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www.poptronics.com JULY 2000 Formerly U ar ectronies and 40' - 00 - WASP 111.11016101."- 111111.11°X7170"-_--- o recycl e- --- -1110P".--.- Hate a treim rtA ¡Let througlit 0-P °-' A GERNSBACK PUBLICATION Robot Motors Digitizing fpIthp #RXPOCCH x:r:)Kxxxxxxx5-DIGtT 2to4e 10 Tips' IS Er Sliteui Supercop #21046DH11951RD0070, PT RORFR T PJ(HM P I '22 Of New Ter 9515 RED Rt4IN PATH MOY 2002 fi IrrY f I !$4 99 U.S. CaLLYIRIR NE) 21046-2073 /46 Ne $5 99 CAN. ft www.americanradiohistory.comAmericanRadioHistory.Com Virtual Lab - Real Results Intuitive schematic capture Fast, accurate analog! digital simulation Full- featured pcb layout Built -in autorouting CircuitMaker 2000 provides all the tools necessary to quickly and easily design circuits, test them in the real world and generate prototype boards - the complete virtual electronics lab solution. With all the features you'd expect from a professional design system - plus exceptional ease -of -use, you'll spend less time learning and more time designing. Available in both standard and professional editions, CircuitMaker 2000 gives you full design capability at a price that is simply unmatched by the competition. FR( NI Contact us for your Free CircuitMaker 2000 brochure New License Upgrade from $95 Comprehensive educational and computer -based training packages also available the virtual electronics lab Call your local CircuitMaker saes & support center on 800 419 -4242 CircuitMaker. or visit www.circuitmaker.com the virtual electronics lab° CircuitMaker and C rcui-Maker 2000 are registered tadeTarks A Protel International lirited. CIRCLE 133 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD www.americanradiohistory.comAmericanRadioHistory.Com July 2000, Vol. 1, No. 7 Et cs ular Electronics O ® troniCSFOR THE HANDS-ON ELECTRONICS ACTIVIST! THE MAGAZINE FEATURES PR1 ProService Review -follows page 103. The 2000 National Professional Service Convention, building great 29 A HIGH -POWERED Web sites, and more. TESLA COIL Everyone loves high - voltage equipment! The sheer excitement of man -made DEPARTMENTS lightning and the smell of ozone instill awe and wonder in anyone who has 6 COMPUTER BITS witnessed this equipment in operation. Film at 11. Ted Needleman scans and digitizes film slides to store Our Tesla coil is large enough to throw them on a disk. 30 -inch sparks. lannini and -Robert 9 NET WATCH Chester H. Lawrence Joe Black takes a look at various services for making free or low - cost telephone calls over the Internet. 43 CALL ALERT telephone calls can be very frustrating. One solution is Unsolicited 15 PROTOTYPE to turn off your phone's ringer when you don't want to be dis- Neural -network avionics, quantum computers, high -performance turbed. Give your friends a secret code, and they can let you know search -engine chips, microgravity -generated optical fibers, com- when they are calling. puter- security protocols, and thunderstorm detectors. -Raymond C. Buck Ill 20 AMAZING SCIENCE 48 PC KEYBOARD Learn the basics of superconductors from John lovine in prepara- Learn how the IBM AT keyboard works. With that knowledge, you tion for some super -cold experiments. can recycle old keyboards into a new project, add one to an exist- ing device, or even build an input device that can take the place of a keyboard. 24 Q &A -Craig Peacock You've got questions? Michael Covington has the answers. 59 SERVICE CLINIC PRODUCT REVIEWS Sam Goldwasser discusses VCR sensors. 3 GIZMO® 62 ROBOTICS WORKSHOP Digital -audio player, wireless modem, voice -controlled car stereo, Gordon McComb shows you how to use DC motors. two -way family radio with weather reports, laptop carry case/desk, all -in -one boombox, digital -video camcorder, Internet streaming - 65 BASIC CIRCUITRY audio broadcaster, high-definition receiver/computer monitor, sig- LEDs for fun and "prophet" with Charles Rakes nature digitizer. AND MORE 2 Editorial 71 Poptronics Shopper 12 Letters Inside The Back Cover: 55 New Gear Advertising Index 57 New Literature Free Information Card Poptronics (ISSN 1526 -3681) Published monthly by Gernsback Publications, Inc. 275 -G Marcus Blvd., Hauppauge, NY 11788. Second -Class postage paid at Hauppauge, NY and at additional mailing offices. One -year, twelve issues, subscription rate U.S. and possessions $24.99, Canada $33.15 (includes G.S.T. Canadian Goods and Services Tax Registration No. R125166280), all other countries $33.99. Subscription orders payable in U.S. funds only, International Postal Money Order or check drawn on a U.S. bank. U.S. single copy price $4.99. Copyright 2000 by Gemsback Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Hands -on Electronics and Gizmo trademarks are regis- tered in U.S. and Canada by Gemsback Publications, Inc. Poptronics trademark is registered in U.S. and Canada by Poptronix, Inc. and is licensed to Gernsback Publications, Inc. Printed in U.S.A. Postmaster: Please send address changes to Poptronics, Subscription Dept., P.O. Box 459, Mount Moms, IL 61054 -7629 A stamped self -addressed envelope must accompany all submitted manuscripts and /or artwork or photographs if their return is desired should they be rejected. We dis- claim any responsibility for the loss or damage of manuscripts and /or artwork or photographs while in our possession or otherwise. As a service to readers, Poptronics publishes available plans or information relating to newsworthy products, techniques, and scientific and technological developments. Because of possible variances in the quality and condition of materials and workmanship used by readers, Poptronics disclaims any responsibility for the safe and prop- er functioning of reader -built projects based upon or from plans or information published in this magazine. 1 www.americanradiohistory.comAmericanRadioHistory.Com Poptronics® Editorial Larry Steckler, EHF, CET, editor- in-chief and publisher EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT Sharing The Wealth Joseph Suda, managing editor Evelyn Rose, assistant editor Nancy Serenita, editorial assistant There's one common trait that everyone-including you and me- shares, regardless of our race, creed, ethnic background, CONTRIBUTING EDITORS social status, or even educa- Joe Black tional standing. In his book, The Dilbert Principle, Scott Adams (of Dilbert fame) Michael A. Covington, N4TMI said it best: Sam Goldwasser John lovine We're all stupid. Gordon McComb Ted Needleman Charles D. Rakes What he meant by that is not as a blanket condemnation, but rather as an Teri Scaduto assessment of a person's knowledge base in a particular subject. For example, I feel that I have a somewhat functional knowledge in terms of the piano from PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT both a technical it (how works) and musical (how to use it) standpoint; I don't con- Ken Coren, production director sider myself "stupid" in that subject. On the other hand, I Kathy Campbell, production manager while understand the very general Michele Musé, prepress specialist concepts behind doing a "ring job" on an automobile engine, I have absolutely no practical knowledge or experience in performing such a task. ART DEPARTMENT When the time comes that I get tired of dumping extra quarts of oil into my old Russell C. Truelson, art director "diesel" Saturn (gasoline goes in the fuel tank, but boy does it burn oil!), I'll have a qualified mechanic do the work; at least I'll be in CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT comforted the knowledge that Gina L. Gallo, circulation manager most, if not all, of the parts that are supposed to go back into the engine won't be left behind on the shop floor. REPRINT DEPARTMENT Nancy Serenita, Reprint Bookstore Assuming that the mechanic doesn't know anything about classical music, who's the stupid one? BUSINESS AND EDITORIAL OFFICES Gernsback Publications, Inc. Answer: Both and neither at the same time. 275-G Marcus Blvd. Hauppauge, NY 11788 We can't know everything; as far as I know, only the Supreme Being's resume 631 -592 -6720 has that entry. The best that we can do is to pick up hints, tips, and Fax: 631 -592 -6723 pointers as President: Larry Steckler we travel through Life. After all, we aren't born with knowledge; someone else Vice -President: Adria Coren has to teach us. As I sometimes respond to the question, "May I ask you a ques- Vice -President: Ken Coren tion?", "I can answer every single question in the world. Most of the time, unfor- tunately, the answer is 'I don't know. - SUBSCRIPTION CUSTOMER SERVICE/ ORDER ENTRY We are now living in what has been referred to as the Information Age -where 800 -827-0383 Knowledge is the measure of Power and Wealth. Teaching others can be one of 7:30 AM - 8:30 PM EST the greatest thrills you can experience when you see the light of understanding fill their eyes as they say, "Oh...now I get it!" Advertising Sales Offices listed on inside back cover Have you picked up a little trick when testing equipment? How about a sneaky shortcut when designing circuits? What have you learned that's useful and prac- Cover by Michele Lyn Musé tical in the electronics field? Have you read something in one of our magazines Cover illustration by Amy Cott that you use in an unusual or novel way? If you think that others would benefit from what you've learned, tell us about it; we'll print the best ones as space and VISIT US ON THE INTERNET AT: time permits. Through the pages of Poptronics, you can teach others. www.gernsback.com/poptronics Help fight stupidity -share the wealth. Since some of the equipment and circuitry described in POPTRONICS may relate to or be covered by U.S. patents, POPTRONICS disclaims any liability for the infringement of such patents by the making, using, or selling of such equipment or circuitry, and suggests that anyone interested in Joseph Suda such projects consult a patent attorney.