October 23, 2008

Spirent Communications and SGS Wireless partner on A-GPS
Spirent Communications and SGS Wireless have signed an agreement to provide validation and testing services on the Spirent UMTS Location Test System (ULTS) at the SGS Wireless laboratory in Cambridge, UK. Read More

A D V E R T I S E M E N T Put a bench in your bag Agilent's paperback-sized USB modular instruments make it possible. With a scope, a DMM, a function generator and the familiar software interface, you'll be ready for measurements at a customer site, an outsourced manufacturing operation, and beyond. Get the full story.

Magnetic field sensors [sic]
Jim Ericson once described how to construct a magnetic-field immunity tester from PVC pipe, plywood, and a few additional components. Straying further afield for measuring magnetism, how about using…cows? Read More

A cell phone for Halloween?
Today, I received a press release calling for every child to have a cell phone (and know how to use it) on Halloween. Do you think that giving every child a cell phone will just give parents a false sense of security? Read More

Gifted student engineers through origami
Nicholas Kramer has his own Web site dedicated to origami, Origami Squared. He identifies a relationship between origami and engineering by using the folded paper art to demonstrate how physical structures are built and behave. Read More

A D V E R T I S E M E N T Get Competitive Bids on Industrial Purchases Compare prices for industrial and materials handling equipment, business services and more! Start saving today by getting FREE price quotes from BuyerZone - Where Smart Businesses Buy and Sell. Click here

LXI oscilloscopes offer high channel density
ZTEC Instruments reports that it has earned LXI Class C compliance for its ZT4610 and ZT4210 digital oscilloscopes. Read More

Microstar touts network-ready acquisition server packages
DAPserver 500 test, measurement, and control products from Microstar Laboratories can be combined to create network-ready data acquisition server packages based on Pentium M processors and preloaded with Windows and server software. Read More

Advantech releases ActiveX controls for I/O
ActiveDAQ Pro from Advantech is a collection of ActiveX controls for performing input and output operations used to control Advantech data acquisition cards. Read More

Vote for the 2009 Test Engineer of the Year
The six finalists work at St. Jude Medical, Ford Motor, Seagate Technology, Sanmina-SCI, Battelle Memorial Institute, and National Institute of Standards and Technology. Read all about them and then cast your ballot. The winner will designate a $10,000 donation to an engineering school, courtesy of National Instruments. Read More

Call for Nominations: T&MW and EDN Awards
Test & Measurement World is now accepting nominations for the 2009 Best in Test and Test of Time awards, which honor excellence in test, measurement, and inspection products and services. Read More

Plus, EDN has announced its 19th annual Innovation Awards program. Nominate your company's engineers and products for recognition in this prestigious program. The deadline is November 26. Read More

Take a challenge, win a prize
Answer one of our October challenge questions correctly, and you could be eligible to win a prize.

Oscilloscope Challenge:
Question: Which of the following is an oscilloscope display mode that can facilitate jitter measurements on high-speed serial data lines?
Prize: TomTom ONE GPS
Sponsor: Yokogawa

Data-Acquisition Challenge:
Question: What is the potential role of LXI in data-acquisition applications?
Prizes: Three $100 American Express gift cards (three winners of $100 each)
Sponsor: Data Translation

Go to the Challenge Page

October issue looks at RF test, power-aware ATPG, and SFP+
Our October cover story describes how engineers at EPCOS employ multiport vector network analyzers to test multifunction miniature front-end modules. Another feature discusses how power-aware ATPG technology controls thermal and power-rail-droop problems. And a third explains how manufacturers of transceivers, line cards, and components work together to create Small Form-Factor Pluggable products. Read More

Industry calendar of events
Upcoming events include the Vision 2008 (November), Electronica (November), and AeroTest America (November). For more information about these and other test-related events, visit our online calendar.