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5 of the January 2021 homepage archives. Thursday the 14th
 Have you been looking for a Zenith Radio
Nurse, a Superior Speedometer Multitester, or maybe a Clough Brengle 3" Oscilloscope?
Perhaps you happen to have a wireless phono oscillator, a Weston 722 radio, or a
Dumont 3" model 164E oscilloscope for sale. In either case, the
Sprague Trading Post would have been the place to go in the mid
1940s, when the company paid good money in Radio-Craft magazine to host a swap shop
for electronics hobbyists and professionals. Vacuum tubes, radios, test equipment,
and related items were offered and requested. Sprague was/is a major manufacturer
of capacitors, so they probably figured some of the equipment would need replacement
capacitors which traders would buy from them...
 Rohde & Schwarz has a downloadable whitepaper
entitled, "Over-the-Air (OTA) Testing - Important Antenna Parameters, Test
System Setup and Calibration." Future technologies and standards will make over-the-air
(OTA) testing mandatory. At the same time, integrated antennas are becoming more
common with each development cycle such as for low-cost IoT devices and 5G mmWave
devices. Since measurement requirements will change with OTA testing, engineers
need a basic understanding of antennas and antenna measurements. This paper provides
you with extensive knowledge on the following: Antennas in general, their parameters
and different types, as well as antenna characterization and testing The importance
and execution of OTA test setup calibration...
 "Join our webinar on January 20th, to learn
how
Kinetic Vision uses Altium's platform to enable a connected and
frictionless PCB design experience, increasing their productivity x5 even in the
midst of Covid. For over 30 years, Kinetic Vision has provided technology solutions
to over 50 of the top Fortune 500 companies in the world. Hear about how their embedded
development team needed a better design and collaboration solution to satisfy the
increasing needs of their demanding clients and how Altium helped solve their toughest
issues. Altium Designer is their tool of choice when it comes to designing PCBs,
as it provides the most connected PCB design experience - removing the common points
of friction that occur throughout a typical design flow. With the Covid situation,
using Altium's platform became even more essential as it enabled seamless remote
working..."
 The announcement of the
merging of Radio-Craft and Radio & Television magazines
into a single publication was made on the eve of America's entrance into World War II.
Knowing the visionary talents of publisher Hugo Gernsback, he probably did so at
least partly due to what could be predicted as a severe contraction of the domestic
electronics appliance market once the war machine gears began cranking. It turns
out that he was in fact prescient, because history shows that the government did
direct all critical production to military equipment. Buying a new model radio,
television, washing machine, and to some extent car grew increasingly difficult
from about 1942 through 1945...
 Guerrilla RF introduces the GRF5508 and GRF5510,
two of ten new
¼ W linear power amplifiers being released as part of the company's
expansion into the cellular market. These new InGaP HBT amplifiers were designed
specifically for 5G/4G wireless infrastructure applications requiring exceptional
native linearity over temperature extremes of -40°C to 85°C. Spanning frequency
ranges of 800-900 MHz and 880-960 MHz respectively, the GRF5508 and GRF5510
are tuned to operate within the n5, n8, n18, n20 and n26 5G new radio (NR) bands.
The devices can deliver 24 dBm of linear power over the entire -40°C to 85°C
temperature...
 Copper Mountain Technologies develops innovative
and robust RF test and measurement solutions for engineers all over the world. Copper
Mountain's extensive line of unique form factor
Vector
Network Analyzers include an RF measurement module and a software application
which runs on any Windows PC, laptop or tablet, connecting to the measurement hardware
via USB interface. The result is a lower cost, faster, more effective test process
that fits into the modern workspace in lab, production, field and secure testing
environments.
Wednesday the 13th
 The Duoscope, as presented in a 1954 issue
of Radio-News magazine, was a pretty neat concept - sort of like a picture-in-picture
(PiP) scheme for television, only in a way much better. Whereas PiP provides only
a partial screen for each television program,
Du Mont's "Duoscopic" viewer somehow received two independent
signals and combined them on the screen in such a manner that there was both a horizontally
polarized for one show and a vertically polarized image for the other. The viewer
selected which picture to watch by wearing the appropriately polarized glasses or
by watching through a floor-mounted transparent, polarized screen. The superimposed
image on the CRT looked a lot like a virtually indiscernible 3-D picture as seen
without colored glasses. Similarly, the audio for each program was selectable using
a remote (wired) switch box. Headphones were used to provide private listening.
The Duoscope turned out to be just another "outside the box" concept that never
played out in the consumer world...
 Withwave's new
End Launch 1.0 mm (Narrow Block) coaxial connectors are specially
designed for well used high frequency substrates to minimize electromagnetic effects
including impedance discontinuities from coaxial to GCPWG (Grounded Coplanar Waveguide)
and Top Ground Microstrip structure. The types of connectors are 2.92 mm, 2.4 mm,
1.85 mm & 1.0 mm. Applications include RFIC Chip set evaluation boards,
high data rate ASIC and SoC evaluation module test, and substrate characterization.
We solve your performance and cost problems.
 "While most of the world is still using the
4G networks and some companies have just released 5G networks,
China is testing next-generation wireless technology that is said
to be 100 times faster than the American version of 5G. This next-generation network
expands from the 5G millimeter-wave frequency to terahertz frequency. The 5G network
promises mass connectivity, ultra-reliability, and guaranteed low latency. However,
there is a limit to what 5G can do until 2030 and beyond. New Chinese research has
outlined four major paradigm shifts that are needed for a next-generation network.
The long-form review is entitled "Towards 6G wireless communication networks: vision,
enabling technologies, and new paradigm shifts..."
 Rohde & Schwarz recently published a
white paper entitled, "Radio Fundamentals for Cellular Networks." It begins: "Cellular
technologies have advanced from first generation (1G) analog technologies to advanced
high performance fourth generation (4G) and fifth generation (5G) systems in just
four decades. Despite the increase in complexity of wireless standards and devices,
cellular technologies maintain a set of common principles that form the basis behind
the design of cellular systems. In this white paper, we explore these basic principles
and examine the underlying technologies that lay the foundation for today and future
cellular systems." BTW, does anyone else think R&S's use of that light blue
on a gray background is not a very good choice?
 There are a lot of audiophiles in the RF
Cafe audience, so this 10-question
Audio Quiz from Popular Electronics should prove useful.
It covers not just the physical aspects but also some simple electronics concepts,
like decibels of gain, crossover networks, push-pull amplifiers, etc. High fidelity
(hi-fi) stereophonic equipment was all the rage in the 1950s and 1960s. It was a
way for people to enjoy live concert quality music in their homes since the quality
of radio transmissions was not reliable, and stereo broadcasting was not a common
feature until the 1960s. Many articles were published educating beginners and veterans
on ways to optimize both equipment - receivers, turntables, speakers, equalizers,
etc. - and environmental parameters. Similarly, many stereo-themed comics (and here)
appeared in Popular Electronics and other magazines. Enjoy.
 Atenlab has been operating in Taiwan for
more than a decade, and has sold and installed hundreds chambers around the world.
Holistic, affordable Over-the-Air
(OTA) measurement systems perform comprehensive measurement and test in a controlled
environment. Compact Antenna Test Range (CATR) with one-touch operation supports
multiple systems - 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G - and major instrument brands. [M]ulti-probe OTA
measurement systems offer reduced time measurements over single-probe systems.
Tuesday the 12th
 Meissner was one of many electronics manufacturers
that re-tooled their facilities for defense production during the war years. They
made RF coils and transformers (and a few radios). Company public relations offices
were sure to make their contributions known to people who used their products and/or
services. In this 1944 full-page ad in Radio-Craft magazine, Meissner touted its
coveted Army-Navy "E" rating, awarded for "excellence" performance. According to
the Wikipedia entry, only 2% of companies earned the distinction, so it really was
a big deal. The term "precision-el" was used throughout Meissner promotions, and
it took a bit of work to determine what it meant. Turns out precision-el (i.e.,
precisionel) is a play on personnel (i.e., personn-el). Such things were considered
clever back in the day...
 RF Cafe visitor Michael Maassel, an electrical
engineering professor in North Dakota State University's Electrical and Computer
Engineering Department, requested that I post these few questions to help him effectively
prepare students taking senior-level (aka "Capstone") design courses for a real-world
experience after graduation. Says the good professor, "The biggest headache I have
is getting the students to
document their work, both in hardware and in software. Currently,
I am requiring that the students use a quad line notebook. This has not been very
successful." How do you handle documentation in your every-day work?
 "The 'fourth dimension' improves radar accuracy
in driver-assistance and self-driving systems. Several companies are pushing it
forward with recent introductions. In contrast to cameras and LiDAR,
4D imaging radar uses echolocation and the principle of time-of-flight
measurement to find things in its environment. It works well in all weather and
environment conditions, including fog, heavy rain, and darkness. 4D imaging radar
can tell when a car is moving and at what speed in a full white-out snowstorm. It
also has the benefit of sensing out to 300 meters - a requirement for higher levels
of automation. 4D is called 4D because it's a high-resolution long-range radar sensor
that not only detects the distance, relative speed, and azimuth..."
 Aircraft electronics has always been on the
bleeding edge of technology because of the ever-increasing need to fly in the widest
range of atmospheric conditions possible. Accordingly, skills needed by avionics
servicemen are amongst the highest required in any electronics field. There are
still many pieces of vintage equipment in service that need to be maintained, but
even 20- to 30-year-old airborne radars and navigational units require top-notch
techs to troubleshoot and align. One topic in particular that plagues electronics
operation even in modern airframes is that of static electricity build-up and lightning
strikes. We all face those kinds of static discharge hazards in non-aviation environments,
but for the most part a failure on the ground or water is not as imminently life-threatening
as a failure in the air...
 Whenever I see John Dunn's name I think of
the English poet John Donne, but that's my problem. Mr. Dunn wrote an article
for EDN magazine entitled, "What's the Difference Between EMF and Voltage?" He begins: "I
once read this very strongly-written essay about the difference between electromotive
force (EMF) and voltage. The author seemed like he was on some kind of holy crusade
and was intensely determined to set his readers straight on fundamental truths that
were NOT to be dismissed by infidels. I read his words, but for all of the vitriol,
I didn't understand him at all. Recently, I decided to take a closer look at the
issue. EMF is given in units of joules per coulomb. The frame of reference for this
definition is for any device that uses a non-electrical source of energy to impart
electrical energy to a unit of charge, which if given the chance, will flow somewhere..."
 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.
Monday the 11th
 Do you detect any (probably unintended)
irony in the page 76 comic from a 1947 issue of Radio-Craft magazine? It
shows a husband and wife shopping for a new radio and has the husband telling the
salesman, "I don't care if it is FM - I want one that plays in the P.M.!" I'll let
you think on it for a moment. As with many of the comics that appeared in the magazine,
the scenarios were suggested by readers. The other comic played on the common music
programming schedule that included times of "dinner music," "evening music," etc.
If you like these comics, then you'll appreciate the huge list at the bottom of
the page of others with tech themes.
 Qorvo, a leading provider of innovative RF
solutions that connect the world, today introduced a family of
high-performance low noise amplifiers (LNAs) tailored for base
station infrastructure deployments including 5G massive MIMO (m-MIMO). Qorvo's newest
family of LNAs combines the lowest noise figure in the industry - 0.3 dB achieved
at 2 GHz - with unmatched reliability and scalability in a very compact footprint.
The flagship QPL9547 LNA utilizes Qorvo's latest generation enhancement-mode pseudomorphic
High Electron Mobility Transistor (pHEMT) process to provide market-leading noise
figure and improved receiver sensitivity for cellular base stations. This LNA is
internally matched and is available...
 If
you are in the market for
mm-wave waveguide components, you will definitely want to vist Quantum Microwave.
They have a huge selection of active (18-110 GHz) and passive (18-325 GHz)
components that are designed and manufactured right there in their Massachusetts
facility! Attenuators, detectors, diplexers, power amplifiers, mixers, isolators &
circulator, multipliers, antennas, switches, probe adapters, terminations, and filters.
Waveguide sections include straight, bends, twists, transitions, and adapters. The
star of the show, however, is their patented "GuideLock" connector system
that eliminates screws and creates a superior joint. Check them out!
 Most of us that have any reason to visit
RF Cafe know what a watt is both from a DC, Ohm's Law perspective, and from an RF
power perspective. Some, though, are not quite sure what an audio watt is, as far
as whether it is the same as a watt of DC power or a watt of AC power (sinewave
or not?). This short article from the August 1955 Popular Electronics answers
the question, including why it is necessary to
drive speakers at what seems like unnecessarily high power levels
given how sensitive the human ear is to sound...
 RF
Cafe's raison d'être is and always has been to provide useful, quality content for
engineers, technicians, engineering managers, students, and hobbyists. Part of that
mission is offering to post applicable job openings. HR department employees and/or
managers of hiring companies are welcome to submit opportunities for posting at
no charge (of course a gratuity will be graciously accepted). 3rd party recruiters
and temp agencies are not included so as to assure a high quality of listings. Please
read through the easy procedure to benefit from RF Cafe's high quality visitors ...
 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.
Sunday the 10th
 This
RF & Microwave Crossword Puzzle of 2021 has many words and
clues related to engineering, mathematics, chemistry, physics, and other technical
words. As always, this crossword contains no names of politicians, mountain ranges,
exotic foods or plants, movie stars, or anything of the sort unless it/he/she is
related to this puzzle's technology theme (e.g., Hedy Lamarr or the Bikini Atoll).
The technically inclined cruciverbalists amongst us will appreciate the effort.
Enjoy!
Friday the 8th
 John T. Frye, creator of the "Mac's
Radio Service Shop" and "Carl & Jerry" technodrama article series, employed
his mastery of electronics to weave into tales valuable lessons in circuit design
and troubleshooting, business practices, dealing with customers, test equipment
usage, education, as well as introducing new technology. His columns ran for decades
in multiple electronics trade and hobby magazines. In addition to that, Mr. Frye
wrote many technical articles such as this "Fundamentals of Radio Servicing" piece
that ran in a 1951 issue of Radio-Electronics magazine. It is Part 23 of a series
and deals with "Signals in Space." An avid Ham operator, he is aware that it was
radio amateurs who played a large role in early discoveries...
 Werbel Microwave, a designer and manufacturer
of RF and microwave power couplers, dividers, terminations, and DAS equipment, introduces
directional coupler model C-1182-20, a high performance
wideband directional coupler that covers 2 to 18 GHz with
20 dB coupling and a typical flatness of ±0.45 dB. It has excellent return
loss and low insertion loss. Usually in stock, but check website or call for availability.
Werbel Microwave's catalog of directional couplers and power splitters / combiners
are high performance at an affordable price point. Our original design, USA made.
 The first recorded successful
parachute
jump was made from a hot air balloon in 1797 by Frenchman André-Jacques Garnerin.
His performance elicited "a scream of terror" from the crowd below and even caused
women to faint at the sight of his basket swinging wildly beneath the canopy. Many
brave souls met with less success before and after that jump. By World War II
the state of the art for parachutes had managed to cure the wild swing problem,
but reliability still left a lot to be desired, especially when the 'chutes were
packed by paratroopers with only a few weeks of experience. Control during the descent
was rather limited due to the original round configuration with directional commands
effected by pulling on the shroud lines on one side or the other...
 "Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University
have discovered a way to make
self-assembled nanowires of transition metal chalcogenides at
scale using chemical vapor deposition. By changing the substrate where the wires
form, they can tune how these wires are arranged, from aligned configurations of
atomically thin sheets to random networks of bundles. This paves the way to industrial
deployment in next-gen industrial electronics, including energy harvesting, and
transparent, efficient, even flexible devices. Electronics is all about making things
smaller - smaller features on a chip, for example, means more computing power in
the same amount of space and better efficiency..."
 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.
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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