Radio -Electronics Technical Editor Annual
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pages of Electronics Features and Projects Radio 96 mat changes your every -day life! 48409 $2.50 -US Electronics $2.95 -Canada 6 174 Flat Panel Color TV Thanks to a new type liquid -crystal display, pocket -sized Color TV's are here at last! Cellular Mobile Phones All about the communications system that is revolutionizing the mobile telephone industry! All about... Build the... PARTS SONIC MOTION DETECTOR RESISTORS AND CAPACITORS Test reports on... How to select the best type HOBBY/LAB PRODUCTS for your project OPTOCOUPLERS What's new in... How to interface digital circuits BATTERIES to the real world CMOS ANALOG SWITCHES Circuits for... An electrical signal replaces the knob and toggle CMOS CLOCKS A Buyers' Guide to...GENBACKON SATELLITE TV RECEIVING What you should know about buying a satellite -TV station before you spend your first dollar! I 65 rr Stereo Sound for TV 0 1 1 11 111 11 rr Scanner Antenna Plans rr Build a FET Audio Amplifier 71896 48409 You touch. Ir holds. gets you the world's first It's the top model in the world cham- FROM THE WORLD LEADER 129 handheld digital/analog pion Fluke 70 Series line - the first IN DIGITAL MULTIMETERS. multimeter with "Touch Hold:' industrial quality autoranging multimeters The Fluke 77 to combine digital and analog displays. Its unique "Touch Hold"** function These tough, American -made meters fea- automatically senses and holds readings, ture a three-year warranty and 2000+ leaving you free to concentrate on posi- hour battery life. tioning test leads without having to watch So call now for the complete story on the display. the Fluke 77 with "Touch Hold:' Because Then, when you have a valid reading, it if you don't deserve the world's first, who signals you with an audible beep. in the world does? FLUKE FLUKE 75 FLUKE 77 The Fluke 77 is perfect for those test For the name of your distributor or a $85* $99* $129* Analog/digital display Analog/digital display Analog/digital display situations where accessibility is a problem, free brochure, call our toll -free hotline Volts, ohms.10A, diode Volts, ohms. 10A, mA, Volts, 3hms, 10A, mA diode test is needed for anytime 1-800-227-3800, Ext. 229. test diode test or when extra care critical Autorange Audible continuity Audible continuity measurements. From outside the U.S., call 1-402-496-1350, Ext. 229. 0.7% basic dc accuracy Autorange/range hold "Touch Hold" function 2000+ hour battery life 0.5% basic do accuracy Autorange/range hold 3 -year warranty 2000+ hour battery life 0.3% basic dc accuracy 3 -year warranty 2000+ hour battery life 3 -year warranty Multipurpose holster * Suggested U.S. list price. effective July 1, 1984. ** Patent pending. FLUKE IN THE U.S. AND NON -EUROPEAN COUNTRIES: John Fluke Mfg. Co.. Inc., PO Box 09090, M/S 250C, Everett, WA 98206, Sales (2061 356-5400 Other. (2061 347.6100. EUROPEAN HEADQUARTERS: Fluke (Holland) BV., P0. Box 2269. 5600 CG Eindhoven. Tha Netherlands. (0401 458045, TL%: 51846 © Copyright 1985 John Fluke Mfg. co, Inc. All rights reserved Ad No 4701-77 CIRCLE 210 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD EDITORIAL AlI NUAL STAFF Hugo Gernsback (1884-1967) founder Putting Together the 1986 Edition M. Harvey Gernsback, editor-in -chief Larry Steckler, EHF, CET, publisher Art Kleiman, editorial director EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT Julian S. Martin, editor Brian C. Fenton, Each year I am given the task to assemble the Radio -Electronics technical editor Annual. Each year I say, "It's a piece of cake!" Each year I am totally Robert A. Young, associate editor amazed at the vast store of quality articles that have appeared in the Carl Laron, WB2SLR, previous 12 issues of Radio -Electronics. And, each year I have to associate editor squeeze my final selection of about 250 pages of top-notch articles into 96 pages that are available for me to use. Byron G. Wels, editor associate Jack Darr, CET, service editor What to do about it? Get cracking on some basic research! I chatted with the editors and discovered which articles got the biggest play in our Robert F. Scott, semiconductor editor reader mail and phone calls. Next, I spoke to our circulation chief who sorted out the compliments from the subscription orders. Of course, my Herb Friedman, communications editor personal selection had something to do with the final selection of articles. Earl "Doc" Savage, K4SDS, It all sounds easy, but the proof in the pudding is the eating. No, don't hobby editor actually chew the pages of this Radio -Electronics Annual; instead, Bob Cooper, Jr. satellite -TV editor digest the contents by carefully reading those articles that appeal to you. Robert Grossblatt, circuits editor I dare say that the bulk of those supplied will catch your interest. In fact, there's a good possibility you'll be one of those readers who writes to us David Lachenbruch, contributing editor telling us that you read the Annual from cover to cover. If you do, you'll maké my day! Mark J. Robillard, robotics editor I'm a project builder by choice, so you can expect that this issue has a Bess Isaacson, editorial assistant few projects to excite you. You will find a sonic motion detector, and my PRODUCTION favorite, the high -power FET audio amplifier. If you are a scanner buff, I DEPARTMENT have three hot antennas for you to build. Ruby M. Yee, production manager And, I did include exciting features on "What's New in Batteries," "Flat - Robert A. W. Lowndes, panel Color TV," "Stereo Sound for TV," and a whole bunch more! Enjoy editorial production this issue of Radio -Electronics Annual 1986. I did! Karen Tucker, advertising production Geoffrey S. Weil, production traffic CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT Jacqueline P. Weaver, circulation director Rita Sabalis, Af. 4-.) assistant circulation director Jacqueline Allen, circulation assistant Julian S. Martin, KA2GUN Editor ADVERTISING SALES Arline Fishman BUSINESS AND EDITORIAL OFFICES MIDWEST/Texas/Arkansas/Okla. advertising coordinator Gernsback Publications, Inc. Ralph Bergen Shelli Weinman 200 Park Ave. South, New York, NY 10003 Radio -Electronics advertising associate (212) 777-6400 540 Frontage Road-Suite 325 Lisa Strassman Chairman of the Board: M. Harvey Gernsback Northfield, IL 60093 credit manager President: Larry Steckler 312-446-1444 Donna Sala credit associate SALES OFFICES PACIFIC COAST/ Mountain States Naomi Matten advertising assistant Marvin Green EAST/SOUTHEAST Radio -Electronics Stanley Levitan 15335 Morrison St.-Suite 227 Radio -Electronics Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 200 Park Ave. South 818-986-2001 New York, NY 10003 718-428-6037, 212-777-6400 1 Padin- Electronict 1986 CONTENTS PAGE SPECIAL TVRO BUYER'S AND INSTALLATION GUIDE 49 Know before You Buy-we cover what you need to know before you go out and make your purchase 56 Installing Your TVRO-take the guesswork out of TVRO installation with this step-by-step guide TECHNOLOGY 13 What's New in Batteries-how do you use the right battery for your project? Just how good are lithium batteries? This article answers those and other questions 27 Stereo Sound for TV-here is an in-depth look at the FCC decision on multi -channel television - sound broadcasting and what it means to you in the near future 37 Flat -Panel Color TV-thanks to a new type of LCD display, pocket -sized color TV's are here 78 Cellular Mobile Telephones-all about the new system that is revolutionizing mobile telephone communications CIRCUITS AND COMPONENTS 40 CMOS Clock Circuits-a multitude of multifaceted and inexpensive CMOS squarewave generator circuits 43 Selecting the Best Resistor and Capacitor-finding the correct value for your project is the easy part-we point out how to select the type and characteristics that may make your project go 63 All About Optocouplers-a look at how to use optocouplers to interface digital circuits to the real world 67 CMOS Analog Switches-these IC's offer an excellent solution to what used to be a very complicated problem CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS 21 Tape Streamer for Your Computer-can a cassette tape be an alternative to a disk drive? 34 Sonic Motion Detector-no alarm system is complete without a motion sensor 71 Three High -Performance Scanner Antennas-pull in those signals that you have been missing with one of these easy-to -build designs 81 High -power FET Audio Amplifier-a high-performance, high-fidelity stereo amplifier DEPARTMENTS 1 Editorial-putting together the 1986 edition Equipment Reports 4 Vidicraft Detailer Ill Image Enhancer 8 Global Specialties Model 1301 Power Supply 6 Cardco Card/? Universal Printer Interface 9 Alden Model 9321 Weatherchart Recorder handling Radio -Electronics Annual is published yearly by Gernsback Publications, Inc., 200 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003. Single copies $2.50 plus $1.00 postage and for U.S.. Canada and Mexico. U.S. funds only. All other countries add $2.00 01985 by Gernsback Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A. and technological As a service to readers, Radio -Electronics Annual publishes available plans or information relating to newsworthy products, techniques scientific and for the safe and developments. Because of possible variances in the quality of materials and workmanship used by readers, Radio -Electronics Annual disclaims any responsibility proper functioning of reader-built projects based upon or from plans or information published in this magazine. 2 We've Got It All ! Amateur Books*Funway Kits*Tools *Microphones* Multimeters Computer books*Speakers*Data Books*P A Equipment*Car Hi-Fi Amateur Books*Funway Kits*Tools Microphones* Multimeters Computer books*Speakers*Data Books*P A Equipment*Car Hi-Fi Antennas & Accessories * Batteries Fuses* Plugs*Sockets* Panel Meters*Value Pack Relays*Cables Project Boxes*Test Gear*Home Security*Ham Radio*Car Alarms PCB's* Breadboards*Computer Peripherals*Soldering Irons Heatsinks*IC'S* Resistors Capacitors* Phones *Intercoms Chokes* Filters* Power Supplies Transformers*Antenna/Rotators*CB Radar*Detectors*Scanners *Calculators All At Amazingly Low Prices! FIND OUT MORE Send S2(Plus shipping)for our huge 132 page color catalog.