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SILICON SILIC CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Publisher/Editor Nicholas Vinen Technical Editor John Clarke – B.E.(Elec.) Technical Staff Jim Rowe – B.A., B.Sc. Bao Smith – B.Sc. Tim Blythman – B.E., B.Sc. Advertising Enquiries (02) 9939 3295 adverts<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 24 issues (2 years): $185 For overseas rates, see our website or email silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au Recommended & maximum price only. Editorial office: Unit 1 (up ramp), 234 Harbord Rd, Brookvale, NSW 2100. Postal address: PO Box 194, Matraville, NSW 2036. Phone: (02) 9939 3295. ISSN: 1030-2662 Printing and Distribution: 24-26 Lilian Fowler Pl, Marrickville 2204 2 Silicon Chip Editorial Viewpoint Five-year update It has been a little over five years since I took over as Publisher of Silicon Chip magazine from Leo Simpson in July 2018. What a tumultuous five years it has been! I don’t think I have to explain the impact that COVID-19 had on us. We were lucky; the magazine publication side of the business can be operated mostly off-site. For various reasons, I had already set up pretty much everything needed to do that by 2019. So we were able to cope pretty well, although there were still significant impacts on the business. Component shortages – now mostly (but not entirely) resolved – were certainly a challenge, as were paper shortages, the huge cost increases (some of which I wrote about last month) and more. Luckily we were able to see some of that coming and prepare, which allowed us to get through relatively unscathed. More importantly, I think, is how the magazine itself has fared over the last five years. At the outset, I wanted there to be continuity; a more-or-less seamless transition. I would say we achieved that. There have been a few minor changes to the format, but I hope Silicon Chip today is the same magazine that readers already liked. I have tried to keep a similar balance of feature articles, projects and columns, as I think it worked well. I am proud of many of the major articles we’ve published over the last five years. There are too many to list here, but some that stand out are: • Duraid Madina’s DAB+/FM/AM Radio (January-March 2019) • Ian Batty’s series on Videotape Recording (March-June 2021) and Transistors (March-May 2022) • Tim Blythman’s USB Cable Tester (November & December 2021) and Advanced Test Tweezers (February & March 2023) • Phil Prosser’s Hummingbird Amplifier (December 2021), Capacitor Discharge Welder (March & April 2022) and Active Speakers (November 2022 to February 2023) • Dr David Maddison’s series on IC Fabrication (June-August 2022), Display Technologies (September & October 2022) and Computer Memory (January & February 2023) • Geoff Graham’s VGA PicoMite (July 2022) and GPS Analog Clock Driver (September & November 2022) Inevitably, when younger people take over, there will be some changes. I won’t always make the same decisions that Leo did as I have different interests, grew up in a different time (with the rapid development of home computers) and so on. One of the biggest challenges I face is trying to keep everybody happy. For example, many people really like historical articles like the Vintage Radio column and others we publish, like the videotape series mentioned above. I also know that many younger people aren’t very interested in such things. So there has to be a balance of more futuristic articles along with the historical ones. Similarly, while so many project contributions these days are digital designs involving microcontrollers and similar, many people (me included) still like analog designs. Again, a balance is needed. For example, this month, we have two primarily digital designs, the Coffee Grinder Timer and PIC Programming Adaptor, some DIY loudspeakers and an updated Bench Supply design. Hopefully, everyone can find something they like with those articles. I find them all interesting; perhaps I am just easy to please! Feel free to write in with suggestions on how to make the magazine appeal to everyone. by Nicholas Vinen The cover price will be changing to $12.50 from the October 2023 issue and the price of subscriptions will be increasing on the 1st of November this year, see below: New Prices Print (AU) Combined (AU) Print (NZ) Combined (NZ) Online 6 months $70 $80 $82.50 $92.50 $52.50 12 months $127.50 $147.50 $150 $170 $100 24 months $240 $275 $285 $320 $190 Australia's electronics magazine siliconchip.com.au