http://www.tmworld.com Sun, 27 May 2012 00:04:37 MDT Subscribe to receive all of Test & Measurement World's blogs. eng Copyright 2012 UBM Canon. Subject to its Terms of Use (http://www.tmworld.com/info/terms-and-conditions.php) http://www.tmworld.com/blog/The_EMC_Blog/41806-Guard_Traces_Use_Em_or_Not_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/The_EMC_Blog/41806-Guard_Traces_Use_Em_or_Not_.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 24 May 2012 18:28:52 GMT Recently, there has been a lively discussion in the various EMC and signal integrity forums on guard traces and whether they are useful in reducing crosstalk between closely-spaced traces in your... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41805-New_100BASE_T_PMD_Jig_Prototype.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41805-New_100BASE_T_PMD_Jig_Prototype.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 24 May 2012 18:27:00 GMT At the IOL, we have been using the same style jig for our 100BASE-T PMD (Clause 25) test system for many years which allows us to interface a 100BASE-T device to our digital... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Eye_on_Standards/41798-Does_OIF_have_to_do_everything_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Eye_on_Standards/41798-Does_OIF_have_to_do_everything_.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 22 May 2012 15:41:19 GMT Is there a paranoid conspiracy among the producers of technology standard specifications? Was I once a co-conspirator? Did they give me a mind wipe when I stopped working for The Man?Why do... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Test_Voices/41792-The_tasteful_test_bench.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Test_Voices/41792-The_tasteful_test_bench.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 21 May 2012 20:47:35 GMT In my previous column (“5060-9436”), I briefly mentioned the inevitable demise of user-repairable test instruments due to age and the dwindling numbers of parts-donor instruments.... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41796-_RF_Space_The_Final_Frontier.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41796-_RF_Space_The_Final_Frontier.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 21 May 2012 19:13:44 GMT “These are the voyages of the starship PXI. Its five-year mission: to explore strange new applications; to seek out new markets and new segments; to boldly go where no modular platform has gone... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41786-Participate_in_the_T_MW_reader_survey.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41786-Participate_in_the_T_MW_reader_survey.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 16 May 2012 16:15:42 GMT At T&MW, we’re always looking for ways to bring you the information that can best help you do your job. To do that, we need your input. We’ve put together a survey that asks things such... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41780-Do_awards_matter_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41780-Do_awards_matter_.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 14 May 2012 16:46:04 GMT In a press release dated March 28, 2012, Frost & Sullivan named Agilent Technologies its 2011 Company of the Year for oscilloscopes. Agilent made some significant introductions, the 90000 X-series... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/The_EMC_Blog/41779-Pre_Compliance_Testing_for_Radiated_Emissions.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/The_EMC_Blog/41779-Pre_Compliance_Testing_for_Radiated_Emissions.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 14 May 2012 15:06:26 GMT One of the biggest frustrations - especially for smaller companies that can’t really afford a full-time compliance engineer…let alone the EMC measurement facilities - is how to get a... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41778-Getting_Small_Does_one_modular_standard_beat_the_others_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41778-Getting_Small_Does_one_modular_standard_beat_the_others_.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 14 May 2012 03:55:44 GMT In my last blog post I summarized the advantages of downsized instrumentation.  More portable, more flexible, higher performance, and lower overall cost were all advantages depending on the... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/The_EMC_Blog/41776-Pirated_Standards_Could_It_Be_True_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/The_EMC_Blog/41776-Pirated_Standards_Could_It_Be_True_.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 11 May 2012 23:20:06 GMT Aargh Mates, Chinese piracy has moved into the world of technical standards. I recently became aware of the site, www.e-standard.org, when the subject was initially brought up by Lauren Crane, of... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41772-DesignCon2013_is_in_the_works.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41772-DesignCon2013_is_in_the_works.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 10 May 2012 15:02:24 GMT Engineers gathered on May 2 and 3 in Santa Clara to begin planning DesignCon 2013. I was in on the meetings for the first time.The goal of the meeting was to hammer out the wording for the 2013... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41768-What_s_your_LabView_substitute_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41768-What_s_your_LabView_substitute_.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 07 May 2012 20:35:27 GMT There’s a rather lively discussion taking place on the LinkedIn Test & Measurement World group: “Can anyone recommend a good alternative to Labview that is easier to program.” The discussion... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41766-Let_s_get_small_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41766-Let_s_get_small_.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 07 May 2012 04:33:15 GMT Why small size is a big deal for automatic test equipment.One of the advantages of modular instrumentation is the reduced size compared to traditional equipment.  Eliminate the keyboards and... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Everyday_Measurements/41764-A_Knobless_World_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Everyday_Measurements/41764-A_Knobless_World_.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 04 May 2012 20:42:26 GMT A couple of months ago Scope Junction ran an informal survey on the preferred user interfaces for an oscilloscope.  The majority responded with a preference for “old school” knob and button... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41757-MIPI_Battery_Interface_Charges_Up.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41757-MIPI_Battery_Interface_Charges_Up.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 02 May 2012 12:37:43 GMT Battery life is one of the most important characteristics of a mobile device. No one wants to be chained to a power outlet. But batteries charge and discharge differently based on environmental... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41753-How_s_My_Divining_Call_1_800_CRYSTALBALL.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41753-How_s_My_Divining_Call_1_800_CRYSTALBALL.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 30 Apr 2012 02:30:11 GMT A Report Card for 2012 PredictionsAt the end of 2011, I made 10 predictions about the industry for 2012.  Since we are now 4 months into the year, I though I’d review the predictions to see... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/The_EMC_Blog/41748-Upcoming_EMC_conferences.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/The_EMC_Blog/41748-Upcoming_EMC_conferences.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 27 Apr 2012 17:31:02 GMT There are several opportunities for continuing education in the field of EMC engineering. Here are a few with some comments.The big one in the U.S., of course, is the IEEE Symposium on... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41742-20_years_at_T_MW.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41742-20_years_at_T_MW.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 25 Apr 2012 15:57:38 GMT May 26 marks 20 years since I arrived at Test & Measurement World. Clearly, technology has changed over the last 20 years. Most of the changes in test have come about because of changes in... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Eye_on_Standards/41741-Peace_at_the_plugfest.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Eye_on_Standards/41741-Peace_at_the_plugfest.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 20:52:04 GMT Two engineers walk into a plugfest. Each one is convinced that they’re bringing definitive bad news: proof that an important principle of the specification won’t work. And not only won’t... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41739-URC_Presentation_on_the_Redesign_of_Extended_Sockets.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41739-URC_Presentation_on_the_Redesign_of_Extended_Sockets.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:27:46 GMT Hello, I am Patrick MacArthur, Student Technician at the UNH-IOL and University of New Hampshire (UNH) Senior in the CS Department. I am participating in the 2012 Undergraduate Research Conference... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Test_Voices/41738-5060_9436.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Test_Voices/41738-5060_9436.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 24 Apr 2012 15:32:21 GMT That’s the Hewlett-Packard part number for the front-panel push-button key switches used in the nonworking HP-8656B 0.1–990-MHz signal generator I recently added to my collection of... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/The_EMC_Blog/41734-Welcome_to_the_new_EMC_Blog_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/The_EMC_Blog/41734-Welcome_to_the_new_EMC_Blog_.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 17:17:24 GMT Hi All, and welcome to the EMC Blog! The purpose of this blog is to have a discourse on all areas of electromagnetic compatibility. I love to perform experiments and teach EMC design in my... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41733-What_s_up_with_proprietary_modular_systems_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41733-What_s_up_with_proprietary_modular_systems_.php?rssid=20428 Sun, 22 Apr 2012 22:54:51 GMT In my recent article Integrating Traditional and Modular Instruments, I drew a contrast between traditional box instruments and open modular platforms, such as PXI, VXI, or AXIe.I briefly... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41723-Time_is_money_where_test_is_concerned.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41723-Time_is_money_where_test_is_concerned.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 16 Apr 2012 05:07:01 GMT We’ve all heard the saying, “Time is money”.  The saying was made famous by Benjamin Franklin, who was later honored by his place on the 100 dollar bill.  This saying is particularly true... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41718-Tear_down_or_review_You_decide.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41718-Tear_down_or_review_You_decide.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:26:50 GMT At several of T&MW’s sister publications, the editors like to publish “tear downs” where an editor or contributor looks inside a product, evaluates the components, and draws conclusions as... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41714-Mods_and_Rockers.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41714-Mods_and_Rockers.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 09 Apr 2012 02:53:50 GMT Mods versus rockers.  This epic rivalry is alive and well in test platform choices today.Two weeks ago I published an article that covered many of the basics of integrating traditional “box”... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41710-Non_Volatile_Memory_Express_NVMe_Architected_for_Performance_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41710-Non_Volatile_Memory_Express_NVMe_Architected_for_Performance_.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 05 Apr 2012 18:17:46 GMT NVM Express is a specification for accessing solid-state disks (SSDs) over a PCI Express bus, which essentially means it has a register level interface that allows host software to communicate... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Eye_on_Standards/41705-Receiver_Tolerance_Testing_with_crosstalk_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Eye_on_Standards/41705-Receiver_Tolerance_Testing_with_crosstalk_.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 02 Apr 2012 16:16:51 GMT Like I said in my last post, “Deterministic Jitter for High Speed Serial Receiver Tolerance Testing,” the idea behind stressed-receiver tolerance testing is to subject a receiver to the worst... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41703-What_does_Agilent_s_New_PXI_Signal_Analyzer_Signal_Let_s_Analyze_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41703-What_does_Agilent_s_New_PXI_Signal_Analyzer_Signal_Let_s_Analyze_.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 02 Apr 2012 05:53:28 GMT This week Agilent unveiled a new PXI signal analyzer that boasts some very impressive specifications. Officially dubbed a Wideband MIMO PXI Vector Signal Analyzer, the new VSA brings to market... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Test_Voices/41697-String_em_up_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Test_Voices/41697-String_em_up_.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 29 Mar 2012 18:27:00 GMT With apologies to Fred Foy, Brace Beemer, and the writers of  “The Lone Ranger” radio program, “Return with me now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. The Analog Dial Pointer rides... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41698-How_long_can_you_retrieve_test_data_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41698-How_long_can_you_retrieve_test_data_.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 20:19:01 GMT In his March 19 ZDNet column “The year 2012: the end of recorded history?” David Gewirtz wonders how future generations will know how we live today because so much of your records are now in... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41695-Testing_Challenges_of_Data_Center_Bridging_Networks.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41695-Testing_Challenges_of_Data_Center_Bridging_Networks.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:08:26 GMT Recently I had an opportunity to collaborate with several UNH-IOL colleagues and the current UNH Computer Science Department Chair on development of the article, “Testing Challenges of Data... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41694-OFA_Developers_Conference.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41694-OFA_Developers_Conference.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 26 Mar 2012 18:12:07 GMT Nickolas Wood will be attending the OFA Developers Conference in Monterey, California next week with Rupert Dance. While there Nickolas will be helping Rupert present the testing result findings... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41692-Option_Value_and_Test_Strategy.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41692-Option_Value_and_Test_Strategy.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 26 Mar 2012 04:59:20 GMT Do you know what “option value” is? It comes in many forms, but the essentials are that there is value in having a choice at a future date.  Take stock options as an example. Here, a company... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41684-The_Coming_Data_Converter_Revolution.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41684-The_Coming_Data_Converter_Revolution.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 19 Mar 2012 00:28:28 GMT There’s a revolution afoot, but occurring so continuously that you may miss it.  But you will not miss its impact.  I’ll discuss what this means to instrumentation in a moment.I’m... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41677-Good_Vibrations_Not_just_a_Beach_Boys_song.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41677-Good_Vibrations_Not_just_a_Beach_Boys_song.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 01:16:23 GMT ADLINK recently announced a new offering of PXI products, consisting of a new chassis, a new controller, and two digitizers. The summary can be found here.  This marks the second introduction of... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41675-What_is_DLNA_Why_does_it_need_to_be_certified_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41675-What_is_DLNA_Why_does_it_need_to_be_certified_.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 17:02:41 GMT Brad Upson is the Digital Home Networking (DHN) Consortium Manager at the UNH-IOL. In this role, he is primarily responsible for managing the DLNA and RVU certification of customer devices. This... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Eye_on_Standards/41671-Deterministic_Jitter_for_High_Speed_Serial_Receiver_Tolerance_Testing.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Eye_on_Standards/41671-Deterministic_Jitter_for_High_Speed_Serial_Receiver_Tolerance_Testing.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 08 Mar 2012 06:57:12 GMT The idea behind receiver tolerance testing is to submit the receiver to “the worst case but compliant” stress. If it can operate under those conditions, the thinking goes, then it can... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41669-History_of_the_UNH_IOL.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41669-History_of_the_UNH_IOL.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 07 Mar 2012 14:16:58 GMT After working at the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL) for less than a year and learning about the lab as a whole, I can say that I am happy to be a part of this... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41667-OFCNFOEC_Talk_moves_past_100G.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41667-OFCNFOEC_Talk_moves_past_100G.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 07 Mar 2012 06:20:45 GMT There’s no doubt that 40G and 100G optical transport has arrived. Everywhere you look, optical transceiver makers, test equipment makers, and component makers are pushing 40G and 100G data... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41659-Outside_the_Box_Experiences_at_Mobile_World_Congress.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41659-Outside_the_Box_Experiences_at_Mobile_World_Congress.php?rssid=20428 Sun, 04 Mar 2012 17:02:43 GMT Many readers know I reported daily from MWC (Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona.  My Day 1 coverage can be found here, and all other days are linked from that story.  Any thoughts of a relaxed... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41658-Recapping_the_Ethernet_Technology_Summit.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41658-Recapping_the_Ethernet_Technology_Summit.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 02 Mar 2012 21:21:16 GMT It was my great pleasure to have had the opportunity to participate in the third annual Ethernet Technology Summit in San Jose, CA.  As this was both my first time speaking on a panel and my... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Test_Voices/41701-One_inch_wonders.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Test_Voices/41701-One_inch_wonders.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 01 Mar 2012 18:24:24 GMT Introduced by RCA (Radio Corporation of America) in November 1936, the 913 CRT (cathode-ray tube) created a minor stir in the electronics community. RCA initially priced the 913 at $5.60... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41642-Going_Mobile_At_Mobile_World_Congress.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41642-Going_Mobile_At_Mobile_World_Congress.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:51:40 GMT I will be in Barcelona eating tapas and drinking Sangria covering Mobile World Congress February 26 through March 1.  You will be able to read the daily reports here at Test and Measurement... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Everyday_Measurements/41640-PXISA_Continues_to_Grow.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Everyday_Measurements/41640-PXISA_Continues_to_Grow.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 23 Feb 2012 22:09:04 GMT The PXI Systems Alliance (PXISA) is the industry consortium responsible for the development and promotion of the multivendor PXI standard.  Now in its 14th year, its membership continues to grow... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41635-PCI_Express_Espresso_for_test_systems.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41635-PCI_Express_Espresso_for_test_systems.php?rssid=20428 Sun, 19 Feb 2012 00:49:40 GMT National Instruments recently released its 2012 Automated Test Outlook.   It is interesting reading, and there are five macro trends they call out.  For this blog post, I’d like to focus on... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41632-Only_an_engineer_would_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41632-Only_an_engineer_would_.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 17 Feb 2012 00:59:52 GMT  In his latest blog, Top ten reasons to love (and hate) 100 Gigabit Ethernet, Ransom Stephens counted down a top ten list numbered from 9 to 0. Only an engineer would do that. What else would... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Eye_on_Standards/41631-Top_ten_reasons_to_love_and_hate_100_Gigabit_Ethernet.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Eye_on_Standards/41631-Top_ten_reasons_to_love_and_hate_100_Gigabit_Ethernet.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:53:28 GMT Before I list the reasons to be excited by the prospect of implementing 100 Gigabit Ethernet and developing its components, let me lay out its essential aspects.There are two topologies: 10×10... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41630-Ethernet_Technology_Summit.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41630-Ethernet_Technology_Summit.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:02:35 GMT Next week, I will be in the sunny state of California for the Ethernet Technology Summit.  I’ll be joining some other panelists for the session, “Continuing Role of Ethernet in Storage,”... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41628-IOL_Student_Employees_Gaining_Experience_Making_Connections_and_Building_a_Future.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41628-IOL_Student_Employees_Gaining_Experience_Making_Connections_and_Building_a_Future.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 15 Feb 2012 16:30:25 GMT It’s common for a college student to have some sort of job. But how many of them actually enjoy what they do? How many have positions that relate to what they want to do in the future? I am one... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41627-Another_test_system_bus.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41627-Another_test_system_bus.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 20:03:15 GMT According to the National Instruments’ Automated Test Outlook 2012 Part 3: PCI Express External Interfaces, an external version of PCI Express will become the test system bus of choice. The... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41626-Can_test_be_a_strategic_asset_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41626-Can_test_be_a_strategic_asset_.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:46:39 GMT Today, National Instruments released its Automated Test Outlook 2012. A five-part document, this year’s outlook opens with “Optimizing Test Organizations,” which describes a trend where... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41619-Welcome_to_Outside_the_Box_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Outside_the_Box/41619-Welcome_to_Outside_the_Box_.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:30:08 GMT Welcome to the “Outside the Box” blog-site!  “Outside the Box” will add frequent commentary about the modular instrument industry, embedded test, and other topics outside the domain of... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41623-A_new_face.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41623-A_new_face.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 20:35:07 GMT In his article “User Interface—The next battlefield–Part 1,” Alvin Wong predicts that user interfaces and ease-of-use will become a consumer’s primary reason for selecting an electronic... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41621-High_Performance_Computing_at_the_IOL.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41621-High_Performance_Computing_at_the_IOL.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:16:13 GMT High Performance Computing (HPC) is no longer exclusively the realm of uber-expensive “Super-Computers” with proprietary transport technologies and software.  High Performance, as implied,... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Eye_on_Standards/41617-Serial_standards_keep_test_engineers_on_edge_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Eye_on_Standards/41617-Serial_standards_keep_test_engineers_on_edge_.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:24:24 GMT …the cutting edge, that is.Clocks are embedded. Measurements of the jitter alphabet soup never seem to agree. Good old logic buses have become waveguides. Bit-error-rate contour measurements... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41613-Poll_Are_you_a_test_engineer_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41613-Poll_Are_you_a_test_engineer_.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:15:49 GMT I’m conducting an informal poll on the Test & Measurement World LinkedIn group called “Are you a test engineer?” Here are the poll responses you’ll find.Yes, I most develop automated... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41599-Basics_of_DSL_Bonded_Physical_Layer_Testing.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41599-Basics_of_DSL_Bonded_Physical_Layer_Testing.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:50:43 GMT In the previous post, “DSL Physical Layer Testing,” we began to explore some of the background and requirements for DSL performance testing, including the simulation of the telephone... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41595-DesignCon_2012_Closing_eye_panel_discusses_crosstalk.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41595-DesignCon_2012_Closing_eye_panel_discusses_crosstalk.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:06:39 GMT DesignCon 2012 opened on Monday, January 30 with “Case of the closing eye” panel discussion. Representatives of Agilent Technologies, LeCroy, and Tektronix joined “Engineers who actually do... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Everyday_Measurements/41592-Welcome_to_Everyday_Measurements.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Everyday_Measurements/41592-Welcome_to_Everyday_Measurements.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 17:37:19 GMT Welcome to Everyday Measurements, the newest blog at Test & Measurement World.  My thanks to the editors of T&M World for giving me the opportunity and platform to discuss the latest trends in... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41589-How_might_mobile_apps_change_test_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41589-How_might_mobile_apps_change_test_.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:08:44 GMT On January 27, I posted a product tryout of an iOS Wifi spectrum analyzer. It’s the third iOS hardware measurement product that I’ve seen, the others being an oscilloscope and a wireless... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41587-Engineers_discuss_measurements_at_DesignCon.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41587-Engineers_discuss_measurements_at_DesignCon.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:21:33 GMT Engineers have found that using just one or even two instruments isn’t enough to sufficiently characterize high-speed serial devices. On January 31, five engineers will discuss “The Future of... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41586-First_BIF_Battery_Interface_Interop_Workshop.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41586-First_BIF_Battery_Interface_Interop_Workshop.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 25 Jan 2012 18:13:24 GMT Next week several MIPI Alliance companies will gather for the first BIF (Battery Interface) Interop Workshop. BIF is designed to accommodate low cost and smart batteries. Smart batteries may have... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41584-DesignCon_2012_Panel_Test_gurus_share_vision_to_accelerate_your_time_to_answer_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41584-DesignCon_2012_Panel_Test_gurus_share_vision_to_accelerate_your_time_to_answer_.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 25 Jan 2012 15:25:50 GMT The countdown begins: On Wednesday next at DesignCon 2012 I’ll be moderating a panel comprising four of the sharpest minds in the electronics industry as they explore the cutting edge of... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41582-Product_tryout_iOS_spectrum_analyzer_power_meter_lights_up_Wifi.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41582-Product_tryout_iOS_spectrum_analyzer_power_meter_lights_up_Wifi.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:54:01 GMT WiPry spectrum analyzer/RF power meter for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. Oscium, www.oscium.com.Oscium, the company that developed an iOS oscilloscope, has added a spectrum analyzer/power meter... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Test_Voices/41601-Old_dog_newer_trick.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Test_Voices/41601-Old_dog_newer_trick.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:37:17 GMT Although mostly obsolete, the vacuum tube still has its adherents among audiophiles, test-instrument collectors, amateur-radio fans, and those curious about the physics of active devices. Given... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41565-Putting_the_e_in_10Base_Te_MAU.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41565-Putting_the_e_in_10Base_Te_MAU.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 13:28:57 GMT The UNH-IOL is currently developing a test suite and test system for 10Base-Te MAU conformance. Due to the similarities between 10Base-T and 10Base-Te, the lab decided to integrate both tests onto... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41556-What_s_your_least_favorite_test_instrument_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41556-What_s_your_least_favorite_test_instrument_.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 19:06:53 GMT My December 6 post “What is your favorite test instrument?” resulted in many engineers telling what they like. (Analog oscilloscopes seemed to lead the way.) Now, it’s time to hear what... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41541-An_autographed_HP_instrument.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41541-An_autographed_HP_instrument.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 13:58:58 GMT My colleague Bill Schweber sent me a link to a PBS Antique Roadshow archive that shows an HP 200D audio oscillator signed by Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard. A former HP employee found the... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41526-DSL_Physical_Layer_Testing.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41526-DSL_Physical_Layer_Testing.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 16 Dec 2011 23:15:49 GMT Over the next few blog posts, we will cover some of the basic principles of testing the performance of the Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) physical layer.  Each set of DSL transceivers operates... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41521-Measure_light_in_lumens.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41521-Measure_light_in_lumens.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 15 Dec 2011 19:23:55 GMT Home lighting is changing. Incandescent bulbs are being replaced by CFL (compact florescent) bulbs and LEDs. According to a press release from the American Lighting Association, Starting January 1... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41502-What_s_your_favorite_test_instrument_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41502-What_s_your_favorite_test_instrument_.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 19:29:31 GMT Many engineers have a favorite test instrument. It could be a trusty DMM or oscilloscope. What do you like about your favorite or favorites? If your favorite is no longer in production, why do you... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41486-A_different_Thanksgiving_competition.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41486-A_different_Thanksgiving_competition.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 15:16:45 GMT Thanksgiving occurred last week and chances are you watched football. But, there was another competition on TV that night: Punkin Chunkin on The Discovery Channel. The point behind Punkin Chunkin... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41474-NVMe_The_Fast_Lane_for_SSDs_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41474-NVMe_The_Fast_Lane_for_SSDs_.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:32:14 GMT Solid-state Disks (SSDs) have made a lot of news over the last few years with their high performance, and matching high prices. Simultaneously, several companies have released PCIe-based SSDs with... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41459-Society_trade_show_draws_safety_and_EMC_engineers.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41459-Society_trade_show_draws_safety_and_EMC_engineers.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:48:48 GMT Society trade show draws safety and EMC engineersOn November 16, the Northeast Product Safety Society hosted its 17th annual Vendor’s Night. Many Boston-area engineers drove through the rain to... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41455-Moving_and_renovating.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41455-Moving_and_renovating.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 15:48:41 GMT “Moving is a monumental task” tells the story of the Northrop Grumman’s Electronic Systems sector in Baltimore where two of the company’s calibration labs moved to a new building. The... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41448-_Mr_Rogers_PCB.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41448-_Mr_Rogers_PCB.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 19:55:07 GMT Our first PCB post discussed the issues of using FR4 material, concluding with the hopes of using Rogers material for its low loss properties. This week, we’ll take a look at our newest test jig... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41444-EMC_safety_trade_show_coming_Nov_16.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41444-EMC_safety_trade_show_coming_Nov_16.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 10 Nov 2011 16:28:45 GMT On Wednesday, November 16, the Northeast Product Safety Society will hold its 17th annual “Vendor’s Night.” About 50 companies will exhibit EMC and product safety products and services for... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41424-TDR_technology_could_sense_touch.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41424-TDR_technology_could_sense_touch.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:56:16 GMT Time-domain reflectometry, the technology used to find breaks in cables and to characterize transmission channels at high frequencies, could find use as a touch application, according to an... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41413-What_are_the_odds_of_this_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41413-What_are_the_odds_of_this_.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 26 Oct 2011 13:57:46 GMT This has nothing to do with electronics test, just life.A room in my house has a ceiling plate where used to be a lighting fixture. I removed the plate the other day to paint the ceiling.... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41398-UNH_IOL_Test_Fixture_Overview_Passive_Line_Tap.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41398-UNH_IOL_Test_Fixture_Overview_Passive_Line_Tap.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 21 Oct 2011 12:49:42 GMT Earlier this week, we provided insight into the lab’s MIPI TLIS board.  Today, we’ll discuss the Passive Line Tap. We created this fixture to observe and measure bi-directional traffic being... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41396-Cable_up_DSL_down.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41396-Cable_up_DSL_down.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 20:29:02 GMT I have a closet with phone wire, Ethernet cable, and coax (for cable TV) that go to various jacks around my house. One of each line drops into the basement. Verizon connected the phone line to the... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41395-Testing_times_bring_technological_and_editorial_employment_opportunities.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41395-Testing_times_bring_technological_and_editorial_employment_opportunities.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 20 Oct 2011 14:30:36 GMT I had the good fortune of being able to visit with Tektronix at the recent Embedded Systems Conference in Boston. There, I was struck by how Mike Juliana’s analysis of Tek’s mid-summer... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41392-UNH_IOL_Test_Fixture_Overview_MIPI_TLIS_Board.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41392-UNH_IOL_Test_Fixture_Overview_MIPI_TLIS_Board.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 19 Oct 2011 19:32:34 GMT In our previous post, we talked about issues experienced when using FR4 material in PCB. This week, we’ll discuss some of our other test fixtures that are used to perform testing here at the... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41386-Are_engineers_early_adopters_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41386-Are_engineers_early_adopters_.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 14 Oct 2011 20:19:56 GMT Around 7:45 this morning on the way to work, I noticed crowds of people standing outside the local AT&T and Verizon Wireless stores. No doubt the crowds of people were waiting to buy the iPhone... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41381-Multimeter_traces_home_wiring.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41381-Multimeter_traces_home_wiring.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 14:58:38 GMT Last week, I moved into a circa 1900 house after extensive renovations. We gutted the entire first floor and while there were no walls, I had the contractor’s electrician run twelve Ethernet... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41368-Issues_When_Using_FR4_as_PCB_Material.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41368-Issues_When_Using_FR4_as_PCB_Material.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 07 Oct 2011 19:06:57 GMT It might not be surprising that much of the testing at the UNH-IOL is performed using custom software written in various languages/programs by our employees. However, what many don’t know is... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41357-Mobile_apps_show_promise_as_engineering_tools.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41357-Mobile_apps_show_promise_as_engineering_tools.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 28 Sep 2011 14:06:37 GMT At ESC Boston 2011, I gave a demonstration of three mobile apps for the iPad. The first was an iMSO-104 mixed-signal oscilloscope for the iPad and iPhone (see review). Then, I played “The... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41345-PCIe_The_Next_Storage_Interface_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41345-PCIe_The_Next_Storage_Interface_.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 23 Sep 2011 20:57:19 GMT In the late 1990’s and early 2000’s, the storage data communications world saw a migration from large parallel buses to faster, streamlined serial interfaces. This was particularly evident in... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41309-The_Future_of_PON_s.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41309-The_Future_of_PON_s.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 09 Sep 2011 20:26:49 GMT Lincoln Lavoie, one of our Senior Engineers, had an article, “PONs: Why Testing For Conformance And Interoperability Are Key To Their Future” published on Communications Technology’s... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41300-I_thought_Apple_was_easy.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41300-I_thought_Apple_was_easy.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:29:51 GMT I just received an iPad, and I totally don’t get it. If I turn it on, the screen shows a USB connector with an arrow pointing to iTunes. What’s up with that? I think I’ll trade it in for a... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41298-Broaden_Your_Scope.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41298-Broaden_Your_Scope.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 02 Sep 2011 15:44:47 GMT In all likelihood, the days of the phosphor oscilloscopes with analog only triggering are long gone in your lab. Of course, scope companies continue to add bandwidth and memory depth, but over the... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41296-Tektronix_to_tout_scopes_embedded_instruments_at_ESC_Boston.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41296-Tektronix_to_tout_scopes_embedded_instruments_at_ESC_Boston.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 19:17:29 GMT Tektronix will make use of the Embedded Systems Conference Boston as a venue to highlight its traditional instruments and embedded instrument technology, based on interviews with executives and... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41295-ESC_Boston_exhibitor_touts_JTAG_to_boost_NVM_programming_speed.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41295-ESC_Boston_exhibitor_touts_JTAG_to_boost_NVM_programming_speed.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 15:37:21 GMT Although originally conceived as a means of testing component interconnectivity on a printed-circuit board, boundary-scan technology also offers a window into the inner workings of a chip. That... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41275-Tektronix_mixes_domains.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41275-Tektronix_mixes_domains.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:11:04 GMT Engineers are increasingly working in both the time and frequency domains as the products they are designing increasingly incorporate wireless functionality. To help them out, Tektronix has... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41263-Is_DCB_Ready_for_the_Big_Time_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41263-Is_DCB_Ready_for_the_Big_Time_.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:53:30 GMT Until now, Data Center Bridging (DCB) implementations have been fraught with interoperability issues, mainly due to varying Data Center Bridging Exchange Protocol (DCBX) implementations. Now that... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41260-Math_functions_reveal_circuit_parameters.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41260-Math_functions_reveal_circuit_parameters.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 24 Aug 2011 19:43:56 GMT Oscilloscopes can do much more than simply display waveforms, but many engineers don’t take advantage of their instrument’s advanced features. For example, oscilloscopes have math... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41258-EMC_Symposium_Demos_products_and_music.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41258-EMC_Symposium_Demos_products_and_music.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 19:58:41 GMT 2011 IEEE EMC Symposium, August 16-18, Long Beach, CA.As is typical at the annual IEEE EMC Symposium, attendees had a choice of live demonstrations of EMC concepts, poster sessions of the latest... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41257-ESC_Boston_offers_integration_and_test_track.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41257-ESC_Boston_offers_integration_and_test_track.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 13:00:22 GMT Systems integration and test will be the focus of a Thursday, September 29, track at the Embedded Systems Conference Boston. The track will feature four 75-minute sessions on software... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41255-HP_looks_to_spin_off_PC_business.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41255-HP_looks_to_spin_off_PC_business.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 18 Aug 2011 18:52:31 GMT The Wall Street Journal is reporting that HP is looking to sell its low-margin PC business.  The Journal says the move is a reversal of HP’s purchase of Compaq 10 years ago. The Journal quotes... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41251-A_good_sign_for_EMC_engineers.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41251-A_good_sign_for_EMC_engineers.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 17 Aug 2011 04:44:20 GMT The 2011 IEEE EMC Symposium exhibits opened today in Long Beach, CA. As you might expect, most of of the exhibit booths were from companies showing EMC test equipment, modeling software, and... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41250-From_wireless_edge_to_Internet_core.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41250-From_wireless_edge_to_Internet_core.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:35:12 GMT “IPv6 gets real”-that’s the word from Ixia, which, with its July acquisition of VeriWave, stands poised to handle comprehensive test of IPv6-enabled devices, “from the wireless edge to the... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41246-NI_responds_to_Agilent_s_comments_on_VSA_comparison.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41246-NI_responds_to_Agilent_s_comments_on_VSA_comparison.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 12 Aug 2011 11:53:09 GMT Furthering a debate about vector-signal-analyzer performance comparisons, a National Instruments spokesperson has responded to Agilent Technologies’ earlier comments. Agilent in turn had been... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41243-Strike_up_the_EMC_band_again.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41243-Strike_up_the_EMC_band_again.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:09:56 GMT If you’re going to the 2011 IEEE EMC Symposium, be sure to visit the refreshment area on Tuesday, August 16 at 4:00. That’s when EMC engineers will gather for the third annual EMC musical... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41242-Agilent_responds_to_NI_VSA_comparison.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41242-Agilent_responds_to_NI_VSA_comparison.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:14:58 GMT Taking note of competitive comparisons presented by National Instruments at NIWeek with regard to signal-analyzer performance, Agilent Technologies is presenting a forceful response. The... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41237-NIWeek_addresses_engineering_grand_challenges.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41237-NIWeek_addresses_engineering_grand_challenges.php?rssid=20428 Sun, 07 Aug 2011 17:57:18 GMT Austin, TX. The 14 grand engineering challenges identified by the National Academy of Engineering served as a rough outline for demonstrations during keynote sessions at this year’s NIWeek... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41221-Test_Modes_Part_3.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41221-Test_Modes_Part_3.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 02 Aug 2011 14:21:29 GMT The last test mode we will examine as part of this series is called pattern generators.The idea of having a device use a test mode where it transmits a known pattern isn’t new. What is new is... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41206-40_Gbps_optical_agreement_announced.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41206-40_Gbps_optical_agreement_announced.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 28 Jul 2011 18:19:15 GMT Network operators need the ability to swap out failed or questionable optical receivers and transmitters “on the fly.” Each time a new optical technology come on the scene, a new mechanical... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41204-On_the_road_to_self_driving_cars.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41204-On_the_road_to_self_driving_cars.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:13:58 GMT I wrote earlier about driverless cars, and now I have come across an item in Smartmoney that charts progress to fully autonomous vehicles, including the Volvo XC60’s queue-assist adaptive cruise... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41201-Test_Modes_Part_2.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41201-Test_Modes_Part_2.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:50:30 GMT Last week, we shed some light into the uses and features of loopbacks. Now, we’ll dive into pattern checkers and error counters.In some technologies, a loopback is not a practical means of... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41195-Leave_the_driving_to_your_car_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41195-Leave_the_driving_to_your_car_.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 21 Jul 2011 12:35:56 GMT Will self-driving vehicles become practical? Autonomous automobiles—and even motorcycles—have successfully operated, although under controlled conditions: either in a closed environment with... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41191-Test_Modes_Why_Do_We_Care_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41191-Test_Modes_Why_Do_We_Care_.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 17:33:11 GMT As device complexity increases and development times shorten, there is a growing need to be able to test and characterize chips in their final packages.  At the same time, system integrators are... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41190-Small_iron_seeks_respect_at_Semicon_West.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41190-Small_iron_seeks_respect_at_Semicon_West.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 15:06:40 GMT San Francisco, CA. Makers of traditional big-iron ATE systems got a lot of attention at Semicon West: Advantest touted its purchase of Verigy, and the combined organizations announced a slew of... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41187-Advantest_Verigy_pursue_SoC_test_dominance.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41187-Advantest_Verigy_pursue_SoC_test_dominance.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 23:47:33 GMT San Francisco, CA. Advantest and Verigy presented a united front at Semicon West today, following the July 4 formal completion of Advantest’s purchase of Verigy for $1.1 billion. Speaking at a... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41185-Incremental_growth_for_Semicon_West.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41185-Incremental_growth_for_Semicon_West.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:38:24 GMT The favorable industry figures I reported on yesterday are having a salutary effect on Semicon West, according to Karen Savala, president, SEMI Americas, speaking at yesterday’s press... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41184-SEMI_sounds_upbeat_note_for_Semicon_West.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41184-SEMI_sounds_upbeat_note_for_Semicon_West.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 11 Jul 2011 20:53:22 GMT San Francisco, CA. SEMI previewed its Semicon West conference this week with a Monday press conference that highlighted several upbeat notes. Doug Neugold, chairman, CEO, and president of ATMI and... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41181-New_MIPI_Standards_Part_2_UniPro.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41181-New_MIPI_Standards_Part_2_UniPro.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 16:07:54 GMT In an earlier post, we discussed M-PHY, which is poised to become the flagship PHY interconnect between components inside mobile devices. One of the key protocols that will run over M-PHY is... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41180-LeCroy_acquires_signal_integrity_training_company.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41180-LeCroy_acquires_signal_integrity_training_company.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 08 Jul 2011 13:56:20 GMT In a press release dated July 6, LeCroy announced the acquisition of Bogatin Enterprises, a company that specializes in signal-integrity training and consulting.Over the past several years, signal... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41178-June_2011_in_test_and_measurement.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41178-June_2011_in_test_and_measurement.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 07 Jul 2011 13:18:48 GMT Microwaves and RF instrumentation dominated test and measurement news last month, driven by the MTT-S International Microwave Symposium. The event drew more than 4400 registered attendees, who saw... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41174-New_MIPI_Standards_Part_1_M_PHY.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41174-New_MIPI_Standards_Part_1_M_PHY.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 01 Jul 2011 18:03:04 GMT 4G Network build outs by major wireless service providers, and the performance of those 4G Networks, have grabbed headlines throughout 2010 and 2011.  One thing lost in the discussion is the... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41165-Power_Spectral_Density_Testing_for_ITU_T_G_9960_Power_Line_Devices.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41165-Power_Spectral_Density_Testing_for_ITU_T_G_9960_Power_Line_Devices.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 24 Jun 2011 18:55:40 GMT One of the fundamental tests that can be performed on OFDM-based Power Line Communication (PLC) technologies such as ITU-T G.9960 (G.hn) is Power Spectral Density (PSD) conformance.  The measured... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41162-PCIe_Gen_4_on_the_drawing_board_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41162-PCIe_Gen_4_on_the_drawing_board_.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 18:55:12 GMT EE Times’ Rick Merritt reported yesterday that “The PCI Special Interest Group has determined it can squeeze out of copper links at least one more high speed version of PCI Express before a... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41154-MEMS_highlighted_at_TechConnect_World_session.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41154-MEMS_highlighted_at_TechConnect_World_session.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:53:14 GMT MEMS devices are becoming key components in the process of smart system integration. That’s the conclusion I drew from a full-day session titled “MEMS-based Systems Solutions and Integration... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41151-Automated_versus_manual_tests.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41151-Automated_versus_manual_tests.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 22 Jun 2011 20:12:52 GMT Some electronics testing tasks, particularly for production lend themselves to automation. The may go for engineering evaluations and calibrations. When do you decide that a test should be... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41140-Communications_Testing_in_a_Power_Line_Environment.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41140-Communications_Testing_in_a_Power_Line_Environment.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 18:23:32 GMT Power Line Communication (PLC) devices pose challenges for testing, as a system under test must obtain power from, and communicate over, the same medium.  As a result, the transmission medium for... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41139-IMS2011_roundup_Instruments_and_software_address_RF_design_and_test.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41139-IMS2011_roundup_Instruments_and_software_address_RF_design_and_test.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 17 Jun 2011 14:19:13 GMT The IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society reports that last week’s International Microwave Symposium drew 4453 registered attendees, including 2571 who registered for the technical... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41135-Webcast_to_highlight_network_interoperability.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41135-Webcast_to_highlight_network_interoperability.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:08:45 GMT On Wednesday, June 22, at 2:00 pm Eastern (11:00am Pacific), T&MW will host a webcast that will cover NTAF Specification 1.0. Members of the Network Test Automation Forum will present the reasons... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41131-Prospects_for_RF_MEMS.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41131-Prospects_for_RF_MEMS.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 12:59:48 GMT Are RF MEMS devices commercially viable, or will they become so soon? That question was addressed at a Wednesday June 8 IMS2011 panel discussion titled “Commercial viability of RF MEMS—a... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41129-The_Internet_was_tested.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41129-The_Internet_was_tested.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 18:34:57 GMT The Internet is running out of IP addresses. Engineers at network operators, equipment manufacturers, and test labs such as the UNH-IOL have been implementing IPv6 in equipment and operating... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41127-Analog_guru_Jim_Williams_dies.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41127-Analog_guru_Jim_Williams_dies.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 13 Jun 2011 16:39:38 GMT Sad news—Jim Williams, the analog guru who helped found and expand Linear Technology, died last evening.Jim, a consulting editor to sibling publication EDN, was a prolific contributor to that... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41125-40_and_100_Gigabit_Ethernet_802_3ba_Testing_Challenges.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41125-40_and_100_Gigabit_Ethernet_802_3ba_Testing_Challenges.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 10 Jun 2011 21:09:13 GMT In this post, we’ll dive into testing challenges for 40 and 100 Gigabit Ethernet devices adhering to the 802.3ba standard. 802.3ba, an amendment to the 802.3 standard, is intended to address the... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41113-World_IPv6_Day.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41113-World_IPv6_Day.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 21:33:37 GMT Gearing up for tomorrow’s 24-hour IPv6 Test FlightSounds scary, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not. Basically, World IPv6 Day, organized by the Internet Society (ISOC), is a one-day, live test run... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41112-Network_test_spec_approved.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41112-Network_test_spec_approved.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:05:30 GMT The Network Test Automation Forum (NTAF) has announced it’s first specification for automating network testing. Organized on March 16, 2010, NTAF is a collaboration of network equipment makers,... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41111-IMS2011_Test_can_address_engineers_nightmare.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41111-IMS2011_Test_can_address_engineers_nightmare.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:56:38 GMT BALTIMORE, MD. Cellular communications in general and LTE in particular are shaping up to be key topics at the International Microwave Symposium held here this week. Professor J. David Rhodes, an... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41100-EEEk_Energy_Efficient_Ethernet_Testing_Challenges.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41100-EEEk_Energy_Efficient_Ethernet_Testing_Challenges.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 03 Jun 2011 19:36:10 GMT This week, we’ll examine some of the challenges of testing Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE), a protocol that addresses the growing need for companies and enterprises to be both energy efficient... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41079-Welcome_to_the_UNH_IOL_guest_bloggers.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41079-Welcome_to_the_UNH_IOL_guest_bloggers.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 27 May 2011 12:35:22 GMT At Test & Measurement World we are happy to welcome the guest bloggers from the University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL). As their initial post states, UNH-IOL , which... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41071-Ethernet_Not_So_Easy.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/41071-Ethernet_Not_So_Easy.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 26 May 2011 17:45:10 GMT Not Your Father’s EthernetEthernet testing has evolved greatly since the introduction of the IEEE 802.3 standard.  Many engineers fondly look back on hooking up the most recent 10BASE-T... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41075-Last_call_Take_our_instruments_survey.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41075-Last_call_Take_our_instruments_survey.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 26 May 2011 15:11:46 GMT Make your voice heard now, before our survey closes on May 31.US readers: act now before the long weekend. Take seven to ten minutes to complete Frost & Sullivan and Test & Measurement World’s... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41066-Help_Luis_play_back_waveforms.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41066-Help_Luis_play_back_waveforms.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 25 May 2011 14:30:40 GMT A reader recently asked for help on how to capture a waveform with an oscilloscope and play it back on a waveform generator. Having neither of his instruments in my office, I put this question to... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41064-Review_of_Audio_Precision_APx585.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/41064-Review_of_Audio_Precision_APx585.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 24 May 2011 19:35:26 GMT My colleague Paul Rako arranged for one of his audiophile friends to review the Audio Precision APx585 audio analyzer. Click here to read the... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41056-R_S_and_Synopsys_work_to_get_LTE_engineers_talking.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41056-R_S_and_Synopsys_work_to_get_LTE_engineers_talking.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 23 May 2011 13:45:14 GMT I commented in my May “Editor’s Note” on the frequent lack of communication among engineers practicing different disciplines, and I suggested there would be benefits to more interaction. Of... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41033-Sound_off_on_modular_vs_traditional_instruments.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41033-Sound_off_on_modular_vs_traditional_instruments.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 19 May 2011 11:41:08 GMT Make your voice heard now, before our survey closes on May 31. Take seven to ten minutes to complete Frost & Sullivan and Test & Measurement World’s survey on traditional vs. modular... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41032-What_to_see_on_the_IMS2011_exhibit_floor.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41032-What_to_see_on_the_IMS2011_exhibit_floor.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 18 May 2011 18:26:33 GMT As of today, the IMS2011 Website reports that 587 exhibitors will participate in the June 7-9 exhibition in Baltimore, with 55 of those exhibiting at the International Microwave Symposium for the... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41030-IMS2011_from_microwave_ovens_to_terahertz_applications.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41030-IMS2011_from_microwave_ovens_to_terahertz_applications.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 18 May 2011 13:07:51 GMT The 2011 MTT-S International Microwave Symposium will convene in Baltimore June 5 and will address the gamut of RF/microwave application areas, from medical imaging to terahertz and... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/40994-Tales_from_the_Test_Lab.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Testing_the_Limits/40994-Tales_from_the_Test_Lab.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 16 May 2011 18:23:50 GMT The UNH-IOL Premiers Blog WelcomeWe welcome you to our corner of Test & Measurement World’s website.  We’d like to thank T&MW for this opportunity, and we look forward to engaging the... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41010-From_DuMont_oscillograph_to_iPad_app.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/41010-From_DuMont_oscillograph_to_iPad_app.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 13 May 2011 13:25:50 GMT Richard Quinnell waxed nostalgic about bench instruments in “The thrill is gone” from our May 2011 Modular Instrument Test Report. As Rich reported, “I was once the proud teen owner of my... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40985-NI_Tektronix_chart_oscilloscope_territories.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40985-NI_Tektronix_chart_oscilloscope_territories.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 09 May 2011 19:36:24 GMT The Embedded Systems Conference Silicon Valley provided an opportunity for National Instruments and Tektronix to clearly stake out their respective turf when it comes to the digitization of... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40974-Buy_a_pulse_generator_get_an_iPad2.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40974-Buy_a_pulse_generator_get_an_iPad2.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 06 May 2011 19:49:40 GMT In this blog, I try to avoid discussing new products, but this one is worthy of exception. Quantum Composers, a company that manufactures pulse generators located in Bozeman, MT, will send you an... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40969-Production_testers_grab_top_product_awards_at_Best_in_Test.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40969-Production_testers_grab_top_product_awards_at_Best_in_Test.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 06 May 2011 01:23:07 GMT SAN JOSE, CA. Semiconductor and printed-circuit-board production testers seem to be getting some respect, based on winners of Test & Measurement World’s annual awards ceremony, held here last... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40944-Test_engineers_save_the_weekend.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40944-Test_engineers_save_the_weekend.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 02 May 2011 13:18:42 GMT My colleagues at EE Life have posted one of those great stories where engineers solved a technical problem created by management. In this case, its was a problem with CMOS battery drain on... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40917-iNEMI_schedules_medical_electronics_workshop.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40917-iNEMI_schedules_medical_electronics_workshop.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 28 Apr 2011 11:37:36 GMT iNEMI is holding a medical electronics workshop May 4-5 in Santa Clara with the goal of providing new insights into one of the fastest growing areas of electronics.  Speakers represent medical... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40880-ESC_featuring_test_awards_and_a_dino.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40880-ESC_featuring_test_awards_and_a_dino.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 21 Apr 2011 11:58:23 GMT Mark your calendars—ESC Silicon Valley kicks off May 2 in San Jose. You’ll get a look at embedded intelligence ca. 66 million BC in the form of Samson, one of the largest known tyrannosaurus... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40841-Woz_on_plywood_circuit_boards.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40841-Woz_on_plywood_circuit_boards.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 14 Apr 2011 02:03:46 GMT LAS VEGAS, NV. Steve Wozniak, consummate engineer, kicked off the Apex Expo this week with a keynote address on how to foster creativity and innovation. Addressing a full ballroom representative... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40829-Are_you_embedded_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40829-Are_you_embedded_.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 12 Apr 2011 19:07:29 GMT I heard a great phrase the other day, “embedded engineer.” I just can’t figure out what it means so I’m asking for your help. Could it mean that you’re stuck in the lab, not to emerge... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40798-The_hands_on_scoop_on_oscilloscopes.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40798-The_hands_on_scoop_on_oscilloscopes.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 18:49:36 GMT By now, you’ve probably seen something about Agilent’s Infiniivision 2000-X and 3000-X oscilloscopes. I had a chance to play with one when the company came by the T&MW offices prior to the... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40791-PXI_functional_test_system_increases_ECU_throughput.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40791-PXI_functional_test_system_increases_ECU_throughput.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 06 Apr 2011 14:23:11 GMT Agilent Technologies announced today that it will unveil its new modular PXI-based TS-8900 automotive functional test system at the IPC Apex Expo in Las Vegas next week. The test system provides a... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40788-DFT_vs_DFM_at_APEX.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40788-DFT_vs_DFM_at_APEX.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 05 Apr 2011 17:40:39 GMT Going to IPC’s APEX EXPO show in Las Vegas next week? Join me Wednesday, April 13, from 10:15 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. for a panel discussion titled “Cage Match: Design for Test (DFT) vs. Design for... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40784-Unglamorous_analog_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40784-Unglamorous_analog_.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:27:24 GMT Analog just can’t get any respect. Back in 2007, the Wall Street Journal described Linear Technology engineers as wallowing in a tech backwater (although a profitable one). Now today, commenting... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40775-Semiconductor_test_consolidation_process_continues.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40775-Semiconductor_test_consolidation_process_continues.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:52:32 GMT Consolidation of the semiconductor test industry is continuing its tortuous path (see “Advantest bids for Verigy” and “How many semiconductor ATE companies?“). Advantest and Verigy... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40773-Introducing_the_oscilloscope_expert.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40773-Introducing_the_oscilloscope_expert.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 04 Apr 2011 15:08:04 GMT TMW’s sister publication EDN has launched a web site called “theScopeExpert” , a new resource for learning about how to use oscilloscopes. You’ll find white papers, videos, news, and... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40772-Food_for_thought.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40772-Food_for_thought.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 04 Apr 2011 13:35:17 GMT In my April print edition Editor’s Note, “The measure of thought,” I comment on how IBM’s Watson has put many human pundits on the defensive since its victory on the television game... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40760-Aspiring_to_work_at_the_DMV.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40760-Aspiring_to_work_at_the_DMV.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 01 Apr 2011 15:54:48 GMT Here’s a frightening thought: the next generation might prefer to work at the department motor vehicles rather than design and build motor vehicles. That’s the suggestion of Stephen Moore,... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40737-Learn_about_measurement_uncertainty.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40737-Learn_about_measurement_uncertainty.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 29 Mar 2011 14:35:38 GMT If you hang around calibration people for a while, you learn that every measurement has an uncertainty. Some call it accuracy, some call it tolerance, but uncertainty is the term that calibration... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40715-My_tour_of_LA_delicatessens.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40715-My_tour_of_LA_delicatessens.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 24 Mar 2011 16:20:57 GMT Over the last two weeks, I flew from Boston to Los Angeles twice. The first trip was for the OFCNFOEC conference, held at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The following week, I attended the... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40706-GM_NASA_collaborate_to_put_Robonaut_2_in_space.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40706-GM_NASA_collaborate_to_put_Robonaut_2_in_space.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:19:05 GMT CHICAGO, IL. Engineers at GM and NASA chose Automate 2011 to highlight their collaborative effort to put Robonaut 2 aboard the International Space Station. Marty Linn, principal engineer for... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40667-Rudolph_CEO_comments_on_Japan_business.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40667-Rudolph_CEO_comments_on_Japan_business.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:27:37 GMT Rudolph Technologies chairman and CEO Paul F. McLaughlin reports that the Rudolph facility located in Takatsu in the southeastern section of Tokyo was not directly affected by the recent... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40665-Japanese_firms_with_test_operations_report_workers_safe.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40665-Japanese_firms_with_test_operations_report_workers_safe.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:55:26 GMT Major Japan-based companies with worldwide test-and-measurement operations are reporting that their Japanese employees are safe, and the firms working to continue operations despite the earthquake... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40657-Get_the_best_return_on_your_SOC_test_development_investment.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40657-Get_the_best_return_on_your_SOC_test_development_investment.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 15 Mar 2011 14:22:24 GMT How much test is enough? That can be a tough question to answer, and it’s further complicated by an additional questions: When should test occur? If you are developing an SOC, how much DFT and... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40651-Letting_viruses_take_the_wheel_or_joystick_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40651-Letting_viruses_take_the_wheel_or_joystick_.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 17:00:19 GMT Bill Schweber at EE Times recently asked “Why hasn’t that steering wheel gone away?” That post has generated quite an impressive comment list, with a surprising number of (supposedly... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40646-Industry_assesses_and_responds_to_earthquake.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40646-Industry_assesses_and_responds_to_earthquake.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 13:33:34 GMT Advantest today announced that it incurred minimal damage as a result of the Northeast Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, and that its major Japanese facilities have resumed operation. The... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40605-Intel_architectures_get_design_for_test_support.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40605-Intel_architectures_get_design_for_test_support.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 04 Mar 2011 14:50:56 GMT Traditional boundary-scan companies are turning their attention to Intel processors in an effort to support debug, validation, and emulation. Earlier this week I reported that Asset InterTech is... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40572-What_does_Watson_know_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40572-What_does_Watson_know_.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 23 Feb 2011 20:02:49 GMT John Searle, a professor of philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley, has a column in today’s Wall Street Journal titled “Watson Doesn’t Know It Won on ‘Jeopardy!’” Which... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40559-Obama_on_TEM_reusable_IP.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40559-Obama_on_TEM_reusable_IP.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:30:59 GMT President Obama capped his February 18 visit to Intel Hillsboro’s Ronler Acres facility with a trip to the company’s TEM lab, where he took a look at some atoms using the facility’s FEI... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40523-Do_you_connect_your_oscilloscope_.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40523-Do_you_connect_your_oscilloscope_.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 16 Feb 2011 19:53:16 GMT I recently ran across a survey of some several hundred oscilloscope users about how they use oscilloscopes. According to the survey, a high percentage of respondents said that they connect their... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40517-Tech_not_always_necessary_for_remote_medical_care.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40517-Tech_not_always_necessary_for_remote_medical_care.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 18:58:01 GMT Technology shows promise for bringing medical treatment to remote locations. Lab-on-a-chip devices, for example, coupled with wireless connections are permitting remote diagnosis when a fully... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40516-Taking_aim_at_LTE_Advanced.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40516-Taking_aim_at_LTE_Advanced.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 17:06:24 GMT LTE-Advanced, having won ITU acceptance as meeting IMT-Advanced (International Mobile Telecommunications-Advanced) requirements in October 2010, stands poised to emerge as a true 4G technology,... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40514-Engineers_know_how_to_save_money.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40514-Engineers_know_how_to_save_money.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:29:33 GMT With all the talk about wasteful government spending, it’s refreshing to hear that engineers have developed a system for saving money. Engineers at the Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC)... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40504-EEs_MEs_get_test_tutorial_at_AeroCon.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40504-EEs_MEs_get_test_tutorial_at_AeroCon.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:05:50 GMT ANAHEIM, CA. Electrical and mechanical engineers attending AeroCon this week had the opportunity to learn about test technologies spanning signal-integrity investigations at 6 GHz to metal-fatigue... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40484-Only_in_Silicon_Valley.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40484-Only_in_Silicon_Valley.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 19:47:35 GMT Only in Boston could someone someone serve jail time while at the same serving as mayor.  That was 1947 and it probably wouldn’t happen today, but you get the idea. Only in New York can you... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40482-High_speed_test_at_DesignCon.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40482-High_speed_test_at_DesignCon.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 08 Feb 2011 15:42:20 GMT DesignCon last week lived up to its reputation as a venue for test-equipment vendors to highlight their high-end instruments‘ abilities to investigate signal-integrity and related issues in... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40477-Total_cost_of_ownership_is_key_to_lowering_cost_of_test.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40477-Total_cost_of_ownership_is_key_to_lowering_cost_of_test.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 07 Feb 2011 23:11:23 GMT If you want to cut the cost of test, you need to understand the total cost of ownership of the test equipment you purchase. To help clarify the issues involved, Frost & Sullivan has invited Bill... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40469-The_Bluetooth_blues.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40469-The_Bluetooth_blues.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 04 Feb 2011 22:44:31 GMT I broke down a bought a new cell phone last week. Not a smart phone, mind you. They’re too expensive, but one that does more than my Motorola C139. I wanted to connect my new Samsung SGH-T369 to... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40451-High_speed_designs_drive_test_needs.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40451-High_speed_designs_drive_test_needs.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 02 Feb 2011 16:39:57 GMT High-speed digital technologies are driving today’s designs as developers target applications areas ranging from the digital home to aerospace and defense. That’s according to Jay Alexander,... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40392-Test_and_measurement_at_DesignCon.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40392-Test_and_measurement_at_DesignCon.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 20 Jan 2011 18:02:39 GMT Evaluating your high-speed designs involves much more than just hooking up your instruments. First, you’ll need to consider exactly which instrument or instrument combination will best suit your... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40381-AeroCon_session_to_address_test.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40381-AeroCon_session_to_address_test.php?rssid=20428 Tue, 18 Jan 2011 20:02:22 GMT AeroCon, a conference and exhibition for the aerospace and defense industries, will take place February 8 through 10 in Anaheim, CA, and I have the pleasure of chairing a session entitled... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40357-Develop_paperless_calibration_records.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40357-Develop_paperless_calibration_records.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:00:59 GMT Book Review: Paperless Calibration Compliance for National/International Standards & Regulations by Jay L. Bucher. Bucherview Metrology Services, DeForest, WI, 2010,... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40331-LTX_Credence_saga_takes_another_turn.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40331-LTX_Credence_saga_takes_another_turn.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:40:16 GMT The picture surrounding the potential for a merger or acquisition involving Verigy and LTX-Credence or Advantest and Verigy has seemingly become more complicated. The law firm Brower Piven... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40328-Instrument_interfaces_could_someday_change.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40328-Instrument_interfaces_could_someday_change.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 07 Jan 2011 14:22:51 GMT Although I’m not at the Consumer Electronics Show, I’ve been hearing the media reports that this year, tablet computers are the thing. One report said that there are about 50 tablet computers... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40315-Sound_and_vibration_and_waveforms.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40315-Sound_and_vibration_and_waveforms.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 19:42:23 GMT Each December, Harvard University professors give a holiday science lecture for kids that’s open to the public. In the 2010 lecture, Good Vibrations: How We Communicate on sound and vibration,... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40304-An_alarming_fact_one_is_none.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40304-An_alarming_fact_one_is_none.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:23:29 GMT The convening of the Consumer Electronics Show this week provides an opportunity to reflect on the role of technology in our lives and how dependent we have become on electronic devices. I’m not... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Engineering_Education_and_Careers/40215-Space_design_challenge_2011.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Engineering_Education_and_Careers/40215-Space_design_challenge_2011.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 24 Dec 2010 20:56:40 GMT 2011 will ring in another year for a NASA space design competition. For students who wish to help further space exploration and development, ASA is searching for college and graduate level... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40257-Gifts_and_donations_this_holiday_season.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40257-Gifts_and_donations_this_holiday_season.php?rssid=20428 Wed, 22 Dec 2010 12:48:20 GMT Merry Christmas and happy holidays. The gift-giving season is good for China, iSupply reports, noting, “After several months of decreases, demand related to the holiday season provided a... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40233-EMC_2011_Paper_deadline_approaching.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40233-EMC_2011_Paper_deadline_approaching.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 17 Dec 2010 15:15:17 GMT January 15, 2011 is the deadline for submitting technical papers for the 20111 IEEE EMC Symposium. This year’s symposium will take place in Long Beach, CA from August 14 through August 19.Link... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40218-Hold_on_to_your_test_instruments.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Rowe_s_and_Columns/40218-Hold_on_to_your_test_instruments.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:05:55 GMT Have you ever returned from vacation (or a weekend, or even just overnight) to find that you test bench had been raided? The test setup you so carefully configured had been dismantled by... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Engineering_Education_and_Careers/40203-Researchers_want_to_know_how_engineers_think.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Engineering_Education_and_Careers/40203-Researchers_want_to_know_how_engineers_think.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 13 Dec 2010 14:40:24 GMT 53 engineering educators will come together on December 13 to participate in the upcoming National Academy of Engineering’s Frontiers of Engineering Education program. The goal of the symposium... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Engineering_Education_and_Careers/40202-Students_engineer_independence.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Engineering_Education_and_Careers/40202-Students_engineer_independence.php?rssid=20428 Fri, 10 Dec 2010 17:01:43 GMT This could very well be the most stressful point in the semester for most students. Preparing for presentations, researching for final projects, and struggling to deliver quality work to achieve... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Engineering_Education_and_Careers/40183-Engineering_class_strives_for_professionalism.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Engineering_Education_and_Careers/40183-Engineering_class_strives_for_professionalism.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 17:24:29 GMT For most graduating engineering students, post-college can often seem overwhelming and even frightening. Yet, one Penn State Professor aims to educate students on developing skills to assertively... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40180-Advantest_bids_for_Verigy.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Taking_the_Measure/40180-Advantest_bids_for_Verigy.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 06 Dec 2010 17:11:17 GMT Advantest is making a bid for Verigy, which just recently reached a deal to merge with LTX-Credence.Verigy officials seemed dissatisfied with Advantest’s offer of $12.15 per share, or nearly... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Engineering_Education_and_Careers/40161-Laser_camera_sees_around_corners.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Engineering_Education_and_Careers/40161-Laser_camera_sees_around_corners.php?rssid=20428 Thu, 02 Dec 2010 15:23:02 GMT If you could tell me that you could see what’s coming around the corner, I would say you have psychic powers. Yet, Professor Ramesh Raskar, head of the Camera Culture group at MIT’s Media Lab,... http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Engineering_Education_and_Careers/40140-Students_discover_engineering.php?rssid=20428 http://www.tmworld.com/blog/Engineering_Education_and_Careers/40140-Students_discover_engineering.php?rssid=20428 Mon, 29 Nov 2010 19:33:11 GMT At a time when there is an increasing shortage of engineers, several government organizations, universities, and engineering magnet high schools have partnered to respond to the nation’s need...