This is only a preview of the July 1996 issue of Silicon Chip. You can view 25 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. Items relevant to "Build A VGA Digital Oscilloscope; Pt.1":
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Items relevant to "Remote Control Extender For VCRs":
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Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD
Editor
Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.)
Technical Staff
John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.)
Robert Flynn
Rick Walters
Reader Services
Ann Jenkinson
Advertising Manager
Christopher Wilson
Phone (02) 9979 5644
Mobile 0419 23 9375
Regular Contributors
Brendan Akhurst
Garry Cratt, VK2YBX
Julian Edgar, Dip.T.(Sec.), B.Ed
John Hill
Mike Sheriff, B.Sc, VK2YFK
Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW
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: $54 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
Appliance repairs are
still worthwhile
Is your VCR or TV on the blink? Thinking
of giving it the flick for a new one? Then think
again – you will probably save money. This
question often arises in the SILICON CHIP offices
as we are asked by readers and friends whether
a particular appliance is worth repairing.
Thankfully we have not yet reached the
situation in the USA where virtually nothing
is repaired. It’s a matter of “if it stops working,
toss it out and get a new one”. The problem is that this mentality is taking hold
in Australia and I know of several recent instances where people have had TVs,
microwave ovens or VCRs fail and they have replaced the items without even
thinking about having them repaired. And I’m not talking about old appliances
either; in each case, the items junked were less than five years old.
Frankly, this attitude gives me the horrors – it is just so wasteful. Most appliances of this age can be repaired economically and they can then be expected,
on the balance of probabilities, to give another five or ten years of operation.
Having talked to our writer of the “Serviceman” pages in this magazine, it
appears that an average TV, VCR or microwave oven repair is around $100 to
$150 or so. That might make repair of a small microwave oven not worthwhile,
depending on the actual job, but it probably makes repairing most TVs and
VCRs a good proposition.
Think of the advantages. First, you save money by repairing instead of replacing the appliance. Second, you help keep your local repairman in business and
off the dole queue. Third, you do your bit to keep Australia’s import bill low.
Another point to consider is that you will be helping to maintain electronics
repair skills in Australia. And if that isn’t enough, you avoid sending several
kilograms of workable electronics to your local tip.
Call me old-fashioned if you will but this is the approach that I always follow
if I possibly can. I have just had my ten-year old Philips 63cm TV set repaired
and its performance is still very good; not up to the standard of a 1996 set but
perfectly satisfactory nonetheless. I have also had my VCR and convection/
microwave oven repaired in the last two years or so and they are as good as
they ever have been.
Perhaps my approach leans too heavily to the “repair rather than replace”
approach but surely, if the cost of repair is less than half the replacement cost of
the equivalent brand and model appliance, and the item is less than five years
old, then the repair should go ahead.
Clearly, older appliances are often not worth repairing because parts are
unobtainable or too expensive. But most serviceman will give a rough quote
and then you can make a decision whether to repair or replace the item. Think
before you buy when an electronic appliance fails. Your decision will have
many consequences.
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
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