This is only a preview of the February 2001 issue of Silicon Chip. You can view 29 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 "Li'l Pulser Train Controller":
Items relevant to "MIDI-Mate: A MIDI Interface For PCs":
Items relevant to "Bass Blazer Sub Woofer Display":
Items relevant to "The LP Doctor: Cleaning Up Clicks & Pops; Pt.2":
Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $10.00. |
PUBLISHER’S LETTER
www.siliconchip.com.au
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief
Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD
Production Manager
Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.)
Technical Staff
John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.)
Peter Smith
Ross Tester
Rick Walters
Reader Services
Ann Jenkinson
Advertising Enquiries
Rick Winkler
Phone (02) 9979 5644
Fax (02) 9979 6503
Mobile: 0408 34 6669
Regular Contributors
Brendan Akhurst
Louis Challis
Rodney Champness
Garry Cratt, VK2YBX
Julian Edgar, Dip.T.(Sec.), B.Ed
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. ACN 003 205 490. ABN 49
003 205 490 All material copyright
©. No part of this publication may
be reproduced without the written
consent of the publisher.
Printing: Hannanprint, Dubbo,
NSW.
Distribution: Network Distribution
Company.
Subscription rates: $69.50 per
year in Australia. For overseas
rates, see the subscription page in
this issue.
Editorial & advertising offices:
Unit 8, 101 Darley St, Mona Vale,
NSW 2103. Postal address: PO Box
139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097.
Phone (02) 9979 5644.
Fax (02) 9979 6503.
E-mail: silchip<at>siliconchip.com.au
ISSN 1030-2662
* Recommended and maximum price only.
2 Silicon Chip
Time is ripe for a
renaissance of
electronics clubs
Years ago, there were a lot of electronics
clubs, particu
larly in schools and many
students “cut their teeth” on crystal sets,
simple valve radios, guitar amplifiers and so
on. It was a great breeding ground for a vast
number of technically qualified or otherwise
“switched-on” people.
Now, it seems as though we could see a
resurgence in electronics clubs and not necessarily just in schools. Why do I say this?
First, we recently have had an increase in the number of people asking to
be put into contact with an electronics club, largely so that they could have
someone help them with a current electronics project that they were having
difficulty with. Sadly, apart from referring people to amateur radio clubs,
we have not been able to give such contacts.
Second, we have been contacted by a number of teachers in schools who
are interested in starting an electronics club. Some schools do have quite
a thriving club and they do use SILICON CHIP articles as a major source of
material. It also seems that a major cause of this resurgence is a requirement
in the curriculum for teaching a certain amount of electronics. I find this a
very gratifying development.
More importantly, many young people have become disenchanted with just
playing games on their computers and want to have some real “electronics”
fun. A school club could be just what they are looking for.
But the concept could go a lot further. It occurs to me that there a large
number of electronically knowledgeable people in Australia who would
enjoy the process of “mentoring” those who are just starting out in the wonderful world of electronics. As part of a club structure, they could provide a
sterling service to those who are floundering with projects but are otherwise
extremely enthusiastic about electronics as a hobby. I am thinking mainly
of retired people as the “mentors” but often it is retired people who are the
novices, taking up this hobby now that they have the time.
So are there people out there who are willing to start up such clubs? We
would do whatever we can to help the process, including publishing an
annual list of clubs in the magazine and on our website. Electronics retailers
would also happily refer people to electronics clubs and would probably
provide some special pricing for clubs.
It also occurs to me that amateur radio clubs could do a lot to grow their
stagnating memberships if they actively promoted themselves as “electronics” clubs. In fact, they might give thought to that as their major activity and
not have the intention of just promoting the amateur radio side of things.
Such a change in emphasis might really boost things along.
Anyway, I feel that the time is ripe for a renaissance of electronics clubs.
Let’s see if we can’t give the idea a big push. Finally, if you know of or are
a member of an electronics club, please send us your particulars so we can
compile a database.
Leo Simpson
|