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Contents Vol.21, No.6; June 2008 SILICON CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Features 12 DIY Electrical Work: Are Aussies Dumber Than Kiwis? Kiwis are legally entitled to do all sorts of electrical work in their own homes but are Aussies too dumb? Yes, say our state governments – by Ross Tester DSP Musicolour Light Show – Page 30. 24 A Look At Crash Test Dummies They’re really not dumb but instead carry lots of smart electronics to record their “pain” – by Peter Holtham 73 Review: Altitude 3500-SS Stereo Valve Amplifier How good are modern valve stereo amplifiers? We check out the impressive Altitude 3500-SS – by Leo Simpson Pr ojects To Build PIC-Based Flexitimer Mk.4 – Page 40. 30 DSP Musicolour Light Show It drives coloured lights to the beat of the music and has a dot matrix display menu that doubles as a spectrum analyser or VU meter – by Mauro Grassi 40 PIC-Based Flexitimer Mk.4 It’s easily programmed, offers time periods ranging from 1s to 90 hours and can be set for one-shot timing or continuous on/off cycling – by Jim Rowe 58 USB Power Injector For External Hard Drives USB hard drives are usually powered direct from your PC’s USB ports but what if they’re not up to it? This project is the answer – by Greg Swain 68 Balanced/Unbalanced Converter For Audio Signals USB Power Injector For External Hard Drives – Page 58. Easy-to-build unit can convert an unbalanced audio signal input to balanced outputs and vice versa. It’s just the shot for long cable runs – by John Clarke 84 A Quick’n’Easy Digital Slide Scanner Want to copy your slide collection to your PC before it’s too late? This method is quick, simple and doesn’t require any electronics – by Brian Coulson Special Columns 44 Serviceman’s Log Honey, I wrecked the iMac! – by the TV Serviceman 63 Circuit Notebook Balanced/Unbalanced Converter For Audio Signals – Page 68. (1) Synchronous AM Detector For Improved Shortwave Reception; (2) PhotoInterrupter Bias Circuit For Electronic Ignition Systems; (3) Infrared Close Object Detector; (4) Meteoric LED Display; (5) 6-Digit Demonstration Counter; (6) Simplified Headphone Adaptor 86 Vintage Radio The Pye TRP-1 portable HF transceiver – by Rodney Champness Departments   2   4 57 78 Publisher’s Letter Mailbag Order Form Products Showcase siliconchip.com.au   93 Ask Silicon Chip 97 Notes & Errata 102 Market Centre Altitude 3500-SS Stereo Valve Amplifier Reviewed – Page 73. June 2008  1