How often do you get to hear of a deal with no strings attached? I know it seems like never, so this issue may pleasantly surprise you. We’ve collected a group of superb articles to aid you in your wireless designs. And the best part is, the authors’ solutions don’t add any obstacles too difficult to overcome. So, whether you’re looking for a new wireless sensor, or to clean up the RF in your system, or to get all of those products from different manufacturers to work together, there’s an article in this issue for you.

Many companies are proceeding into the wireless market. Imagine what kinds of advances could be accomplished with the coupling of some of these powerhouses. Two of the industry’s first-rate manufacturers, Future Electronics and Microchip, did just that, and the result is impressive. Together, they created the rfPICDEM1 wireless sensor demo board set. You’ve read Fred Eady’s column for six years now, so you know you’re getting an expert opinion when he backs a product. According to Fred, with the rfPICDEM1 in hand, wireless sensor applications are “dead easy.”

Another person you trust for quality information and applications is columnist Jeff Bachiochi. This month, Jeff weighs in on the wireless topic with some valuable advice about RF designing. He recommends switching to spread spectrum (SS) transmission for your wireless systems. Jeff provides analysis of the options—frequency hopping and direct sequence—that will help you determine which method suits your needs the best. Briefly, FHSS can help you pick up weak signals, but on the other hand, DSSS can offer higher data rates. The most significant perk to SS though is that you can decrease pesky RF interference.

When you’re trying to eliminate troublesome mountainous piles of wires, the task can tax your patience. Going wireless sometimes means working with frequencies in the ISM bands, which can affect the interoperability among devices because of various proprietary standards. Mohammed Rana Basheer addresses this basic problem and offers a much-appreciated solution. He says not to get too frustrated, because Bluetooth looks like the perfect answer to the short-range wireless connectivity issue. Looking down the road, one global standard for short-range wireless communication could lead to endless possibilities.

We hope you find these articles useful in your efforts to eliminate the wires. Keeping you abreast of technological developments and introducing thought-provoking applications is our goal each month. That’s why we were excited to hear that one of our readers planned his next project after reading one of our articles.

Inspired by a previous article by Robert Lacoste, “A Tracking Lab Power Supply” (Circuit Cellar 139), Brian Millier examined his own workbench. Space had always been a problem, because the tabletop was littered with tools, parts, and a PC to program and test MCUs. After reading about Robert’s project, he started thinking about ways to create a better work environment. Unlike Robert’s needs, Brian’s applications usually require little power. Thus, he designed a small, low-capacity power supply to replace its bulky predecessor. So, while you’re making your life easier by cutting the wire clutter, you might want to take a look at the clutter on your workbench, too.

jennifer.huber@circuitcellar.com

Published: December-2002