hforsten
@hforsten.com
Electrical engineer. RF electronics, IC design, radars, FPGA, programming. hforsten.com
This is getting quite expensive for a hobby project.
November 4, 2025 at 4:13 PM
This is getting quite expensive for a hobby project.
Synthetic aperture radar vs Gopro.
October 4, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Synthetic aperture radar vs Gopro.
Wrote code for SAR image antenna pattern normalization and polarimetric calibration (channel imbalance and crosstalk). Image looks very nice now.
July 13, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Wrote code for SAR image antenna pattern normalization and polarimetric calibration (channel imbalance and crosstalk). Image looks very nice now.
I implemented a new SAR autofocus algorithm and now the image generation is both better and faster. It's about as well focused as it can be now.
June 11, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I implemented a new SAR autofocus algorithm and now the image generation is both better and faster. It's about as well focused as it can be now.
Fixed some bugs in my SAR processing code and now fast factorized backprojection generates a visually identical picture to the normal backprojection, but over 10 times faster. That's huge because normal backprojection was already extremely quick and there's still room for optimization with FFBP.
June 5, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Fixed some bugs in my SAR processing code and now fast factorized backprojection generates a visually identical picture to the normal backprojection, but over 10 times faster. That's huge because normal backprojection was already extremely quick and there's still room for optimization with FFBP.
Found motivation to write some SAR processing code. Fast factorized backprojection generates several small polar format images and then interpolates them to one big image. It's faster, but has slightly worse image quality due to all the interpolations.
June 1, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Found motivation to write some SAR processing code. Fast factorized backprojection generates several small polar format images and then interpolates them to one big image. It's faster, but has slightly worse image quality due to all the interpolations.
I made this new dual directional bridge coupler using 1 mm diameter coaxial cable. It's a little bit better than the previous one I made using 2 mm coaxial cable and much more annoying to solder.
May 29, 2025 at 7:41 AM
I made this new dual directional bridge coupler using 1 mm diameter coaxial cable. It's a little bit better than the previous one I made using 2 mm coaxial cable and much more annoying to solder.
It works really well. Loss is low and matching is excellent.
May 28, 2025 at 1:52 PM
It works really well. Loss is low and matching is excellent.
Bought this thru with 3.5mm RF connectors. It's air filled with just a thin see-thru membrane holding the center pin in place.
May 28, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Bought this thru with 3.5mm RF connectors. It's air filled with just a thin see-thru membrane holding the center pin in place.
Some new RF connector test PCBs. Nameless low-cost solderless 3.5 mm connector on the left and CONSMA003.062 clone on the right. Both work okay.
May 21, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Some new RF connector test PCBs. Nameless low-cost solderless 3.5 mm connector on the left and CONSMA003.062 clone on the right. Both work okay.
Bought this VNA calibration kit with 3.5 mm connectors. Looks good considering the 60€ price tag.
May 6, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Bought this VNA calibration kit with 3.5 mm connectors. Looks good considering the 60€ price tag.
There's a tiny gap between the case and SMA connector that radiates a little if not sealed. Putting some solder wick in the gap seals it nicely but there has to be some more elegant method.
April 5, 2025 at 6:25 PM
There's a tiny gap between the case and SMA connector that radiates a little if not sealed. Putting some solder wick in the gap seals it nicely but there has to be some more elegant method.
CNC machined case for the VNA just arrived. Machining quality is good and it looks stylish (very important). The cost was $140 including shipping and taxes, much cheaper than I initially feared.
April 4, 2025 at 12:53 PM
CNC machined case for the VNA just arrived. Machining quality is good and it looks stylish (very important). The cost was $140 including shipping and taxes, much cheaper than I initially feared.
VNA also works as a temperature sensor and strain gauge.
March 24, 2025 at 7:40 PM
VNA also works as a temperature sensor and strain gauge.
This turned out to be slightly more difficult than I first thought. Foil tears easily and even a small tear will affect the isolation. It might require multiple layers to get a tear free lining. Foil also needs to be glued down so that it doesn't move around or it will increase drift of the VNA.
March 24, 2025 at 6:53 PM
This turned out to be slightly more difficult than I first thought. Foil tears easily and even a small tear will affect the isolation. It might require multiple layers to get a tear free lining. Foil also needs to be glued down so that it doesn't move around or it will increase drift of the VNA.
The same measurement with my previous VNA (hforsten.com/improved-hom...), the new VNA has much better performance. 70 dB improvement in isolation + dynamic range at 8 GHz.
March 22, 2025 at 1:04 PM
The same measurement with my previous VNA (hforsten.com/improved-hom...), the new VNA has much better performance. 70 dB improvement in isolation + dynamic range at 8 GHz.
Got the VNA software working and made some first measurements. With shorts at both ports the isolation is excellent >100 dB and the VNA works well at least up to 10 GHz with slight dynamic range reduction at higher frequencies.
March 22, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Got the VNA software working and made some first measurements. With shorts at both ports the isolation is excellent >100 dB and the VNA works well at least up to 10 GHz with slight dynamic range reduction at higher frequencies.
Managed to design RF enclosure for the VNA in FreeCad. It's 3D printed and lined with aluminium foil. I'll get it CNC machined if everything works out but this is good enough for now.
March 21, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Managed to design RF enclosure for the VNA in FreeCad. It's 3D printed and lined with aluminium foil. I'll get it CNC machined if everything works out but this is good enough for now.
Good progress so far. Finished soldering of the PCB and managed to program the FPGA. Next is writing the software.
March 17, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Good progress so far. Finished soldering of the PCB and managed to program the FPGA. Next is writing the software.
Assembled PCB for my newest project just arrived. This should be 10 MHz to at least 8 GHz VNA. Next is powering it on and testing if it works.
March 17, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Assembled PCB for my newest project just arrived. This should be 10 MHz to at least 8 GHz VNA. Next is powering it on and testing if it works.
JLCPCB sent me an X-ray image of the FPGA on my PCB they assembled. Soldering looks good. Internal routing of the BGA package is also visible.
March 13, 2025 at 1:39 PM
JLCPCB sent me an X-ray image of the FPGA on my PCB they assembled. Soldering looks good. Internal routing of the BGA package is also visible.
Polarimetric SAR image from the same position. Radar can see much farther than the visible light camera.
March 8, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Polarimetric SAR image from the same position. Radar can see much farther than the visible light camera.
I added a sideways looking GoPro camera to my radar drone. Just tested it the first time and it looks very nice.
March 8, 2025 at 10:22 AM
I added a sideways looking GoPro camera to my radar drone. Just tested it the first time and it looks very nice.
I added some example synthetic aperture radar processing code and data from my drone for anyone wanting to experiment with SAR image processing: github.com/Ttl/torchbp/...
March 5, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I added some example synthetic aperture radar processing code and data from my drone for anyone wanting to experiment with SAR image processing: github.com/Ttl/torchbp/...
+37 USD for 0.4 mm diameter vias. I'm pretty sure that this wasn't required when I previously ordered similar PCB last year.
March 3, 2025 at 1:27 PM
+37 USD for 0.4 mm diameter vias. I'm pretty sure that this wasn't required when I previously ordered similar PCB last year.