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5 of the October 2020 homepage archives.
 Here are a few examples of what was considered
cutting-edge technology humor back in 1949. These three
tech-themed comics appeared in Radio-Electronics magazine.
The first one won't mean much to anyone who has never watched a television with
a cathode ray tube (CRT), but only on an LED or LCD screen. The next comic is a
bit corny and plays off the confusion some people had with the name assigned (actually
the spelling thereof) to the lower audio frequencies. The last is a pun on the extreme
measures sometimes needed to pull in a TV broadcast station before the days of cable
and satellite service.
 Listen to this
on the RF Cafe Podcast. Substitute "cellphone" for "radio" in this title
("Money in Radio Gadgets") and editorial by Hugo Gernsback and it
would fit right in with today's market of wondrous gadgetry. Prescient as always,
Mr. Gernsback describes in this 1933 issue of Radio-Craft magazine, among
other things, what we now refer to as energy harnessing to power ancillary devices
and props. He also recommends a scheme for causing 'dancing dolls' on the surface
of a table vibrated and mobilized by the sonic waves of a large speaker - a lot
like the way years later vibrating football games were made (remember them?) where
the men danced randomly across the painted metal playing field. It sounded like
a pair of electric hair clippers running...
MPDevice (MPD) has become a trustworthy and reliable company in the global RF
market as a manufacturer of passive RF devices. Included are attenuators and terminations,
coaxial connectors, adapters, and cable assemblies, DC blocks, surge arrestors,
power combiner / dividers, and directional couplers. The Korean Telecommunication
market is now entering into the era of hyperconnected society. With continuous enhancement
in R&D capabilities and quality control, MPD will continue in an effort to become
the No. 1 technologically innovative company with a focus on the emerging 5G
marketplace.
"Skyworks-SKY59272-707LF-SPST-Switch-10-6-2020.htm" target="_top">
 Skyworks is pleased to introduce the "Skyworks-SKY59272-707LF-SPST-Switch-10-6-2020.htm"
target="_top"> SKY59272-707LF a single-pole, single-throw (4xSPST) switch designed
for antenna tuning applications that require ultra-low OFF capacitance and low ON
resistance. This device offers excellent performance and ultra-high linearity for
smartphone applications operating in the 5G, LTE or GSM band space, where high performance
aperture tuning is required. In addition, an integrated MIPI logic controller and
4xSPST topology provides the flexibility to tune multiple bands on a single antenna,
which is optimal for carrier aggregation and dual connectivity. The SKY59272-707LF
builds on Skyworks' portfolio of innovative products for 5G applications...
 In response to a news item I posted about
laser printing of circuits on complex plastic surfaces, RF Cafe visitor Mike M.
sent me a link to an article on the IEEE Spectrum site titled "Goodbye, Motherboard. Hello, Silicon-Interconnect Fabric." Many
techniques are being developed to integrate circuits into all sorts of materials,
including wearable fabric, which is a different definition of fabric addressed in
this article. It begins: "Bare chiplets on a silicon-interconnect fabric will make
computers smaller and more powerful. The need to make some hardware systems tinier
and tinier and others bigger and bigger has been driving innovations in electronics
for a long time. The former can be seen in the progression from laptops to smartphones
to smart watches to hearables and other 'invisible' electronics. The latter defines
today's commercial data centers - megawatt-devouring monsters that fill purpose-built
warehouses around the world. Interestingly, the same technology is limiting progress
in both arenas, though for different reasons. The culprit, we contend, is the printed
circuit board. And the solution is to get rid of it..."
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 they can help your project.
 Perhaps with all the scares of successful
hacking into presumably uncrackable, coded wireless and wired network services,
a page should be taken from the World War II handbook. As any WWII history buff
knows, major battles turned on the ability of the Axis and Allies cryptographic
teams' ability to decipher each other's super-secret codes. Entire operations that
took months of planning were suddenly thwarted by a last-minute breakthrough. Ingenious
and sophisticated schemes were derived, most notable the German "Enigma Machine,"
which defied cracking and allowed the Germans to dominate and decimate the North
Atlantic shipping lanes. Japanese spies captured many critical keys in the South
Pacific theater. All coding schemes were eventually cracked with one exception -
the natural tribal language of the Navajo Indian. So unlike any other of the world's
known languages was theirs that the War Department enlisted the aid of those Americans
to become what would be referred to as the "Code Talkers." Patriotic members volunteered for service...
 Have you ever heard of a "swinging choke?"
I surely hadn't, so my probability of getting
Inductance Quiz,, which appeared in a 1961 issue of Popular Electronics
magazine, question number 5 correct was 50% at best. I guessed wrong - just my luck.
As a result my score was 8/9 = 89%. Oh, the shame. Maybe you will have a better
time of it. Be careful with Q6 as well. Otherwise, if you understand the fundamentals
of inductor circuit analysis, you will have no problem. Bonne chance...
 RF Cascade Workbook 2018 is the next phase in the evolution
of RF Cafe's long-running series, RF Cascade Workbook. Chances are you
have never used a spreadsheet quite like this. 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...
"Artech-House-Deep-Learning-Applications-Short-Range-Radars-9-30-2020.htm" target="_top">
 Artech House today announced the release of "Artech-House-Deep-Learning-Applications-Short-Range-Radars-9-30-2020.htm"
target="_top"> Deep Learning Applications of Short-Range Radars by Avik Santra and
Souvik Hazra. This exciting new resource presents emerging applications of artificial
intelligence and deep learning in short-range radar. The book covers applications
ranging from industrial, consumer space to emerging automotive applications. The
book presents several human-machine interface (HMI) applications, such as gesture
recognition and sensing, human activity classification, air-writing, material classification,
vital sensing, people sensing, people counting, people localization and in-cabin
automotive occupancy and smart trunk opening. The underpinnings of deep learning
are explored, outlining the history of neural networks and the optimization algorithms
to train them...
 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 267,269 products from more than 1397
companies across 314 categories in their database and enable engineers to search
for them using their customized parametric search tool. Amplifiers, test equipment,
power couplers and dividers, coaxial connectors, waveguide, antennas, filters, mixers,
power supplies, and everything else. Please visit everythingRF today to see how
they can help you.
 Listen to this
story on the RF Cafe Podcast! Electronics
troubleshooting and repair services experienced the same sort
of customer skepticism over honesty of diagnosis costs and replacement part prices
as most other similar services, including auto mechanics, home appliances, even
medical treatment. The mindset was and still is you pay a high enough price for
the initial product and/or service and that should be the end of the cost of ownership.
If you have read through some of the many articles published in these vintage electronics
magazines, you know a lot of ink was spilled lamenting the existence of the problem,
along with advice on how to deal with customers. People didn't mind so much paying
for replacement parts as long as they believed the serviceman as not trying to sell
components that were not really bad. What was really balked at was the labor charge
for diagnosing and repairing the product. In the 1950s and 1960s, a house call to
work on a TV or radio was typically only a couple dollars...
 "Two DARPA-developed technologies - a novel
decision aid for mission commanders and a rapid software integration tool - played
a critical role in the recent Air Force demonstration of the Advanced Battle Management
System (ABMS). The Adapting Cross-domain Kill-webs (ACK) program and the System-of-systems
Technology Integration Tool Chain for Heterogeneous Electronic Systems (STITCHES)
were among a number of technologies employed in the Aug. 31 - Sep. 4 ABMS on-ramp
demonstration, which involved attacks using live aircraft, ships, air defense batteries,
and other assets. ACK is developing a decision aid for mission commanders to assist
them with rapidly identifying and selecting options for tasking - and re-tasking
- assets within and across organizational boundaries. Specifically, ACK assists
users with selecting sensors, effectors..."
 Listen to this
story on the RF Cafe Podcast! All three of my hobbies are contained in this
episode of
Carl & Jerry - electronics, astronomy, and airplanes! For
as clever as the two teenagers are, they sure do manage to get themselves into some
sticky situations due to what can only be termed as stupidity. This is not the first
time their future relied on a fairly large number of people being 'out there' who
were familiar with Morse code. Supporting the claim that trends run in cycles, the
ignition-type model engine common in the mid 1950s eventually gave way to glow fuel
(a nitro methane and castor or synthetic oil mix) engines, but nowadays miniature
electronic ignition systems have made model-size gasoline...
 There is a very interesting article on the
Microwave Product Digest (MPD) website provided by the Harting Technology
Group, in Espelkamp, Germany, presenting a new method for chemically depositing
circuits directly onto complexly shaped plastic surfaces without the need for a
traditional mask. "The structure of the conductor path is applied using the
Laser Direct Structuring (LDS) process. LDS enables electronic
assemblies to be made in flexible geometric shapes. Smart phones, hearing aids and
smart watches are becoming smaller and more powerful thanks to this process. LDS
enables the production of electronic assemblies with flexible geometric shapes.
This process enables electronic products (such as smart phones, sensors or medical
devices) to become even smaller and more powerful. Automated manufacturing processes
also make this process more economically attractive..."
 KR
Electronics designs and manufactures high quality filters for both the commercial
and military markets. KR Electronics' line of filters includes lowpass, highpass, bandpass,
bandstop and individually synthesized filters for special applications - both commercial
and military. State of the art computer synthesis, analysis and test methods are
used to meet the most challenging specifications. All common connector types and
package form factors are available. Please visit their website today to see how
they might be of assistance. Products are designed and manufactured in the USA.
 October 4th's custom
Radio themed crossword puzzle contains only only words from my
custom-created lexicon related to engineering, science, mathematics, chemistry,
physics, astronomy, etc. (1,000s of them). 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, find someone or something in the otherwise excluded
list directly related to this puzzle's technology theme, such as Hedy Lamarr or
the Bikini Atoll, respectively. The technically inclined cruciverbalists amongst
us will appreciate the effort.
 Listen to this
story on the RF Cafe Podcast! Before there was the World Wide Web (aka the
Internet) and unlimited cellphone calling plans, personal communications over any
distance for most people was limited to local telephone calling areas. Long distance
calling rates were high enough to prevent casual calling of family, friends, and
businesses in the U.S. Overseas call rates were extremely prohibitive. The price
to "Reach out and touch someone" could set you back 10¢/minute or more. Even today,
an old-fashioned landline plan from AT&T can cost you $3.50/minute to the UK,
$4.50/minute to Japan, and $5.00/minute to China. Depending on where you lived,
calling someone in the next neighborhood over could be a long distance call, while
calling 50 miles in the other direction would be considered local. Toll-free "800"
long distance numbers were implemented to encourage people to make contact with
businesses without incurring additional charges. Late night TV shows were famous
for using 800 numbers to entice customers into buying Ronco gadgets and term life
insurance policies...
 1976 is the year I was emancipated (aka graduated)
from high school, and this issue of The Old Farmer's Almanac (OFA) happens to be
from that year. For as long as I can remember, the OFA has included a set of Mathematical Puzzles in its annual publication. They range in
difficulty from 1 (very easy) to 5 (sometimes quite difficult). Having been a faithful
buyer and reader of the OFA for as long as I can remember, I have spent many hours
toiling with some of the more challenging examples. In fact, there were a lot which
I never did figure out and needed to look up the answers in the back (come to think
of it, I experienced the same dilemma with my college engineering textbooks). Because
quite a few of the Mathematical Puzzles are worthy of an engineer's cerebration,
contemplation, and deliberation, all I have will be eventually posted here on RF
Cafe. Enjoy!
 "EPFL physicists propose a new path to
detect infrared
radiation with outstanding sensitivity, allowing detection of signals as low
as that of a single quantum of light. When using our webcam or cell phone camera,
we experience the tremendous capabilities of cheap and compact sensors developed
in the past decades for the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. On the
contrary, detection of lower frequency radiation not visible to the human eye (such
as mid- and far-infrared radiation) requires complex and costly equipment. Lack
of a compact technology impedes widespread access to sensors for the recognition
of molecules and the imaging of thermal radiation naturally emitted by our bodies.
A new conceptual breakthrough in this field may therefore..."
 This assortment of custom-designed themes
by RF Cafe includes T-Shirts, Mouse Pads, Clocks, Tote Bags, Coffee Mugs and Steins,
Purses, Sweatshirts, and Baseball Caps. Choose from amazingly clever "We Are the World's
Matchmakers" Smith chart design or the "Engineer's Troubleshooting Flow Chart."
My "Matchmaker's" design has been ripped off by other people and used on their products,
so please be sure to purchase only official RF Cafe gear. My markup is only a paltry
50¢ per item - Cafe Press gets the rest of your purchase price. These would make
excellent gifts for husbands, wives, kids, significant others, and for handing out
at company events or as rewards for excellent service. It's a great way to help
support RF Cafe. Thanks...
 In the 1960s, most people believed that poetry
ought to rhyme. It was not uncommon to see poems appear in magazines of all sorts
including even technical publications like Popular Electronics. "More 'Tower' to You" is a good example. Nobody ever claimed that
these reader-submitted on-subject poems were of Nobel Prize quality, but many were
extremely clever and were almost sure to elicit the chuckle their authors intended;
that is to say, they were humorous. What made them humorous is what is true of nearly
all good humor - it contains an element of truth...
 Innovative Power Products (IPP) has over
30 years of experience designing & manufacturing RF & microwave passive
components. Their high power, broadband couplers, combiners, resistors, baluns, terminations
and attenuators are fabricated using the latest materials and design tools available,
resulting in unrivaled product performance. Applications in military, medical, industrial
and commercial markets are serviced around the world. Please take a couple minutes
to visit their website and see how IPP can help you today.
 Rauland (aka Rauland-Borg) has today on its
History webpage that it was founded in 1922 as the Rauland Company, by inventor
and
radio enthusiast E. Norman Rauland. Soon thereafter he became
a pioneer in the radio broadcast industry by launching the Chicago-based radio station,
WENR (which eventually became the well-known WLS). In 1941 Norm Rauland and George
Borg entered a partnership, and a year later acquired Baird Television of America.
Rauland developed cathode ray tubes (CRT) and became an important supplier of communications
and radar equipment during WWII. After the war, Rauland began manufacturing CRTs
for 10" and 12" televisions. They were so successful that in 1948, Zenith Radio
Corporation purchased them to get the CRT technology. This circa 1953 Rauland advertisement
ran in Radio-Electronics magazine to pitch their breakthrough aluminizing process
that produced CRTs with brighter pictures and greater contrast with relatively low
anode voltages, which was a big deal at the time due to concern over high levels
of x-rays...
 Joel R. Hallas (W1ZR), ARRL QST magazine's
monthly "The Doctor Is In" column writer, has written many notable quotes
over the years while responding to readers' questions. Most of the Q's and A's are
about antennas, transmission lines, and impedance matching. The October 2020 issue
contains the following statement which is profoundly important to remember, particularly
where antennas are concerned, "...but ground is always somewhere." It might seem like a Captain
Obvious statement, but people not overly familiar with the effects of a ground plane
- be it solid, mesh, or an array of radials - can and does have a huge effect on
the radiation pattern and effective impedance of every kind of antenna. Mr. Hallas'
middle initial is given as "R," but is might as well be "E" - for
EZNEC - because of his masterful
and frequent use of it in analyzing antenna setups and which often includes pattern
plots in his answers. It just figures that since I mention it, EZNEC is not mentioned
this month.
 "You can feel it on your laptop and mobile
phone. It's behind your refrigerator and office copy machine. While heat is desirable
for appliances like a coffee maker, it can jeopardize the reliability and safety
of electronic systems in other devices, causing premature failure at best and explosions
at worst. Active control of heat transport, as with thermal switches and thermal
diodes, is important for a range of applications in heating and cooling, energy
conversion, materials processing, and data storage. In practice,
thermal diodes are highly desirable thermal components for many
engineering applications because they allow energy systems to transfer heat to designated
areas..."
"Artech-House-Designing-Wireless-Sensor-Network-Tactical-ISR-9-30-2020.htm" target="_top">
 Artech House today announced the release of "Artech-House-Designing-Wireless-Sensor-Network-Tactical-ISR-9-30-2020.htm"
target="_top"> Designing Wireless Sensor Network Solutions for Tactical ISR, by
Timothy D. Cole. This comprehensive resource demonstrates how wireless sensor network
(WSN) systems, a key element of the Internet of Things (IoT), are designed and evaluated
to solve problems associated with autonomous sensing systems. Functional blocks
that form WSN-based systems are described, chapter by chapter, providing the reader
with a progressive learning path through all aspects of designing remote sensing
capabilities using a WSN-based system. The development and a full description of
fundamental performance equations and technological solutions required by these
real-time systems are included. New Release discount price available now...
Since 2003, Bittele Electronics has consistently provided low-volume, electronic
contract manufacturing (ECM) and turnkey PCB assembly services. It specializes in
board level turnkey PCB assembly for design engineers needing low volume or prototype
multi-layer printed circuit boards.
Free Passive Components: Bittele Electronics is taking one further
step in its commitment of offering the best service to clients of its PCB assembly
business. Bittele is now offering common passive components to its clients FREE
of Charge.
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. Some quoted items have been shortened
to save space. About RF Cafe.
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