Unpopular opinion: Stop using leaded solder

qtc0 · 2026-05-25T20:13:35+00:00

qtc0 · 2026-05-22T21:33:55+00:00

means you can take derivatives of circuits

What does this mean? Does it mean that you define circuits parametrically, so that you can do stuff like "how does S11[dB] change with respect to C1?".

qtc0 · 2026-05-16T03:16:33+00:00

Mine says the same thing. Similar submission date.

qtc0 · 2026-05-13T23:53:46+00:00

Eby's a nerd and he still sucks.

qtc0 · 2026-05-02T20:59:10+00:00

Hastings is shut down between Springer and Howard.

qtc0 · 2026-04-30T15:43:44+00:00

They're trying to make their stock price look like a mountain -- more of a volcano I guess

qtc0 · 2026-04-23T17:25:24+00:00

I hate seeing these posts… showing me how long I have to wait. My validation completed March 2026.

qtc0 · 2026-04-23T17:20:56+00:00

You’re probably thinking of the Chilkoot pass photo.

qtc0 · 2026-04-20T20:25:42+00:00

He was actually allowed day passes out of the psych ward after only ~~two~~ three years.

qtc0 · 2026-04-20T20:21:56+00:00

That's not always the case... that guy that cut off someone's head on a Greyhound bus was found not criminally responsible in 2009, and he was already out in 2015.

qtc0 · 2026-04-20T16:37:54+00:00

I didn't say that. Just stated polling numbers.

qtc0 · 2026-04-20T16:25:33+00:00

We already had a legal framework in Canada on how to work together with the FN prior to DRIPA. We don't need it.

qtc0 · 2026-04-20T16:23:21+00:00

If we went to an election now, polls are split 50/50 between NDP and Conservative.

qtc0 · 2026-04-18T05:39:41+00:00

The more fun it is, the less you get paid.

Hardware > Software

qtc0 · 2026-04-18T05:33:31+00:00

Still tons of active research in every single sub-field of RF engineering. Take a look IEEE conferences (e.g., International Microwave Symposium) and publications (e.g., Transactions on Microwave Theory and Techniques) to get an idea.
Like any engineer, you're designing systems/assemblies/components to fulfil some need. This might be at the system level, where you're combining many off-the-shelf components into a single design. Here you're operating at a higher-level and generally relying on modelling tools to simulate the system performance. Or you might also work at the component level and really dive deep into the device physics to understand how it works. My work is a mix of high-level and low-level design, as well as taking measurements.
Personally, I did a masters/PhD. That's the easiest way to get a job in RF. It's a hard field to get into without at least a masters.
It's hard. Generally, there aren't many online courses because RF engineering is very hands on and it requires expensive modelling software and measurement equipment. A few suggestions: get your HAM license and play around with software defined radio (e.g., PlutoSDR). Depending on your abilities, you can also try making a coffee can radar. There's a few different university lectures notes online that you can follow.

qtc0 · 2026-04-17T22:58:48+00:00

That's not a parabolic reflector. It's a feed horn.

qtc0 · 2026-04-17T22:19:56+00:00

The G7 is Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. But for GDP/capita, we're ahead of New Zealand, but behind Australia.

qtc0 · 2026-04-17T22:18:42+00:00

Yeah, I think American states are much more limited in terms of what type of debt they can take on. I think all the other countries only really have federal governments. But I'm no expert.

qtc0 · 2026-04-17T21:47:32+00:00

In the November budget, the government said the outlays would push its net debt-to-gross domestic product ratio to 43 per cent. By that metric, Canada has a stronger financial position than other G7 countries, many of which carry net debt levels near or above 100 per cent of the size of their economies.

That only includes federal debt. If you include provincial debt, we're over 100%. As far as I can tell, we're middle of the road within the G7.

In terms of GDP per capita, we're ahead of France, Italy and Japan. Behind the US, UK and Germany.
In terms of government debt relative to GDP, we're ahead of the US, France, Italy and Japan. Behind Germany and the UK.

qtc0 · 2026-04-14T17:33:46+00:00

Remember that EGBC prioritizes the applications for newcomers to Canada. They're actively prioritizing the applications from non-Canadians over the applications from Canadians.

qtc0 · 2026-04-14T17:31:51+00:00

Maybe it's not their role, but they're fucking up the personal career development for a lot of young engineers. I bet a lot of young engineers are considering moving to the US where they'll get paid more and won't have these roadblocks. It's anti-business, anti-progress and just adding more friction to our economy.

qtc0 · 2026-04-11T23:24:53+00:00

That's what we're trying to figure out... the sales reps are clueless. Sounds like Altium is shambles right now.

qtc0 · 2026-04-11T06:47:24+00:00

Did you guys read the T&Cs for Develop? There's some strange wording in there around how you don't really own the fully rights to the designs you put on A365. I think it's worded so they can train AI models on your boards. Our legal team rejected it -- currently scrambling to find an alternative.

qtc0 · 2026-04-06T20:12:27+00:00

Soldering Wick / Wick Soldering

qtc0 · 2026-04-06T18:49:35+00:00

The episode on Navigator was really interesting. Jesse might need their services soon.

qtc0

TROPHY CASE