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PRODUCT SHOWCASE Wireless networking from Microgram If you're looking for the ultimate Christmas present – for the person who really does have everything – how about this do-it-yourself Wireless Networking system from Micro-gram Computers. While wireless networking was first introduced for laptops and notebooks (and indeed this system is suitable for those) it has now come down to more affordable levels – to the point where it’s a viable proposition for home and small office PCs. It's the perfect answer when you don’t want to (or cannot) run network cables. We plan to present a full review of this system in the January issue of SILICON CHIP but thought we should at least mention it here – just in time for Christmas! 84  Silicon Chip If you liked the idea of the giant Santa & Rudolph Chrismtas deco­ ration last month* but didn’t like the idea of building it yourself, Jaycar Electronics stores have a huge range of Christmas lighting decorations – from tiny to huge – which is sure to get lots of “oohs” and “aahs” around December 25! Full details are available from Mi­ crogram Computers either by phone, fax or website. Contact: Microgram Computers Unit 1, 14 Bon Mace Close, Berkely Vale NSW 2261 Phone: (02) 4389 8444 Fax: (02) 4389 8388 website: www.mgram.com.au New Dick Smith Electronics PowerHouse opening at Warringah Mall, Brookvale Dick Smith Electronics will open its eighth PowerHouse store, at Warringah Mall in Sydney’s northern beaches area, this month. PowerHouse stores are divided into four main ‘zones’ – electronics, entertainment, communications and computers. Everything at a Dick Smith Electronics PowerHouse is plugged in, powered up and fully tuned for customers to try out. The new store, located on the ground floor of Warringah Mall, covers 2,000 square metres (about six times the size of an average DSE store) with over 30,000 products in its range. Since news of the PowerHouse store had become known, there had been some conjecture about the future of the current Dick Smith Electronics store at Warringah Mall, which itself had been tripled in size and refurbished only two months ago. A Dick Smith Electronics spokesper­ son said that the company was happy to keep both stores operating despite their close proximity. “We have oth­ Jaycar can really light up your Christmas! ers close together and operating very well, though none quite as close as in Warringah Mall." The Santa Sleigh shown above, for example, is a huge 184 x 181cm and sells for $458.00. If that’s a bit too much for you, other Christmas lighting designs start at less than $20. Most are designed to be used outdoors as well as inside. For more information visit your nearest Jaycar Electronics store. They're also displayed on the Jaycar Electronics website, www. jaycar.com.au * Kits for the Santa & Rudolph Christmas Lights Display, featured in the November issue of SILICON CHIP, are now available through Jaycar and DSE. World's worst manual contest Just a reminder for the holiday season: “when all else fails, read the manual”. Have you ever been so frustrated with a manual or set of instructions that you cursed the author and wished you had never bought the product? Do you remember the last time you used “Help” on your computer and every click of the mouse led to a new set of decisions? Does this sound familiar? How about $US500 for your frustration? Technical Standards, Inc. (TSI), a Southern California documentation services company, is offering $US500 for the winning entry in their ‘Worst Manual Contest.’ Send a manual or set of instructions that is hard to understand, poorly written, or just plain wrong. Send it if it has bad grammar, Free Data Analysis Reference Book & CD Tektronix has developed a reference book and CD-ROM aimed at teaching design en­ gineers and technicians how to use popular software to analyze oscilloscope data. The book, titled "Oscilloscope Connectivity Made Easy" covers programs such as Microsoft Excel, Mathcad and MatLAB. It is geared to­ wards those who need to quickly analyse and organise their oscilloscope data using standard PC-based analysis tools. Based on Tektronix' TDS7000 series of scopes, the book explains and illustrates how useres can easily capture, analyse and archive data automatically using off-the-shelf programs. The book and its accompanying Contact: CD can be ordered directly from the Tektronix Australia Pty Ltd Tektronix website or by phone (see Phone: 1800 023 342 details below). Website: www.tektronix.com/ It is valued at $US149 but it is scopes_accessories free of charge until March 31 2001. AUDIO MODULES broadcast quality Manufactured in Australia Harbuch Electronics Pty Ltd 9/40 Leighton Pl. HORNSBY 2077 Ph (02) 9476-5854 Fx (02) 9476-3231 Free organ concert invite Yokogawa 2GSa/s 500MHz DSO The new DL7200 Digital Storage Oscilloscope from Yokogawa offers up to 500MHz bandwidth and 2GSa/s sampling rate. It also offers up to 16MW of memory, fast screen updates (30 per second), all-points display and easy-to-use zoom and search functions. However, Yokogawa maintain that while wide bandwidth and fast sam­ pling are important, long memory is critical in reliably capturing high too much legalese, is poorly translated, or has missing steps. If it is the worst entry, you will win $500. “Everyone has had trouble with a manual,” said Michelle Wier, Director of Operations of Technical Standards, Inc. “That's why we started our company. People like products they understand how to use, and good technical documentation reduces the need speed events. This DSO can sample at 2GSa/s even with a time window of 8ms (or 16ms at 1GSa/s). The new pattern search function makes it easy to locate specific signal patterns (up to 64 bits long) anywhere in the long memory, making it ideal for debugging serial bus applications. The DSO also offers ethernet capability, making it simple to connect to a PC via a network, print to a network printer or even receive error information from remote instruments using the email function. GPIB and RS232C commu­ nication are also included. Contact: Yokogawa Australia Pty Ltd Locked Bag 29, Rydalmere NSW 2116 Phone: (02) 9805 0699 Fax: (02) 9888 1844 email: measurement<at>yokogawa.com.au for technical support.” You don’t have to send the whole manual; excerpts of the worst parts are OK. The deadline for submissions is January 15, 2001, so check those Christmas gifts for potential entries. Entries must be in English. For complete contest rules see the TSI Web site at www. tecstandards.com OK, so it’s not quite a product. But it’s certainly a showcase! We know that many SILICON CHIP readers are also theatre/pipe organ fans – so here’s a freebie which will be of interest to you. The Friends of Sydney Town Hall Organ (FOTSTHO) are inviting anyone and everyone to attend this year’s Christmas Concert in Sydney Town Hall. It will of course feature one of the most amazing, famous and exciting musical instruments in the world – the 110-year-old Sydney Town Hall Pipe Organ. Spectacular and massive to look at, this restored organ has nearly 9000 pipes, ranging from just a few centimetres long to almost 20 metres (a full-length 64-ft monster). There are six keyboards – five for the hands and one for the feet. (For more info on this beautiful organ visit http:/www. cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au) The concert is on Tuesday 19th December from 8 to 9.30pm and will also include the Castle Hill RSL Youth Band, Kevinwood Hand Bells, choirs and Robert Ampt (the City of Sydney Organist) on the keyboard(s). And again to remind you – admission is free. December 2000  85 TRONICSHOWCASELECTR EMC Technologies' internationally recognised Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) test facilities are fully accredited for emissions, immunity and safety standards. EMC Technologies Melbourne: (03) 9335 3333 Sydney: (02) 9899 4599 MicroZed Computers GENUINE STAMP PRODUCTS NEW! HC-5 hi-res Vi deo Distribution Amplifier DVS5 Video & Audio str Di ibution Amplifier VGS2 Graphics Splitter FROM Scott Edwards Electronics microEngineering Labs & others Easy to learn, easy to use, sophisticated CPU based controllers & peripherals. PO Box 634, ARMIDALE 2350 (296 Cook’s Rd) Ph (02) 6772 2777 – may time out to Mobile 0409 036 775 Fax (02) 6772 8987 http://www.microzed.com.au Most Credit Cards OK Five identical Video and Stereo outputs plus h/phone & monitor out. S-Video & Composite versions available. Professional quality. For broadcast, audiovisual and film industries. Wide bandwidth, high output and unconditional stability with hum-cancelling circuitry, front-panel video gain and cable eq adjustments. 240V AC, 120V AC or 24V DC High resolution 1in/2out VGA splitter. Comes with 1.5m HQ cable and 12V supply. Custom-length HQ VGA cables also available. Check our NEW website for latest prices and MONTHLY SPECIALS www.questronix.com.au Email: questav<at>questronix.com.au Video Processors, Colour Correctors, Stabilisers, TBC’s, Converters, etc. QUESTRONIX All mail: PO Box 548, Wahroonga NSW 2076 Ph (02) 9477 3596 Fax (02) 9477 3681 Visitors by appointment only Marantz SR-14EX “top of the line” home theatre receiver If you have an idle $6990, the allnew Marantz SR-14EX can take pride of place in your Home Theatre setup. For your money, you’ll get Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound along with Zoran's new format THX Surround EX capability. THX Surround EX format decodes an additional back surround channel from suitably encoded DVDs, providing a more realistic surround sound environment with smoother 360° surround effects and more pre­ cise localisation behind and beside the viewer. The SR-14EX also incl-udes THX post processing for the most accurate possi­ ble reproduction of movie soundtracks in the home. 24-bit 192kHz D/A con­ verters on all five main channels plus a separate DSP chip and 24-bit A/D converter to provide the highest resolution playback 86  Silicon Chip from multi-channel movies and 96/24 DVD audio discs. HDCD decoding and pro-cessing is included for HDCD-en­ coded compact discs. Three sets of component video in­ puts, an extensive array of digital and analog inputs, outputs and switching facilities, front panel A/V inputs and an RF input (for use with Dolby-Digital encoded laser discs) are just some of the processing capabilities. The am­ plifier delivers 140W (8Ω) into each of its five main channels. Tone controls operate in the digital domain on all main channels. A precision AM/FM tuner is also built in, as is an icon-based multi-lin­ gual on-screen display. The SR-14EX is somewhat “future proofed” by provid­ ing six channel direct output to accom­ modate future surround sound formats plus 7.1 channel pre-amp outputs for connection to external amplifiers or subwoofers. An RC-5000 Programmable Remote Control (which can be used with every component in a home entertainment system) is also included. Marantz equipment is dis­ tributed in Australia by Jamo SC Australia. Contact: Jamo Australia Phone: (03) 9543 1522 Fax: (03) 9543 3677 email: info<at>marantz.com.au