With the November issue of Microwaves & RF, we mark the 60th anniversary of the publication as a magazine/website dedicated to serving high-frequency electronic design engineers with the information and insight they’ve needed to get their jobs done. In doing so, we’ve been what one might call an “eye in the sky,” keeping track of the microwave/RF industry’s progress over these six decades.
And what a journey it’s been, full of companies, characters, and continuous innovation, from the vacuum-tube-based radar systems that helped win wars to the mmWave 5G cellular technology that keeps our world connected today. RF and microwave technologies have been instrumental in many seminal events and developments over these 60 years, enhancing and enriching our lives in myriad ways.
None of our accomplishments in space travel and exploration would have been possible without them, from the early years of satellites to the rovers now drilling holes in Martian rocks. We’re on the verge of “smart everything,” with wireless IoT/IIoT technology pervading our homes, offices, schools, factories, hospitals, and retail businesses.
Our vehicles are smarter and safer thanks to advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) that rely on, among other things, radar, Global Positioning Systems (GPSs), and all manner of wireless sensors. And how could we have possibly endured the pandemic without our smartphones, tablets, and laptops wirelessly streaming music, movies, and games via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, probably when we should have been working from home?
It’s hard to even know where to start on the contributions of the RF and microwave industry to national security and our safety from foreign and domestic threats. From satellite and drone surveillance to highly sophisticated weapons and targeting systems, the realm of electronic warfare will take us into the future, saving many lives of our men and women in uniform along the way.
I’m only the latest of the editors who’ve had the privilege of guiding Microwaves & RF through its 60 years of existence, and I stand on the shoulders of those who came before me. Most notable among them is Jack Browne, who joined the magazine in 1981 and continues in his role as a contributing editor to this day. Jack put together the 12-page special section of industry timelines that forms the core of this anniversary celebration, and who better to do so? After all, he’s been along for two-thirds of the ride; his long hours of work on the timelines were a labor of love for the industry he’s chronicled for 40 years. We’re grateful for his contribution and long service.
As for myself, I’m honored to be on board for this milestone. What began as a print magazine mailed to readers is now a multimedia enterprise that spans associated digital magazines, eBooks, newsletters, videos, webinars, social media channels, and lots of other resources that we hope are helpful to you. We’re looking forward to getting started on the next 60 years and improving our service to the industry.
