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PRODUCT SHOWCASE Tektronix launches a new style of test instrument – the TekMeter Tektronix Australia has announced its TekTools product family which is aimed at the electronic measurement needs of the service professional. The first of the TekTools family, the TekMeter Series, is both an auto-ranging true RMS digital multimeter (DMM) and an autoranging oscilloscope in a rugged, battery-powered package. The TekMeter automates common electronic measurements in­ cluding power quality and line volt­age monitoring, and variable AC mo­tor drive measurements. Tektronix claim that the TekMeter series is half the price, size and weight of any other similarly featured product on the mar­ket. The DMM features auto-ranging DC and true RMS ranges from 400m V to 600VAC/850VDC and Ohms ranges from 400W to 40MW, as well as diode and audible continuity tests. The auto­ranging oscilloscope features Tek­tronix' proprietary signal tracking technology that automatically finds, scales and displays signals continuously for hands-free operation. DMM users will appreciate the TekMeter's familiar user interface. The TekMeter powers up in the DMM mode and with a single press of a button, it immediately displays the signal for verification, characterisation or analysis. "We've designed the TekMeter Series with the non-oscilloscope user in mind. The TekMeter takes advan­tage of advanced Tektronix technol­ogy so that users can have confidence that the signal it displays is accurate," noted Peter Roan, National Sales Man­ager. "With both the auto-ranging DMM and oscilloscope, users simply attach the lead to the test point and the TekMeter does the rest. We've in­cluded automatic measurements for power calculation, Transformer Har­ monic Derating Factor (THDF), variable 70  Silicon Chip speed AC motor control trigger­ ing and line aberration detection such as spikes, brown-outs and blackouts. We haven't compromised safety stand­ards either. The TekMeter is this in­dustry's first handheld DMM/oscillo­scope to receive UL and CSA safety certification" TekMeter's 600V RMS, 6kV surge rating provides ample protection in high-voltage environments. The TekMeter is compatible with commercially available DMM accessories in­cluding temperature and pressure transducers. Optional accessories for the TekMeter include current probes, a carrying case for hands-free opera­tion, a nicad battery pack with charger, and an AC/DC adapter with RS232 communication for hard copy print­outs and remote communications. Three models are available in the Tekmeter series: the THM 550 with single channel scope, the THM 560 with dual channel scope and the THM 565 deluxe model with advanced functions. The THM 565 can store up to 10 waveforms and instrument setups for data comparison or archival and rou­ tine measurements or calculations. A backlight and real-time clock are also available in the THM 565, allowing low-light viewing and date stamping of hardcopy printouts. DMM accuracy is ±0.5% + 5 counts on DC and ±2% + 5 counts on AC. Vertical bandwidth in scope mode is 5MHz and the maximum sampling rate is 25 megasamples/second/chan­ nel. Vertical resolution is eight bits and vertical sensitivity ranges from 5mV to 500V/division. Pricing is as follows: Tekmeter THM 550, $1659; THM 560, $1903 and THM 565, $2380. These prices include sales tax. All three units come with a 1-year warranty. For further information on the Tekmeter series, cQntact Tektronix Australia Pty Ltd on (02) 888 7066. Low noise block converters for satellite ground stations L&M Satellite Supplies have been appointed sole Australian distributor of Comtex microwave equipment for the reception of satellites. They have LNBs (low noise block converters) specifically manufactured for reception of the follow­ing satellites Aussat, Optus, Intelsat and Gori­zont. Their model CX 101 is a dual polarity LNB for use with Optus/ Aussat. It boasts a small size with exceptional electrical characteristics and unique dish illumination properties, being the only LNB that can be used with prime focus and or offset dishes. Some of its salient features are as follows: length 89mm, diameter 60mm, noise figure (total figure includ­ ing inbuilt feedhorn) 1dB typical, offset or prime focus reflector; inbuilt feedhorn, LO frequency 11.3 GHz for Optus/Aussat; and F/D ratio match 0.35 to 0.65. For further information, contact L&M Satellite Supplies, 33-35 Wickham Road, Moorabbin Vic 3199. Phone (03) 553 1763. Redback coaxial speakers for PA work These two loudspeakers are intended for wall or ceil­ing installation in PA applications. They represent a degree of refinement over the usual twincone speaker used in ceiling installations and will have a much better maintained upper frequency response. The coaxial model has a single dome tweeter with capacitor feed while the triaxial model has a cone midrange and dome tweeter, with both drivers fed by capacitors. Both drivers are rated at 50 watts RMS with a nominal impedance of 8W, a bass cone diameter of 200mm and a free-air resonance of 68Hz. Sensitivity is quoted as 92dB/1W/1m (quite high compared to hifi speakers) and both have a quoted frequency response May 1994  71 to 20kHz. As you might expect, the triaxial model has a somewhat smooth­ er frequency response than the co­axial unit. The triaxial unit is priced at $69.95 while the coaxial model is $59.95. See them at Altronics in Perth or any of their dealers. VGA to VCR/TV converter Boston Technology Pty Ltd has an­ nounced the release of the VID 701 Videoverter. The VID 701 Videoverter comes in a compact (50 x 89 x 25mm) box that fits in your pocket. Any PC that has a VGA graphics adaptor card can use the VID 701 Videoverter to produce low-cost custom videos on any standard video cassette recorder or display on a large screen TV The VID 701 Videoverter offers the following features: LCD/TV display toggling; TV auto blanking; display size and position adjustment; AVRCA or S-VHS outputs (NTSC & PAL versions available); interlaced/noninter­ laced display; 11 VGA display modes, up to 256 colours; compatible with Microsoft Windows, Lotus 1-2- 3, Ani­ mator, CAD and many more applica­tion programs due to its software in­dependence. The VID 701 Videoverter works with all major brands of VGA display cards including Paradise, Cirrus, IBM, Oak, ATI, Video 7 and Tseng Labs chip sets. For more information, contact Boston Technology, PO Box 1750, North Sydney 2059. Phone (02) 955 4765. TDK's new 30 minute videotape TDK has introduced an E-30 HS30 minute tape to complement its existing E-60, E- 120, E-180 and E-240 minute tapes in the popular HS formulation. Camcorder users favour a shorter tape time for dub­bing, rather than using E-120 and E-180 tapes. Until now, TDK had sup­plied E-30 only in its HDX-Pro grade, contending that the demand for this playing time was mainly for mastering and professional applications. The HS E-30 has a recommended retail price of $7.95 and is available at selected TDK dealers and department stores. For your nearest dealer, phone TDK on (02) 437 5100. HP introduces its fastest 486-based PC Hewlett-Packard has introduced its fastest 486-based PC, the HP Vectra VL2 4/100, which is based on the Intel DX4 100MHz microprocessor. The new PC delivers up to 50 percent more performance than PC systems based on previous Intel 486 technol­ogy at a recommended retail price of $4451, including sales tax. With the addition of the 100MHz Intel DX-4 based model, the HP Vectra VL2 series now offers a range of keenly priced systems designed to meet vir­tually any customer performance need. The HP Vectra VL2 series PCs are said to deliver more features, including accelerated local bus video, power management and plug-and-play features, than similarly priced mod­ els from other vendors. The new 100MHz Intel DX4 pro- Mini blow torch from Altronics This little blow torch has to be the nif­ tiest tool of its type that we have ever seen. All you do is slide back the little red lock and push the plunger to ignite a hot little flame that burns at 1300°C. It burns for as long as you hold down the plunger When you take your finger off, the flame goes out. The device is really easy to refuel too since it runs off a standard disposable gas lighter – you just click the case open, drop in the lighter and click the case together and you're in business. There are any number of soldering, brazing and heating applications for it and you will wonder why it wasn't on the market years ago. Called the Cadik Micro-Jet, the mini blow torch has a piezo­electric ignition system which is operated when you press the plunger. Operating time with a standard disposable lighter is about 20 minutes. The Cadik Micro-Jet is priced at $29.95 and is available from Altronics in Perth, or from their dealers. 72  Silicon Chip vides the highest performance of any 486 microproces­sor currently on the market. It has an iCOMP index rating of 435, SPEC int92 of 51.38 and SPECfg of 26.59. In addition to performance enhancements from the Intel DX4 microprocessor, the HP Vectra VL2 4/100 offers high performance through a Fast-IDE controller that provides a 10-15% system performance increase over PCs with standard IDE controllers. This system also features a video subsystem capable of displaying up to 1280 x 1024 pixels. A new power management feature, unavailable on competitively priced models, also has been implemented in the HP Vectra VL2 PC series. The HP power management system, which users can enable easily from the PC setup menu, has a standby mode and a sleep mode that reduce average power consumption to as low as 20 watts and 15 watts respectively. For further information on HP products and services, call 131347 (toll free Australia-wide). Otari cassette duplication system Otari's new DP-4050F series of cassette duplicators feature a 16-times duplication speed, enabling the pro­duction on C60 cassettes in one pass in under two minutes. The DP-4050 series comprises four models: the DP4050F-C2 which provides simultaneous duplication of two cassettes from one master; the Z3 cassette slave expander which provides three additional slave transports; the OM open reel master, for ¼-inch tapes; and the DP-4050E-Z buffer unit, a bias signal buffer unit for driving up to six Z3 slave units in a large system. Features of the DP-4050 series include switchable 8/16 times duplication speed, simultaneous stereo copying of both sides of a cassette, automatic rewind of master and slave transports at the program's end, microprocesor controlled 3-motor transports, 4-channel in-line fer­rite heads, fixed/variable master pitch control, inde­pendent and adjustable bias and level and EQ for each channel. For further information, contact Amber Technology Pty Ltd, Unit B/5 Skyline Place, Frenchs Forest, NSW SC 2086. Phone (02) 975 1211. May 1994  73