June 8, 2006 Newsletter

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Microwaves & RF UPDATE
MWRF - www.mwrf.com
June 8, 2006
==============================

Greetings and welcome to your personal copy of PlanetEE's Microwaves 
and RF UPDATE e-newsletter. Please see below for address-change or 
subscribe/unsubscribe instructions.

Today's Table of Contents:
1. Choosing When To Build In China 
2. Sonnet Remembers Maxwell At MTT-S 
3. Elcom Extends Range of SIGINT Receivers 
4. AR Addresses Changes In EMC Testing 
5. Conexant Expands WLAN Connectivity For Portables 
6. RFMD Assembles 100 Millionth Module in China 
7. Semflex Names Hardin Senior Applications Engineer 
8. Happenings - Conferences 


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***************
1.  Viewpoint 
***************
Choosing When To Build In China

Credit is due to companies like RF Micro Devices (see story below) 
for the amazing achievement of so many amplifier modules assembled 
in China. To reach 100 million units implies not only healthy sales, 
but the foresight to have established a facility in Beijing and to 
train people there to properly handle RF integrated circuits and 
circuit elements used in the assembly of modules. For 
price-sensitive markets involving large-volume manufacturing, the 
competitive pricing of assembly facilities in China, Indonesia, and 
other Far East locations have priced many Mexican operations out of 
the market, not to mention assembly in the United States or Europe. 

Of course, assembly in the Far East only goes so far. During a visit 
for another publication, Penton's Military Electronics ( available at 
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=2DD5D:49027F ), a local designer 
and manufacturer of powerline filters for military and commercial 
applications, Zero Surge ( http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=2DD57:49027F ) 
and Chief Engineer Rudy Harford noted that their products were 
manufactured entirely in the United States and built to military 
standards. In examining the workmanship, the care and precision of 
the assembly was obvious: these were surge removal filters that 
were guaranteed for 10 years and would probably last much longer.

The assembly quality from the Far East has improved dramatically 
over the last few years, but has a long way to reach products such 
as the Zero Surge filters. For consumer electronics, which tend to 
be "disposable" products, the Far East workmanship is good enough. 
But for critical products, look elsewhere for your assembly 
facilities.

JACK BROWNE
Technical Director


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2. News
*************
Sonnet Remembers Maxwell At MTT-S

Next Tuesday, June 13th, marks the 175th anniversary of the birth of 
James Clerk Maxwell, perhaps best known for the equations that are 
the basis for electromagnetic (EM) theory. In celebration of the 
event, and recognition of what Maxwell's accomplishments have meant 
for the microwave industry, Sonnet Software is throwing a party at 
the annual Microwave Theory & Techniques Symposium (MTT-S) in San 
Francisco. Scheduled for 7 PM at the San Francisco Marriott Hotel, 
the event is co-hosted by Computer Systems Technology (CST) and the 
2006 International Microwave Symposium (IMS) Committee. It will 
feature free refreshments and a presentation by Dr. James Rautio, 
president and founder of Sonnet Software and MTT-S Distinguished 
Microwave Lecturer, on the life of James Clerk Maxwell. What 
profound event affected Maxwell when he was just eight years old? 
And what does he have to do with the rings of Saturn? For answers, 
don't miss Jim Rautio's entertaining and informative talk, as well 
as free drinks and cake.
Sonnet Software ---> http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=2DD55:49027F


*********
3. News
*********
Elcom Extends Range of SIGINT Receivers

Suitable for use with a wide range of receivers, notably for signal 
intelligence (SIGINT) applications, the ELFE frequency extender from 
Elcom Technologies allows an 18-GHz receiver to cover frequency 
bands from 18 to 40 GHz. By adding these bands, it extends a 
broadband receiver's standard operating range above and beyond the 
traditional 0.5 to 18.0 GHz. The ELFE offers one input port for 
signals from 0.5 to 18.0 GHz, which can be passed cleanly through 
the ELFE and connected to a receiver. A second RF input port accepts 
signals from 18 to 40 GHz, which are downconverted to the 
2-to-18-GHz range and then connected to the receiver or tuner. 
Elcom Technologies ---> http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=2DD54:49027F


*********
4. News
*********
AR Addresses Changes In EMC Testing

Testing for radiated electromagnetic (EM) field immunity testing has 
long been performed according to the IEC 61000-4-3 standard in order 
to satisfy many European Union requirements for the CE mark. But 
Edition 3.0 of that standard has introduced many changes, including 
a new harmonic distortion requirement, new linearity check, an 
extended frequency range, and new test table material requirements. 
These modifications have some electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) 
labs pondering how to meet the new requirements, what type of 
equipment to add. Fortunately, AR Worldwide has addressed the 
changes to the standard and how to meet the new requirements in new 
literature, Application Note #41. It offers a number of helpful tips 
that labs should try before purchasing new amplifiers for an EMC 
test lab. Copies are free for download from the company's website.
AR Worldwide ---> http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=2DD53:49027F


**********
5. News
**********
Conexant Expands WLAN Connectivity For Portables

Conexant Systems, Inc. has added to its low-power Wi-Fi wireless 
local area network (WLAN) product line with the introduction of the 
model CX53121 radio chip. The third-generation IEEE 802.11b/g device 
integrates a WLAN transceiver, power management, and supporting 
components into a single 68-square-millimeter chip. The CX53121 
features a high-performance transceiver that delivers transmit power 
as high as +19.5 dBm and sensitivity below -90 dBm. It includes 
secure digital input-output (SDIO) interface, serial peripheral 
interface (SPI), and support for coexistence with Bluetooth devices. 
It is targeted at battery-powered handheld products with embedded 
wireless networking capabilities such as cell phones, smartphones, 
voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) handsets, cameras, MP3 players, 
gaming consoles and global positioning system (GPS) devices.
Conexant Systems, Inc. ---> http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=2DD56:49027F


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*********
6. News
*********
RFMD Assembles 100 Millionth Module in China

China has been good to RF Micro Devices (RFMD). The company 
yesterday announced that it had assembled its 100 millionth RF 
module in its Beijing, China assembly facility. The company 
attributes the achievement to continued strong sales of its cellular 
power amplifier (PA) modules worldwide. According to company 
president and CEO Bob Bruggeworth, "we are committed to increasing 
our manufacturing capabilities in Asia as the region continues to 
evolve as the handset industry's manufacturing center." The firm's 
amplifiers can be found in about half of the world's cellular 
telephones. Due to increasing demand, RFMD is increasing its 
assembly capacity in Beijing by about 100 percent. 
RF Micro Devices ---> http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=2DD5E:49027F
 

*********
7. News
*********
Semflex Names Hardin Senior Applications Engineer

In his new position as Senior Applications Engineer, Stan Hardin 
will help to define and develop new application-specific products 
for Semflex. He will report directly to the firm's president, Joe 
Norwood. Hardin, who previously served as Semflex's business unit 
director responsible for design engineering and manufacturing 
operations, will target markets in military, commercial/industrial, 
wireless/telecom, and test & measurement areas. According to 
Norwood, "Stan's experience and expertise will give us the senior 
technical field presence needed to develop new business and create 
state-of-the-art microwave cable, connectors and cable assembly 
solutions for our customers."
Semflex ---> http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=2DD59:49027F


*******************************
8.  Happenings - Conferences
*******************************
International Microwave Theory & Techniques 
Symposium (MTT-S)
June 11-16, 2006
Moscone Convention Center
San Francisco, CA
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=2DD5A:49027F

Automatic RF Techniques Group (ARFTG)
67th Microwave Measurements Conference
June 16, 2006
Renaissance Parc 55 Hotel
San Francisco, CA
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=2DD5B:49027F

Signal Integrity From The Ground Up
August 14-16, 2006
San Jose, CA
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=2DD4F:49027F

International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM)
December 11-13, 2006
Hilton San Francisco and Towers
San Francisco, CA
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=2DD4D:49027F


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*******************************************************************

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MICROWAVES AND RF (MWRF) UPDATE e-NEWSLETTER CONTACTS
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Managing Editor: John Curley
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