This is only a preview of the August 2022 issue of Silicon Chip. You can view 41 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. Articles in this series:
Items relevant to "Wide-Range Ohmmeter, Part 1":
Articles in this series:
Items relevant to "isoundBar with Built-in Woofer":
Items relevant to "SPY-DER: a 3D-printed Robot":
Items relevant to "Secure Remote Mains Switch, Part 2":
Articles in this series:
Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $11.50. |
SILICON
SILIC
CHIP
www.siliconchip.com.au
Publisher/Editor
Nicholas Vinen
Technical Editor
John Clarke – B.E.(Elec.)
Editorial Viewpoint
100 years of Australian
electronics magazines
Editorial office: Unit 1 (up ramp), 234
Harbord Rd, Brookvale, NSW 2100.
Postal address: PO Box 139,
Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097.
Phone: (02) 9939 3295.
ISSN: 1030-2662
Printing and Distribution:
The first issue of Wireless Weekly was published
on the 4th of August 1922 – almost exactly a century
before you are likely to read this.
You might be wondering what that has to do with
Silicon Chip, besides both publications being Australian electronics magazines. There is a bit more of an
association than just that.
Wireless Weekly was started by Florence Violet McKenzie, Ron Marsden
and William Maclardy. You might recall that I reviewed a biography of Violet McKenzie (aka Mrs Mac) titled “Radio Girl” in the February 2022 issue
(siliconchip.au/Article/15203).
They sold Wireless Weekly to Wireless Newspapers Ltd in 1923. It became
a monthly magazine in April 1939 and was renamed “Radio & Hobbies” and
then “Radio, Television & Hobbies” in 1955. Radio, TV & Hobbies once again
changed its name to “Electronics Australia” in April 1965.
Electronics Australia began to decline around April 2000, when it changed
its name to “ea” (ugh) and not long after that, it ceased to be a hobbyist publication, simply describing the latest gadgets.
It was renamed again to “Electronics Australia Today” (EAT) in April 2001.
EAT only lasted five issues, the last being September/October 2001. Was that
the end of the line for what started as Wireless Weekly? Not quite.
Rewinding the clock to 1987, EA editor Leo Simpson was not satisfied
with the magazine’s direction. He attempted a management buyout of the
magazine and was immediately dismissed. After recovering from the shock,
he took that as an opportunity to start a competing magazine.
Other key staff members of Electronics Australia (John Clarke, Greg Swain
and Bob Flynn) also felt that the magazine was in decline. They decided to
leave too, ultimately joining him to start a new magazine: Silicon Chip.
EA competed with Silicon Chip for a while under the editorship of Jim
Rowe, but when he was let go in September 2000, he ultimately came to
join the Silicon Chip team. Electronics Australia did not last much longer
after he left.
Silicon Chip subsequently bought the rights to all the EA material, including its earlier incarnations: Wireless Weekly, Radio & Hobbies and Radio, TV
& Hobbies and even EA’s main competitor, Electronics Today International
(ETI). Thus, “the loop was closed”. Silicon Chip is a true successor to Electronics Australia.
Because many people don’t know the story behind Electronics Australia
and Silicon Chip, we have a fascinating article by Leo Simpson this month
(to be concluded next month), starting on page 34.
This first article reveals some of what went on behind the scenes at EA
and the transition to Silicon Chip. The second part next month will concentrate more on what happened until I took over Silicon Chip in August 2018.
One aspect that many Silicon Chip readers probably don’t realise is that
the magazine almost failed in its first year. You can read all about that (and
more) in Leo’s article.
It’s quite incredible to realise that all this was set in motion way back in
1922, when a few radio enthusiasts decided to start a weekly publication for
their burgeoning community.
I don’t exactly know what the future holds for Silicon Chip, but I certainly
plan to keep it going for as long as possible. Another 100 years, perhaps!
24-26 Lilian Fowler Pl, Marrickville 2204
by Nicholas Vinen
Technical Staff
Jim Rowe – B.A., B.Sc.
Bao Smith – B.Sc.
Tim Blythman – B.E., B.Sc.
Advertising Enquiries
Glyn Smith
Mobile 0431 792 293
glyn<at>siliconchip.com.au
Regular Contributors
Allan Linton-Smith
Dave Thompson
David Maddison – B.App.Sc. (Hons 1),
PhD, Grad.Dip.Entr.Innov.
Geoff Graham
Associate Professor Graham Parslow
Dr Hugo Holden – B.H.B, MB.ChB.,
FRANZCO
Ian Batty – M.Ed.
Phil Prosser – B.Sc., B.E.(Elec.)
Cartoonist
Louis Decrevel
loueee.com
Founding Editor (retired)
Leo Simpson – B.Bus., FAICD
Silicon Chip is published 12 times
a year by Silicon Chip Publications
Pty Ltd. ACN 626 922 870. ABN 20
880 526 923. All material is copyright ©. No part of this publication
may be reproduced without the written
consent of the publisher.
Subscription rates (Australia only)
6 issues (6 months): $65
12 issues (1 year):
$120
24 issues (2 years):
$230
Online subscription (Worldwide)
6 issues (6 months): $50
12 issues (1 year):
$95
For overseas rates, see our website or
email silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au
Recommended & maximum price only.
2 Silicon Chip
Australia's electronics magazine
siliconchip.com.au
|