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PRODUCT SHOWCASE Farnell offers many more choices for business Every business has different needs. Farnell Electronics have created a choice of flexible, user-friendly access and ordering options to meet the particular requirements of every business. Easy-to-use catalog The new 3-volume 2002 Farnell catalog is straightforward and simple to use, with clear product photographs, comprehensive technical information and at-a-glance pricing module. It is divided into easy-to-handle books with alphabetical product categories, colour coded section indicators and various indexing combinations, which include prices and order coded indexes, to promote easy navigation. To receive your free copy, call Farnell on 1300 361 005 Website: www.farnell.com The Farnell website has the following new features: · Quick browsing and powerful search engines take you straight to the product and information you want. · Full product range with technical data and secure online ordering. · Regular special offers, new products and the latest company news. · Dedicated section for designers with useful tips and recommendations. · Online stock checking: build orders and return to them anytime, as well as check if a product is in stock before placing your order. · Send orders internally for authorization before submitting. · To speed up repeat orders, web order history is stored for reference. · Datasheets available for instant download. · Links with manufacturers, key institutes, official bodies and technical publications. Connect CD-ROM The Connect CD-ROM is Farnell’s offline product search solution and order processing system. Its features include: · A powerful search facility with reference to catalog page numbers. · Build orders, return to them anytime and check if a product is in stock before you order. · Use alone or with your own network and order via email or fax. · Receive electronic updates of new products when you place an order. · Operates as a complete stock control and audit package if required. · Group together ‘kits’ with parts that are always ordered together and in the same relative quantities. · Import and export data to and from other systems. · Use Connect to input, search, print off and track information from other suppliers. · Associate Farnell codes with your own part numbers for ease of use. Convenient Trade Counter Visit the walk-in Trade Counter at the Sydney Distribution Center (72 Ferndell St, Chester Hill). Open from 7:30am – 6:00pm (AEST), Monday – Friday. Just call ahead to pick up your order. Or you can order and pay at the counter by cash, credit card or account. Your order will be processed promptly and your goods will be picked and packed while you wait. Farnell are committed to providing exceptional service backed by the help and support you need. eProcurement eProcurement through a web-site, digital purchasing tool or customised eProcurement system, can dramatically reduce procurement costs and increase the speed and efficiency of purchasing processes in businesses of any size. Farnell’s flexible approach to eProc-urement means they can help you to utilise these benefits, regardless of your technology of choice. Farnell has immense expertise in this area and have been working with ‘best-of-breed’ software partners, to bring customers a wide range of eProcurement solutions to perfectly fit their requirements. Australia Call 1300 361 005 New Zealand Call 0800 90 80 80 Federal Court says Duracell’s Bunny Race Ads Unfair Duracell’s “Bunny Race” advertisements, aired heavily in the weeks before Christmas, showing their pink rabbit winning a race across the desert against three other rabbits powered with non-Duracell batteries has been ruled misleading and deceptive by Justice Conti in the Federal Court of Australia. With claims such as “Duracell always wins”, the advertisements were found to be in breach of the Trade Practices Act because consumers would understand from the advert that Duracell batteries were three 72  Silicon Chip times longer-lasting than all other batteries – a claim not capable of being substantiated. Eveready (Energizer batteries) took the action against Gillette (Duracell batteries) because they believed that the advert was not comparing “like with like”. Duracell argued that the comparison was between their highest-performance alkaline cell and Eveready’s standard (ie, non-alkaline) black cell (only the 5th most powerful cell in their range) and that consumers would understand the difference because of wording in frames of the ad. Justice Conti ruled that the advert was misleading for a number of reasons; not the least because no mention was made of the significant price disparity between the battery types. Consumers would have expected Duracell to use comparable performing cells in the Energizer range for their comparison. The use of different grades of batteries, not disclosed to viewers, was misleading. Energizer obtained a permanent injunction against the adverts being shown again. www.siliconchip.com.au Tektronix closes its Australian operation; appoints NewTek as Australian distributor US-based test equipment, video and telecommunications market leader Tektronix Inc has decided to “pull the plug” on its Australian operation. However, the Tektronix name will not be lost with a new company, NewTek Sales Pty Ltd, appointed as Tektronix Australian distributors. NewTek was formed by former staffers of Tektronix Australia to promote the range ofTektronix test and measurement products, continuing the excellent acceptance of the strong brand of Tektronix. “The establishment of NewTek Sales Pty Ltd by former staff members of Tektronix Australia will allow a seamless transition of customer knowledge and follow through of current opportunities,” said Peter Roan, the founding Managing Director. “It is very important from Tektronix management’s point of view that minimum disruption occur to valued customers,” said Roan. All Tektronix products formerly sold by Tektronix Australia will be available from the new distributor. Directors of the new company include Alan Richards who is assuming responsibility for promotion of the telecomms products and Des Harrison is managing the video products. Another new (associated) company, NewTek Support Pty Ltd, has been formed to provide service and calibration for all Tek-tronix products, including older and obsolete models which Tektronix Australia did not cover. NewTek Sales and NewTek Support will operate from premises in North Ryde, Sydney. Contact: NewTek Sales Pty Ltd 33 Paul St, North Ryde NSW 2113 Phone: (02) 9888 0100 Fax (02) 9888 0125 Website: www.newteksales.com    www.newteksupport.com www.siliconchip.com.au Central Coast Field Day One last reminder: February 24th is the date for the Central Coast Amateur Radio Club’s annual Field Day at Wyong, NSW. You can view, participate in, listen to, buy, swap and sell all facets of amateur radio, CB radio, shortwave listening and scanning, computer communications, project building, vintage and historical displays and of course, the famous flea market, disposals areas (truckloads of pre-loved equipment!) and trade/commercial shows. Throughout the day there will be seminars and workshops covering many interesting subjects. For more information call 02 4340 2500 or visit www.ccarc.org.au 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 Quick-Mark: the answer to a labelling dilemma? Many readers produce their own PC boards but often come unstuck when it comes to professional-looking labels and panels. Now you can make your own labels and signs by photographic transfer, without messy developing chemicals. Quick-Mark is a range of presensitised imaging film and pre-coated base sheets. It is ideal for making front panels for use in prototypes or low-volume runs, from computer-generated originals. It is exposed to UV light through artwork, then peeled apart giving both a positive and negative image. One or other is then laminated to a self-adhesive Quick-Mark base sheet. An optional over-lamination film can be applied for further protection or to change the appearance of the panel. This film is available in gloss, matte or Lexan polycarbonate finish. Possible colour combinations are extensive with seven imaging film colours, nine plastic base sheet colours and two aluminium base sheets, including gold anodised. The material is supplied in 305 x 508mm sheets, which can be cut to size before processing. The Quick-Mark materials are available through Computronics Corporation, the same people who supply the Kinsten do-it-yourself PC board materials (see SILICON CHIP, March 2001 for more information on making your own PC boards). If the Quick-Mark system works half as well as the Kinsten system (and we hope to have an article on this subject in the next couple of months) then the problem of making your own panels, labels and signs has been well and truly solved. Stay tuned for further details! Contact: Computronics Corporation Ltd Locked Bag 20, Bentley Business Centre WA 6983 Ph: 08 9470 1177 Fax: 08 9470 2844 Website: www.computronics.com.au February 2002  73 Knock knock . . . I know who’s there! With this Video Intercom System from Jaycar Electronics you can see who’s at the door or even the front gate before you let them in! The system consists of a small external unit which houses a black & white CCD camera, speaker & microphone. It also has built-in infrared illumination to let you see visitors at night. The internal unit houses the 4-inch monitor, handset and control buttons. The intercom doubles as a doorbell. When a visitor presses the button the bell sounds and the monitor switches on. You can then talk to the caller and can even unlock the door remotely with the optional electric door strike. The system includes a 10 metre long interconnecting cable and plugpack power supply. With a recommended retail price of $269, the Cat QC-3412 Video Intercom System is available at all Jaycar Electronics stores and through their mail order and on-line ordering services. Contact: Jaycar Electronics 100 Silverwater Rd, Silverwater NSW 2128 Phone: (02) 9741 8555 Fax (02) 9741 8500 Website: www.jaycar.com.au New 1mm thick inductors: “world’s thinnest” Coilcraft has introduced a range of “Power Wafer” induc-tors which are claimed to have the world’s lowest profile: just 1mm thick and a footprint of 6.6 x 5.5mm. They are said to be ideal for size-critical applications such as PC cards, PDAs, notebook computers, mobile phones and other handheld products. There are 16 models in the se- Nilsen’s “SITEPRO” UPS For mission-critical applications, Nilsen Technologies has a range of true voltage and frequency-independent Uninterruptible Power Supplies ranging from 10 - 40kVA. Rated at unity power factor and with redundant parallel architecture, the SITEPRO is said to deliver more active power than any other UPS on the market and to be the most cost efficient and reliable UPS available. The SITEPRO units measure 680 x 800 x 1450mm and, with standard batteries, weigh between 380 and 750kg, depending on the model. Contact: Nilsen Technologies Phone: 1800 623 350 Fax:   1800 067 263 Website: www.nilsen.com.au Motorcycle Alarm kits now available We have been advised by Mick Gergos, the author of the Motorcycle Alarm (SILICON CHIP January 2002) that he now has kits for this project available. The kit includes the pre-programmed microprocessor, PC board and a quality non-position sensitive shock sensor. It does not include the siren as this is dependent on the type of ’bike and room available for mount74  Silicon Chip ing. Price of the kit is $49.50(inc GST) plus $5.00 P&P. Contact: Mick Gergos 13 Bunya St, Bushland Beach, Qld 4818 email: micwen<at>tpg.com.au ries, with inductance ranging from 1µH to 330µH and current ratings up to 3.6A rms. Designers can obtain an evaluation kit containing all 16 values via the company’s website. Contact: Coilcraft Europe 21 Napier Place, Wardpark North,    Cumbernauld, Scotland G68 0LL Phone: +44 1236 730627 Website: www.coilcraft.com Want a battery? Here’s great value! We spotted this in our local DSE store just before Christmas and thought at the time, “What a great idea!” It’s a re-usable plastic storage case (a la a tool box) which contains a useful range of alkaline batteries – 12 x AA, 8 x AAA, 6 x C and 4 x D size. You’ll never run out of batteries again! The batteries are DSE’s own “Digitor” brand, suitable for a wide range of high-drain electronic equipment. They contain no added mercury. Purchased separately, the price of the batteries alone would be sure to exceed the $39.47 price tag – and you get the case/toolbox thrown in. The Digitor Alkaline Battery Pack is available from all Dick Smith Electronics stores, DSE PowerHouse stores, via mail order or through the DSE website. Contact: Dick Smith Electronics 2 Davidson St, Chullora NSW 2190 Ph: 02 9642 9100 Fax: 02 9642 9153 Website: www.dse.com.au www.siliconchip.com.au You wouldn't read about it . . . The things we do: tall tales – but true! Then there was the reader who called about a project he was building. During the conversation he revealed he was deaf in one ear – ever since he lost his $2500 hearing aid. “Lost”, we asked? “Yeah, well a few weeks ago I’d had a couple too many so decided to go to bed early. I took me hearing aid out and placed it on the bedside table. Then I remembered I’d forgotten to take me pills – big buggers, they are too. Except this night I recall thinking they were a bit bigger than I remembered. Mebbe two were stuck together. I put it down to the grog, except I was darned if I could find me hearing aid next morning . . .” And what about this one (it’s not original – it came off a newsgroup – but we’ve just gotta tell it!): the bloke who decided to upgrade his computer CPU – a Celeron (socket 370) to an Athlon XP1900. Just in case you didn’t know, the Athlon has more pins than a Celeron: a lot more. Try as he might, this poor guy couldn't get the new chip to fit the Socket 370. And that was even after trying to bash it into submission. Literally bash it! So what did our resourceful chap do? Simple: he just carefully cut off all those “excess” pins which wouldn’t fit into the socket holes. Ahh, now it fitted. No, the chip was not covered by warranty . . . IN YOUR NEXT * SILICON CHIP High Power 12V Amp Would you believe 50W output from a 12V supply? It’s easy to build, too . . . Itty Bitty USB Lamp Need some light? Nifty, bright little lamp plugs into your computer’s USB port. Simple! 6-Channel Infrared Volume Controller Specifically intended for home theatre and similar applications: now you can have full remote control of all channels. RIAA preamp for modern amplifiers Most modern amps don’t have a “phono” input. But many people still want to play those old records . . . * These projects are currently planned for March SILICON CHIP, due on sale 27/02/02. Issue content may vary by press time. www.siliconchip.com.au February 2002  75