Silicon ChipMarket Centre - April 1991 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Customer service - opportunity knocks
  4. Feature: The World Solar Challenge by Gerry Nolan
  5. Feature: Canon's New Still Video System by Bernard Malone
  6. Project: Build The SteamSound Simulator by Darren Yates
  7. Project: Remote Controller For Garage Doors, Pt.2 by Branko Justic
  8. Vintage Radio: Converting an Airzone to AGC by John Hill
  9. Serviceman's Log: Mystery, mystery & frustration by The TV Serviceman
  10. Project: Simple 12/24V Light Chaser by Darren Yates
  11. Project: A Synthesised Stereo AM Tuner, Pt.3 by John Clarke & Greg Swain
  12. Feature: A Practical Approach To Amplifier Design; Pt.2 by David Eather
  13. Review: Hewlett Packard's Model 54600 100MHz CRO by Leo Simpson
  14. Feature: Computer Bits by Jennifer Bonnitcha
  15. Feature: Amateur Radio by Garry Cratt, VK2YBX
  16. Feature: Remote Control by Bob Young
  17. Back Issues
  18. Order Form
  19. Market Centre
  20. Advertising Index
  21. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the April 1991 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 49 of the 96 pages in the full issue, including the advertisments.

For full access, purchase the issue for $10.00 or subscribe for access to the latest issues.

Articles in this series:
  • Electric Vehicles: The State Of The Art (January 1991)
  • Electric Vehicles; Pt.2 (February 1991)
  • Electric Vehicles; Pt.3 (March 1991)
  • The World Solar Challenge (April 1991)
  • Motors For Electric Vehicles (May 1991)
  • Electric Vehicle Transmission Options (June 1991)
Items relevant to "Build The SteamSound Simulator":
  • Silicon Chip article scan, April 1991 - Steam Sound Simulator (AUD $10.00)
Articles in this series:
  • Remote Controller For Garage Doors, Pt.1 (March 1991)
  • Remote Controller For Garage Doors, Pt.2 (April 1991)
Articles in this series:
  • A Synthesised Stereo AM Tuner, Pt.1 (February 1991)
  • A Synthesised Stereo AM Tuner, Pt.2 (March 1991)
  • A Synthesised Stereo AM Tuner, Pt.3 (April 1991)
Articles in this series:
  • A Practical Approach To Amplifier Design (February 1991)
  • A Practical Approach To Amplifier Design; Pt.2 (April 1991)
Articles in this series:
  • Computer Bits (July 1989)
  • Computer Bits (August 1989)
  • Computer Bits (September 1989)
  • Computer Bits (October 1989)
  • Computer Bits (November 1989)
  • Computer Bits (January 1990)
  • Computer Bits (April 1990)
  • Computer Bits (October 1990)
  • Computer Bits (November 1990)
  • Computer Bits (December 1990)
  • Computer Bits (January 1991)
  • Computer Bits (February 1991)
  • Computer Bits (March 1991)
  • Computer Bits (April 1991)
  • Computer Bits (May 1991)
  • Computer Bits (June 1991)
  • Computer Bits (July 1991)
  • Computer Bits (August 1991)
  • Computer Bits (September 1991)
  • Computer Bits (October 1991)
  • Computer Bits (November 1991)
  • Computer Bits (December 1991)
  • Computer Bits (January 1992)
  • Computer Bits (February 1992)
  • Computer Bits (March 1992)
  • Computer Bits (May 1992)
  • Computer Bits (June 1992)
  • Computer Bits (July 1992)
  • Computer Bits (September 1992)
  • Computer Bits (October 1992)
  • Computer Bits (November 1992)
  • Computer Bits (December 1992)
  • Computer Bits (February 1993)
  • Computer Bits (April 1993)
  • Computer Bits (May 1993)
  • Computer Bits (June 1993)
  • Computer Bits (October 1993)
  • Computer Bits (March 1994)
  • Computer Bits (May 1994)
  • Computer Bits (June 1994)
  • Computer Bits (July 1994)
  • Computer Bits (October 1994)
  • Computer Bits (November 1994)
  • Computer Bits (December 1994)
  • Computer Bits (January 1995)
  • Computer Bits (February 1995)
  • Computer Bits (March 1995)
  • Computer Bits (April 1995)
  • CMOS Memory Settings - What To Do When The Battery Goes Flat (May 1995)
  • Computer Bits (July 1995)
  • Computer Bits (September 1995)
  • Computer Bits: Connecting To The Internet With WIndows 95 (October 1995)
  • Computer Bits (December 1995)
  • Computer Bits (January 1996)
  • Computer Bits (February 1996)
  • Computer Bits (March 1996)
  • Computer Bits (May 1996)
  • Computer Bits (June 1996)
  • Computer Bits (July 1996)
  • Computer Bits (August 1996)
  • Computer Bits (January 1997)
  • Computer Bits (April 1997)
  • Windows 95: The Hardware That's Required (May 1997)
  • Turning Up Your Hard Disc Drive (June 1997)
  • Computer Bits (July 1997)
  • Computer Bits: The Ins & Outs Of Sound Cards (August 1997)
  • Computer Bits (September 1997)
  • Computer Bits (October 1997)
  • Computer Bits (November 1997)
  • Computer Bits (April 1998)
  • Computer Bits (June 1998)
  • Computer Bits (July 1998)
  • Computer Bits (November 1998)
  • Computer Bits (December 1998)
  • Control Your World Using Linux (July 2011)
Articles in this series:
  • Amateur Radio (November 1987)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1987)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1990)
  • The "Tube" vs. The Microchip (August 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1995)
  • CB Radio Can Now Transmit Data (March 2001)
  • What's On Offer In "Walkie Talkies" (March 2001)
  • Stressless Wireless (October 2004)
  • “Degen” Synthesised HF Communications Receiver (January 2007)
  • WiNRADiO: Marrying A Radio Receiver To A PC (January 2007)
  • PICAXE-08M 433MHz Data Transceiver (October 2008)
  • Half-Duplex With HopeRF’s HM-TR UHF Transceivers (April 2009)
  • Dorji 433MHz Wireless Data Modules (January 2012)
Articles in this series:
  • Remote Control (October 1989)
  • Remote Control (November 1989)
  • Remote Control (December 1989)
  • Remote Control (January 1990)
  • Remote Control (February 1990)
  • Remote Control (March 1990)
  • Remote Control (April 1990)
  • Remote Control (May 1990)
  • Remote Control (June 1990)
  • Remote Control (August 1990)
  • Remote Control (September 1990)
  • Remote Control (October 1990)
  • Remote Control (November 1990)
  • Remote Control (December 1990)
  • Remote Control (April 1991)
  • Remote Control (July 1991)
  • Remote Control (August 1991)
  • Remote Control (October 1991)
  • Remote Control (April 1992)
  • Remote Control (April 1993)
  • Remote Control (November 1993)
  • Remote Control (December 1993)
  • Remote Control (January 1994)
  • Remote Control (June 1994)
  • Remote Control (January 1995)
  • Remote Control (April 1995)
  • Remote Control (May 1995)
  • Remote Control (July 1995)
  • Remote Control (November 1995)
  • Remote Control (December 1995)
MARKET CENTRE Cash in your surplus gear. Advertise it here in Silicon Chip. FOR SALE WEATHER FAX programs for IBM XT/ ATs *** "RADFAX2" is a high resolution, shortwave weather fax, Morse & RTTY receiving program. Needs CGA, SSB l::IF radio & Radfax decoder. Also "RF2HERC", "RF2EGA" & "RF2VGA", same as RADFAX2 but suitable for Hercules, EGA & VGA cards respectively. $35. *** "SATFAX" is a NOAA, Meteor & GMS weather satellite picture receiving program. Uses EGA & r-------------------------, VGA modes, needs EGA or VGA col our monitor & card, plus "WEATHER FAX" PC card. $45. *** All programs are on 5.25-inch or 3.5-inch discs (state which) & include documentation. Add $3 postage. ONLY from M. Delahunty, 42 Villiers St, New Farm, 4005 Old. Phone (07) 358 2785. LAB LASERS. 0.5mW to 2mW HeNe lasers complete. Ideal for students or hobbyists. Australian made. $440 to $640. Phone M.C.E. Lasers (03) 357 0055. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES Advertising rates for this page: Classified ads - $7.00 for up to 15 words plus 40 cents for each additional word. Display ads (casual rate) - $20 per column ,centimetre (Max. 10cm). Closing date: five weeks prior to month of sale. If you use a PO Box number, you must include your permanent address and phone number for our files. We cannot accept ads submitted without this information. To run your classified ad, print clearly on the lines below or on a separate sheet of paper & send the form together with your cheque or credit card details to : Silicon Chip Classifieds, PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Or fax the details to (02) 979 6503. THE WORLD'S FIRST MS-DOS pocket PC at Australia's lowest price. Atari Portfolio $480 inc tax. Post & insurance free for mail orders. All accessories available at reduced prices. Uses an 80C88 CPU & is video cassette size. Data transfer to XT/AT via optional serial or parallel interface. For more information, send a 43c stamp to: Don McKenzie, 29 Ellesmere Crescent, Tullamarine 3043. DIGITAL WAVEFORMS from a PC. As described in SILICON CHIP in March 1990, May 1990 & June 1990. The software can also be used for the similar project (Simple PC Function Generator) described in Electronics Australia in January 1989. Software & PC Board: $39.95 incl. p&p. Software only: $32.50 incl. p&p. Money order or IIT MATHS COPROCESSORS Enclosed is my cheque/money order for $_ _ _ _ or please debit my D Bankcard D Visa Card D Master Card X I I I Signature_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Card expiry date_ _~ - - - I I Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ I I Street _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ I I Suburb/town _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Postcode_ _ _ _ __ L _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ JI Card No. 2C-08 2C-10 2C-12 2C-20 2C87- 8MHZ 2C87-10MHZ 2C87-12MHZ 2C87-20MHZ /:" °'1&1: ~~ ,r:-0 '.-9 ( $330 $359 $430 $490 ~&& 3C-16 3.C87-16MHZ $640 3C-20 3C87-20MHZ $680 3C-25 3C87-25MHZ $840 3C-33 3C87-33MHZ $990 These pices include Sales Tax. Stocks are limited at this price, so order early. CAD CONNECTION PHONE (02)957 6719 CONNECTION FAX (02)954 5550 Improving Your Produdirity APRIL 1991 95 r MEMORY EXPANSION SIMM&SIP sons CO-PROCESSORS 21.00 73.00 375.00 68.00 9 x256 9x1MB 9x4MB 8x1MB DRAM/DIP 58.00 2.10 2.50 2.15 7.60 7.60 PELHAM 80287-10 TOSHIBA LAPTOP INTEL 175.00 285.00 295.00 582.00 510.00 640.00 13200 T1600 T3100E T3100SX T1000SE A. M. D. SAVE 50% ON CO-PROCESSORS BOns 4MB Static 41256 41464 4164 1MB .414256 INTEL8087·1 INTEL 287XL ITT 3C87SX16 ITT 3C87 -33 CYRIX 387DX20 CYRIX 387DX25 Price• At February 24th 168.00 3MB 2MB 2MB 2MB 2MB 4:10.00 270.00 270.00 270.00 480.00 185.00 200.00 200.00 Sales Tax 20%. Overnight Delivery. Credit Cards Welcome 1st Floor, 100 Yarrara Road, Pennant Hills, N.S.W. 2120 Tel(02)980-6988 Arista .. ..... ...... ...... ... ... .... . 33,39,57 Cad Connection .... .................. .. 95 David Reid Electronics ........ IFC ,1 IBM PS/2 1MB 2MB 2MB Altronics ...... .............. ..... ... .. .. 60-63 Back Issues .. .. ...... ..... ... ... .. ... 90,91 COMPAQ 386-20, 386-25, 386-20E, 386-S, 386-33 4MB MODULES 490.00 4MB BOArds 580.00 30/286,50 70E61,1212 70A21 Advertising Index Fax(02)980-6991 \.. Dick Smith Electronics ... ....... 13-15 Electronic Solutions ..... .... ......... 35 Electronic Toy Services ............ 96 Electronics World ...................... 75 Elmeasco ....... .. .... ........ ... ... ..... IBC Geoff Wood Electronics ... ........ . 29 Harbuch Electronics ...... .. ........ 57 MODEL TRAIN CONTROLLER project, SILICON CHIP, November 1990, $19.95 plus $2.50 p&p. Plugpack, 12VAC, 1.7A, suitable for the above (use rectifier), $29.95 plus $4.00 p&p. Kits built & repaired. Prototype production board supplier to the hobbyist & supplier of SILICON CHIP project PCBs. ETS, PO BOX 491, NOARLUNGA CENTRE, SA 5168. Phone: (08) 382 8919 MAX 1/0 Board Kit $149.00 Built & Tested $269.00 • 7 x Relays SPST 2 amps each • 8 x Switch inputs (TTL) • 1 x DAG (Digital to Analog converter) • 1 x ADC ( Analog to Digital converter) • 4 x Motor Drive outputs (40mA ea.) • 1 x Programmable timer output. MAX includes a 20-page manual with all schematics, parts layout etc. , a 360K PC-compatible floppy with diagnostic and sample software in GW-Basic. MAX runs from a PC compatible printer port tor full compatibility with a large range of computers. Same day dispatch of orders . Credit cards or personal cheques welcome. Phone (08) 332 6513 or Fax (08) 364 0902 (24 hours) PC Computers, 36 Regent St, Kensington, SA cheque . M. Radvanyi, PO Box 49, Kingswood, NSW 2749. CIRCUIT DESIGN SOFTWARE. Design your own .008% THD Sinewave Generator from 90Hz-30kHz using the PCB in SILICON CHIP, February 1991. No PCB track mods required. $20 inc. p&p. Design & build you own Audio Power Amplifier up to 20W. On-screen circuit diagram and hardcopy facilities. Instructions included. $30 inc. p&p. Custom-make your own SLA Battery Charger using the UC3906 IC (4-30V). Designed by the author of the SILICON 96 SILICON CHIP FIX-A-KIT $20.00 PER HOUR LABOUR 3 MONTHS WARRANTY ON REPAIRS 12 MONTHS WARRANTY ON CONSTRUCTION Service to most types of electronic equipment TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE HVCAL ELECTRONICS Design, Manufacture & Repair of Electronic Equipment Trading Hours Sam to 3pm, Monday to Friday (02) 633 5897 Hycal Instruments .................... 96 Jaycar Electronics ................ 45-52 J.V. Tuners ........... ..... ................ 43 M. Radvanyi ...... ...... .. ... .... ......... 95 PC Computers .... .. ... ... .. ............ 96 PC Marketplace ......... ... ..... .. ..... 77 Pelham .................. ..... ..... ........ 96 Raytec Data Systems .. ............ 43 CHIP March 1990 project. $20 each inc. p&p. Buy all three for $50 and save $20! All software IBM/XT/AT compatible, 5.25inch 360K disc only, CGA/EGA/VGA, MS-DOS 3.2 or later, GWBASIC required . 14-day turnaround . Send cheque/money order to: D. Yates, PO Box 134, French's Forest, NSW 2086 . ANTIQUE RADIO ANTIQUE RADIO restorations. Your one-stop electronic repair shop. Specialising in restoring vintage radios including chassis rewiring, quality new parts, valves , valve sockets, speakers, transformers, cabinet restoration. Quality secondhand radio dials & parts for most brands & models. About 400 radios in stock for restoration & parts. Every restored wireless is covered by a 2-year warranty on parts & service. French polishing of timber cabinets available. Vintage car radios in valve & transistor types available for restoration. Repairs done on tape decks, amplifiers, TVs & videos . Open Sat. 10am-5pm; Sun. 12.30-5pm. 109 Cann St, Bass Hill, NSW 2197. Phone (02) 645 3173 BH or (02) 726 1613 AH . RCS Radio................................ 44 Resurrection Radio ... .. .. .. .. ... .... 39 Rod Irving Electronics .... .... .. 20,21 68,69,84,85 Sheridan Electronics ................ 83 Silicon Chip Binders .... ... ... .. OBC Soundring ......... .. .. ........ .. .. ... ... . 33 Subscriptions ... .. .... ................... 94 PC Boards Printed circuit boards for SILICON CHIP projects are made by: • Electronic Toy Services, 2/111 Glynville Drive, Hackham West, SA 5163. Phone(08)3828919. • Jemal Products, 5 Forge St, Welshpool, WA 6106. Phone (09) 350 5555. • Marday Services, PO Box 19-189, Avondale, Auckland, NZ. Phone 88 5730. • RCS Radio Pty Ltd, 651 Forest Rd, Bexley, NSW 2207. Phone (02) 587 3491.