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5 of the January 2021 homepage archives. Thursday the 21st
 Considering that only three-and-a-half decades
had passed since the brothers Wright first flew their eponymous "Flyer" off the
sands of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, it is pretty impressive to think that by 1938
the majority of commercial air transport planes were under the able control of electromechanical
apparatus(es?). Rudder, elevator, aileron, and throttle, driven by electrical servomechanisms
rather than human hands and feet, responded to the signals to analog computers fed
data from onboard barometer, accelerometer, level, and compass sensors, and from
ground-based radio directional beams. That was for mostly straight and level flight
from one fixed waypoint to another. An ability to program vectored flight paths
came later. This "Radio Lands the Plane" article discusses progress being made in
the realm of completely automated landings. As can be seen, the framework for modern
instrument landings systems was being laid...
 Withwave's precision
2.92 mm to SMPM mm Adapter Series are designed based on precision
microwave interconnection technologies. These adapter series are manufactured to
precise microwave specifications and constructed with male and female gender on
both side. The precision microwave connector interfaces ensure an excellent microwave
performance up to 40 GHz. VSWR is 1.2:1 (max), M-M, M-F, F-F, F-M interface
combinations, passivated stainless steel body. Useful in laboratory and productions
test setups, prototyping, and production interconnections...
 "A team at the University of Nottingham used
graphene, a material with high electrical conductivity, in an
ink-jet printing process to build up mesh together electronic
structures that can perform functions such as converting light into electricity.
Related: New 2D Materials Show Promise for Future Electronic Devices The approach
demonstrates a new way to use the material for 3D printing processes as well as
provides insight into the design of next-generation electronic devices, researchers
said. Led by Professor Mark Fromhold, head of the university's School of Physics
and Astronomy, the team used quantum mechanical modeling to identify how electronics
move through 2D-material layers..."
 The
Barkhausen-Kurz (B-K) oscillator is credited as being the first
high power microwave generator that exploited the electron transit time effect.
It was developed in 1920 by German physicists Heinrich Georg Barkhausen and Karl
Kurz. As this article's author points out, the vacuum tube and supporting circuits
were difficult to produce and were not very well understood theoretically. Shortly
thereafter, the magnetron and klystron tubes came along and dominated the high power
microwave generation realm. Included in Part II of "Microwave - Generation
of Microwaves" is a good, brief explanation of the operation of both B-K and
magnetron circuits...
 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...
 Anatech Electronics (AEI) manufactures and
supplies RF and microwave filters for military and commercial communication
systems, providing standard LP, HP, BP, BS, notch, diplexer, and custom RF filters,
and RF products. Standard RF filter and cable assembly products are published in
our website database for ease of procurement. Custom RF filters designs are used
when a standard cannot be found, or the requirements dictate a custom approach for
your military and commercial communications needs. Sam Benzacar's monthly newsletters
address contemporary wireless subjects. Please visit Anatech today to see how they
can help your project succeed.
Wednesday the 20th
 In 1945 when this series was published in
Radio-Craft magazine,
microwaves were pretty much the realm of corporate and university
research laboratories and - often coincidentally - secret Department of War projects.
Radar was the primary application, although some work was being done on high bandwidth
communications by the aforementioned entities, in some cases following in the footsteps
of amateur radio operator's discoveries about how the higher frequencies were affected
by the ionized layers of the Earth's atmosphere. Immediately following the end of
World War II, the government began declassifying a lot of information learned
about microwave, and magazines were fast to pick up on it. In fact, there were instances
where editors saw fit to write columns asserting their right to do so when criticisms
were heaped upon them by readers accusing them of divulging critical security-related...
 Axiom Test Equipment, an electronic test
equipment rental and sales company has published a new blog post entitled "Welcome the New Year by Upgrading Test Gear," that tells you how
to determine when it's time to upgrade your test equipment. Learn about the different
opportunities and think about what requirements you have coming up in order to recognize
the right time and equipment to upgrade. Test instrument upgrades provide opportunities
for improvement: to make up for what is missing in an instrument or test setup,
be it measurement speed, accuracy, bandwidth, sensitivity, resolution, even more
measurement channels. Other times, equipment becomes obsolete and prompts an upgrade
to newer equipment that is still supported by the manufacturer or gives you increased
performance...
 "U.S. military researchers needed a weapon
data link radio to help steer hypersonic weapons to their targets. Officials of
the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Arlington, Va., announced
a $4 million contract to BAE Systems last month to develop two weapon data link
prototypes for test and integration of the future hypersonic Tactical Boost Glide
(TBG) vehicle. The TBG program is a joint DARPA and U.S. Air Force effort to develop
technologies for future air-launched, tactical-range hypersonic boost glide systems.
Boost glide uses a rocket to accelerate a weapon payload to high speeds, after which
the payload then separates from the rocket and glides unpowered to its destination..."
 The old-time radio broadcasts available on
the Internet are obviously recorded version of shows made long ago. However, back
in the day those shows were
originally performed live in front of microphones and recorded
in a broadcast studio. With a cast of two or three or even more, the actors would
voice their lines with as much talent and effort as those performing for movies.
The crew usually included a group of people responsible for creating background
sound effects like horses running, car horns tooting, airplanes buzzing by, and
dogs barking. All was done real-time with split-second timing required to pull it
off and sound convincing. Radio audiences were unaware of all the work required
as they sat intently listening to the Adventures of the Lone Ranger and The Shadow.
Behind the scenes were dozens of engineers and technicians tending local radio broadcasting
equipment and all-important telephone landlines used for synchronizing stations
across the country...
 Triad is pleased to announce that it continued
to outperform revenue projections in the second half of 2020. The year's
record-high revenue and orders were driven by the company's rapidly
growing reputation as a premier supplier of feature-rich, ultra-efficient radios,
RF/microwave bi-directional amplifiers, custom multi-functional amplifier systems,
CubeSat frequency converters and amplifiers and wideband amplification for EW and
counter UAS systems. Triad delivered some of the highest data-rates and longest-range
ISR wireless links available for Unmanned Land, Sea, and Air Systems this year.
Triad achieved several financial and operational goals in 2020 and positioned itself
for future growth with the introduction of its new line of amplified radios, investment
in operations, and the addition of key team members...
 Res-Net Microwave has a complete line of
precision RF & microwave components including attenuators, terminations,
resistors, and diode detectors for commercial, military, and space applications.
Products range from the small flange type to large 2,000 watt connectorized power
attenuators and/or terminations at frequencies up to 26.5 GHz. In-house photo
etch and laser trim capability. The company is a leader in development and production
of the films required for these type of RF/microwave components. Please check out
Res-Net Microwave's website to see how they can help with your current project.
Tuesday the 19th
 We've all heard of a Van de Graaff (Robert J.)
electrostatic generator, but have you heard of a
Wommelsdorf (Heinrich) generator (aka influence machine)? I hadn't
prior to reading this article entitled "Electric Space Ships" from a 1951 issue
of Radio-Electronics magazine. It took careful reading to get my head around the
propulsion scheme detailed by Professor Hermann. At first I thought he was describing
electric propulsion, but in fact his machine uses electrical energy generated from
the sun to accelerate some form of liquid propellant via static electric charges.
Therefore, this is not a system capable of indefinitely sustaining itself and its
payload (which includes human inhabitants). In fact, the good professor proposes
a geostationary refueling station above the Earth...
 "In recent years, physicists and electronic
engineers have been trying to identify materials that could be used to fabricate
new types of electronic devices. 1-D and 2-D materials have been found to have particularly
advantageous characteristics, particularly for the development of new generations
of nanoelectronics (electronic components at the nano scale). Such 1-D and 2-D materials,
such as graphene, monolayer molybdenum disulfide, silicon nanowires and silicon
nanosheets, could also play a crucial role within the semiconductor industry, as
they could help to develop increasingly small transistors. Despite their well-documented
advantages, emerging low-dimensional materials can have a relatively small amount
of so-called free charges compared to 3-D materials. In the context of electronic
components, a free charge is an electron or hole..."
 Copper Mountain Technologies (CMT) is seeking
a Lead RF Design Engineer to develop new VNAs for customers all over the world.
Our USB VNAs are next generation analyzers designed to meet the needs of 21st Century
engineers. Our VNAs include an RF measurement module and a processing module, a
software application which runs on a Windows or Linux PC, connecting to the measurement
hardware via USB interface. The Lead RF Design Engineer will lead a team of engineers
developing new USB VNAs, meeting new customer requirements, and evolving current
product line. This individual will work closely with product management, manufacturing
and other engineering teams to ensure delivery of quality solutions to customers.
Take this opportunity to join a great company. Preferred location for this position...
 Having spent a lot of my career working for
defense electronics companies in classified programs, I am somewhat torn between
sympathizing with Hugo Gernsback from his perspective as editor of Radio-Craft
and what I know is a valid reason for guarding certain
technological information for the sake of military advantage.
It is often the case that people who have had no exposure to the 'black' side of
industry cannot appreciate the need for it. Their argument postulates that suppressing
knowledge does more harm than good because an opportunity for more people to gain
from breakthroughs will result in more rapid advancement in technology While that
is true, the downside is that the enemy rarely feels obliged to reciprocate in the
same manner, and will exploit your generosity...
 Skyworks Solutions, an innovator of high-performance
analog semiconductors connecting people, places and things, today announced that
its high-performance Wi-Fi 6E front-end modules are featured on the world's first
ultra-fast Wi-Fi 6E gaming router from ASUS. Utilizing the FCC's
newly allocated 6~7 GHz extended band to double the capacity of traditional Wi-Fi,
the Wi-Fi 6E standard enables faster connectivity and supports an increased number
of connected users meeting the unprecedented demand for increased video conferencing,
online gaming, streaming TV, AR/VR, home security cameras and online exercise apps.
An established leader in the networking market, ASUS is the first to deliver the
increased and wider bandwidth 160 MHz channels of Wi-Fi 6E with its ROG Rapture
GT-AXE11000 gaming router...
 Centric RF is a company offering from stock
various RF and
Microwave coaxial components, including attenuators, adapters, cable assemblies,
terminations, power dividers, and more. We believe in offering high performance
parts from stock at a reasonable cost. Frequency ranges of 0-110 GHz at power
levels from 0.5-500 watts are available off the shelf. Order today, ship today!
Centric RF is currently looking for vendors to partner with them. Please visit Centric
RF today.
Monday the 18th
 "Necessity is the mother of invention," is
an oft-heard maxim that is validated continually. Such was the case, as pointed
out here in this National Union Radio Corporation ad which appeared in a 1944 issue
of Radio-Craft magazine. The development of many new metal alloys was required
in order to obtain the kind of performance and reliability needed in ever-evolving
electronics products. Already available metals for filaments, coils, grid wires,
getters, electron guns and many other constituents of
vacuum tubes that are subject to high temperatures (many hundreds
of degrees) and mechanical conditions (unequal coefficients of expansion, for example,
which can cause stress fractures), were not sufficient for the task. Metallurgists
had their work cut out for them...
 Empower RF Systems' tactical up-armored
Model 2224 is a compact SSPA operating from 1 to 2 GHz, delivering
150 Watts CW output. The amplifier includes a fast Tx/Rx switch and is designed
for rugged outdoor and tactical deployment of data com links. The all-weather heavy
duty NEMA 4 enclosure houses a complete amplifier system using our Next Generation
architecture so all the local and remote control, monitoring, protections and user
remote GUI are identical to our COTS rack systems. The 2224 comes complete with
internal directional coupler, internal forward and reverse power sampling and an
easy to use remote web GUI. In depth health monitoring can be viewed remotely and
pushed out via the Ethernet port...
 RF Cafe typically receives 8,000-15,000
website visits each weekday and about half that on weekends.
RF Cafe is a favorite of engineers, technicians, hobbyists, and students all
over the world. With more than 13,000 pages in the Google search index,
RF Cafe returns
in favorable positions on many types of key searches, both for text and images.
New content is added on a daily basis, which keeps the major search engines interested
enough to spider it multiple times each day. Items added on the homepage often can
be found in a Google search within a few hours of being posted. I also re-broadcast
homepage items on LinkedIn. If you need your company news to be seen, RF Cafe
is the place to be. Advertising begins at
$40/month.
 The high-tech vehicle you see here was state-of-the-art
in 1935 when engineers at the
Cruft Laboratory at Harvard University outfitted it to do radio
research. The story appeared in QST magazine. The mission of the mobile unit is
to enable laboratory equipment to be carried into the field to make observations
on various radio phenomena. Clad with copper and chromium fittings, the vehicle
contained transmitting and receiving equipment along with various test equipment
that included a high stability frequency reference. In the article a "tungar" charger
is mentioned. A tungar vacuum tube is a high current rectifier with a tungsten element
and an argon gas filler...
 Rhode & Schwarz has published a whitepaper
entitled "Optimizing EMI Input Filters for Switched Mode Power Supplies," which
includes an interesting analysis of
differential mode versus common mode noise. "The conducted emissions
of the converter where no filter components are applied is shown in Fig. 4-1. The
top part of the measurement window illustrates the differential noise emissions
(M1) whereas the bottom window shows the common mode noise (M2). The math which
is required to distinguish between the two modes is set in the math channel menu
and visible on the right. The time domain signals are not shown in detail in the
main window because the frequency domain is the focus in this case study..."
 NextPCB is one of the most experienced PCB
manufacturers in China, has specialized in the PCB and assembly industry for over
15 years. NextPCB provides the most innovative printed circuit boards and assembly
technologies in the highest quality standards, turnaround time as fast as 24 hours,
the lowest manufacturer direct prices, and the most dedicated customer service in
the industry. Turnkey service without a broker including components sourcing, PCB
prototyping, manufacturing, assembly, quality testing, and final shipment. Certified
by IATF16949, ISO9001, ISO14001, UL, CQC, RoHS and REACH.
Sunday the 17th
 This
Radio Technology Theme crossword puzzle for January 17th contains
only 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 15th
 "Portable" is a matter of perspective when
it comes to large systems. Anything that can be put on wheels and moved over land
is technically portable, but the speed at which it can be brought into operation
once relocated is what really defines whether something is portable or not. To be
truly portable, all of the requisite support equipment must travel with it; e.g.,
electric generators, fuel, water, food, personnel facilities (if needed), etc. The
MPN-14
portable airport surveillance radar (ASR) and precision approach
radar (PAR) unit I worked on in the USAF truly qualified since it was entirely self-contained
and the necessary power generators were supplied by a separate shop within the 5th
Combat Communications Group to which I belonged. Other shops provided creature comfort
facilities, ground-based and satellite radio communications, tactical air navigation
(TACAN), security, and managerial services. A few times each year we had what were
called "Healthy Strikes" where claxons would sound in the barracks...
 On Wednesday, January 20th at 2:00 PM EST
(GMT -5:00), Copper Mountain Technologies will present another of its VNA Master
Class Webinar series entitled "Materials Measurement at 5G Frequencies." This webinar will demonstrate
the use of free-space spot probes to characterize materials at 20 to 40 GHz,
of interest to new 5G millimeter wave frequencies. A table-top measurement system
using CMT's S5243 VNA will be used to determine transmission and/or reflection of
materials. From these measurements, the webinar will discuss the calculation of
dielectric properties of measured materials. The agenda consists of free space measurement
description, example measurements & dielectric calculation and a Q&A session
at the end...
 Ha, I thought WA referred to Washington state,
but not so. It's a good thing because I was going to accuse them of using a phony
photo that includes the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds which are not visible
from Washington! "A remote outback station about 800 km north of Perth in Western
Australia is one of the best places in the world to operate telescopes that listen
for radio signals from space. It's the site of CSIRO's Murchison
Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO) and is home to three telescopes
(and soon a fourth when half of the Square Kilometre Array, the world's largest
radio telescope, is built there). But it's important these telescopes don't pick
up any other radio signals generated here on Earth that could interfere with their
observations. That's why the observatory was set up with strict rules on what can
and can't be used on site..."
 Before the current generation began destroying
its hearing with smartphone earbuds, their parents and grandparents (that includes
mine) destroyed our hearing with ridiculously
powerful loudspeakers, often in boom boxes perched on shoulders
right next to the ears (not me). The "concert hall" - or concert auditorium - experience
has been long sought-after since recorded music has been available, which has only
been about a century. As evidenced by the sudden increase in articles and advertisements
in my growing collection of vintage electronics magazines, the early and mid 1950s
saw a sudden swell of articles promoting the equally swelling supply of high fidelity
(hi-fi) recording and playback equipment hitting the markets. Subjects ranging from
homebuilt projects to reports of top end commercially products filled the pages
each month. Television saw the same treatment in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
All, of course, relied on vacuum tubes - with just enough relatively expensive semiconductors...
 Qorvo, a leading provider of innovative solutions
that connect and power the world, today introduced two
Wi-Fi 6E front end modules (FEMs) designed to maximize throughput
and range in high-bandwidth applications such as 8K video streaming, online gaming
and virtual reality. Wi-Fi 6E is an extension of Wi-Fi 6 that operates in the recently
opened 6 GHz frequency band, in addition to the traditional 2.4 GHz and
5 GHz bands. Wi-Fi 6E triples Wi-Fi capacity with contiguous spectrum to accommodate
7 additional 160 MHz-wide channels or 14 additional 80 MHz channels. Qorvo's
Wi-Fi 6E FEMs unleash the full potential of this new spectrum, delivering leading
linearity performance and maximizing throughput and capacity at peak permissible
indoor power levels. The Qorvo QPF4656 and QPF4632 deliver robust and rugged performance
with world-class energy...
 ConductRF 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 for
amplitude and phased matched VNA applications 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. A partnership with Newark assures fast, reliable
access. Please visit ConductRF today to see how they can help your project!
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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