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Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Leo Simpson, B.Bus. Editor Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Robert Flynn Rick Walters Reader Services Ann Jenkinson Advertising Enquiries Leo Simpson Phone (02) 9979 5644 Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst Garry Cratt, VK2YBX Marque Crozman, VK2ZLZ Julian Edgar, Dip.T.(Sec.), B.Ed John Hill Jim Lawler, MTETIA Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW Jim Yalden, VK2YGY Bob Young Photography Stuart Bryce SILICON CHIP is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. A.C.N. 003 205 490. All material copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Printing: Macquarie Print, Dubbo, NSW. Distribution: Network Distribution Company. Subscription rates: $49 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 34, 1-3 Jubilee Avenue, Warrie­ wood, NSW 2102. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9979 5644. Fax (02) 9979 6503. PUBLISHER'S LETTER Caller ID – now you won't be anonymouse If all goes to plan, Telecomm & Optus will shortly introduce "caller number identification", a system which allows people to identify who is calling them before they answer the phone. The system displays the caller's number of a small LCD screen attached to the phone. Already available in America, it could have been introduced in Australia two years ago but was withdrawn because of concerns about possible breaches of privacy. Well now the system is to get another run and is expected to be submitted to the privacy committe of Austel at about the time this issue goes to press. No doubt there will be bleeding hearts about privacy but as far as I am concerned they've got it wrong. CND will be a boon to people who want privacy – from people who phone. How many times have you been in the middle of a meal and you've had a call from someone doing a marketing survey? How many times have you picked up the phone and answered it, only to have the person on the other end drop the receiver in the cradle? How many people are bothered by nuisance callers whether they be obscene, disgruntled business clients or whatever? Wouldn't it be nice to put a stop to all that? It should stop hoax calls to the police, ambulance and fire brigade too. Some people worried about the way in which Caller ID might be used by business who would enter every caller into a database, Well, what do they think happens now with enquiries to businesses? And it could have the benefit of stopping some forms of fraud. For our part at Silicon Chip, we would prefer to know who is calling us, and being able to record the number, so that we could always call them back if we needed to. You'd be suprised how often people give the wrong address details by mistake. Of course, caller identification is already in use on fax machines and there is no reason it should not be extended to the whole populace. The benefits outweigh the concerns of those who want to retain their anonymity when they are making calls. I should also point out that you will have to pay extra if you want the caller identication system on your phone. Telecom & Optus expect to make money from the service, otherwise they would not want to introduce it. The crucial point about Caller ID is that it is likely to be a blanket system in which every caller has the potential of being identified by the person being phoned, unless he or she informs the telephone company that they want to be out. That means when they ring some people, thye take the risk that they won't be answered. And, further into the future, it could become a condition of doing business over the phone – think about the implications if that. Persons electing to opt out may well be shut out! And while we're on the subject of phones, please note that the numbers of Silicon Chip will change from the 8th of July, as part of the phase number changes that will eventually affect all Australians. Our new phone number is (02) 9979 5644, while the fax number is (02) 9979 5603. Leo Simpson ISSN 1030-2662 WARNING! SILICON CHIP magazine regularly describes projects which employ a mains power supply or produce high voltage. All such projects should be considered dangerous or even lethal if not used safely. Readers are warned that high voltage wiring should be carried out according to the instructions in the articles. When working on these projects use extreme care to ensure that you do not accidentally come into contact with mains AC voltages or high voltage DC. If you are not confident about working with projects employing mains voltages or other high voltages, you are advised not to attempt work on them. Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd disclaims any liability for damages should anyone be killed or injured while working on a project or circuit described in any issue of SILICON CHIP magazine. Devices or circuits described in SILICON CHIP may be covered by patents. SILICON CHIP disclaims any liability for the infringement of such patents by the manufacturing or selling of any such equipment. SILICON CHIP also disclaims any liability for projects which are used in such a way as to infringe relevant government regulations and by-laws. Advertisers are warned that they are responsible for the content of all advertisements and that they must conform to the Trade Practices Act 1974 or as subsequently amended and to any governmental regulations which are applicable. 2  Silicon Chip