A loop antenna is one that is designed to receive radio signals more efficiently than other antennas. Loop antennas are considered more efficient than others because they are mobile, work with a wide range of frequencies, and use less electricity. A loop antenna’s performance is entirely dependent on its construction and placement, although other factors …
Forward Error Correction (FEC) is a type of error correction that involves encoding a message in a redundant way, which allows the receiver to reconstruct lost bits without the need for retransmission. How Forward Error Correction Works FEC works by adding “check bits” to the outgoing data stream. Adding more check bits reduces the amount …
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) is a wireless system used to identify tags. These tags may be attached to objects and even embedded under the skin of animals and human beings. Therefore, we can describe RFID as a form of identification tracking that allows retail outlets, airports, zoos, libraries, office buildings, warehouses, and different types of …
A common question asked by new student of electronics is what is a momentary switch? The short answer is that a momentary switch is a unit capable of turning any electronic device to either an on or off state when an end-user presses the switch. This type of switch can actually represent one of two …
A decoupling capacitor (bypass capacitor) is a device that separates current and voltage levels from two separate sections of the same electronic device. Decoupling capacitors are useful in situations that require an electronic device to fluctuate current or voltage levels without straining the power supply. Decoupling capacitors can be used in electronic devices that have …
Linear amplifiers are electronic circuits that have an output that is proportional to the input of the device while providing additional power to the load. A linear amplifier is normally a variant of a radio-frequency (RF) power amplifier and is used frequently in amateur radio and in laboratory and commercial audio equipment with an output …
Some materials have the ability to produce electricity when subjected to mechanical stress. This is called the piezoelectric effect. This stress can be caused by hitting or twisting the material just enough to deform its crystal lattice without fracturing it. The effect also works in the opposite way, with the material deforming slightly when a …
A metal detector uses an electromagnetic field to detect the presence of a concealed metal object. The range depends on the strength of the field, and is usually less than one meter from the search head. The three detection methods are beat frequency oscillation, very low frequency, and pulse induction. Metal detectors were first introduced …
SCPC stands for Single Channel Per Carrier. SCPC is a form of satellite transmission where each channel is transmitted on a dedicated single carrier. The alternative to SCPC is MCPC (Multiple Channel Per Carrier). MCPC is more efficient than SCPC, but SCPC is still utilized for some satellite feeds. By using SCPC, satellite users are …
A phototransistor is a device that converts light energy into electric energy. Phototransistors are similar to photoresistors but produce both current and voltage, while photoresistors only produce current. This is because a phototransistor is made of a bipolar semiconductor and focuses the energy that is passed through it. Photons (light particles) activate phototransistors and are …