Silicon ChipContents - January 1996 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Crystal balling the telephone
  4. Feature: Recharging Nicad Batteries For Long Life by Horst Reuter
  5. Project: Surround Sound Mixer & Decoder; Pt.1 by John Clarke
  6. Feature: Computer Bits by Geoff Cohen
  7. Project: Build A Magnetic Card Reader & Display by Mike Zenere
  8. Project: The Rain Brain Automatic Sprinkler Controller by Graham Blowes
  9. Product Showcase
  10. Order Form
  11. Project: IR Remote Control For The Railpower Mk.2 by Rick Walters
  12. Serviceman's Log: The complaint seemed simple enough by The TV Serviceman
  13. Book Store
  14. Vintage Radio: Converting from anode bend to diode detection by John Hill
  15. Back Issues
  16. Notes & Errata: Dolby Pro Logic Surround Sound Decoder, November-December 1995; Five-Band Equaliser, December 1995
  17. Market Centre
  18. Advertising Index
  19. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the January 1996 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 22 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:
  • Surround Sound Mixer & Decoder; Pt.1 (January 1996)
  • Surround Sound Mixer & Decoder; Pt.2 (February 1996)
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:
  • Railpower MkII: A Walk-Around Throttle For Model Railways; Pt.1 (September 1995)
  • Railpower MkII: A Walk-Around Throttle For Model Railways; Pt.2 (October 1995)
  • IR Remote Control For The Railpower Mk.2 (January 1996)
Vol.9, No.1; January 1996 Contents FEATURES 4 Living With Engine-Managed Cars We take a look at some of the do’s and don’ts when it comes to maintaining a modern engine-managed car. Also, is it worthwhile changing the chip or are there better ways of increasing engine performance? – by Julian Edgar 10 Recharging Nicad Batteries For Long Life Nickel cadmium and nickel metal hydride batteries often don’t last very long before requiring replacement. One solution is to use “burp charging” which is claimed to greatly extend battery life – by Horst Reuter 53 Satellite Watch THE DO’S AND DON’TS OF LIVING WITH ENGINE-MANAGED CARS – PAGE 4 A new column that gives you satellite reception reports for Australia and New Zealand – by Garry Cratt PROJECTS TO BUILD 22 Surround Sound Mixer & Decoder Build this unit and add depth and realism to your home videos. It provides realistic surround sound mixing and even includes a simple decoder – by John Clarke 40 Build A Magnetic Card Reader & Display Check out what’s written on the magnetic stripe on your credit card. This unit could also be used as the basis for an electronic door lock, restricting access to those with “authorised” cards – by Mike Zenere 54 The Rain Brain Automatic Sprinkler Controller BUILD A MAGNETIC CARD READER & DISPLAY – PAGE 40 Comes as a kit and controls up to eight solenoids plus a master solenoid. You program it yourself to selectively water any area of your garden as little or as often as you like – by Graham Blowes 70 IR Remote Control For The Railpower Mk.2 Provides complete freedom of operation and has pushbutton control for everything. An optional speed meter is also included – by Rick Walters SPECIAL COLUMNS 32 Computer Bits Upgrading your PC; is it worthwhile? – by Geoff Cohen 80 Serviceman’s Log The complaint seemed simple enough – by the TV Serviceman 8-STATION SPRINKLER CONTROLLER – PAGE 54 86 Vintage Radio Converting from anode bend to diode detection – by John Hill DEPARTMENTS 2 Publisher’s Letter 3 Mailbag 16 Circuit Notebook 63 Product Showcase 69 Order Form 92 Ask Silicon Chip 94 Notes & Errata 95 Market Centre 96 Advertising Index IR REMOTE CONTROL FOR THE RAILPOWER MK.2 – PAGE 70 January 1996  1