KIX-OnlineLinks to amateur (ham) radio goodies on the web

I made a post awhile back about Tektronix and loads of information available on their site with regard to their (sweet!) line of O-scopes.  It was nice to see a company furnish plenty of generic information that is useful for the hobbyist or student.

This time around, it’s Analog Devices (http://www.analog.com).

When I’m hosting a buildathon or teaching a class, there’s always simple projects being built by attendees.  Some manufacturers make really good product data sheets, some don’t (as I recently found out using simple LM386 and similar clones).

Analog Devices not only has loads of great product data sheets and information on their website, they push the envelope one step further.  They publish a newsletter that is available on their website.

Analog Dialogue is the newsletter:

http://www.analog.com/library/analogdialogue/index.html

This month alone has a great article for the homebrewer/QRP’er called “Driving PIN Diodes: The Op-Amp Alternative“.  I didn’t look to see if the newsletter is downloadable or not (I hit the site, and start reading an article and then I get sidetracked.  Not that any of my fellow QRP’ers would ever know anything about that!).

They push the envelope one step further with Webinars!!!

http://www.analog.com/library/analogdialogue/webinars_tutorials.html

I haven’t had a chance to watch some yet (I had to register, and haven’t had the chance yet) but I have plenty on my viewing list.

Here’s a sample:

• Introduction to Op Amps — This presentation is an introductory discussion of operational amplifiers (op amps) and is intended for users that are new to or unfamiliar with analog design or concepts.

• Quadrature and DC Correction for Direct Conversion Receivers –This webcast discusses the various wireless communication architectures with a focus on homodyne receiver challenges such as: DC offset, quadrature errors and even order distortions.

• Amplifier Noise Principles for the Practical Engineer — This presentation will focus on practical noise tips for the board designer, rather than theoretical aspects often covered in academic texts.

• Introduction to Differential Amplifiers and Design Tools — The differential amplifier function provides precision signal conditioning in many high-performance system applications, such as medical instrumentation and portable test equipment. But how do you apply these devices to insure that your signal chain meets performance expectations? This on-demand technical webinar covers the basics of differential amplifiers, their common applications, and explores several design examples.

• Differential Circuit Design Techniques for Communication Applications — One of the major challenges in communications system design is the successful capturing of signals with adequate fidelity. This webinar explores the advantages of differential design techniques for today’s high performance communication systems.

I’ve used a lot of their product in the past, this only makes me want to continue knowing how much they back up their products with loads of information on how to use them!

If you know of any other companies products that we use on a regular basis that is very good at educating their customers on how to use their product, please share and post below!