,' said Erin Pettyjohn,
Deputy Division Chief of the High Power Electromagnetics Division of the Air Force Research
Laboratory Directed Energy Directorate ..."
 Telegartner Inc. has been added to the
Coaxial Connectors &
Adapters and Coaxial Cables vendor
page listings. Per their website: "From the bell wire to the fibre optic cable." Since the
company was set up in 1945, Telegärtner has seen steady growth and has continually expanded
its range in response to market demands. Now one of the top addresses for coaxial connectors,
network components, high-precision turned parts, plastic injection mouldings, industrial electronics
and cable assembly ...
 Wednesday, October 24, 1 hour beginning at 11:00
am EST. In this "RF Co-Site Interference Simulation in Complex Electromagnetic Environments"
webinar presented  by Patrick DeRoy, we will
demonstrate how a 3D full-wave simulation can be used to analyze the antenna to antenna coupling
for an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS). The coupling data will then be used to estimate possible
RF interference using the CST Studio Suite Interference Task ...
 Rohde & Schwarz presents new vector network analyzer
calibration equipment: the R&S ZN-Z32 and
R&S ZN-Z33 inline calibration units. These calibration units are ideal
for satellite component testing in thermal vacuum chambers (TVAC) and for multiport component
testing on production lines. Unlike conventional automatic network analyzer calibration units,
the new R&S ZN-Z32/33 inline calibration units from Rohde & Schwarz are permanently
connected to the test setup ...
Tuesday 24
 "Amateur Radio's two newest bands came to life on Friday
the 13th. Both 630 meters (472-479 kHz) and 2200 meters (135.7-137.8 kHz) bands now are available
to radio amateurs who have notified the
Utilities Technology Council (UTC) of their intention to operate and did
not hear anything back during the ensuing 30 days. 'Many of us filed notices with the Utilities
Technology Council on September 15, the day the notification procedure was announced,' said
Fritz Raab, W1FR, who coordinated the ARRL WD2XSH 630-Meter Experiment ..."
 Electro-Photonics LLC, a market leader in RF and Microwave
components has released a new broadband surface mount (SMT) hybrid coupler:
Q3XB-4000R. Our new Q3XB-4000R, 90° hybrid coupler operates from 1.7-6 GHz,
dissipates 85 W, and offers excellent coupling flatness and isolation for the most critical
applications. This coupler has a very small package of .560 x .200 inches (14.22 mm x 5.08
mm). The Q3XB-4000R is manufactured in the USA, and is RoHS compliant ...
 The April 1973 issue of Popular Electronics
concentrated on
antennas for everything from citizens band (CB) radios to televisions and amateur radio.
This article covers a compact, multi-band Ham antenna with a minimal level of skill and components
required. Construction tips are given. It includes the popular 10-, 15-, 20-, 40-, and 80-meter
bands. Standing wave ratio (SWR) plots are shown for all four bands ...
 Since it was established in 1979, 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, we have established
a full line of filters of all types. They offer the generally known tubular, LC, cavity, and
waveguide designs, as well as state of the art high performance suspended substrate models.
Please contact Reactel today to see how they might help your project ...
 "The 12th Annual
ARRL On-Line Auction is on, with more than 250 items up for bid this year.
The list includes QST Product Review gear - already ARRL Lab tested - as well as vintage books,
previously owned gear, and one-of-a-kinds. The ARRL Lab team also has contributed four of
the very popular 'mystery boxes.' Some of the premier Product Review items up for bid include
the FlexRadio Systems FLEX-6500 SDR transceiver and updated SmartSDR software for Windows,
Elecraft KX2 HF QRP transceiver, Kenwood ..."
Monday 23
 Saelig announces the availability of the
TekBox
EMCView Pre-compliance Testing Software. This PC-compatible software simplifies the process
of EMC pre-compliance testing of radiated and conducted emissions. EMCView complements an
emissions test setup of a spectrum analyzer, an LISN (Line Impedance Stabilization Networks)
and an EMI-quiet TEM Cell. Built-in amplitude correction provides the correction and conversion
coefficients for cables, amplifiers, attenuators, LISNs, TEM cells, antennas, RF ...
 This article on
noise measurement is not about electrical noise, but rather on audible noise. It appeared
in a 1973 edition of Popular Electronics magazine during an era when hi-fi stereo
equipment was becoming a big deal. Author Carl Alsen, an engineer at General Radio, reviews
methods of sound level measurement and presents values for some familiar sources. Radio manufacturers
had/have a vested interest in background noise that affects the satisfaction of their customers.
Ambient noise in all realms has been a rapidly growing problem in terms of information transmission
and reception ...
 Windfreak Technologies designs, manufactures,
 tests and sells high value USB powered and controlled
radio frequency products such as RF signal generators, RF synthesizers, RF power detectors,
mixers, up/downconverters. Worldwide customers include Europe, Australia,
 and Asia. Please contact Windfreak today to learn how
they might help you with your current project ...
Here is a great opportunity to help design products
that millions of people will use. The
Sr. RF Design Engineer will play a central role in the development and design of important
new products where RF performance is very important for our remote controls and connected
products. You will be able to take pride in seeing your designs used by your friends, neighbors,
and in seeing them on the shelves at home stores. This highly visible senior role will involve
close collaboration with the rest of the new product development team to produce new sub-gigahertz
(UHF) remote ...
 The
HumPRCTM
Series by Linx Technologies is a complete wireless remote control system. It supports
both 8-button remote control and mixed remote control/data networks. In addition to modules,
a finished remote (including plastics) is available which can be quickly modified for a customized
solution. No programming is required, making it the easiest solution to implement. The HumPRCTM
supports long-range operation at 868 MHz and 900 MHz for multi-region operation ...
Sunday 22
 For the sake of avid cruciverbalists amongst us, each
week I create a new
technology-themed crossword puzzle using only words related to engineering, science, mathematics,
chemistry, physics, astronomy, etc. At least 10 clues in this puzzle with an asterisk (*)
are pulled from this past week's (10/16 - 10/20) "Tech Industry Headlines" column on the RF
Cafe homepage (see the Headline Archives page for help). cruciverbalist: [noun]
cruci- ("cross") + verbal ("words") + -ist ("agent, person") -- A person who constructs
crosswords ...
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