![5 Myths about BGA Rework Stations [PLUS Real Considerations]](https://i0.wp.com/fromdc2daylight.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/5-myths-about-bga-rework-stations.png?fit=1125%2C587&ssl=1)
Of all the different situations a technician or electronics hobbyist can find themselves in… perhaps one of the most intimidating is needing to replace a bad BGA (Ball Grid Array) component on a board. Reworking BGAs is not for the faint of heart, which is probably why there are so many myths and misconceptions surrounding the topic. In this post, we’ll tackle 5 common myths about BGA Rework Stations and hopefully make you a bit more comfortable deciding to tackle that Xbox chip replacement or CPU upgrade.
Read More![Best BGA/SMD Rework Stations For Your Lab [5 Great Options]](https://i0.wp.com/fromdc2daylight.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Top-5-BGA-Rework-Stations.png?fit=1125%2C587&ssl=1)
BGAs or Ball Grid Arrays can be one of the most difficult Surface Mount Device (SMD) package types when it comes to solder rework. Having a good BGA rework station is critical to troubleshoot and replace these types of components. Many of today’s most advanced SDR or software defined radio chipsets are BGA package types. There are a few reasons why BGA rework is so difficult. The solder pads are located underneath the package body. The large surface area makes it difficult to evenly reflow the solder pads without overheating surrounding components. With any electronic rework operation it is important to test continuity and function before and after any major rework event.
TL;DR: Here’s our top pick for the best BGA/SMD Rework Station
Our top pick came in as the T862++ IR BGA Rework Station with pre-warmer. It offered a good balance between features and affordability.
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One common piece of test equipment in any RF laboratory is the signal generator. The purpose of these devices is in the name itself “signal generator,” in that it generates signals with tunable properties such as amplitude, frequency, and wave shape. Signal generators are also called function generators, although, function generators often have more advanced features.
Signal generators are most commonly used to test the response of circuits using known and controllable input signal. In order to validate the output signal coming from the function generator it is common to validate that signal with an oscilloscope (but that’s the topic of a future post).
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This post originally appeared on RS-Online on Sept, 28, 2020.
You’ve scoured all the blogs and forums and finally decided on a great new software defined radio (SDR) rig… now what?!? Choosing your first SDR project can seem daunting, not to mention some of the most interesting signals may seem relatively obscure or unknown if you’re new to software defined radios.
- If you’re new to SDRs, check out this post that describes software defined radios
- If your just getting started, we’ve put together a beginner’s guide to SDRs.
- If your ready to buy your first SDR, check out this list of 10 great radios for any budget.
We’ve compiled a list of the most popular aviation related waveforms and signals to explore with your SDR. Before building a new SDR project, be sure to confirm your radio has the appropriate bandwidth and frequency range to detect the signals listed below. Without further ado…
Read More![How to pick the best multimeter [PLUS, 5 great benchtop multimeters]](https://i0.wp.com/fromdc2daylight.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/how-to-choose-a-multimeter-and-5-great-options.png?fit=1125%2C666&ssl=1)
One of the most essential pieces of test equipment for any electronics lab is the multimeter. Today, multimeters are typically all digital and are referred to as Digital Multimeters or DMMs. Choosing the right digital multimeter can be daunting since the DMM is one of the most used pieces of equipment in the lab.
Digital multi-meters can be portable or benchtop. For this article, we’ll focus on benchtop multimeters suitable for use in a typical electronics lab. As the name implies, benchtop multimeters are used to measure multiple fundamental electronics measurements. The most basic measurements include measuring voltage, current, and resistance. More advanced benchtop digital multimeters can also measure things like capacitance, inductance, conductance, frequency, duty cycle, diode drops, etc.
Read More![15 Best Software Defined Radios (SDRs) For Any Budget [2021 Edition]](https://i0.wp.com/fromdc2daylight.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/7A576BE5-BF99-4EAE-99F9-160CFE152615.png?fit=1125%2C633&ssl=1)
When it comes to Software Defined Radios or SDRs, the variety of offerings can be overwhelming when trying to pick the right set up. We scoured the web in search of 15 great software defined radios so you wouldn’t have to!
So what is the best SDR receiver or transceiver in 2021? The answer is… it’s complicated! When picking an SDR radio, there are many factors that come into play; frequency ranges, transmit/receive capability, complexity, available firmware and open source projects, and of course cost! The following list of great SDR radios covers this diverse spectrum and we hope any one interested in software defined radios will find something that will work for them.
Read MoreSoftware Defined Radios or SDRs offer a high level of flexibility and adaptability compared to traditional hardware based radios. However adding all these 1s and 0s to the already complex and beautiful art of MHz and dBs can be daunting. We wrote this post to help you start your journey using software defined radios (SDRs) in 5 simple steps.
If you’re scratching your head wondering “what the heck are SDR radios or software defined radios anyways?!?” check out this post that describes SDR radios compared to traditional radios.
Without further delay, here is our beginner’s guide to get started using software defined radios!
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In this post we’ll explore SDR radios or software defined radios. There’s been a common theme in most things technology related lately and that is a move to Software Defined Everything, or SDx as it is often shortened. Radios and RF communications equipment in general have been moving toward a software-defined existence just the same.
A radio is any kind of electronic device that transmits and receives signals in the radio frequency (RF) portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. These signals (often called waveforms) are used to transfer information between radios. Radios are ubiquitous today and found in almost every electronic device you own thanks to the proliferation of “smart” and “connected” devices.
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