This is only a preview of the October 1996 issue of Silicon Chip. You can view 24 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 "Send Video Signals Over Twister Pair Cable":
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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
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
Getting onto the Internet
can cost big money
One of the common enquiries we get from
readers is “Are you on the Internet yet? So
far, the answer has been “No, not yet.” Naturally, the enquirer is usually disappointed
at this reply but when questioned further, as
to why they want to know, people generally
state that they just like to browse. They don’t
really want anything specific via the Internet
but they like to have a good look around.
For many businesses, the Internet is a huge conundrum. On the one hand,
large numbers of business are eagerly jumping onto the bandwagon so that
they can grab the kudos of being seen to be innovative and forward-looking.
On the other hand, other more cautious firms, ours included, are wondering
whether all the effort will produce any worthwhile financial return.
I would go further and say that, for some firms, there is risk of a considerable loss via the Internet. I am thinking particularly of copyright. Just
recently, the Australian Performing Rights Association has decided to target
information service providers and charge them for songs being downloaded
on the net. That is likely to result in a protracted legal battle. Once a firm’s
intellectual assets are available via the Internet, particularly software, then
the chances of any return are virtually nil. The same comment applies to
unauthorised material on bulletin boards.
Unless a business can point to a real return from the very substantial
investment required to produce and properly maintain a web site, then the
Internet can be guaranteed to be a financial loss. Sure, proponents of the
Internet will point to savings on international phone calls and faxes and
may even be able to identify some business generated by the Internet but
as far as I can determine, very few businesses make any real money from
it. They would be better off devoting their scarce resources to the business
activity they know best.
In fact, I predict that quite a few businesses will see the light and close
down their web sites. The same will apply to businesses which have bulletin
boards – they will add up all the costs and figure that it is not worthwhile.
The obvious exceptions to this are firms involved in software distribution
and service.
This is not to say that the Internet will not provide substantial business
opportunities in the future. I am sure it will. But at the moment, the Internet
is the 1990s equivalent of the CB boom – everybody is talking about it but
most of the information on it is pretty trivial.
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.
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