Pasternack Blog

It is common to see high reliability (Hi-Rel) labelled electronic components and devices in virtually every automotive, industrial, avionics, military, and space application. Obviously, these applications have widely different standards and expectations for reliability. For example, an automotive device may have an expected failure rate over 5 years that is orders of magnitude less than ..

Bi-directional amplifiers are used to strengthen communication signals between two points for a wide array of applications. This include boosting signals along large subterranean or in-building distributed antenna systems (DAS), acting as a repeater to a remote observation station, and even enabling rapidly deployable portable networks with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). As many modern uses ..

A balun, meaning balanced-unbalanced, is a three-port device that converts differential signals to single-ended signals, and vice versa. Hence, a balun presents a 180° phase shift between the signals in the balanced end, unlike a power divider with no phase shift between the splitting ports. This functionality allows for baluns to take the input, or ..

Phase noise and its time-domain counterpart, jitter have been studied in radar and communications systems since the phenomenon was first observed. Though always a concern, recent advances in high-speed digital modulation schemes and advanced radar, which also used complex digital modulation techniques for pulse compression, have led to radar and communication systems being more susceptible ..

The US defense standards, commonly referred to as MilSpec, are developed by the US DoD for the purpose of enhancing interoperability among critical defense systems. The goal of the standards is to provide precise descriptions on the procedures and practices for the design, manufacturing, and deployment of military devices and equipment. Ultimately, the standards aim ..

Passive intermodulation (PIM) distortion is a wireless communication system degrading phenomenon that has been a concern for cellular telecommunications, satellite communications, and wireless network development. PIM is such a concern in cellular/wireless communications that there are entire distinct Low PIM Components and Cable Assemblies product lines designed to aid in preventing or mitigating PIM distortion. ..

RoHS, also known as Lead-Free, stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances. RoHS originated in the European Union and restricts the use of six hazardous materials found in electrical and electronic products. All applicable products in the EU market after July 1, 2006 must pass RoHS compliance. The substances banned under RoHS are lead (Pb), mercury ..

Introduction to Mixers A microwave frequency mixer is a 3-port electronic circuit that combines two or more signals into one or two composite output signals, and are categorized as switching mixers or nonlinear mixers– although many mixers are configured with both. Using diodes, the mixer is passive and has a conversion loss. Using active devices, ..

Though a detailed explanation of jitter can be highly complex mathematically, simply put, jitter is the deviation of a signal from its ideal periodic behavior in terms of frequency, signal amplitude, or phase. There are many contributors to jitter in a signal, from the source itself to outside interferers. Additionally, jitter can be described similarly ..

International Microwave Symposium 2015 (IMS 2015) tradeshow conference / symposium and expo video of Pasternack demonstrating our new Cable Creator for RF cable assemblies. The video from the IEEE IMS 2015 conference, trade show and expo in Phoenix, AZ shows the Pasternack booth while the new RF cable assembly tool, the Cable Creator, is demonstrated ..