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Dave looks through the documentation for the vintage 1980 NEC PCN-1205AH 5kW Analog TV Transmitter that used to transmit the CH7 TV frequency in Sydney He then tears down the HPA-3696 IF Modulator used in the system. Facility tour HERE Forum HERE Podcast: Download

Mailbag Monday SMD Adapter PCBs NXP SMD Package Cheats: Leaded Non-Leaded HP 41 Calculator upgrade PCB OHARARP Lab Notebooks CNC-Design in Finland Laser Cut 3D Signs Hacked Microsoft Lifecam DIYINHK USB Microscope uARM 4-Axis Arduino Open Source Hardware Robotic Arm Kickstarter Forum HERE Podcast: Download

Fundamentals Friday. Dave explains Gain Bandwith Product and how it’s possible to increase your system bandwidth by cascading opamps in series. Also, a discussion on the associated noise issues. A breadboard example shows how variable GBWP can be, and how it can relate to distortion. Opamp Noise Tutorial Forum HERE …

A little behind the scenes packing and shipping the uCurrent parts off to the assembler.

What is inside one of the best quality wireless microphones on the market? Dave takes a look inside the Sennheiser EW100 G3 SK100 Bodypack Transmitter and the EK100 Diversity Receiver. Datasheets: ADF4117 SA575 BH4127 Forum HERE Podcast: Download

Ever wanted to learn practical electronics in a structured hands-on online course? My AmpHour radio show co-host Chris Gammell has an excellent new 10 week electronics course called Contextual Electronics starting TODAY! Course prices are HERE, and there are various levels of how you can participate. You can do the …

Dave cleans up the lab and adds some shelves. Exciting stuff. Original lab timelapse build: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhsgJnrkQYc Forum: http://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-570-lab-cleanup-and-shelving/ Podcast: Download

David Kilpatrick from TXAustralia takes us on a detailed tour of the old decommissioned 10kW analog TV transmission system at the Artarmon facility in Sydney. How it all works from the broadcaster video input to final transmission output up the 180m broadcast antenna. Plus some teardowns of the old equipment …

What is the actual capacitance of typical breadboard contacts? It’s not in the datasheet, so Dave decides to measure it. It is well know that breadboards are not suitable for high frequency work due to the stray capacitance between contacts, but how bad is it really? Forum: http://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-568-solderless-breadboard-capacitance/ Podcast: Download

Dave breadboards a precision 1A current source circuit and finds that even the application reference circuit doesn’t work as expected. Showing that you can’t just blindly trust that datasheet application circuit will work first go. LTC6655  Forum HERE   Podcast: Download

      So, HP, err, I mean Agilent, have a new name – Keysight Technologies. That’s as big a news as it gets in the electronics industry, but as Julius Sumner Miller said, why is it so? Does anyone care if they change their name? You bet! In 1939 Bill Hewlett …

Dave takes a look at two cheap USB microscopes to see how suitable they are for electronics works and soldering and inspection. http://amzn.to/JEXuLH Andonstar/Vividia 2MP 12mm diameter endoscope style USB microscope: http://amzn.to/1cLfhHr http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/171176517011 Podcast: Download

A teaser video… Dave knocks on the door of the local Sydney TV transmitter facility. Will they let him in? Forum HERE Podcast: Download

Oh dear… Original here by @FMMT666

Part 1 HERE Dave follows a more methodical troubleshooting procedure in order to track down the fault in the Tektronix TDS3054 oscilloscope. Measuring the low and high frequency differential outputs of the hybrid front end, the voltage rails and other parts. And has the magic smoke escaped? And he couldn’t …