Silicon ChipMarket Centre - March 1991 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Avoiding the penetrating bass beat
  4. Feature: Electric Vehicles; Pt.3 by Gerry Nolan
  5. Feature: Solar Electric Speed Record In Australia by Gerry Nolan
  6. Project: Remote Controller For Garage Doors, Pt.1 by Branko Justic
  7. Serviceman's Log: The case of the worn video heads by The TV Serviceman
  8. Project: Transistor Beta Tester Mk.2 by John Clarke
  9. Vintage Radio: Automatic gain control: what it is & how it works by John Hill
  10. Project: A Synthesised Stereo AM Tuner, Pt.2 by John Clarke & Greg Swain
  11. Back Issues
  12. Feature: Computer Bits by Jennifer Bonnitcha
  13. Project: Multi-Purpose I/O Board For IBM PCs by Graham Dicker
  14. Feature: Amateur Radio by Garry Cratt, VK2YBX
  15. Feature: Remote Control by Bob Young
  16. Feature: The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.9 by Bryan Maher
  17. Feature: Bose Lifestyle Music System Subscription Offer
  18. Order Form
  19. Market Centre
  20. Advertising Index
  21. Outer Back Cover

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

You can view 43 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)
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:
  • 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 (February 1991)
  • Remote Control (March 1991)
Articles in this series:
  • The Technology Letters, Pt.2 (January 1989)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy (July 1990)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.2 (August 1990)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.3 (September 1990)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.4 (October 1990)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.5 (November 1990)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.6 (December 1990)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.7 (January 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.8 (February 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.9 (March 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.10 (May 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.11 (July 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.12 (August 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.13 (September 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.14 (October 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.15 (November 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.16 (December 1991)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.17 (January 1992)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.18 (March 1992)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.19 (August 1992)
  • The Story of Electrical Energy; Pt.20 (September 1992)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.21 (November 1992)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.22 (January 1993)
  • The Story of Electrical Energy (April 1993)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.24 (May 1993)
  • The Story Of Electrical Energy; Pt.24 (June 1993)
MARKET CENTRE Cash in your surplus gear. Advertise it here in Silicon Chip. r-------------------------, FOR SALE CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING RATES XT/AT HANDBOOK by Choisser & Foster. Pocket size, 92· pages. For engineers & programmers, & other serious PC/XT & PC/AT users. A collection of hardware & software facts & data on the PC-compatible & its operating system. Latest edition. This is the one advertised by Annabooks in the US mags Byte, Dr Jobb's Journal, etc. $20 including postage. 5 or more $15 each. Don McKenzie, 29 Ellesmere Crescent, Tullamarine 3043. 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. ----- ---- - - - - -- - - - - -- - ICOM TYPE NICAD battery packs. 500mA.h 8.4V $48, 5+ $40 each. lcom type empty battery pack; fit you own nicads $12, 5+ $10 each. Xtal 3.5795 MHz NDK brand $2. 1OO0µF 16VW electrolytic 25c. Electronic flash unit, ex-equipment, $3. Add $2 p & p. Speedtronics, PO Box 538, Mirrabooka, WA 6061. - - -- WEATHER FAX programs for IBM XT/ ATs *** "RADFAX2" is a high resolution, shortwave weather fax, Morse & RTTY receiving program. Needs CGA, SSB HF 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 & IIT MATHS COPROCESSORS Enclosed is my cheque/money order for $_ _ _ _ or please debit my O Bankcard o Visa Card 0 Master Card J( I I I Signature_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Card expiry date_ _~/_ __ I I Name - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - I I Street ------------------------ I I Suburb/town _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Postcode_ _ _ _ __ I Card No. 2C-08 2C-10 2C-12 2C-20 2C87- 8MHZ 2C87-10MHZ 2C87-12MHZ 2C87-20MHZ A' '1&,>: ~,s, ,,,.o "9 ( $330 $359 $430 $490 ~<S'<S' 3C-16 SC87-16MHZ $640 3C-20 3C87-20MHZ $680 3C-25 3C87-25MHZ $840 3C-33 3C87-33MHZ $990 These pices include Sales Tax. Stocks are limited at this price, so order early. PHONE (02)957 67 FAX (02)954 5550 L-------------------------~ MARCH 1991 95 r MEMORY EXPANSION SIMM& SIP 9 x256 9x1MB 9x4MB Bx1MB DRAM/DIP 4MBS\ali'.: 41256 41464 4164 1MB 414256 sons CO-PROCESSORS NTl3.. a::£1-1 NTI3..287Xl NTI3..:1!7SX16 NTI3..:!l71JX33 CYRIX$/DX20 CYRIX$/DX25 21.00 7.l.00 37500 68.00 INTEL 17500 ::B5.(X) 43200 848.(X) 51000 58.00 2.10 2.50 215 7.30 7.60 PELHAM 8J287-10 TOSHIBA LAPTOP 13m 3.13 42000 T18JJ 131a£ 131CXSX T1CXXSE ,Ml ,Ml ,Ml ,Ml ZlOI1J ZlOI1J ZlOI1J 400.00 640.00 A. M. D. SAVE 50% ON CO-PROCESSORS !0"6 ..... Prices At January 18th 16800 IBM PS/2 1M3 ,Ml ,Ml Altronics .. ... .. ... .. ... ........ ......... 22-25 Arista ... ... .. ......... ... ....... .. 43,81,89 Back Issues .................. ........ 58 ,59 CXM'Nl 386-20, 386-25, 386-2CE, 386-S, 386-33 4MB MODULES 4MB BOArds Advertising Index 490.00 580.00 135.00 :moo :moo Cad Connection ..... ..... .............. 95 David Reid Electronics .. ...... IFC, 1 Dick Smith Electronics ...... .... 13-15 Electronic Solutions ..... ... ... .... ... 65 Electronic Toy Services ......... ... 96 Sales Tax 20%. Overnight Delivery. Credit Cards Welcome 1st Floor, 100 Yarrara Road, Pennant Hills, N.S.W. 2120 Tel(02)980-6988 Fax(02)980-6991 \.. Elmeasco .. .......... ........ ... .. ... ...... 31 Geoff Wood Electronics ......... ... 73 Harbuch Electronics ..... .. ...... ... 29 Hycal Instruments ............... .. ... 96 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 FIX-A-KIT $20.00 PER HOUR LABOUR Jay car Electronics ... ..... ....... ..... 48 J.V. Tuners ..... ...... ... .. .... ..... ...... . 30 3 MONTHS WARRANTY ON REPAIRS 12 MONTHS WARRANTY ON CONSTRUCTION M. Radvanyi ........................ ... ... 96 Service to most types of electronic equipment Oatley Electronics ......... ... ........ 77 TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE HVCAL INSTRUMENTS Design, Manufacture & Repair of Electronic Equipment Trading Hours 8am to 3pm, Monday to Friday (02) 633 5897 PC Computers ..... ... ... ....... ....... 96 PC Marketplace ... .. ....... ..... ..... .... 5 Pelham ....... ... ... ..... ...... ............ 96 Philips T&M ... .... .... .. ........ .. ... OBC Raytec Data Systems .. ........ .. .. 30 RCS Radio ..... ....... ... ...... ..... .... .. 45 MAX I/O Board Kit $149.00 Built & Tested $269.00 • 7 x Relays SPST 2 amps each • 8 x Switch inputs (TTL) • 1 x OAC (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 for full compatibil ity 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) $32.50 incl . p&p. Money order or cheque. M. Radvanyi, PO Box 49 , Kingswood, NSW 2749. Resurrection Radio .. ...... .. ........ 43 Rod Irving Electronics .. ........ 40,41 60,61 ,90 ,91 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. ANTIQUE RADIO Sheridan Electronics ........ ........ 72 Silicon Chip Binders .... .... ..... . IBC Subscriptions ....... ..... .. .. .. ...... ... . 94 Soundring ..... .. .. ....... .. ...... .... .. .. 81 Tech -Fast ...... .... ... .... .... ........ ..... 79 PC Computers 36 Regent St,Kenslngtor.i, SA VGA modes, needs EGA or VGA colour 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. 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: 96 SILICON CHIP 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 Hil l, NSW 2197. Phone (02) 645 3173 BH or (02) 7261613AH. 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) 382 8919. • 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.