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PRODUCT SHOWCASE VGA into composite does go! Questronix have available a converter which accepts VGA signals, ie, from a computer, and converts them into composite or S-video output for displaying on standard video monitors. In fact, the CPT-370 unit accepts VGA signals in any of the three most popular modes: 1024 x 768, 800 x 600 and 540 x 480 and can superimpose these signals – text or graphics – onto another channel of live video if required. Output can be in both PAL and NTSC standards. It's ideal for demonstrations, classroom use, business presentations and software training where crowding around even a large VGA monitor isn't exactly convenient. When the converter is used in the Contact: overlay mode, it automatically converts underscanned monitor pictures into overscanned video so that the black band almost always found around the (DSE’s house brand) and according to the quality control people at DSE they are every bit as good as the big name brand batteries which now cost an arm and a leg. The packs, under Cat. S-4040, are available at all DSE stores. Contact: Dick Smith Electronics Pty Ltd PO Box 321, North Ryde NSW 2113 Phone: (02) 9937 3200 Fax: (02) 9888 3631 Website: www.dse.com.au Microgram has some real fans . . . To steal a line from Croc Dundee, “that's not a fan. THIS is a fan!” And this one is, well, huge! Specifically intended for Pentium III/ Celeron/Athlon/Duron processors – and even more specifically for those who want to overclock them – comes this huge Socket 370 “turbo”. For those familiar with the “run of the mill” fans found inside PCs, compare this one’s 70 x 70 x 50mm dimensions and you'll start to get some idea of just how big it is. Installation is simple – just a single contact point clip – and the unit is supplied with a now-standard 3-pin PC-socket DC connector. It sells for $39.00 Questronix PO Box 548, Wahroonga NSW 2076 Ph (02) 9477 3596 Fax (02) 9477 3681 Website: www.questronix.com.au email: questav<at>questronix.com.au Jaycar's Tape-in-a-can AA Alkalines <50c each from DSE If you’ve just forked out megabucks on the kid’s Christmas presents and have now found the “real” cost of all those battery-operated goodies (ie, batteries!), Dick Smith Electronics has some really great news for you. They have a pack of 40 AA-size alkaline batteries which retails for just $19.68 each (that’s less than 50 cents a cell.) They’re branded “Digitor” edge of a computer monitor screen is eliminated. You can also adjust the brightness and sharpness, freeeze frames, zoom into any of nine areas on the screen or pan the picture up, down, left and right. The CPT-370 is just one of the large variety of converters, processors, controllers and other video devices and fittings stocked by Questronix. Jaycar has released an electrical tape you don't stick on – you paint it on! The Liquid Electrical Tape is said to be ideal for cars, boats, trailers, around pools, underground wiring – in fact in any harsh environments where normal electrical tape won’t do the job. It won’t crack or peel but seals out moisture and prevents corrosion. It can be painted on or components etc can be dipped to coat them. The can of “tape” is available at all Jaycar Electronics stores and most resellers for $24.95 (Cat NM-2832). And if your hard disk runs hot? Cool it with this high performance dual 60mm fan. With ball bearing motors and airflow of 28cfm, it will help even the most-taxed hard disk drive keep its cool, which should result in significantly longer life and more importantly, less risk of a crash! The fan(s) screw to the hard disk drive using the standard mounting hole pattern and it has a male/female passthrough DC connector to make power connection very simple. It sells for $49.00. 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 FEBRUARY January 2001  53 Linux internet box In recent years, Linux has become more and more accepted in the wider community to the point where some experts have predicted that in the nottoo-distant future, Linux may actually threaten Windows’ almost universal dominance. This view is reinforced by devices such as Bio Recognition Systems’ Universal Internet Box (UIB), a Linux-based Internet web server which eliminates the need for a separate PC. The hardware contains an Intel 386 processor (yes, a 386!), 2 x 16 line LCD module, 8MB of RAM and 8MB of DiskOnChip flash memory. There are two modems built in (or one modem and an NE2000 LAN device). The unit also provides a very powerful software toolkit for developers, based on the very stable Linux OS and 2.0.x kernel. Using the toolkit, STEPDOWN TRANSFORMERS 60VA to 3KVA encased toroids developers can access all the hardware of the device and perform TCP/IP and email configuration from a touch-tone phone. All software fits into 4MB of DiskOnChip flash memory. Contact: Bio Recognition Systems 30 Osborn Rd, Normanhurst NSW 2076 Tel: (02) 9498 9379 Fax: (02) 9487 5771 www.biorecognitionsystems.com.au New Anritsu 3G spectrum analyser Anritsu have released a new spectrum analyser designed to provide the optimum performance required for the evaluation of third-generation mobile radio systems. These include W-CDMA as well as emerging systems such as Bluetooth and Hyperlan2. The Anritsu MS2683A covers from 9kHz to 7.8GHz with a dynamic range of 156dB, resolution bandwidth of 300Hz-20MHz and 20 times-per-second sweep. It is ideally suited to the development and manufacture of mobile terminals and their components –amplifiers, mixers, VCOs etc. The analyser includes a frequency counter, and can measure adjacent channel power, occupied frequency bandwidth, average power, channel power, time domain template evaluation and frequency domain mask evaluation. Contact: Anritsu Pty Ltd Unit 3, 170 Forster Rd Mt Waverley Vic 3149 Tel 1800 689 685 Fax (03) 9558 8255 2.5V op amp Linear Technology's new 8-pin SOIC-pack LT1806 offers 325MHz unity gain bandwidth, -80dBC (<at>5MHz) THD and an output stage that swings within 50mV of each rail. This makes the op amp perfect for applications in broad-band digital communications, high-speed data acquisition and high performance video applications. Maximum offset is less than 0.5mV, CMRR is 106dB and it has a large signal voltage gain of 300V/mV. Supply rails can be as low as 2.5V and up to 12V. Linear Technology semis are distributed in Australia by REC Electronics. 54  Silicon Chip Contact: REC Electronics Unit 1, 38 South St Rydalmere 2116 Phone: (02) 9638 1888 Fax: (02) 9638 1798 Website: www.rec.com.au Harbuch Electronics Pty Ltd 9/40 Leighton Pl. HORNSBY 2077 Ph (02) 9476-5854 Fx (02) 9476-3231 Central Coast Hobby & Communications Expo One of the “not to be missed” events on the amateur’s and hobbyist’s calendars is the NSW Central Coast Field Day, held each year on the last Sunday in February (25th). This year it has been renamed Expo 2001 – whatever the name, it promises to be the biggest and best ever with more than 2000 people from clubs and organisations all over Australia converging on Wyong Racecourse to display and trade equipment, new and “pre loved”. Just about every aspect of amateur and CB radio is represented, along with electronics as a hobby, vintage and historical radio collections, volunteer emergency communications, satellite reception, computers and more. Several seminar sessions and workshops will also be held during the day. Along with the displays by the nation’s leading radio and electronic equipment suppliers (and of course some bargains), one of the most-sought-after areas of the field day is the flea market and disposals where literally tonnes of equipment is sold and traded. Wyong Racecourse is about an hour north of Sydney with plenty of parking within the grounds. Gates to the public open at 8.30am. Admission is $10 for adults; $5.00 for students, seniors and pensioners; with children under 12 free. Food and drinks are available on site. More information is available via the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club website, www.ccarg.org.au, or by phone: (02) 4340 2500. E ELECTRONICSHOWCASELE NEW! HC-5 hi-res Vi deo Distribution Amplifier DVS5 Video & Audio Distribution Amplifier 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 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 VGS2 Graphics Splitter 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 MicroZed Computers GENUINE STAMP PRODUCTS 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 Fluke OptiView Network Analyser Fluke Networks has introduced its new OptiView Integrated Network Analyser for comprehensive monitoring and analysis of complex and constantly changing enterprise networks. According to Fluke, Opti-View’s active, passive and drill down analysis capabilities offers insight you can’t get in a traditional protocol analyser. It collects information from a variety of activities including seven layer protocol analysis, active discovery, SNMP device analysis, RMON2 traffic analysis and physical layer testing. It can be used as a portable device or placed semi-permanently on a network link. The user interface on the OptiView portable unit is replicated when viewed remotely using a network connection and a PC browser. It is easy and economical to share know-ledge and expertise across an organization. The Remote Contact: User Interface allows Fluke Australia Pty Ltd up to seven operators to Tel: (02) 8850 3333 access a single OptiView Website: www.flukenetworks.com simultaneously. New Hot Chip goodies Investment Technologies have released a range of add-on modules for their popular “Hot Chips” modules. Here are just some: Quad N-Channel Logic Level Mosfet: the four MTP3055VL mosfets in this unit are logic level drive – TTL-compatible with an Rds(on) 0.18Ω, Id (cont) 12A and Vds 60. Each is configured as open-drain sink driver, zener-clamped to limit drain voltage excursions to 33.5V and will comfortably handle 2.5A without additional heatsinking. Quad Relay Module: provides four normally-open 12V relays for general purpose moderate duty output switching. The relays have a 5A<at>275VAC/30V DC rating. PSU: provides regulated 12VDC at 500mA as well as the unregulated supply from the rectifier. The 12VDC Contact: is used to power the Hot- Investement Technologies Pty Ltd chip platform board as Tel: (02) 4577 4893 well as to provide drive email: invtech<at>hawknet.com.au for the relays. FEBRUARY January 2001  55