This is only a preview of the February 2007 issue of Silicon Chip. You can view 37 of the 104 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 "Remote Volume Control & Preamplifier Module; Pt.1":
Items relevant to "Simple Variable Boost Control For Turbo Cars":
Items relevant to "Fuel Cut Defeater For The Boost Control":
Items relevant to "Low-Cost 50MHz Frequency Meter; Mk.2":
Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $10.00. |
Mater Maria College Scoops
Technology Prize Pool
SILICON CHIP has rewarded two students from Mater Maria Catholic
College, Warriewood, with its inaugural “Excellence in Education
Technology” awards, and the college itself with more than $6000
worth of electronics laboratory equipment.
The awards had two divisions, both worth $5000. One was for
any secondary school or college with an electronics curriculum and
the other for universities and TAFEs.
In the schools division, there were two awards made of $1000 each
to the students submitting their major works for electronics in the
Higher School Certificate, with $3000 going to the winning school/
college for electronic test and construction equipment.
As it turned out, the judges awarded Mater Maria students with
both individual prices and the college took out the major award. Leo
Simpson, publisher of SILICON CHIP, said that with the magazine’s
connections, the $3000 was turned into $6000 worth of gear. “We
obtained gear from Jaycar Electronics, Altronics and Dick Smith
Electronics, as well as bullet-proof digital multimeters from Yokogawa
Australia” (see review this issue).
“We believe that with this equipment, Mater Maria electronics
laboratory will be the best-equipped in the state,” he said. “The
teacher of electronics, Dave Kennedy, was speechless when he saw
what he would be working with next year.”
The $1000 cash prizes were awarded to two students, Lauren
Capel and Matt McDonald.
Lauren sourced a non-working 1940s vintage battery-operated
valve radio receiver, restored and repaired it, then added a mains
power supply and brought it into the twenty-first century with an
MP3 player and miniature radio transmitter so she could play her
MP3s through the radio.
Matt’s project was a complete home security system, complete with
SMS text messaging service to warn of intruders and mobile-phone
operated remote control. Unable to find the alarm control he wanted
in Australia, Matt sourced and imported a unit from Great Britain.
Leo Simpson said that both projects demonstrated a great deal of
ingenuity and were markedly different from the majority of Higher
School Certificate major works entered. “Most students chose projects such as high power audio amplifiers for the home or car,” he
said. “They reflect the interests of students of that age.”
“But the projects Lauren and Matt produced showed that they
thought outside the square. Much more research and documentation
was needed in their projects than the majority, who in the main build
SC
their projects from kits of parts.”
Our photo shows Dave Kennedy, electronics teacher at Mater Maria College, Leo Simpson and the two schools division
winners, Matt McDonald and Lauren Capel.
siliconchip.com.au
February 2007 57
|