A bug detector is a device that is able to locate and/or disable electronic spy equipment such as microphones, cameras, and GPS tracking devices. Law enforcement agencies, military counter-intelligence agencies, criminals, and everyday individuals who are suspicious of being overheard often use bug detectors. Bug detectors are usually small, portable, and have multiple display functions to alert the user to a “bug.” How Bug Detectors Work A bug detector is essentially a radio receiver that is able to pick up electromagnetic signals that are broadcasted from an electronic device or Read More

FCC ID stands for Federal Communications Commission Identification. An FCC ID is the number found in all computer hardware components. FCC ID numbers, usually found on the circuit boards, are helpful in finding information about the manufacturers of the hardware devices. An FCC ID has 2 elements. The first is a three-character Grantee Code which usually begins with an alphabetic character and does not contain 1s or 0s. The FCC permanently assigns this code to a company for authorization of radio frequency equipment. It represents the Grantee or Applicant and Read More

A thermocouple is a temperature probe that uses two dissimilar metals join at two places. The voltage created when the metals are subjected to a temperature gradient is used to calculate the temperature. There are many different types of thermocouple, each designed for a specific temperature and sensitivity range. How Thermocouples Work The thermoelectric effect, also called the Seebeck effect, was discovered in 1821 by Thomas Seebeck, a German physicist. He found that a metal rod generated a small potential difference between the ends when they had different temperatures. The Read More

Portable radios are limited in the power at which they can transmit, usually somewhere between .5 watts and 5 watts. A very rough rule of thumb is that one watt equals one mile of range over flat and open terrain. Buildings and mountains will, of course, greatly modify effective range. When two radios communicate directly with each other, this is known as Simplex. To achieve greater range, a radio repeater is often utilized. A radio repeater is a base station radio with a large antenna. Each portable radio communicates with Read More

A relay is a remote switch controlled by current, magnetism, or temperature. The relay was invented in 1835 by Joseph Henry (1979-1878), an American scientist. Relays are a common component in many devices, and there are many different types of relays. Relay Types The two main types of relay are electromechanical and solid-state. Electromechanical relays have a moving plate with contacts on it, while solid-state relays work similar to transistors and have no moving parts. Power relays use an electromagnet to move a set of contacts. The contacts are pulled Read More

Four digit security codes protect Kenwood car stereos from theft. If a thief steals a Kenwood car stereo, he/she will not be able to use the stereo until the secret four digit security code is entered. Unfortunately, many legitimate owners are also locked out of their Kenwood car stereos due to these security codes. This typically happens to people who buy used cars from people who forget to share the security code. However, it also happens to people who simply forget their security codes after several years. Common Kenwood Security Read More

The installation of an antenna starts with the analysis of few things that are decisive in ensuring reception quality. First you must decide which type of antenna will be used. Choosing the antenna type for the requirement is crucial, as the antenna used generally requires a specific antenna for the specific use. Next you must decide on antenna positioning. Selecting a position that provides the longest range and incurs the lease ambient noise is a key factor. It is generally considered best to place an antenna in a location that Read More

Downlink is a term in telecommunications that is used to refer to a data transmission in which data flows from an orbital satellite receiver to a ground-based transmitter. Downlink transmissions rely on the C Band between 3.7 and 4.2 GHz, the Ku Band between 11.7 and 12.7 GHz, and the Ka Band between 18.3 and 18.8 GHz, as well as between 19.7 and 20.2 GHz. Downlink is often used in astronomy, radio science, and telecommunications.   How Downlink Works When a ground-based transmitter transmits data to a satellite in Earth’s Read More

NAND gates are basic logic gates that are used in a number of electronic circuits. An electrician can use a NAND gate to build any other logic gate when it is used with a NOR gate. Therefore, it is sometimes referred to as a universal gate. The most common NAND gate is a two-input gate, which can be created and used with more inputs. NAND gates can be incorporated into a large, integrated circuit and a discrete circuit. A standard microprocessor chip contains several million NAND gates, which will output Read More

DVB-RCS stands for Digital Video Broadcast – Return Channel Satellite. DVB-RCS is part of the DVB standards for satellite communication, DVB-S and DVB-S2. The purpose of DVB-RCS is to provide a return channel to enable Internet and other data services over satellite. ViaSat’s LinkStar system is one of the VSAT satellite broadband implementations which support DVB-RCS. The DVB standards are maintained by the DVB Project, which is an industry-led consortium of over 260 broadcasters, manufacturers, network operators, software developers, regulatory bodies and others in over 35 countries. DVB-RCS is officially Read More