L-band microwatt radar system measured TX/RX antenna isolation
Ongoing research interests include:
- L-band microwatt radar system--constructed for "free" from scratch using salvaged parts
- Radar imaging algorithm development
- Harmonic radar system research
- Multi-band planar antennas
Consulting
Working exclusively with government-affiliated agencies, Michael has saved these agencies tens of thousands of dollars through offering experienced, reasoned engineering evaluations of wireless communications systems (two-way voice and data) from very small simplex radio systems to large multi-county trunked voice/data systems.
Michael assists government-affiliated agencies in RFPs, bid evaluation, comprehensive radio system evaluations, and system lifecycle/expansion planning, along with those calls looking for why the voice or data system just doesn't perform the way the agency expects it to.
Evaluations include predictions of coverage areas and drive testing to help ensure coverage expectations are met.
Michael has had recent and ongoing work in:
- Public Service radio system interference resolution
- Radio direction finding--characterizing and locating source of intermittant interferers to public service system
- Propagation studies for SCADA (and other) systems to improve system reliability
Over the past decade, Michael has been involved in a variety of exciting RF systems and circuits design, from compenent-level microwave transceiver design to multi-sector antenna systems and simulcast systems. He designed and oversaw implementation of wireless voice and data systems including:
- Two-way radio roaming voice/data network covering over nine counties
- Microwave T1 backhaul for above system
- Custom-designed fault-detection and alerting system using industrial PLCs, using the Internet to alert 900MHz text pagers with detailed fault indications
- Digital voice storage Fire/EMS paging tone alert system--greatly improved coverage for rural public safety in forested northern Michigan, where the competitor had stated it was impossible to improve coverage at any reasonable cost.
As a "spare time" project, Michael has recently been involved with a series of projects interconnecting the MSU Amateur Radio Club's wireless transceivers with VoIP to users worldwide.
Data from Michael's research was used by Sprint Nextel in their successful 800MHz Rebanding proposal, being implemented presently.
Michael enjoys monitoring aircraft radio traffic and amateur traffic as an Official Observer.
Design for space vehicle active target auto-location [Hi-resolution version]
Recent "back-of-napkin" VoIP audio/control interface:
