Friday the 16th
Thursday the 15th
Wednesday the 14th
Typical of Carl Kohler's husband and unwilling
"Friend-Wife" technoadventures, the self-assured inventor triumphantly unveils his
"Truth
Detector" - a device he claims advances beyond lie detectors by reacting only
to truthful statements. After dismissing his wife's interest in psychology, he insists
she test it, attaching electrodes with smug superiority. The needle remains dead
still as she denies wanting a mink coat or jealousy of their neighbor - but swings
wildly when she truthfully agrees to his offer of dishwashing help. "It works!"
he crows, oblivious to her simmering irritation. When she challenges him to undergo
the same test, his bravado falters slightly...
"As artificial intelligence continues to
transform industries worldwide, the demand for high-performance
AI infrastructure is expanding at a fast pace These facilities are the digital
backbone for training and running AI models, from large language models to autonomous
systems. But AI data centers require more than just floor space and racks - they
need robust energy, connectivity, cooling and regulatory support. Considering this
scenario, not all countries are equally equipped to meet these demands. The most
suitable locations for artificial intelligence data centers combine stable infrastructure,
access to affordable and renewable energy, skilled workforce, business-friendly
policies and proximity to AI ecosystems. #1 United States..."
Exodus Advanced Communications, is a multinational
RF communication equipment and engineering service company serving both commercial
and government entities and their affiliates worldwide. Exodus'
AMP20071 is designed for replacing aging TWT technology. A broadband, rugged
EMC Class A/AB linear design for all modulations & industry standards. Covers
6.0-18.0 GHz, excellent P1db >100 W, 250 W typical P-out with
a minimum 53 dB gain. Excellent flatness, optional monitoring parameters for
Forward/Reflected power, VSWR, voltage, current & temperature sensing for superb-reliability.
Exodus Quiet-Cool technology in our compact 7U-chassis...
When you go to Amazon and look at the list
of products available, be they tools, hardware, electronics, or clothes, it becomes
obvious pretty quickly that many are
privately branded copies of the exact same item. Dead giveaways are company
names that are clearly Chinese-sounding, or names that are spelled like a name-brand
but are off by one or two letters. This is not a new thing, though. As this 1964
Radio-Electronics magazine points out, re-branding of merchandise has been
going on for a long time. Those of you who refurbish and/or repair vintage electronics
sets might find this fairly extensive list of electronics sets and who actually
makes them to be useful. It is a good cross-reference for similar products in case
you can't find information on a make you have, but can find it for a similar make...
Tuesday the 13th
In his June 1963
Radio-Electronics magazine article, Edward Finkel introduces the
Log Periodic V (LPV) antenna, a breakthrough in VHF TV reception, overcoming
the narrow-band limitations of traditional Yagi designs by employing log-periodic
scaling (τ = 0.9, σ = 0.085) to achieve uniform gain (8 dB low-band, 11.5 dB
high-band), constant impedance (~1.2 VSWR), and a 35 dB front-to-back ratio
across 54-216 MHz. Developed by University of Illinois researchers and JFD
Electronics, the LPV uses "active cells" where resonance shifts smoothly with frequency,
leverages third-harmonic resonance for high-band channels (7-13), and enhances directionality
via forward-V elements and a phase-reversed feeder harness to cancel rear/side signals
(Figs. 5-7). Reinforced...
"RIKEN scientists have discovered how to
manipulate molybdenum disulfide into acting as a superconductor, metal, semiconductor,
or insulator using a
specialized transistor technique.. By inserting potassium ions and adjusting
conditions, they could trigger dramatic changes in the material’s electronic state
- unexpectedly even turning it into a superconductor or insulator. This new level
of control over a single 2D material could unlock exciting breakthroughs in next-gen
electronics and superconductivity research. A team of physicists at RIKEN has developed
a transistor-based technique that allows a single-layered material to take on a
wide range of electronic behaviors, functioning as a superconductor, metal, semiconductor,
or insulator..."
Hugo Gernsback, publisher of Radio-Electronics
magazine, penned this 1962 article critiquing the U.S. for
lagging behind the Soviets in manned spaceflight, noting their superior orbital
achievements (130.5 orbits vs. America's 12). He argues that prolonged Earth-orbiting
tests are unnecessary, as weightlessness and space sickness - predicted decades
earlier - are now proven manageable. Gernsback traces U.S. delays to the government's
historical neglect of rocketry pioneer Robert H. Goddard, whose early 20th-century
work could have secured American leadership. Instead of mimicking Soviet Earth orbits,
he urges immediate focus on the Moon, prioritizing an unmanned electronic...
Copper Mountain Technologies' Brian Walker,
has published a new white paper entitled "Hardware
Triggering a Vector Network Analyzer." In it, he details the use of hardware
triggering in VNAs to synchronize measurements with external test equipment, such
as programmable power supplies or pulsed RF signals. It explains how external triggering
- either "On Sweep" or "On Point" - enables precise control over VNA operations,
reducing power dissipation in devices like RF power amplifiers. The paper
outlines SCPI commands for automation, including triggering, polling data, and checking
VNA status, with examples in Python-like syntax. It also covers trigger voltage
levels, polarity settings, and timing modes, including programmable delays for pulsed
RF measurements. The document highlights Copper Mountain Technologies' VNAs, which
support these features...
In this 1967 Radio-Electronics
magazine article, Sally O. Smyth highlights
pioneering women in electronics, challenging the male-dominated industry stereotype.
Muriel Burke and Kathi Kramer, sisters running a successful TV repair shop for a
decade, emphasize problem-solving and customer trust. Cecilia Jacobs, a financial
consultant turned electronics firm owner, showcases innovation in military and security
tech. Vicki Labes, trained by her husband, co-manages an audio-visual business and
produces films. Self-taught technician Mrs. William Nolan transitioned from fixing
a tape recorder to technical writing. Francis Brooks, an RCA Institutes graduate,
designs circuit boards while...
Monday the 12th
Charles J. Vlahos' 1968 Radio-Electronics
magazine article highlights the growing popularity of
shortwave listening (SWL), still a popular pastime, with around 3,000 stations
worldwide broadcasting diverse content - news, propaganda, language courses, and
entertainment - often in English. SWL offers unique perspectives, from Hanoi's war
coverage to Radio Tokyo's language lessons. Enthusiasts log stations using SINPO
codes and collect QSL cards as verification. The article details receiver specifications,
emphasizing selectivity, sensitivity, and stability, with price comparisons from
budget kits to high-end models. Antennas, like long wires or whip antennas, are
crucial...
In response to a controversial article about
Hugo Gernsback's former "employee," Mohammed Fips, and his "Radio
Pen," Dr. Lee de Forest wrote to Radio-Craft magazine claiming he had
invented a similar device decades earlier. De Forest recalled publishing detailed
plans for a miniature radio receiver shaped like a fountain pen as early as 1917-1920,
using Western Electric's "peanut" tube. Radio-Craft verified his claim
by locating the original 1918 Electrical Experimenter magazine article, which described
his pen-sized spy radio. Unlike Fips' later version, de Forest's design required
an external antenna and ground connection. The device used an Audion tube for detection,
tuned via a sliding coil, and was powered by a small battery. Operators concealed
wires in a cane (antenna) and...
"Launched in 1972 by the Soviet Union (USSR),
the spacecraft known as
Kosmos 482 was part of a series of missions bound for Venus. But this one never
made it out of orbit around Earth, stranded there by a rocket malfunction. Much
of the spacecraft came tumbling back to Earth within a decade of the failed launch.
The European Union Space Surveillance and Tracking confirmed its uncontrolled reentry,
based on analysis and no-shows of the spacecraft on subsequent orbits. The ESA's
space debris office also indicated that the spacecraft had reentered after it failed
to appear over a German radar station. It was not immediately known..."
The
tunnel diode, with its unique negative resistance region, excels as an oscillator
and switch. As described by Mr. Queen in this 1960 Radio-Electronics
magazine article, is operating bias is critical - typically around 0.2V for oscillation.
The article details a 27-30 MHz crystal oscillator using a 1N653 diode, requiring
precise voltage division via a potentiometer (R1) and fine-tuning with R2. The load
resistance must be less than the diode’s negative resistance (-40 Ω). A 16-turn
inductor and adjustable capacitor (C2) optimize output. The circuit can self-oscillate
without a crystal but becomes unstable. For switching, the diode's characteristic
curve allows triggering via weak pulses or resistance changes. A light-sensitive
version uses a solar cell in series with a relay - illumination increases...
The 1985 Old Farmer's Almanac clarifies
that Indian
Summer is not just any warm fall day but a specific weather phenomenon marked
by warmth, haze, calm winds, high pressure, and chilly nights, caused by a stalled
high-pressure system trapping dust and smoke near the ground; it must follow a cold
spell or frost and traditionally occurs between November 11 (St. Martin's Day)
and November 20, differing from England's earlier warm spells like St. Luke's
summer. The term's origin is debated - some tie it to Native American beliefs or
autumn foliage resembling Indigenous attire, but the most likely explanation stems
from early New England...
Friday the 9th
Carl Anderson and Jerry Bishop, John Frye's
techno-teens featured in may Popular Electronics magazine stories, bored during
winter break, decide to invent an "electronic odor killer" called the Meller Smeller
- a helmet with charged screens to neutralize foul smells. Using salvaged TV parts,
they build prototypes with three wire screens: a positively charged outer layer,
a grounded middle layer, and a negatively charged inner layer. The theory is that
odor particles would lose electrons to the grounded screen, then stick to the negatively
charged inner screen. Testing it with a cardboard box reeking of soap and fish proves
inconclusive, so they head to a local soap factory for a stronger challenge. On
the way, they encounter a skunk and foolishly test their...
The "In the Shop ... with Jack" column appeared
monthly in Radio-Electronics magazine, although the title changed occasionally.
In it, Mr. Darr, a celebrated circuits troubleshooter, addressed reader questions
on electronics, offering free troubleshooting help via mail. One inquiry concerned
microvolts per meter (μV/m), a measure of RF field strength. The author clarified
that μV/m represents the voltage induced across a 1-meter wire in free space, aligned
with the transmitter's polarization. Note that μV/m in the case of RF field strength
is NOT a scaling factor for distance form the emitter; it refers to the field strength
induced in a 1-meter length of wire. Hence, a 2-meter length of wire will have twice
the value of a 1-meter wire. This assumes a far field measurement where the wavefront
is planar and at a right angle to the detection wire...
"Researchers have developed an
in-memory
ferroelectric differentiator capable of performing calculations directly in
the memory without requiring a separate processor. The proposed differentiator promises
energy efficiency, especially for edge devices like smartphones, autonomous vehicles,
and security cameras. Traditional approaches to tasks like image processing and
motion detection involve multi-step energy-intensive processes. This begins with
recording data, which is transmitted to a memory unit, which further transmits the
data to a microcontroller unit to perform differential..."
In April of 1961, Yuri Gagarin was the first
human being to "slip the surly bonds of Earth*," and venture into space, to be followed
the next month by Alan Shepard. Just as those flights relied upon data gained from
launching monkeys into space, future manned missions depended on a rapid ramp-up
on methods and machinery needed to extend duration times and safety. Hugo Gernsback's
1964 Radio-Electronics editorial, "To
Remain Alive in Space Is Difficult," underscores the extreme challenges humans
face in the vacuum of space. Earth's atmosphere provides vital protection, but in
space, astronauts must contend with lethal radiation, temperature extremes, and
the constant heat output of their own bodies. A punctured suit means rapid death
as internal pressure causes the body to swell like a balloon. Gernsback highlights...
• Industry Call for
Joint Action on Subsea Cable Security
• Shifting
Sands in Silicon by Global Supply Chains
• $23B
Korea Subsidy to Chip Industry
• EV Making
ICE Engineers
Obsolete?
• FCC
Commish Starks Steps Down
It's a little out of season for posting
this Belmont
Radio advertisement, but it has been on my to-do list for a long time. Back
in 1943 when this full-page promotion appeared in Life magazine, many companies
unabashedly acknowledged America's traditions for celebrating Christmas by including
a noel message in advertisements. Products from military bomber aircraft to washing
machines, to cars, to canned hams were included in the lineup. It was two years
into World War II when this December 27th issue came out, and the theme not
surprisingly focused on our service members who were serving in the fields of Europe
and northern Africa, and in the South Seas. Unlike most of the conflicts our men
are involved in...
Thursday the 8th
In this April 1960 Radio-Electronics
magazine article by the fictitious electronics wizard Mohammed Ulysses Fips (a Hugo
Gernsback pseudonym), the narrator presents the "Paperthin
Radio" - an ultra-thin, lightweight transistor radio designed to undercut Japanese
competition. Built on a stiff paperboard chassis just 1/16-inch thick, the radio
uses standard components cemented into place, with conductive ink for wiring. Key
innovations include a flat ferrite-loop antenna, a modified trimmer capacitor for
tuning, and the "Leptospeaker" - a slim electromagnetic speaker using an Alnico
disc magnet. The two-transistor circuit...
"Claimed to be a world first, the demonstration
took place at Swinhay House. A McMurtry Spéirling
PURE Validation Prototype 1 (VP1) was driven on to a custom-built platform which
then rotated 180 degrees to invert the stationary vehicle. Relying on the huge 'Downforce
on Demand' created by twin 23,000 RPM fans on the car's undercarriage, the Spéirling
remained firmly attached to the platform and was driven a few feet forward before
the rig rotated it back to ground. 'This demonstration was an exciting proof-of-concept
using a small purpose-built rig, but is perhaps just the beginning of what's possible.
With a longer inverted track or a suitable tunnel, we may be able to drive..."
In this 1966 Radio-Electronics
magazine article, Ray Thrower highlights the booming demand for
microwave communication technicians and engineers due to population growth and
industrial expansion. With only 36,000 licensed technicians available nationwide,
the field faces a severe shortage - microwave alone requires 24,000 workers. Companies
prefer microwave over vulnerable cable systems for its reliability, cost efficiency,
and ability to handle high-capacity voice, video, and data circuits. The article
profiles Jim Reeve, a technician trained via military service, and Don Shaffer,
an engineer designing microwave paths, emphasizing hands-on experience and continuous
learning. Entry-level opportunities exist...
This 1964 CREI (Capitol
Radio Engineering Institute) advertisement in Radio-Electronics magazine
served to alert electronics professionals that the Space Age was rapidly transforming
their industry. Automation and advanced aerospace technologies were eliminating
routine jobs while increasing demand for specialists in cutting-edge fields like
space data systems, spacecraft tracking, and aerospace radar engineering. The ad
emphasized that outdated skills could render workers obsolete, but those who upgraded
their knowledge through CREI's home study programs could secure high-demand careers.
Founded in 1927, CREI (now Capitol Technology University) was an accredited home-study
institution that collaborated with NASA and private aerospace firms to design its
curricula. Its Space Electronics Programs were developed with input from government
and industry experts, offering flexible, mail-order education for ele
Wednesday the 7th
In this 1968 Radio-Electronics
magazine educational fiction article, high school student Jerry Whipple challenges
Kirchhoff's voltage law in an AC circuit, convinced he's found a flaw. His experiment
measures 7.1 volts across both a resistor and inductor in series, totaling 14 volts
- contradicting the expected 10 V source voltage. His instructor, Mr. Bean,
explains that the discrepancy arises from phase differences in AC circuits: the
voltages are out of phase, not additive. Using a tractor analogy, Bean illustrates
how forces (or voltages) at angles combine vectorially, not arithmetically. He introduces
Pythagoras' theorem to resolve the apparent paradox...
The
G-Line transmission line is another of those things where I can't imagine being
smart enough to come up with the idea, and then implement a working model - like
with the enclosed waveguide. Dr. George Goubau (from whence the "G" in the
name derives) is the genius in this case. He determined that a sort of waveguide
could be made with a single conductor surrounded by insulation with a specific dielectric
constant that would cause the dielectric-air interface to reflect the wave in a
manner similar to atmospheric channels that facilitate long distance communications.
I'm guessing the Surface Conduction company advertising the G-Line for sale in this
1963 issue of Radio-Electronics magazine is Dr. Goubau's enterprise. That was
ten years after inventing it. The G-Line's boasts are low loss (6 dB/mile), no radiation,
and a 300-ohm impedance. The primary disadvantage...
"Let's deal with some common
radiated and conducted emissions immunity issues for the next series of articles.
One that's becoming more prevalent is radiated immunity (or radiated susceptibility,
in MIL-STD-461 terms). It seems this problem has been increasing over the last decade,
and the reasons are threefold: (1) electronic devices are getting smaller and using
plastic enclosure, (2) the proliferation of electronic and body-worn devices has
increased exponentially, and (3) as we're powering circuits with lower voltage levels
(3.3V, or less) resulting in a greatly reduced noise margin. That is, it takes less
energy to disrupt sensitive..."
This 1952 Radio & Television News
magazine article details General Electric's new
G-10 Germanium Dot Rectifier, a high-efficiency semiconductor device for radio,
television, and power applications. Unlike conventional rectifiers, the G-10 avoids
critically scarce materials while offering superior performance - lower forward
resistance, higher back resistance, and extended lifespan. Its design features germanium
pellets sealed in butyl-rubber-insulated metal cups, mounted on aluminum or copper
fins for heat dissipation. Key advantages include 98% efficiency, stable operation
across temperatures (25–75°C), and minimal power loss (under 1 W at 50° C).
The rectifier's low capacitance (20 μμfd) enables use in high-frequency...
Tuesday the 6th
This 1942 Life magazine article profiles
a B-17E
Flying Fortress bomber and its nine-man crew, detailing their roles in America's
early WWII air campaign against Japan. The bomber, part of the 342nd Bombardment
Squadron, operates as a self-contained "task force," capable of delivering devastating
strikes like Colin Kelly’s sinking of the battleship Haruna. The crew - four officers
(pilot, copilot, navigator, bombardier) and five enlisted gunners - undergo six
weeks of operational training at MacDill Field to forge teamwork essential for survival.
The B-17E's firepower includes eight .50-caliber machine guns manned by the enlisted
crew...
Exodus Advanced Communications, is a multinational
RF communication equipment and engineering service company serving both commercial
and government entities and their affiliates worldwide. Exodus' model
AMP20016 is a high-performance amplifier designed for EMI/RFI, lab, and communication
applications. Class A/AB linear design, 1000 W minimum with 60 dB gain.
Features advanced linear device technology for wide bandwidth, built-in protection
circuits, and monitoring. Local LCD & remote interfaces for superior control.
High efficiency, rugged reliability. Nominal weight: 40 kg in a compact 5U
chassis...
Mr. E.D. Clark has provided three new
"What's
Your EQ?" puzzlers for your attention, whether you be a student, a theoretician
or just a "practical man." Simple? Double-check your answers before you say you've
solved them. Radio-Electronics magazine ran this feature regularly, and
there is a huge list on the page of the ones I have posted. The invitation for reader
submissions read thusly: "If you have an interesting or unusual puzzle (with an
answer) send it to us. We will pay $10 for each one accepted. We're especially interested
in service stinkers or engineering stumpers on actual electronic equipment. We get
so many letters we can't answer individual ones, but we'll print the more interesting
solutions - ones the original authors..."
Reading the "Radio Astronomers Have Own
Whodunit" item from the March 1966 "News Briefs" column in Radio-Electronics magazine,
you might think it was excerpted from a 17th Century treatise on alchemy. There,
editors report that astronomers had recently discovered unexplainable "waves" emanating
from deep in the universe (or maybe should I say "ether"), and dubbed them "mysterium."
To some extend astronomers still use such terms; e.g., "dark energy" and "dark matter,"
to make observed phenomena fit their cosmological models. Among that other things
in this issue was Radio-Electronics had adopted Hertz (Hz) to replace cycles per
second as its standard unit of frequency...
Monday the 5th
The 1966 Radio-Electronics magazine
article details an interview with guitar-playing legend
Chet Atkins, RCA Victor's A&R director and legendary guitarist, focusing
on guitar amplifiers and electronic effects. Atkins explains his preference for
lower-wattage amps in studios to avoid microphone interference, while acknowledging
younger players' love for distortion. He discusses his custom Gretsch guitars, pickup
placements for tonal variety, and experiments with frequency dividers to mimic bass
or saxophone sounds. Atkins shares his DIY approach to studio gear, including homemade
reverberation units and tape-loop effects, while critiquing commercial devices like
Fuzz Tone. He highlights RCA's advanced EMT steel-plate reverb systems and Nashville's
recording techniques, such as close-miking amps and using isolation booths...
As reported in this 1966 issue of Radio-Electronics
magazine, the U.S. military faced a severe
shortage of electronics specialists - radar technicians, missile systems operators,
and communications repairmen - across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.
The Navy needed 44,000 electronics repair petty officers but had only 19,900. To
retain skilled personnel, the Pentagon introduced lucrative re-enlistment bonuses
(up to $6,400 for radar technicians) and monthly proficiency pay ($50-$100 extra).
The Vietnam War had intensified demand, with civilian contractors like ARPA also
scrambling for electronics experts to develop counterinsurgency tech...
"In
2006, IEEE Spectrum ranked patenting powerhouses in our first annual patent
survey. The survey, conducted by the research firm 1790 Analytics, examined the
number and influence of U.S. patents generated by more than 1,000 organizations.
Semiconductor manufacturer Micron Technology came out on top at the time, with IBM,
Hewlett-Packard, Intel, and Broadcom rounding out the top five.
Nearly 20 years later, every
company on the top 10 list has been usurped. Once mighty companies have fallen
in the ranks, others have come and gone, and the top spots are largely filled by
today's Big Tech companies. In place of semiconductors and computer systems, the
top categories in this year's scorecard are all about Internet services - the category
labeled 'Telecom and Internet..."
The
Advanced
Research Projects Agency (ARPA) was established in February 1958 by the United
States Department of Defense, created in direct response to the Soviet Union's successful
launch of Sputnik in October 1957. This event shocked the American public and government,
revealing a perceived technological gap between the U.S. and Soviet Union in space
and missile capabilities. ARPA's founding mission was to prevent future technological
surprises by maintaining American leadership in emerging technologies that could
have military applications. Unlike traditional military research organizations,
ARPA was designed to operate with minimal bureaucracy and maximum flexibility, allowing
it to pursue high-risk, high-reward projects that other agencies might avoid. In
its early...
It is said that good humor needs an element
of truth in it to be funny. These
electronics-themed funnies from my collection of vintage electronics magazines
are usually good examples of that axiom. The 1960s was the era of high fidelity
home entertainment, both audio and video. Stereo and quadrophonic sound systems
and large screen (for the day) color television were possessions of pride that separated
the technically savvy from the layman. As such, protecting one's investment in time
and money was essential. The comic on page 16 of this 1964 Radio-Electronics
magazine is a great example of the value some people placed on their equipment.
Along with sophistication came higher incidences of need for service...
Temwell is a manufacturer of 5G wireless communications filters
for aerospace, satellite communication, AIoT, 5G networking, IoV, drone, mining
transmission, IoT, medical, military, laboratory, transportation, energy, broadcasting
(CATV), and etc. An RF helical bandpass specialist since 1994, we have posted >5,000
completed spec sheets online for all kinds of RF filters including helical, cavity,
LC, and SMD. Standard highpass, lowpass, bandpass, and bandstop, as well as duplexer/diplexer,
multiplexer. Also RF combiners, splitters, power dividers, attenuators, circulators,
couplers, PA, LNA, and obsolete coil & inductor solutions.
Friday the 2nd
"Shannon's
limit, named for the father of communications theory, Claude Shannon, defines
the maximum error-free data capacity of a network connection, taking into account
bandwidth and noise level. Like Moore's Law, it is a foundational principle of our
industry. And now, like Moore's Law, we are hitting its limits. I learned this and
many other amazing things at the Nokia Bell Labs' Centennial celebration last week
in New Jersey, which was packed with Bell Labs employees, Nobel laureates, and Turing
Award winners. Nishant Batra, Nokia's Chief Technology and Strategy Officer..."
everything RF, the leading online publication
for the RF and Microwave industry, has published an
eBook titled Introduction to 6G. The eBook consists of some interesting whitepapers
and articles on 6G, the next generation cellular technology and the successor to
5G. 6G Technology is currently in the early stages of the standardization process.
It is expected to bring significant performance improvements compared to previous
generations of cellular technology. With research and standardization efforts for
6G accelerating across the globe, the groundwork is being laid today for the networks
of tomorrow. As we look ahead, 6G stands to be far more than just another generational
upgrade for the cellular sector...
I laughed out loud when I saw the
electronics-themed comic on page 99 of the June 1963 Radio-Electronics
magazine. It is an excellent bit of situational irony. Back in the days before easy,
instant credit, with a wallet full of credit cards, people depended on merchants
and service dealers to extend a line of credit when something was needed, but the
funds were not readily available. The sometimes strained relationship between buyer
and provider were the subject of many TV and movie comic skits, as well as in print.
As you well know if you either grew up in the era or have looked at the hundreds
of vintage comics I've posted here, dealing with customers when preforming television
service created a lot of subject fodder...
• Thales
Seeks 8,000 People in 2025
• Huawei in European
Parliament Bribery Scandal
• ZTE Revenues
of $16.6B in 2024
• India
Reaches 250M 5G Users
• FCC
to Revoke EAs for China-Based Company
The 1970s Prime Time comedy show
M.A.S.H.
centered on the Korean War
(1950-1953), where
Cpl. Radar O'Reilly was the company clerk who possessed a remarkable power of
knowing seconds in advance when something would happen or what someone was about
to say (hence "Radar"). Fans all know that Radar hailed from Ottumwa, Iowa, a rural
farming community. Ottumwa produced more than just corn, though.
Kollsman (now Elbit) manufactured aircraft instruments there. As you can see
in this archive photo (sent to me by RF Cafe visitor Bob, an Ottumwa native c1957),
not all of Ottumwa's mothers, wives, and daughters worked the fields and did the
canning all day. This scene could have been during the WWII era when a shortage
of working-age men due to military service required women to do factory work to
keep the supply chain flowing; recall
Rosie the Riveter. Does Bob remember the Rialto and Zephyr theatres, Willie's
Pit Barbeque, the Corn Picker Drive-in, and Ranks Discount Store?
In 1966, as
color television was still in its early adoption phase, this Radio-Electronics
magazine article demystified its core principles. Unlike black-and-white (B&W)
TV, which only transmitted brightness signals, color TV had to encode hue and saturation
while remaining compatible with existing B&W sets. A color camera used three
tubes (red, blue, green) to capture light, while the receiver's CRT combined these
primary colors additively - mixing 30% red, 59% green, and 11% blue produced white.
Saturation (color intensity) was adjusted by blending pure hues with white light.
The transmitter employed phase modulation at 3.58 MHz to embed color signals without
disrupting the B&W signal. Only red and blue...
Thursday the 1st
Norman Crowhurst's 1966 Radio-Electronics
magazine article demonstrates how vector analysis simplifies understanding modulation
in circuits. Building on his previous work, Mr. Crowhurst explains that amplitude
modulation (AM) can be visualized using a stationary carrier vector and rotating
sideband vectors, making waveform addition easier than point-by-point sine wave
graphing. For frequency modulation (FM) and phase modulation (PM),
vectors reveal why additional sidebands are necessary to maintain linearity and
constant amplitude. The first-order sidebands introduce phase deviation, while
higher-order sidebands (2nd, 3rd, etc.) correct amplitude...
The March 1968 Radio-Electronics
magazine "News Briefs" column contained a few interesting tidbits. The feature highlights
three key developments. First, Northern Electric Laboratories unveiled an electret
microphone that could replace carbon-granule telephone transmitters, offering 90%
power reduction and improved audio quality using a polarized electret film paired
with a semiconductor amplifier. Second, Sylvania engineers developed a compact,
battery-powered
radar transponder using a tunnel-diode amplifier and spiral antenna, capable
of reflecting signals with 20 dB gain for aircraft tracking. The issue also commemorated
the transistor's 21st anniversary, recalling Bell Labs’ 1947 breakthrough by Bardeen...
"Developed by an industry consortium led
by Thales, the Radiofrequency
Directed Energy Weapon (RF DEW) uses high frequency radio waves to disrupt or
damage critical electronic components inside drones, causing them to crash or malfunction.
The project has been overseen by Team Hersa, a collaboration between Defence Equipment &
Support and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory. The RF DEW was recently
trialed at a weapons range in West Wales where it knocked out multiple targets in
what's claimed to be largest counter-drone swarm exercise the British Army has ever
conducted. Tests included the Army taking down two swarms of drones in a single
engagement, with more than 100..."
Norman Crowhurst's 1966 Radio-Electronics
article argues that vectors, though heavily used in power engineering, are underutilized
in electronics despite their broad utility. Mr. Crowhurst demonstrates their
application in modulation analysis, impedance calculations, feedback circuits, harmonic
distortion, oscillator design, and filter construction.
Vectors simplify complex alternating-current relationships by representing magnitudes
and phases as rotating projections, translating into sine waves when plotted over
time. Key diagrams illustrate their use in inductive/capacitive reactance, resonant
circuits...
E.D. Clark has provided two new "What's
Your EQ" circuit puzzlers in this November 1966 edition of Radio-Electronics
magazine. EQ, by the way, stands for
Electronics Quotient (play on IQ, Intelligence Quotient). That might be stating
the obvious, but some newer readers might not be familiar with it. Anywho[sic],
the Series Circuit challenge should be pretty easy for most people familiar with
first-semester circuit analysis. Connections requires a bit of trial and error to
arrive at the answer. There might be more than one set of series-parallel combinations
which will produce the requires 11 Ω from combining six 13 Ω resistors.
Have fun...
Laser holography
Hugo Gernsback's editorial in Radio-Electronics
(1964) argues that despite temporary setbacks - like defense industry layoffs and
Japanese competition -
