Before the Professional Group on Radio Frequency Interference (PGRFI) was formed in 1957, there existed a Newsletter that tied the Interference Experts together through the power of the printed word. The Institute of Radio Engineers (IRE) was where the Professional Group on Radio Frequency Interference (PGRFI) was first formed and that Group became the genesis of the IEEE EMC Society.
Rexford (Rex) Daniels was the Editor of this self-published Newsletter that started in March of 1955 and existed for several years. Rex was one of the Founders of the EMC Society and the first Editor of the Newsletter for the PGRFI; he served in that role until 1969. Rex Daniels was highlighted in the History Section of the EMC Society Newsletter in Issue No. 209 (Spring 2006). He was also honored in the EMC Society Newsletter Issue No. 133 in the Spring of 1987 when his obituary was featured on the front cover.
Specifically, Mr. Daniels was responsible for publishing 18 issues of Quasies and Peaks: (1) March – 1955, (2) April – 1955, (3) May – 1955, (4) June – 1955, (5) July-August – 1955, (6) September – 1955, (7) October – November – 1955, (8) December – 1955, (9) January – February – 1956, (10) March-April – 1956, (11) May – June – 1956, (12) July – August – 1956, (13) September – October – 1956, (14) November – 1956 – February 1957, (15) March – April – 1957, (16) May – June – 1957, (17) July-August – 1957, and (18) September – October – November – 1957 – March 1958.
In 1990–1991, Chet Smith was the Historian for the EMC Society; he put the Quasies and Peaks Newsletter on microfilm as well as the first 148 issues of the EMC Society’s Newsletter. The Associate Editor has managed to reconvert the microfilm images to paper in order to read the Q & P Newsletter.
For purposes of historical preservation, we are going to try and reproduce the issues of the Quasies and Peaks newsletter in this section of the Newsletter. Since there are a number of issues and some are quite long, it will take a series of issues of the EMC Newsletter to do this.
So, this issue we will start with the March, 1955 Quasies & Peaks publication.
Quasies and Peaks – March – 1955
Interference Testing and Research Laboratory, Inc.;
150 Causeway Street, Boston 14
Massachusetts
EDITORIAL
THIS CAN BE PREVENTED
The following sequence of quotations, we believe, point up one of the glaring deficiencies facing the public and industry in trying to understand the importance of interference reduction, namely; the serious lack of authoritative information on which the public, the press, and general business can intelligently evaluate technical statements relative to the problem. Until such time as a real attempt is made by either the government, or by technical societies, to present the facts to the public, similar confusion can be expected.
Our interest in this matter was occasioned by several manufacturers asking us for further explanation and clarification of a news item which appeared in the Wall Street Journal, February 10, 1955, as follows:
“Interference Control” is the latest industrial problem raised by the automation era. Enemy “jamming” of complex electronic systems important to both defense industries and civilian production, could mean disaster in time of emergency, say Defense Department officials. They’re studying the possibilities of radio interference with power generators, X-ray machines, office accounting equipment and “electronic brains.”
As the news item in the Journal did not seem to jive with known facts, as we understood them, we thought we owed it to those – who had taken the trouble to inquire – to find out the facts. For the benefit of others who may have found themselves in the same situation, we are pleased to present the original sources.
The News item in the Journal was taken from the Armour Foundation “Industrial Research Newsletter,” Vol. 5, Number 4, January 1955, which read as follows “Jamming of complex electronic systems, upon which most of America’s post-war weapons depend, by radio interference, could mean disaster in time of emergency, John W. Klotz, secretary of the advisory panel on electronics to the Assistant Secretary of research and development, Department of Defense, stated in a recent radio interference reduction conference at Armour Research Foundation. Other fields in which interference control is important are power generators, X-ray machines, lighting fixtures, office accounting equipment and even hand tools.”
We are indebted to Mr. Klotz for extracts, relative to this news item, from his original address before the Symposium on Radio Interference Reduction at the Armour Conference, as follows:
“Looking at the total weapon development program collectively, the interference control problem has become a significant part of our defense effort. The PROBLEMS of interference, which we have accepted in the past as matters of momentary inconvenience or annoyance to the operator, will in the long run spell the difference between success and failure of our complex weapons systems. More than that - in many instances - the safety of the operator himself or the success of the mission will be involved.
It is also noteworthy that the interference control program extends beyond the association with the development and installation of the equipments for weapons control. Just by way of suggestion, I would mention power generators, X-ray machines, lighting fixtures, office accounting and computing equipment, hand tools - as examples of other important fields where the importance of interference control cannot be minimized. One electrical device generating unwanted interference can “jam” or reduce the utility of a communication circuit as effectively as the most strategically located enemy counter-measures jammer.”
It is understandable how the reporter on the Wall Street Journal, with little or no knowledge of the subject of interference, could have tried to dramatize the Armour release. It is disconcerting, however, to see that this subject - which is of such importance to business and banking management - should continue to be presented in an inaccurate manner. This situation again confirms the immediate need for informed publicity on this vital problem. THIS CAN BE PREVENTED.
Leonard Thomas Paper
We are pleased to include, with this issue of Quasies and Peaks, a copy of a paper presented at the Fourth Conference on High Frequency Measurements, sponsored by the AIEE, IRE, URSI and the National Bureau of Standards, Washington, DC on 17 January 1955, titled “Radio Interference Measurement Techniques” by Leonard W. Thomas, Head, Radio Interference Section, Support Branch, Electronic Design and Development Division, Bureau of Ships, Navy Department.
List of Standards Organizations in 42 Countries
The American Standards Association, 70 East 55th Street, New York 17, NY has prepared a list of Standards Organizations, including names of Directors and addresses, in 42 countries throughout the world.
IRE Symposium on Spurious
Radiation, List of Speakers
The list of speakers at the Spurious Radiation Symposium, to be held March 24th at the annual convention of the Institute of Radio Engineers, is as follows:
- Ralph Brown, Chairman
- A. V. Loughren, Hazeltine Electronics Corp. on Industry
- W. R. G. Baker, General Electric Company on Management
- George E. Sterling and E. M. Webster on FCC
Armed Services Reliable Electron Tubes
Electronic Design, February 1955 issue, reprints a list of reliable electron tubes included in military specification MIL-E-1B, as recently tabulated in the Information Bulletin of the Armed Services Electro-Standards Agency (ASEA).
New AC-DC Relay Meets MIL-I-6181
Hi-G, Inc., Bradley Field, Windsor Locks, Connecticut announces a new compact magnetic circuit design which permits four germanium diodes to fit inside the standard relay can of its AC-DC relay. Reduced interference noise is claimed to meet MIL-I-6181.
New Small Motor Radio Noise Filter
A miniature molded radio noise filter has been designed by the Potter Company of Chicago, to fit a small motor and gear assembly. It is a continuous-duty, dual-section filter, measuring 1 3/16 inches OD by 3/4 inch long, and serves as an integral part of the motor instead of as an external accessory. It exceeds Air Force specifications as applied to small motors, and meets metalized paper size with paper and foil reliability.
Electrolytically Deposited Copper Sheet for Interference Reduction
Henry E. Boegelli, development engineer, The American Brass Company, Waterbury 20, Connecticut, discussed the use of electrolytically deposited copper sheet in an article titled TVI ELIMINATION, the May 1954 issue of Plant Engineering, for the purpose of interference reduction.
The American Sisalkraft Corporation, 101 Park Avenue, New York 17, New York makes Copper Armored Sisalkraft in three weights - 1, 2, and 3 oz. per square foot. Different weights have been found satisfactory for different frequencies. Further details may be obtained by writing to 101 Park Avenue, NY 17.
A New Method for Measuring the
Impedance of Stabilization Networks
The U. S. Naval Air Development Center, Johnsville, PA in Report No. EL-41016.59, prepared by C. S. Vasaka, describes a quick method for measuring the impedance of stabilization network AN/USA-2. Extracts from the report are as follows:
Problem
A. Several requests have been made by contractors to devise a practical method of measuring the impedance magnitude of the input of the Line Stabilization Network AN/US-2 used with Specification MIL-I-6181B. The main difficulty expressed was that impedance bridges are not readily available in all of the contractor’s laboratories, also that it is not necessary to know R, L, and C separately.
Factual Data
B. The practical test setup of measuring impedance as outlined in this report was developed by AEEL. It gives an accuracy of about 5% and requires only a signal generator and a receiver used as a detector, both of which are readily available by contractors performing radio interference tests. It does not require an impedance bridge.
Conclusions and Recommendations
G. The test method described is satisfactory for use as a practical method to determine if the impedance Zn of the stabilization network AN/US-2 meets the requirements of Figure No. 12 of Specification MIL-I-6181B.
H. Within the limitations listed above, the test method described for measuring impedance magnitude can be used in many applications instead of the standard method requiring the use of an impedance bridge.
I. It is recommended that the test method described be accepted for use by contractors in the measurement of the impedance of the Stabilization Network AN/US-2 of Specification MIL-I-6181B.
Note: A copy of this report may be obtained by writing to NADC - attention Mr. C. S. Vasaka.
New Service Manual for Take-down
Cell-type Screen Rooms
NADC Report No. EL-54122, dated 2 December 1955, titled “Service Manual for NADC-AEEL Take-down Cell-type Screen Room” is available to contractors and others through a request to NADC and showing interest involved.
BuDocks Develops Interference
Trouble-shooting Meter
The Bureau of Yards and Docks, Code D-218, has developed a trouble-shooting meter for use in the frequency range from 500 kc to 210 mc, with sensitivities of the order of 10 uv to 1/10 volt. The meter was originally developed for checking ignition but can be used for purposes of detecting interference in electronic equipment, electric motors, hand tools, etc.
New Booklet on Electronic
Weatherstripping and RF Gaskets
The Metal Textile Corporation, Roselle, N. J. is bringing out a new booklet titled “Suppressing Radio Interference with METEX Electrical Weatherstrip and RF Gaskets.” It will be first distributed at the IRE show in New York.
New Method Developed to
Bond Metals to Fiberglass
The American Fiberlast Company, Augusta, Maine, manufacturers of fiberglass boats, has developed a method of bonding metals to fiberglass. They are interested in knowing of any applications of value to the electronics industry, such as printed circuits, metal coated tubing, etc.
Motorola Reports on Tubular
Capacitor Improvements
Motorola, Inc., in the November - December 1954 issue of the Motorola Service News, reports on tests made on three classes of paper tubular capacitors; Class (A) Conventional Paper Case; (B) Molded Phenolic Case; and (C) Ceramic Case. Among the advantages of Class (C) capacitors are:
- Greater service life expectancy
- Lower insulation resistance change versus humidity
- Excellent shelf life
- Improved marking readability
- Reduction of End-Seal Pop-outs
Bibliography
Trouble Shooting in Advance by Proper Wiring Design by Gerald Weiss of the W. L. Maxson Corp, an article in Control Engineering, September 1954.
Discoidal versus Tubular Feed-Through Capacitors by Heinz M. Schlicke in the Proceedings of the IRE, February 1955.
Threshold Signals - Radiation Laboratory Series, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Vol. 24, McGraw-Hill Book Company, N. Y.
Who’s Who in Interference Reduction
George Rees, formerly with the Electronic Division of the Naval Gun Factory, Washington, D.C., is now assistant to R. L. Haskins, Code 965E, BuShips.
Robert McCabe, 1781 Bide-a-Wee Park, Columbus 5, Ohio. Radio Noise Measurement and Elimination, Field Intensity Surveys.
New Rochelle Tool Corp., 320 Main Street, New Rochelle, NY. Phone NE 2-5555. Certification of induction and dielectric heating equipment in accordance with FCC rulings. EMC |
