News
FCC Creates Toll Free Number To Report Cellphone and GPS Jamming
0(ARNewsline) The FCC wants your help in locating anyone who is using a cellular telephone or GPS jamming device and to do this the Commission’s Enforcement Bureau has launched a dedicated jammer tip line at 1-855-55-NOJAM or 1-855-556-6526. This, to make it easier for the public to report the use or sale of illegal cell phone, GPS or other signal jammers.
As has been said many times before, it is against the law to use, import, advertise, sell or ship a cellular telephone or GPS jammer or any other type of device that blocks, jams or interferes with authorized communications, whether on private or public property. As such, members of the public are being asked to call the FCC’s toll free Jammer Tip Line immediately if you are aware of the ongoing use of a cell, GPS, or other signal jammer. Also please call if an employer operates a jammer in a workplace; you observe a jammer in operation at a school or college; you observe an advertisement for a jammer at a local store or you observe a jammer being operated on your local bus, train or other mass transit system.
One warning. This number is only for use to report cellphone or GPS jamming devices. Please do not call it to report that your favorite repeater is being jammed or that your QSO on 20 meters is being interfered with. Those matters will not be handled on this telephone line and will be of no interest to those taking cellphone or GPS jamming device calls.
Once again, the number where to report the use of cellphone or GPS jamming is 1-855-55-NOJAM or 1-855-556-6526. And calling that number is toll free. (FCC)
Defending Against Side-Channel Attacks – Part 2
03.1 Background
As smart mobile devices become ubiquitous, many applications requiring a high degree of security are being ported to the devices. Banking, mobile payments, stock trading, and digital rights management of downloaded content are all examples of applications requiring secure connections and the use of cryptographic keys. As the examples in this section show, however, many mobile devices currently in use do not contain side-channel protections. Hence, these devices are often extremely vulnerable to side-channel attacks, often from data collection occurring several yards away.
Spectrum Analyzer Hunts Down RF Interference
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Using swept DPX digital phosphor technology, the SPECMON spectrum analyzer from Tektronix automatically scans its entire 3.0/6.2-GHz frequency range in real time to find transient interferers in the field.
Defending Against Side-Channel Attacks – Part I
01. Introduction
Cryptography is a fundamental building block for securing systems and communications and is widely deployed in embedded systems used for commercial and defense applications. Basic cryptographic operations such as encryption/decryption, message-authentication and digital signatures rely on secret keys that must be kept securely within a device and protected from disclosure. Modern cryptographic algorithms, when used with appropriate-sized keys, are designed to resist all known attacks where the attacker can observe (or manipulate) the inputs or outputs of the algorithm, but does have any other information about the secret key or about the execution of the algorithm.
Successful PCB Grounding With Mixed-Signal Chips – Part 3
0In Part 1: Principles of Current Flow, we began with the basics. We learned that high-frequency signals flow not in the path of least resistance, but in the path of least impedance. We also discussed some fundamental principles of current flow in PCBs with ground planes.
In Part 2: Design to Minimize Signal-Path Crosstalk, we applied those principles to real-world circuits and to the PCB layout of these circuits. We learned how to place components and route signal traces to minimize problems with crosstalk.
In this final Part 3 we consider the power source currents and how to apply what we have learned to circuits with multiple mixed-signal ICs. We finish with an example where a ground plane cut is useful.
Startup Samples 60 GHz Transceiver
0SAN JOSE, Calif. – Startup Peraso Technologies Inc. (Toronto) is sampling a 60 GHz transceiver suitable for the 802.11ad and WiGig standards. The PRS1021 can deliver up to 3.52 Gbits/second over unlicensed 57 to 66 GHz bands.
Successful PCB Grounding With Mixed-Signal Chips – Part 2
0When we began this series, we observed that board-level designers often have concerns about the proper way to handle grounding for integrated circuits that have separate analog and digital grounds.
Part 1 focused on the basics: where the current flows. We learned that high-frequency signals flow not in the path of least resistance, but in the path of least impedance. We also discussed some fundamental principles of current flow in PCBs with ground planes.
In Part 2 we are now ready to apply these principles to the PCB layout of real-world circuits. We will learn how to place components and route signal traces to minimize problems with crosstalk.
Successful PCB Grounding With Mixed-Signal Chips – Part 1
0Board-level designers often have concerns about the proper way to handle grounding for integrated circuits (ICs) which have separate analog and digital grounds. Should the two be completely separate and never touch? Should they connect at a single point with cuts in the ground plane to enforce this single point or “Mecca” ground? How can a Mecca ground be implemented when there are several ICs that call for analog and digital grounds?
