David Vye, MWJ Editor | Microwave Journal

David Vye is responsible for Microwave Journal's editorial content, article review and special industry reporting. Prior to joining the Journal, Mr. Vye was a product-marketing manager with Ansoft Corporation, responsible for high frequency circuit/system design tools and technical marketing communications. He previously worked for Raytheon Research Division and Advanced Device Center as a Sr. Design Engineer, responsible for PHEMT, HBT and MESFET characterization and modeling as well as MMIC design and test. David also worked at M/A-COM's Advanced Semiconductor Operations developing automated test systems and active device modeling methods for GaAs FETs. He is a 1984 graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, with a concentration in microwave engineering.

In Search of Economic Indicators

June 2, 2009

David Vye

0 Comments

There seems to be a direct (and perhaps obvious) connection between the length of my driving commute to work and the state of the economy. I have a pretty lengthy drive to the office, right along the famed Route 128 that surrounds greater Boston. This highway once known as America's Technology Highway can be more of a parking lot than a freeway. However, as the economy began its slide last November, the traffic became noticeably lighter. While I am grateful for the absence of traffic jams, there have been times that I felt uncomfortable knowing why there were so...

Thoughts after Memorial Day Movie Madness

May 27, 2009

David Vye

0 Comments

My youngest child loves those old war movies, which (I confess) I don't mind watching either. Last weekend, AMC ran a full day of the classics and we sat down and watched some of them before heading out to enjoy the breaking New England weather. The two of us watched the classic George C. Scott movie "Patton" and "The Battle of the Bulge". While we only caught parts of each, the two major scenes we did see involved the Army's and Air Force's inability to function during bad weather. Somewhat like me and my son waiting for the sun to...

Huawei Tops Alcatel-Lucent Optical Networking Market in Q1

May 19, 2009

David Vye

1 Comment

Huawei beats Alcatel-Lucent in 1Q09 to top optical networking market for the first time as Asia-Pacific led by strength in China and India, shows remarkable resilience despite the global downturn. The global optical networking (ON) market was $3.6 billion, down 15% sequentially and down 8% compared with 1Q08. “This marks the second time in two quarters that the ON market has shrunk compared with the year-ago quarter, but given the global financial meltdown the situation could have been much worse.” remarks Ovum’s Vice President, Optical Networking, Dana Cooperson. “Spending in Asia-Pacific was surprisingly strong. We did not see the seasonal...

10G and 40G Market Segments to Grow at CAAGR of 28 Percent

May 15, 2009

David Vye

0 Comments

A study last July by Strategy Analytics, "Fiber-optic Analog IC Market Forecast: 2007-2012," predicts that GaAs and InP (Gallium Arsenide and Indium Phosphide) technologies will be the drivers for 10G and 40G growth. Collectively, the 10G and 40G capacity market segments will grow at a CAAGR (compound annual average growth rate) of 28% with demand for GaAs and InP transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs), post amplifiers and optical laser drivers representing over 25% of the total fiber-optic analog IC market in 2012. The total market for fiber-optic analog ICs will grow at a respectable CAAGR of 9% through 2012. Driven by increasing...

Tales from the Past

May 8, 2009

David Vye

0 Comments

A friend of mine shared this story with me and I thought it was worth passing along. During the space race back in the 1960's, NASA had to address the problem of how astronauts would write in the vacuum of space. At the cost of $1.5 million dollars they developed an "astronaut pen", which went on to enjoy success in the commercial market. Proving that ingenuity can solve almost any problem. The Soviets, faced with the same problem used pencils. Its a funny story and worth pointing out to our community that applies considerable brain-power to solving problems. Be wary...

Component Makers Hit Hardest in Q1

May 8, 2009

David Vye

0 Comments

A preliminary look at the first quarter financial results for the telecom industry reveals poor but not surprising results, reflecting the impact of the recession. Service provider revenues are down versus the same quarter last year, but only a few percentage points, while capital spending and attendant equipment vendor revenues are down 15–25%. Component makers and contract manufacturers are also reporting revenue declines averaging 20–30% versus the year-ago quarter. Among equipment vendors, revenues declined 15% on average, with Alcatel-Lucent down 6.9%, NSN down 12.1%, and Cisco down 21.5% (with exchange rate effects factored out for Alcatel-Lucent and NSN). Further down...

Hotel Reservations for IMS 2009

May 5, 2009

David Vye

1 Comment

The IEEE MTT-S steering committee for the IMS 2009 in Boston has extended the deadline for reserving a hotel room from among their block of rooms. The new date, May 8 is this Friday - just around the corner!!! Hopefully, the extension will help all you last minute planners. If you have been on the fence about attending, I recommend you consider the long term benefits of industry networking and the year-in year-out high quality of attendees that go to this one show. While the economy has certainly been rough this year, the IMS is our industry's biggest single event...

Agilent Introduces Real-time RF Geolocation Technique

May 5, 2009

David Vye

0 Comments

Agilent Technologies recently introduced an integrated real-time radio frequency (RF) emitter geolocation technique using a network of RF Sensors. The Geolocation server software estimates position of a non-cooperative intermittent or short-duration RF signal using measurements from the sensor network and calculations with time-difference-of-arrival (TDOA) techniques. "Traditional direction-finding systems are ideal for obtaining the line of bearing on higher power and narrowband signals. However, modern signals with complex modulations, wider bandwidths and short durations are driving a need for complementary geolocation techniques such as TDOA," said Tom Burrell, vice president and general manager of Agilent's Signal Networks Division. "Tightly synchronized receivers...

Touchy Cellphone Users Spur Sales

April 29, 2009

David Vye

0 Comments

According to Wirefly, sales of touchscreen devices have grown 56% from the fourth quarter of 2008 to the first quarter of 2009 and currently account for 38% of its cell phone sales. Two factors are driving the sharp increase in popularity of touchscreen phones: The increased choice of touchscreen devices from virtually every wireless manufacturer and its affordability for even the most budget-conscious consumer. “The mobile industry has embraced the touchscreen,” said Andy Zeinfeld, CEO of Simplexity, parent company of Wirefly. “Consumers are in love with the fluid interface. Many find the touchscreen cell phone easier to learn and easier...

Grim Week for Agilent Employees

April 29, 2009

David Vye

0 Comments

src="http://podcasts.odiogo.com/read_now.js"> showOdiogoSubscribeButton ("/YOUR_FEED_DIRECTORY"); //--> This past Wednesday, Agilent Technologies laid off 300 employees at its Santa Rosa division or more than 20 percent of its work force. Agilent employees had been awaiting the grim news for the past three weeks. In March, the Santa Clara-based company announced plans to eliminate 14 percent of its global work force. The layoffs at the high-tech test & measurement equipment manufacturer occurred over the full range of Agilent jobs in Santa Rosa, including managers, engineers, marketing, human resources, finance, manufacturing and support, said Ron Nersesian, who heads Agilent’s Santa Rosa-based Electronic Measurement Group....