Top 10 Of 2012: Reader's Choice In RF And Microwave Design
By Paul Kruczkowski, Editor
It’s hard to believe that 2012 is almost complete, but it’s true — and that means it’s time for RF Globalnet’s Top 10 newsletter, our annual year in review. In it, you will find the news stories, articles, products, downloads, and editorials that were most important to our readers over the past 12 months. This look back gives us perspective on the past year in RF and microwave design, and perhaps a glimpse at what we can expect for 2013.
From my perspective, 2012 has certainly been an exciting year for RF and microwave technology. GaN (gallium nitride) may be the technology of the future but IMS2012 indicated that GaN has already arrived in a big way. Since the IMS show, GaN has received serious DARPA funding, which should help to resolve remaining technical challenges, improve GaN performance, and keep it on RF Globalnet’s radar in 2013.
The aggressive 4G LTE broadband wireless build out continued in the United States, generating a great deal of interest in passive intermodulation (PIM) and spectrum issues, including spectrum availability and efforts to create more competition in the industry. Emerging wireless standards like 802.11 ac/ad brought us advances in test and measurement, preceding the chipsets and products that are now trickling onto the market and hinting at a breakout year for 802.11 products in 2013.
2012 also ushered in major challenges to the aerospace and defense industry, as U.S. defense budgets are likely to shrink by more than $500 billion over the next decade. To compound the problem, the industry is bracing itself for sequestration, which will impose around $500 billion of additional untargeted cuts over the next 10 years — unless the politicians in Washington can find an eleventh hour compromise before the end of the year.
This year was also my first full one as editor at RF Globalnet, and it has been exciting for me to break out of my old role as a broadcast engineer to provide you with editorial coverage of the RF and microwave industry. It has been a pleasure to get to know so many of you and the projects you have been working on this past year. I look forward to talking to more of you and to serving your RF and microwave information needs in the coming year. I encourage all of you to check out our 2013 editorial calendar and to contact me to participate in our editorial coverage or to suggested editorial topics that are important to you and your design work.
Last but certainly not least, our efforts are only possible through the continued support of our readers, in addition to our sponsors and much-appreciated editorial contributors. We sincerely thank you and wish you all a very happy and healthy holiday season.
Do you agree that these are the top story lines of the year? Were there others we missed?