Driver to drive?

[Jeff Liebermann]

On Wed, 15 Jan 2020 23:36:37 +0000, Cursitor Doom
<curd@notformail.com> wrote:

On Wed, 15 Jan 2020 16:04:41 -0500, Phil Hobbs
pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> wrote:

On 2020-01-15 14:20, Cursitor Doom wrote:
On Wed, 15 Jan 2020 07:59:25 -0800 (PST), makolber@yahoo.com wrote:

replace the VCO control voltage with a known clean supply like from AA batteries and a pot so you can tune it.

Batteries you say? You would not even trust a made-in-USA linear power
supply of 40 years of age to be clean?

The wires will be antennas. The battery you can put inside the unit.

Good thinking, Phil. JL was right; this RF malarkey is the work of the
Devil! :-D

Did someone evoke the RF spirits, the Devil, and perhaps their present
manifestation (me)? If so, kindly specify which JL you are
referencing. Since I have not suggested that RF is "malarkey", it
must be the other JL.

Incidentally, methinks you are misusing the term malarkey which means
"insincere or foolish talk":
<https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malarkey>

While RF is certainly the work the of the Devil, as no mere mortal
could possibly contrive such a confusing tangle of fields, waves,
SPICE models, and component pricing, I contend that there is little
magic involved. The magic probably originated when an initial pilot
run of (for example) ten RF related PCB's resulting in 10 radically
different performance measurements. I've had it happen to me. Lacking
a suitable explanation or understanding of the effect, the cause was
most easily attributable to magic. Similarly, random, variable, and
non-reproducible performance measurements were also attributed to
magic. Since these are all quite normal phenomenon in RF, everything
in RF soon became attributed to magic. Quoting Arthur C. Clarke "Any
sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic". In
other words, to the clueless, uninitiated, and inexperienced, RF might
as well be considered magic.



--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

 

[Bill Sloman]

On Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 6:20:19 AM UTC+11, Cursitor Doom wrote:

On Wed, 15 Jan 2020 07:59:25 -0800 (PST), makolber@yahoo.com wrote:

replace the VCO control voltage with a known clean supply like from AA batteries and a pot so you can tune it.

Batteries you say? You would not even trust a made-in-USA linear power
supply of 40 years of age to be clean?

If it is powering anything else as well, the quality of the power supply isn't the only thing to worry about.

Are the RF spurs still there or not?

Wide range VCO are exquisitely sensitive to signals on the control line.

Well, I have been meaning to do this test. There is provision for an
external control voltage on the relevant board, and in view of the
above I shall carry this check out next.
If there are glitches on the VCO control voltages, I don't possess
anything fast enough to see them, since my No.1 scope decided to blow
up last week.

Apart from the VCO itself, obviously.

--
Bill Sloman, Sydney

 

Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote in
newse102fhi8s1m0n7fnloiq5mdtq91kgmbjm@4ax.com:

On Wed, 15 Jan 2020 23:36:37 +0000, Cursitor Doom
curd@notformail.com> wrote:

On Wed, 15 Jan 2020 16:04:41 -0500, Phil Hobbs
pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> wrote:

On 2020-01-15 14:20, Cursitor Doom wrote:
On Wed, 15 Jan 2020 07:59:25 -0800 (PST), makolber@yahoo.com
wrote:

replace the VCO control voltage with a known clean supply like
from AA batteries and a pot so you can tune it.

Batteries you say? You would not even trust a made-in-USA
linear power supply of 40 years of age to be clean?

The wires will be antennas. The battery you can put inside the
unit.

Good thinking, Phil. JL was right; this RF malarkey is the work of
the Devil! :-D

Did someone evoke the RF spirits, the Devil, and perhaps their
present manifestation (me)? If so, kindly specify which JL you
are referencing. Since I have not suggested that RF is
"malarkey", it must be the other JL.

Incidentally, methinks you are misusing the term malarkey which
means "insincere or foolish talk":
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malarkey

While RF is certainly the work the of the Devil, as no mere mortal
could possibly contrive such a confusing tangle of fields, waves,
SPICE models, and component pricing, I contend that there is
little magic involved. The magic probably originated when an
initial pilot run of (for example) ten RF related PCB's resulting
in 10 radically different performance measurements. I've had it
happen to me. Lacking a suitable explanation or understanding of
the effect, the cause was most easily attributable to magic.
Similarly, random, variable, and non-reproducible performance
measurements were also attributed to magic. Since these are all
quite normal phenomenon in RF, everything in RF soon became
attributed to magic. Quoting Arthur C. Clarke "Any sufficiently
advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic". In other
words, to the clueless, uninitiated, and inexperienced, RF might
as well be considered magic.

The devil wears Prada.

 

[Cursitor Doom]

On Wed, 15 Jan 2020 18:57:17 -0800 (PST), Michael Terrell
<terrell.michael.a@gmail.com> wrote:

Online RF seminar, Feb 5th, 2020:

Master the fundamentals of RF design and test, from the comfort of your desk.

http://app.connection.keysight.com/e/es?s=609785623&e=544242&elqTrackId=8b0bbe860e5a4417a280fc3464e1b216&elq=00fbd86faa0f4279819b12117fad9cd3&elqaid=13579&elqat=1

Not sure about the design aspect - a bit more info than necessary for
me, but I shall certainly mark this for the testing PoV, thanks,
Michael.

--

No deal? No problem! :-D

 

[Cursitor Doom]

On Wed, 15 Jan 2020 23:21:38 -0800, Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com>
wrote:

Did someone evoke the RF spirits, the Devil, and perhaps their present
manifestation (me)? If so, kindly specify which JL you are
referencing. Since I have not suggested that RF is "malarkey", it
must be the other JL.

Sorry, Jeff; I was indeed referring to the Larkin.

Incidentally, methinks you are misusing the term malarkey which means
"insincere or foolish talk":
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/malarkey

Seems it's one of those words with somewhat different meanings in US
and British English:

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/malarkey

While RF is certainly the work the of the Devil, as no mere mortal
could possibly contrive such a confusing tangle of fields, waves,
SPICE models, and component pricing, I contend that there is little
magic involved. The magic probably originated when an initial pilot
run of (for example) ten RF related PCB's resulting in 10 radically
different performance measurements. I've had it happen to me. Lacking
a suitable explanation or understanding of the effect, the cause was
most easily attributable to magic.

yeah, I was just kidding of course. "Elusive" might be a better
description. :-D
--

No deal? No problem! :-D

 

[Cursitor Doom]

On Thu, 16 Jan 2020 07:51:42 +0200, upsidedown@downunder.com wrote:

Make sure that the negative lead from the battery is connected
_directly_ to the base of the varactor or other frequency defining
element. Any common ground path between the varactor ground to other
grounded circuitry will have some resistance and any dirty ground
current will cause a voltage loss that is directly added to the
control voltage and hence varies the frequency.

Use a low resistance potentiometer to reduce voltage noise in the
control line. Add a capacitor to ground and an inductance to separate
the bias supply from the RF (not a noisy resistor).

Noted, thanks.
--

No deal? No problem! :-D

 

[artie]

In article <qvkb0s0h9@drn.newsguy.com>, Winfield Hill
<winfieldhill@yahoo.com> wrote:

On 01/14/2020 JM wrote...

Dave Platt wrote:
JM wrote:

CUP have started shipping orders in the UK.

I just got the notice that my credit card has been charged

My copy arrived today, so I guess anyone in Europe who
ordered direct from CUP should get theirs within the
next couple of days (they ship via DHL).

Whoa, lucky you! Paul and I haven't even gotten our
on-order boxes of books yet.

BTW, reminder, CUP's 20% discount is over 29 February.
"use code AEX2019P at the checkout to receive a 20%
discount!"


https://view.updates.cambridge.org/?qs=e5cee29db3292f77662e391d0ad84649df61c04
9e5a1ea7f5725fcdc4d6b171a8c35523f08a0116ce2c476d7bd11ffc0ef97587b42f9f7e462ea6
d6d7cd02b077aba63d0ae44ea83d2d46e6901d9d796

Mine arrived today, just in time for the long weekend! I saw the
delivery notification, but couldn't figure out what was going to be
delivered!

 

[Winfield Hill]

artie wrote...

Mine arrived today, just in time for the long weekend!

Enjoy your weekend. Report back!


--
Thanks,
- Win

 

[Dave Platt]

It's heeeeerrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeee!

 

[Neon John]

On Wed, 01 Jan 2020 12:22:22 -0800, jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com
wrote:

On 1 Jan 2020 10:55:38 -0800, Winfield Hill <winfieldhill@yahoo.com
wrote:

OK, but it will be pretty messy whiteboard pics. I want to know Zin
and transimpedance gain, with my output load. In a darlington MMIC,
the output load affects the input impedance.

I want to use a MMIC as a photodiode TIA, and I want a low input
impedance to keep the input time constant down. The pd capacitance is
0.7 pF, call it 1 pF with strays, which is a time constant of 50 ps
into an ohmic 50 ohm MMIC. So I'd like a part with real 50 ohm Zin,
preferentially less. Maybe I can do some peaking after the MMIC.

Hey John,

I have 1 24" wide 8 pen plotter. In addition to the ample supply of
disposable pens, which I refill with inkjet ink through an insulin
syringe, I have a full set of Rapidiograph ruby tipped pens for
pen&ink drawings. Plenty of misc supplies. The Linux driver is good.

Free for the taking or I could take it to a UPS drop-ff and let them
package them for shipment. If Interested, let me know.

John
John DeArmond
http://www.neon-john.com
http://www.tnduction.com
Tellico Plains, Occupied TN
See website for email address

 

[John Larkin]

On Fri, 17 Jan 2020 09:15:54 -0500, Neon John <no@never.com> wrote:

On Wed, 01 Jan 2020 12:22:22 -0800, jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com
wrote:

On 1 Jan 2020 10:55:38 -0800, Winfield Hill <winfieldhill@yahoo.com
wrote:

OK, but it will be pretty messy whiteboard pics. I want to know Zin
and transimpedance gain, with my output load. In a darlington MMIC,
the output load affects the input impedance.

I want to use a MMIC as a photodiode TIA, and I want a low input
impedance to keep the input time constant down. The pd capacitance is
0.7 pF, call it 1 pF with strays, which is a time constant of 50 ps
into an ohmic 50 ohm MMIC. So I'd like a part with real 50 ohm Zin,
preferentially less. Maybe I can do some peaking after the MMIC.

Hey John,

I have 1 24" wide 8 pen plotter. In addition to the ample supply of
disposable pens, which I refill with inkjet ink through an insulin
syringe, I have a full set of Rapidiograph ruby tipped pens for
pen&ink drawings. Plenty of misc supplies. The Linux driver is good.

Free for the taking or I could take it to a UPS drop-ff and let them
package them for shipment. If Interested, let me know.

John
John DeArmond
http://www.neon-john.com
http://www.tnduction.com
Tellico Plains, Occupied TN
See website for email address

Thanks, but I have too much old stuff already. I take some heat for
that.

We have a color digital copier that does nice docs up to B size.

--

John Larkin Highland Technology, Inc
picosecond timing precision measurement

jlarkin att highlandtechnology dott com
http://www.highlandtechnology.com

 

John Larkin <jlarkin@highland_atwork_technology.com> wrote in
news:u3342fp3if5g7o4uikt2t14effdhn6ib50@4ax.com:

On Fri, 17 Jan 2020 09:15:54 -0500, Neon John <no@never.com
wrote:

On Wed, 01 Jan 2020 12:22:22 -0800,
jlarkin@highlandsniptechnology.com wrote:

On 1 Jan 2020 10:55:38 -0800, Winfield Hill
winfieldhill@yahoo.com> wrote:

OK, but it will be pretty messy whiteboard pics. I want to know
Zin and transimpedance gain, with my output load. In a darlington
MMIC, the output load affects the input impedance.

I want to use a MMIC as a photodiode TIA, and I want a low input
impedance to keep the input time constant down. The pd
capacitance is 0.7 pF, call it 1 pF with strays, which is a time
constant of 50 ps into an ohmic 50 ohm MMIC. So I'd like a part
with real 50 ohm Zin, preferentially less. Maybe I can do some
peaking after the MMIC.

Hey John,

I have 1 24" wide 8 pen plotter. In addition to the ample supply
of disposable pens, which I refill with inkjet ink through an
insulin syringe, I have a full set of Rapidiograph ruby tipped
pens for pen&ink drawings. Plenty of misc supplies. The Linux
driver is good.

Free for the taking or I could take it to a UPS drop-ff and let
them package them for shipment. If Interested, let me know.

John
John DeArmond
http://www.neon-john.com
http://www.tnduction.com
Tellico Plains, Occupied TN
See website for email address

Thanks, but I have too much old stuff already. I take some heat
for that.

We have a color digital copier that does nice docs up to B size.

So, a printer that also does copies, no? Because no one would call
it a copier that also does print jobs.

 

[JM]

On 14/01/2020 11:13, JM wrote:

On 11/01/2020 00:49, Dave Platt wrote:
In article <qvb3df$gi9$1@dont-email.me>,
JM <dontreplytothis173@gmail.com> wrote:

CUP have started shipping orders in the UK.

I just got the notice that my credit card has been charged




My copy arrived today, so I guess anyone in Europe who ordered direct
from CUP should get theirs within the next couple of days (they ship via
DHL).

Just a heads up to anyone in the UK - Amazon are currently selling AoE3
for Ł23.50. At that price its a steal. I've ordered a few since I
often leave a copy with my clients.

 

[Bill Sloman]

On Thursday, January 9, 2020 at 4:07:03 AM UTC+11, Clive Arthur wrote:

On 01/01/2020 23:30, omnilobe@gmail.com wrote:

snip

The battery exchange is a way to avoid all those problems. Each electric
car has 4 batteries that are extracted at the fuel depot. Delivery trucks
and drones deliver fresh batteries. Identification of batteries tracks
wearing out status, and debits. Only 1 batter is used at a time, so 3 are
fresh until exchanged at the gas station.
cells.

Slot-car tracks where appropriate.

You don't actually need the tracks. Some electric busses have a nice big current collecting loop under the bus, and charge up in the time they wait at each end of their route, rather like a rather large electric tooth brush.

A more expensive version of this would have charging loops in heavily travelled bits of road and charge your batteries as you drove over the top of them (and recognise your car and send you the bill).

It will take a rather higher proportion of electric cars on the road to become cost effective.

--
Bill Sloman, Sydney

--
Bill Sloman, Sydney

 

[Winfield Hill]

artie wrote...

Winfield Hill wrote:
On 01/14/2020 JM wrote...
Dave Platt wrote:
JM wrote:

CUP have started shipping orders in the UK.

My copy arrived today, so I guess anyone in
Europe who ordered direct from CUP should ...

BTW, reminder, CUP's 20% discount is over 29 February.
"use code AEX2019P at the checkout to receive a 20%
discount!"

https://view.updates.cambridge.org/?qs=e5cee29db3292f77662e391d0ad84649df61c04
9e5a1ea7f5725fcdc4d6b171a8c35523f08a0116ce2c476d7bd11ffc0ef97587b42f9f7e462ea6
d6d7cd02b077aba63d0ae44ea83d2d46e6901d9d796

Mine arrived today, just in time for the long weekend!

I've received not only the books I ordered from
CUP, but also today the books I had pre-ordered
from Amazon. So they're finally rolling out.
Happy reading folks!


--
Thanks,
- Win

 

[sea moss]

Really enjoying the book so far, Win. I like how it reads like a collection of app notes. Lots of great geeky bits, like the discussion on the 1933 Milliken patent on electrical cable. Congrats on finishing and thanks for putting in the work.

 

Klaus Kragelund <klauskvik@hotmail.com> wrote in news:67201209-a594-
4dbb-be34-f76174a46eba@googlegroups.com:

Hi

I am working on something for my own business

So need to do testing at below 0 degrees C

What would be a cheapskate way to do it?

Just a household freezer?

Product is just 20x20x20

"A household freezer" is usually a pretty big box and they are not
cheap and they are usually a horizontal footprint. They go down to
about 10 degreef F below zero F. and are full of humidity.

A thermal chamber, OTOH, is a precision controlled device and costs
many hundreds more, but can be a benchtop small cavity solution that
can go down to like 150 F below zero in some cases.

<https://www.cszindustrial.com/Products/Temperature-Humidity-
Chambers/Micro-Climate-Benchtop.aspx>

 

[John S]

On 2/1/2020 11:14 AM, amdx wrote:

On 2/1/2020 11:04 AM, Klaus Kragelund wrote:
I need minus 20 minimum


 Lowest I saw my Kenmore 25cuft freezers at was -18*F.
I don't know if you could get a smart refrigerant guy to mix a cocktail
of refrigerants to get you down to say -25*F.
 I had 12 freezers all with separate thermometers. The stock built in
thermostat minimum setting was -10*F, but the internal temperature went
lower than the -10*F thermostat setting.

                             Mikek

I had a smaller product to test. I got a Styrofoam cooler, a small
computer fan, and bought dry ice (solid CO2). Got down to about -35F, if
I recall correctly.

Just a thought.

 

[Lasse Langwadt Christense]

lørdag den 1. februar 2020 kl. 18.03.51 UTC+1 skrev Klaus Kragelund:

Hi

I am working on something for my own business

So need to do testing at below 0 degrees C

What would be a cheapskate way to do it?

Just a household freezer?

Product is just 20x20x20

how much power will it dissipate?

 

[Mikko OH2HVJ]

Klaus Kragelund <klauskvik@hotmail.com> writes:

I am working on something for my own business

So need to do testing at below 0 degrees C

What would be a cheapskate way to do it?

Just a household freezer?

Household freezers are typically specified for constant -18°C and can do
much lower. I've once saw beautiful ice crystals forming in bubbles when
pouring almost syrup-like vodka from the freezer!

Do you just need to check if your stuff works or do some more
measurements ? You might put your thing in a box with fan and heating
element+thermisto inside the fridge to create a bit more controlled
environment. Then just run the freezer at almost maximum setting and
control the temperature with the heater.

And get some cheap used freezer - don't use the one you use to store
all the good stuff!

Usually I've been able to do cold testing by just putting stuff out from
the window, but this winter has been very warm and mostly above zero.

--
mikko