September 1986

AUSTRALIA'S DYNAMIC ELECTRONICS MONTHLY! $2.95* NZ $3.95 csT - 4

I L_ _ _ _ r ^ eti SEPTEMBER 1986

LOOKING AT ONE -CHIP MICRO'S

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MAKE A MIDI MATRIX

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Registered by Australia Post Publication No NBP0107 How to beat the high cost of cheap meters.

You get what you pay for. So get the Fluke 70 Series. You'll get more meter for your money, whether you choose the affordable 73, the feature -packed 75 or the deluxe 77. All of them will give you years of performance, long after cheaper meters have pegged their fishhook needles for

)FLUKE( 77 MULTIMETER the last time. That's because they're built to last, inside and out. So they're tough to break. They don't blow fuses all the time. You don't Irruduulr.nr.bmdú even have to replace batteries as often. 0 And they're backed by a 3 10 20 30 -year warranty. . Not the usual 1 -year. OFF V O RANGE. Of course, you may only care that the world -champion 70 Series combines digital and analog displays with more automatic features, greater accuracy and easier opera- 300mV tion than any other meters in their class. You may not care that they have a lower overall cost of ownership than all the other "bargain" meters out there. But just in case, now you know. .- In11 FROM THE WORLD LEADER A IN DIGITAL MULTIMETERS. FLUKE

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ELMEASCO A.C.T. Actiec Ply Ltd (062) 80 6576 George Brown 80 4355 N.S.W. Ames Agency 699 4524 George Brown (02) 519 5855 Newcastle 69 6399 Bryan Catt Industries 526 2222 D.G.E. Systems (049) 69 1625 David Reid 267 1385 W F Dixon (049) 61 5628 Macelec (042) 29 1455 Ebson 707 2111 Selectro Parts 708 3244 Wood 427 1676 Geoff Instruments Pty. Ltd. N. TERRITORY Thew 8 McCann (089) 84 4999 QUEENSLAND L.E. Boughen 369 1277 Colourview Wholesale 275 3188 Fred Hoe 8 Sons 277 4311 Nortek (077) 79 8600 St Lucia Electronics 52 7466 N.S.W. 15 McDonald St, Mortlake. Tel: (02) 736 2888 Selectro Parts (Old) 394 2422 S. AUSTRALIA Protronics 212 3111 Trio Eiectrix 2126235 A.W.M. Wholesale TASMANIA VIC. 12 Maroondah Hwy, Ringwood. Tel: (03) 879 2322 George Harvey (003) 31 6533. (002) 34 2233 VICTORIA A.W.M. Electrical Wholesale Radio Parts 329 7888 G.B. Telespares 328 3371 Browntronics 419 3986 R.K.B. Agency OLD. 243 Milton Rd, Milton. Tel: (07) 369 8688 82 7704 A J Ferguson 347 6688 SIRS Sales (052) 78 1251 Mektronics 690 4593 W. AUSTRALIA Atkins Carlisle 321 0101 Dobbie Instruments S.A. 241 Churchill Rd, Prospect. Tel: (08) 344 9000 276 8888 Cairns Instrument Services 325 3144 Willis Trading 470 1118 W.A. 46-48 Kings Pk Rd, West Perth. Tel: (09) 481 1500 Ell READER SERVICE 1 EDITOR CONTENTS Jon Fairall B.A. EDITORIAL STAFF Mary Rennie B.A. S. K. Hui B.Sc. (lions), M.Eng.Sc. MIEEE, MIREE Neale Hancock B.E. SEPTEMBER DRAUGITING 1986 David Burrows DESIGNER Vicki Jones Electronics ART STAFF Ray Eirth ADVERTISING MANAGER Peter Hayes B.Sc. ADVERTISING PRODUCTION Brett Baker Today,' FEATURES READER SERVICES Carmel Triulcio Adelaide show time 26 ACOUSTICAL CONSULTANTS what's happening Louis Challis and Associates Round up of in Electronics '86 RF CONSULTANTS Associated Calibration Laboratories One chip micros 30 PUBLISHER Looking at developments and applications Michael Hannan MANAGING EDITOR Inside your computer 58 Leo Simpson B.Bus. The disk operating system HEAD OFFICE 180 Bourke Road, (PO Box 227, Waterloo, NSW Management Investment Companies 68 2017) Alexandria, NSW 2015. Innovator/investment interface Phone: (02) 693-6666. Telex: AA74488, FEDPUB. Labtam 74 Federal Facsimile: (02) 693-2842. Etching a position in the market ADVERTISING New South Wales Mark Lewis U. of H.K. (02) 693-6666 Getting it right 76 Victoria and Tasmania Philips' exacting standards of calibration Virginia Salmon (03) 662-1222 Queensland Peter Hayes (02) 693-6666 Radio spreads the word 86 South Australia and Northern Territory Gospel broadcasters are keen operators Dane Hansen (08) 212-1212 Western Australia Jim Wells (09) 481-3171 Atomic fusion 106 New Zealand Near realization John Easton, 79-6648 (Auckland) OFFICES FUSE launches Australia into space 108 New South Wales: The Federal Publishing Company, 180 Bourke Road, Alexandria, NSW The far ultraviolet spectrographic explorer means business 2015. Phone (02) 693-6666. Telex: AA74488 FEDPUB. Victoria and Tasmania: The Federal Publishing REVIEWS Company, 23rd Floor, 150 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Vic. 3000. Phone: (03) 662-1222. Buying the best Australian The Murray MA534 amplifier 90 Telex: AA34340, FEDPUB. South Australia and Northern Territory: John Fairfax & Sons, 101-105 Weymouth Street, Get smART smARTWORK CAD package 96 Adelaide, 5000. Phone (08) 212-1212. Telex: AA82930. Above beyond loom's R7000 102 Queensland: The Federal Publishing Company, and 26 Chermslde Street. Newstead, Old. 406. Phone: (07) 854-1119, Telex: AA145520. Western Australia: Jim Wells, John Fairfax & PROJECTS Sons, 454 Murray Street, Perth, WA 6000. Phone: (09)481-3171. ETI-611: MIDI matrix 38 New Zealand: 3rd Floor, Communications House, 12 Heather Street, Pamell, Auckland. PO Box ETI-1532: Soldering iron temperature controller 46 8770, Symonds St. 37-291. Telex NZ63122. Phone 396-096. (09) ETI-1605: Forth analogue card 52 J . '( 4Ú8111>Dx OFFERS ELECTRONICS TODAY INTERNATIONAL is published and distributed monthly by the watch competition 72 Electronics Division of the Federal Publishing AWA-ETI Seiko Company Pty Limited, 180 Bourke Road, ETI-TI one chip micro competition 19 Alexandria, NSW 2015 under licence from Double Bay Newspapers Ply Umited, General Newspapers Subscriptions offer 100 Ply Limited and Suburban Publications Ply Limited. Pnnted by Hannanprint, Sydney. Distributed by Magazine Promotions. 'Maximum and DEPARTMENTS recommended Australian retail price only. Registered by Australia Post, Publication No News Digest 9 Advertisers Index 75 NBP0407. ISSN No 0013-5216. COPYRIGHT° 1985, Double Bay Newspapers Pty Feed Forward 60 Minimart 88 Limited, General Newspapers Pty Limited and Suburban Publications Ply Limited (trading as New Products 78 Dregs 110 "Eastern Suburbs Newspapers"). COVER: Courtesy Intel. ETI September 1986 - 3 Satisfyingthe most- rigorous performance requirements

- Peak performance in R.A.M. technology The F1600 is a 65,536 -bit fully static F asynchronous random access memory, -.1. ' ', 1 organized as 1 65,536 words by -bit, using . g .! . '.; c - high-performance CMOS technology. The .' F1600 is based on an advanced isoplanar oxide isolation process: fully -implanted iJ; F;1 Pt,.wft CMOS technology with sub -2 -micron .rte- , t design rules and high-performance 4 tantalum silicide interconnects. . 1S.i''re taking the high ground. I ..., Y i. ° , t FAIRCHILD - , : . - ° A Schlumberger Company I. : r 14,11 11.4 z As . , o o .y !" .F,,

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Ell READER SERVICE 3 y PC) aboat at Ask Ben Lexcen what his most What aspect of your involvement with valuable design tool is and he'll tell you it's his Hewlett-Packard strikes you as being particularly Hewlett-Packard Computer Aided Design system. beneficial? he Here talks about his experience with the HP system "Well, once become involved and offers you with some salient advice to the new generation of HP, you'll soon realise that apart from their technical designers who will in follow his wake. excellence and innovation, one of their major strengths Have you always felt at ease working with is that they have the people to help you get the best computers? results from CAD. "No way! Really I was a latecomer to "Because HP supply the hardware and the software, got a terrific computers because I didn't have any formal training you've advantage over the guy who tries to work with a lot and I was frightened of them. In fact, I used to dream of different up some wonderful excuses to avoid getting involved suppliers. I mean it counts fora lot when the person with them. who writes the software understands the workings of the processor. "But, of course, I realise now that if you're going to be a leader in any field, not just design, "If you've got questions or problems, you've got to utilise the leading technology. And really you can get answers and solutions from the one place. And believe me, that can save a lot this HP stuff is so easy to use, I'm not sure what I was of time and worry' frightened of" How has the HP equipment assisted in the Which parts of a boat do you design with the help day-to-day running of your office? of the computer? "Well, it's staggering how much faster "Virtually the whole lot, with the we can get things done since we plugged into HP exception of tiny mechanical things. But we use it This is mainly due to the fact that the computer does to design the shape and structure of the boat, and so much of the calculation which we used tolabour the sails. over manually. "We use it to do all the hydro -dynamic considerations such as the total drag of the hull unit. Plus we use the computer to test different hull shapes"

LBV 7775I-4E11L i syste I doesn't ems 53

"For instance, now I can create the basic shape of a boat in a matter of hours whereas it used to take about a month. It might take me about ten minutes to do a keel whereas before it might have taken a week" Does saving so much time mean that you have to compromise on quality or accuracy? You're on a "Absolutely not. The equipment is dead accurate and I can do a more thorough job for far fewer man-hours. "In fact, we are so confident in the HP winner with the equipment that when we've settled on the design of the boat to defend the America's Cup, we won't tank test it in Holland, we'll test it here in the computer. And HP llesqflt»flhre when you're talking about a million dollar boat, you've got to be damn sure you've got the right equipment to Our Computer Aided Design solutions do it" work together in an integrated design environment called the HP DesignCentre. HP's renowned technical What of CAD in the future? excellence shines brilliantly in the DesignCentre where "Look- I'm sure that if Australian our engineering workstations and quality graphics designers don't grab CAD with both hands and run peripherals come to the fore. And it s well worth with it, the rest of the world will pass us by. And once remembering that HP's reputation for unfailing backup we all realise its potential, you're going to see a lot and support has been well earned. of very happy and satisfied people in all sorts of HP offers a comprehensive solution design offices." to your CAD. To obtain your free DesignCentre Management Kit or Technical Kit to help make your next design project a winner, call HP now toll free on (008) 033821 or send in the coupon below.

Please send me more information on HP's OesignCentre Management Kit Technical Kit NAME POSMON COMPANY ADDRESS P/CODE POST TO: Hewlett-Packard Australia Ltd 31-41 Joseph Street, Blackburn, Vic. 3130 , E- N_.T U R Y HEWLETT L4,] PACKARD LBV 7775 FIEf7tt

ETI READER SERVICE 4 t.,te;' ht.'iuti;l.lt',(,iill; c . 5 '3 , t'Í jts + i i 1 '':1);'1:15)1,..

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JVC's Compu Link I li-Fi system allows you to operate every compact disc player are more than capable of standing on audio and video function without leaving the - - their own. Each one holds pride of place in the comfort of your lounge chair. JVC I li-Fi range. You can switch inputs, select tracks, adjust the __ The remote Compu Link controller also has 3 volume and even change the frequency hand of video inputs, so your TV and video links up the graphic equaliser with a hand-held infra -red --- - with your stereo to make a fully integrated remote control unit. home entertainment system. It sends commands to the computerised . Phone toll -free 008 22 5044 or Sydney remote controller with graphic equaliser 750 3777 for a complete information package. through which every other video and audio ,}":;_ . .--=.s. Or see any JVC dealer. component is co-ordinated. COMPU LINK To fully appreciate it, ask for a The amplifier, AM/FM 1111 T 1111 Renate 1111 was .._' o JVC chair, put your feet up and make tuner, double cassette deck and Contra system Qum at home. '.d-= INVEST IN ITY yourself l-lagemeyer (Australasia) BV: Marketers of JVC products in Australia. JVC 55 Forbes Moc(e Hansen ETI READER SERVICE 5 NEWS DIGEST

increasingly important to some of the growing band of suc- demonstrate real commitment to cessful indigenous companies developing their Australian continue to gather strength, and Comms operations as a base for research to cooperate both among them- and development and marketing selves and with large inter- beyond our shores - particu- national companies where ap- equipment to larly in the Asia/Pacific region. propriate, to achieve export suc- "Those international compa- cess. nies which can do this will be on "The industry's assessment of the most secure footing to sur- export prospects indicates that lead $600m vive and prosper in this country exports of $600-800 million can into the next century. be achieved by the Australian in- "In other words, Australia will dustry by 19%, if all parties in- expect its relationship with over- volved work seriously towards export seas -based electronics firms to that goal. be more of a 'two way street' "The goal is expressed in cur- than it has sometimes been in the values, and is based on a A 10 -year strategy to develop Australia's communications rent past. conservative interpretation of into a $600 million export earner was un- equipment industry "Government commitments the industry's own assessment of veiled recently by the Federal Government. will increasingly tend to favour its capability. So our actual per- those companies which make a The strategy is prompted by recommended reduced tariff formance could exceed the tar- this the enormous growth of the protection to the industry. In ac- serious commitment to get set, and I have every hope communications industry world- cepting the IAC suggestions, the country as a base of operations that Australian enterprise will its role as a pro- wide and its apparent stimula- Government agreed to gradually beyond just do so." tion of other industry sectors. 'phase in' the reductions on tected marketplace." Senator Button said the strat- The Minister a current The main thrust of the strategy condition that industry groups cited egy developed for the communi- approach by the Swedish -based industry is to promote closer co-ordina- worked with the Government to cations equipment seek a tion between government and develop a positive long-term in- firm, LM Ericsson, to would form a major part of an industry, and to look at the es- dustry growth strategy. Tariffs major Indonesian communica- overall 'information industries' tablishment of various, agencies are now being reduced on most tions contract in cooperation statement now under develop- with Telecom Australia. will (private and public) to assist in telecommunications imports ment. The statement pro- "We will be investigating fur- a for the R&D in Australia (with the help from 30 per cent to 20 per cent vide broad framework ther ways by which the Govern- to sev- of universities), in dissemination over four years. Government's approach encourage such initia- in- of information on business op- Senator Button praised the ment can eral related industry sectors tives. portunities, and to assist in mar- groups involved in consultations cluding the computer industry. we wish to see keting equipment overseas. for their highly constructive con- "Beyond that, This will take concrete form in tribution over the past year. $400,000 from the Government "I am confident that by the this financial year to assist in end of the decade - with contri- Schoolboy beats experts development of the industry's buting goodwill and commit- technological infra -structure and ment - we will have a more A British schoolboy has taken program after hearing about Dr to meet costs associated with the competitive, outward -looking just 10 days to solve a computer Schilder's problem. After a pre- implementation and further industry sector playing a sub- problem that has baffled an liminary telephone conversation development of the strategy. stantial role in world markets American hospital team for 25 and some written details he Senator Button also promised and in the broader development years. came up with the answer. Final that the Government would ex- of Australia's industrial Using his family's computer, checks are being carried out at amine the question of further di- strength." 16 -year -old Christopher Crow- the moment, although Chris- rect financial support for com- Chief among the industry's hurst from Ivybridge, near topher says the program is ready munications equipment product problems were the small size of Plymouth in south western Eng- to be used on patients. development. This follows the Australian firms by international land, discovered an error in the Specialists believe that within review of Government high- standards, leading to a weak- computer program being used a short time any doctor with a technology purchasing arrange- ened ability to tackle major con- by the Johns Hopkins Teaching small personal computer ments recently announced by the tracts overseas, and a high level Hospital in Baltimore. equipped with the program will Prime Minister. of foreign ownership. Dr Peter Schilder, who heads be able to spot potential heart Announcement of the Gov- "Six of the seven largest Aus- the American team, was de- attack victims within seconds. ernment strategy is a result six tralian communications equip- lighted with the speedy results The tonograph is fitted to the months of detailed discussion ment suppliers are foreign - and has invited the Ivybridge eye to obtain a blood pressure and consultation with interested owned," Senator Button said. "I Community College pupil to reading. This and other impor- groups including several industry don't believe foreign ownership spend July in Baltimore explain- tant information is transferred associations, a combined trade is necessarily a problem. In fact, ing the Ocular Tonographic to a computer and has until now unions group, Telecom, OTC, these international firms have Blood Flow Analyser Program had to go through a number of Government departments and made important contributions to and adapting it from his BBC different stages. the Government's tripartite ad- the development of the Aus- Micro computer to theirs. He "I don't really like comput- visory council on the electrical tralian industry. has been given £650 to fund the ers," says Christopher. "I used and electronic industries. "It is important for overseas - trip. to play space invaders, but it got Last October the Industries based companies to appreciate A friend of Christopher's boring." Assistance Commission (IAC) that in the future it will become father asked him to look at the ETI September 1986 - 9 J Kakadu experts Expert systems, first developed Kakadu, the expert system pro- in the US in the 1970s, have now vides a way of methodically found an application in the recording what individuals have Kakadu World Heritage Area in seen and learnt about the the Northern Territory. region. The CSIRO, with the support "A major obstacle to using of the Australian National Parks computers for the task has been and Wildlife Service, has de- that the information available is veloped FIRES (Fire Expert not always quantifiable. System), to handle the complex "Computers usually depend task of fire management of on hard data in number form, Kakadu. but expert systems provide a The three players discussing optical recording techniques. According to Dr Richard way out. They deal with state- Davis, of CSIRO's Division of ments as well as numbers, which Rank awards Water and Land Resources in is ideal for many land manage- The Rank Award has been won by three Philips researchers Canberra, the system is "just ment operations." who laid the groundwork for optical recording during the what the doctor ordered", be- A typical `conversation' with 1970s. Dr P. Kramer, G. Bouwhuis and K. Compaan were cause it preserves the genuine FIRES might go as follows: presented with awards in June. The Rank fund was estab- expertise built up in the com- Ranger: `G'day.' lished in 1972 in the will of Lord Rank, the British film czar. munity through years of careful FIRES: `G'day.' observation, without requiring Ranger: `We're in the hot sea- Opening numbers to pick up every state- son, what do you reckon a would Schlumberger has underlined its commitment to Australia by ment. scorch height be if a fire opening a 7500 sq foot factory in June. Schlumberger manu- "The information on the sys- broke out here today? factures factory automation equipment. tem doesn't disappear when the FIRES: `Where are you?' owner dies, just because he or Ranger: `In the Kay 1 land Duplicator she never wrote a book about system.' it," he says. FIRES: `What's the wind Eldorelt has purchased Regency Recordings, the big tape du- "For land management on the strength?' plication service. Regency will be offering high speed loop grand scale called for by the Ranger: `Moderate.' bins, cassette to cassette and real time duplication, and in- 20,000 square kilometres of FIRES: `What's the fuel load tends to increase output from 1000 to 1500 cassettes a day this year. Minerva users Instrument maker A directory of OTC electronic mail service, Minerva, is being published by Modem Technology. The "Communique" will consolidates contain features as well as a comprehensive listing of Aus- tralia and NZ. University Graham Instruments revitalise the electrical instru- has announced the acquisition of ment manufacturing industry in Joint venture Paton Electrical in a move which Australia and introduce a scale of ACI Computers and Datec are joining forces to provide elec- will strengthen its position as manufacture that will be more tronic services to the banking and finance industries. ACI has one of Australia's leading elec- effective in the Australian mar- a high speed data network, Datec switch facilities, and bank- trical equipment manufacturers. ketplace." ing software. Patons and University Established in the 1930s, both Graham are two of the oldest companies manufacture and im- AWA companies operating in the field port electrical testing, measuring and indicating instruments Warren Rose has been appointed general manager of AWA and each has occupied a significant position in the marketplace for the Australian market. Prod- Rediffusion. He was formerly with Electrical Equipment. for electrical testing, measuring ucts include panel meters, Peter Nicholson has become group General Manager. and indicating instruments. relays, temperature controllers, Executive Chairman of Uni- educational instruments, elec- Netmap versity Graham Instruments, Mr tronic control meters, current Netmap has Warren appointed Blood as National Sales Man- Jack Rutherford, said the take- transformers, multimeters and ager. He comes from Prime Computers. over will lift overall sales of the special instruments. company to more than $7 mil- Paton also has an arrange- Plessey lion in 1986. ment with the CSIRO to under- Dr Edwin J. Matiuk has been appointed a new Regional Man- "Considering the problems take research and development ager for Australia and NZ. Matiuk succeeds .the present in- facing the Australian manufac- which should lead to a new cumbent, Mr Bruce Goddard. turing industry, we believe this range of instrumentation. move indicates our confidence The workforce at University Anitech in the economy and our commit- Graham Instruments will grow Grant Fisher has been appointed National Marketing Man- ment to strengthening our posi- to more than 70 people with the ager of Anitech's Instrument Division. Previously he was with tion in this specialised high tech- takeover. All those currently Standard Communications. nology field," he said. employed by Paton will be "This acquisition will help retained. 10 - ETI September 1986 NEWS DIGEST

ing from medical sample analy- dar. The `knock -em -down sis at the Garvan Institute at St storms' season, for example, oc- Vincent's Hospital in Sydney to curs at the end of the monsoon, the design of window frames at with storms capable of flattening CSIRO's Division of Building the three metre high tropical Research in Melbourne. grass. The seasons following are FIRES provides the most con- `cool', `cold', `hot', `early vincing demonstration to date of storms', before the monsoon ar- the potential of expert systems rives again. as a powerful tool for land man- Drawing on Mr Hoare's ex- agement. perience in Kakadu, 120 rules The decision to build a trial on fire behaviour were built into expert system came after discus- FIRES. All rules were ex- sions between Dr Davis and pressed in plain English. A com- CSIRO researchers Dr Joe puterised thinking mechanism, Walker and Dr Ken Myers who known as an inference engine or were attempting to construct an `shell', was then written. `ecological framework' for land "A computer loaded with this management at Kakadu. sort of information and wearing Information was gained from the right sort of thinking cap can the knowledge and observation come up with decisions identical Some of the 20,000 sq km of Kakadu. of rangers, from experiments to those made by experts," said like?' sis in the US during the 1970s, run in Kakadu by Mr Jamie Dr Davis. "It can literally draw Ranger: `That's moderate too.' when the combined medical Hoare of the CSIRO Division of its own conclusions. FIRES: `Right. A bushfire now knowledge of many specialists Forest Research in Canberra, "The sheer extent and variety will probably burn with flames was incorporated into a system and from work carried out in of Australia's water and land re- 2-3 metres high and scorch the called MYCIN. Although only similar areas of Australia. sources continue to make it diffi- vegetation 10-12 metres high. experimental, MYCIN inspired Vegetation type, the kind and cult and expensive to collect The main tree species affected a range of expert systems now amount of fuel they produce, basic scientific data for land will be Eucalyptus Tetrodonta functioning in the USA. and a range of meteorological managers to use." and Eucalyptus Miniata'. In Australia interest is grow- data were also recorded. This in- "Expert systems provide an The first attempt at an expert ing fast, and there are now sev- formation was then arranged ac- opportunity to make good use system was with medical diagno- eral systems in operation, rang- cording to the Aboriginal calen - of the information we have."

Were you there? - Rocky winner The London Electronics Col- tronics technician education, lege, which celebrates its 80th having ceased radio officer anniversary this year, intends to training in 1980. mark the event by setting out on In honour of the College's an international quest to find its birthday, a general signal oldest former student. "OSO" is being sent out to all The College, formerly known former students asking them to as the British School of Telegra- get in touch again. It's just possi- phy (founded 1906), trained ble that some of those original early Marine Radio Officers 1906 Marconi wireless telegraph using the original Marconi wire- operators will respond. less telegraph. Some 300 of its Present-day staff and students students were at sea in 1912. would be delighted to welcome 1f Harold Bride, wireless operator such visitors on a tour of inspec- on the Titanic at the time of the tion - just to see how much tragic iceberg disaster, and electronics has changed in the Thomas Cottam on the Carpa- era of microcomputers and new thia, the first ship to acknowl- technology. Rod Bragg, Daihatsu. edge radio distress messages For further information con- Mrs Dumbrell receiving her keys from said a which saved so many lives, were tact M. Spalding, London Eke- Mrs Laurel Dumbrell, a Carss along at a better time," both trained at the College. tronics College, 20 Penywern Park (Sydney) housewife who delighted Mrs Dumbrell. I have been Nowadays, the College Rd, London, SW5 9SU. Phone also teaches writing to adults as "My husband and an old farmhouse on specialises in professional elec- UK (01) 373-8721. a part time occupation with the renovating Arts Council, was the lucky win- some land in the Kurrajong Hills ner of a Daihatsu Rocky in a re- and we badly needed a four NOTES & ERRATA cent computerised draw which wheel drive vehicle but couldn't Current feedback for drill control, Ideas for Experimenters, August, involved over 19,000 subscribers afford one." the earth and neutral labels were transposed on the circuit 1986: Beware: maga- "I still can't believe our for- diagram we published. Earth Is actually the lead connected to the case with to Federal Publishing tune it's a tremendous thrill." the ground symbol attached. Neutral Is the one above. zines. - "Rocky couldn't have come ETI September 1986 - 11 NEWS DIGEST

KILOHERTZ COMMENT AUSTRALIA: The Australian Broad- casting Corporation's three 50 kW transmitters servicing the Northern Territory have been noted at times on extended use of some frequencies. At 1100 UTC the 120 metre band is used with Alice Springs 2310 kHz, Tennant Creek 2325 kHz and Katherine 2485 kHz. Alice Springs has been noted on daytime channel, 4835 kHz, to past 0930 UTC at times. The program included an ABC News Comment at 0900 UTC, at 0910 a report from Dar- i win of news from the Northern Territory and on Monday at 0915 UTC a pro- á4..+« gram schedule for the week in English J-71. ,.p.+.+a and in the Aboriginal language. The y frequency provides good reception, u'i.7 though Radio Reloj, Costa Rica on 4832 kHz causes some sideband interference. 6011 / üM "" AUSTRIA: Austrian Radio in its trans- v mission to Australia, has made a frequency change and is now using 95- 85 kHz replacing 9735 kHz. This trans- UTC and 1445-1520 UTC on 9615 kHz mission is for broadcast between 0600 and 12015 kHz, while two other Eng- ACL cenified and 0700 UTC, with the first 30 lish transmissions are broadcast 1255- minutes in German; English is broad- 1330 UTC and 1940-2015 UTC on Associated Calibration Labora- it is phase -locked to Omega cast between 0630 and 0700 UTC. 7235 kHz and 1530 kHz. tories, Melbourne, recently ob- VLF transmissions which have BANGLADESH: Radio Bangladesh is The PHILIPPINES: Far East Broad- tained certification as a National an accuracy of 1 part in 1012. using the new frequency of kHz 7505 casting Company, Manila has moved Association of Testing Authori- Allowing for measurement for its English program 1815-1915 to 11885 kHz for a transmission in Eng- ties approved UTC. News at slow speed is broadcast lish 0830-0930 UTC. This frequency (NATA) labora- uncertainties, the laboratory can at 1900 UTC but from this time interfer- replaces 11890 kHz and ,later tory for frequency measure- certify frequency standards to ence is noted from Radio Beijing. The 11850 kHz, but the new 11885 kHz is ment. This is in addition to its better than two parts in 1010 and alternative frequency of 6240 kHz also prone to jamming on that channel. NATA certification in various can measure nonstandard fre- carries the same program. An alternative frequency of 15350 kHz areas of acoustic calibration and quencies from 10 Hz 1 ECUADOR: HCJB Quito Ecuador has carries the to GHz. same program but suffers surveys. extended its English Service to Aus- interference from Radio Moscow. ACL is situated at 27 Rosella tralia to 1130 UTC. The transmission is TURKEY: Ankara is using 17725 kHz A unique feature of the fre- Street, Doncaster East, 3109. now 0700-1130 UTC on 6130 kHz, for its broadcast to South East Asia in quency reference system is that (03) 842-8822. 9745 UTC and 11925 kHz. "DX Party English from 2000-2050 UTC, 2200- Line" which was formerly broadcast 2250 UTC and 0300-0350 UTC. The three times a week, has been reduced first two transmissions are also heard to a Monday and Saturday broadcast, on 7210 kHz, 9535 kHz and 9560 kHz, at 0930 UTC. while the 0300 UTC broadcast is car- Real estate TV GUAM: KTWR Trans World Radio, is ried on 9560 kHz. now on 11735 kHz with English 0745- The Victorian Real Estate in- The basic service offered by 0900 UTC Monday to Friday and on This item was contributed by Arthur dustry is about to enter the com- the real estate channel is a video Saturday and Sunday the broadcast Cushen, 212 Earn St, Invercargill, munications revolution with a catalogue of homes for sale, auc- opens at 0730 UTC. "Distant Listeners New Zealand who would be pleased link -up to a new nationwide tion or lease. The telecast video Log" on Saturday is now heard at 0828 to supply additional information on television network called chan- sections guide the viewer UTC. medium and shortwave listening. All nel 3 the real estate channel. MONGOUA: Radio Ulan Bator has timas.quoted are UTC (GMT) which - through a home, business com- provided details on its latest schedule is 10 hours behind Australian East- Corporate Data Services, a mercial building, tourist devel- and English broadcasts are 1200-1235 ern Standard Time. Melbourne -based communica- opment, farm or other property. tions group has been granted The various properties are special licences to operate this categorized according to type, unique UHF television fre- location, and agent (if desired), CONSUMERS WARNED ABOUT STEREO RADIOS quency service in Brisbane, Syd- giving the buyer access a wide Misleading labelling of radio receivers has led several State Consumer to Affairs Departments to issue warnings to consumers and refer matters ney and Melbourne. range of properties or immedi- to the Trade Practices Commission. The real estate channel has ate appraisal of a type of prop- Only 65 radio receiver models can currently claim (in labelling and now begun transmission in Mel- erty in a particular area of to advertising) be truly "AM/FM Stereo" or "Stereo AM/FM", since only bourne and plans to broadcast in Australia. those 65 radios have stereo capacity on both AM and FM bands, ac- Brisbane and Sydney. Besides the cording to Stereo AM Australia, a national body of AM radio catalogues of operators. will be However, many receivers in shops are labelled and promoted as Transmissions received investments the real estate chan- "AM/FM Stereo' while in fact they only have a FM stereo and AM mono by participating real estate agen- nel can also use its Australia - capacity. cies, offices of property inves- wide network for televised "Under Section 52 of the Trades Practices Act many retailers and tors such as banks, stock auctions. manufacturers could be, perhaps unwittingly, giving the public mislead- brokers, international hotel In a city-wide auction, re- ing and deceptive information on radio receiver units," says Chris Bram- mall, Chairman of Stereo AM Australia. rooms, legal firms and public ceiver units could be installed in "We've had numerous complaints from listeners on this issue. And areas such as shopping centres every potential bidder's home or until the Trade Practices Commission addresses the question, our ad- and malls. The television sets in office. For interstate or overseas vice to consumers is to be very careful when they buy a new radio," these areas are equipped with a live coverage the real estate added Mr Brammail. downconverter with output' on channel will make use of Aussat "If you want stereo on both bands, try the product first to make sure." channel 3, and a small indoor or to deliver the auction live to any rooftop antenna. range of bidders. 12 - ETI September 1986 One standard. Zero defects. From IC people committed to quality. Some IC companies talk about defect standards of 500 ppm as if they were proud of them. At Philips, we have a different philosophy: one defect is one too many. So zero defects is the the standard we've set for our ICs. And the warranty for that standard goes like this: when you receive ICs from Philips, if you find a single defect in that batch, we'll ; take them all back for re -screening or replacement. The reason we can offer this warranty is that after 100% testing, we sample every batch. If we find a single defect, that batch isn't delivered. The Philips IC activity is absolutely committed to a standard of zero defects. We have been for some time, in fact. In 1980, we instituted a rigorous 14 -point program aimed at preventing mistakes - rather than correcting them. Since then, the program has evolved until it's now more than a program: it's a state of mind. By working with you and examining rejects, we'll carry zero defects beyond a standard to a reality. You'll find that same commitment to quality throughout Philips, whether we're designing a VLSI chip containing more than 100,000 transistors, or a simple gate. So while many IC companies are bragging about a standard of 500 defects per million, we at Philips are working our way towards zero. And when you put your trust in that kind of individual commitment, you can't lose. When you're offered zero, why settle for less?

One standard. defects.

Sydney (02) 4393322 Melbourne (03) 5423333 Adelaide (08) 2430155 Perth (09) 2774199 Brisbane (07) 440191 the UN 428

wttuas Electronic Calk Components PHILIPS and Materials :Philips Component New

Compact 12 Volt Photovoltaic ,; Solar Module

Australian made Solar liver in excess of 250mA into Module ESS3601 is a com- a 12 volt battery (1Kw/m2). pact lightweight solar module The dimensions are only *.I"`.-- - intended for low power re- 220mm x 220mm and weight quirements including: Bat- is 0.53kg. tery trickle charge Logging A laminated construction equipment Small electric with a low iron toughen glass fences Small appliances - front surface will provide radios, cassettes, etc. long term reliability that can- 1s The panel is rated at 4 not be matched by many watts peak power and will de- other low cost modules. Isolated Plastic Package Simplifies Power Device Mounting

SODOM .,o., The F -pack is the result of new techniques which allow very i thin layers of plastic (±0.3mm) to be moulded onto the rear of the metal comb without significantly affecting the electrical oroon wa x.m. and thermal properties. It is specified for a voltage rating of ó 1100V.

Better free air dissipation Safe operating area, transient thermal resistance and maxi- \L.....n mum power dissipation are all comparable with the standard passorMed 011. TO -220 plus ....,...n m.,..,.,o, insulation accessories. Free aír power dissipation ---ac. is approximately 17% better than for the standard TO -220. LOCO. .p, on,...l.n man.) base Currently eight important power device families are available in F-pack; eventually we intend to offer our entire TO - We are introducing a new package for power semi -conduc- 220 product range also in F -pack. tor devices which offers manufacturers a more cost-effective mounting technique than a standard TO -220. Designated the F-pack TO -220 (envelope number SOT -186), the new package has a plastic insulation layer on its mounting base and tab thereby making insulated mounting much simpler. Direct mounting Cut -away view of a SOT-186 power transistor showing the constructional features that contribute to the high quality of these devices. An essential part of the design is an epoxy insulating layer formed under The SOT -186 can be mounted directly onto a heat sink, the lead frame during encapsulation. Less than 400µm thick, the using the same screw or clip as the standard TO -220, without layer has a breakdown voltage in excess of 1000V and its thickness is any extra insulating components such as mica insulators, heat controlled to within 2511m for consistent thermal and electrical proper- sinking compound and insulating washers. As well as cutting ties. component costs the F -pack also significantly reduces assembly time. %.s

Support Highly-integrated CMOS tr Developing applications for the microprocessor combines SCC68070 requires the same tools already available for supporting cost-effective with powerful E1ect`olls S the 68000. There are a variety of performance development systems plus cross- V1141Qcat software products for software Reinforcing our position as a leading high-tech innovator, we are in- development in a Digital the SCC68070, a highly -integrated 16 bit microprocessor troducing Equipment Corporation VAX which contains central -processing unit (CPU), memory -management environment. In addition, we unit (MMU), direct -memory access (DMA) control, I2C bus interface, will offer support software RS232C interface, and three counter/timers all on the same chip. Fully and simulation tools for the software -compatible with the popular 68000 family, this is the first microprocessor to feature MMU and DMA functions together on the -e SCC68070. same chip. The low power 10MHz device is fabricated in our C400 CHMOS process. "Electronic Component and Immediate cost reductions Applications" (ECA) is a The SCC68070 permits designers to achieve immediate cost reduc- 64 -page, full colour magazine tions in developing newer versions of existing 68000 -based systems and which contains articles on important will also lead to new designs that can exploit its unique, integrated new Philips components and their applications. functional advantages. Particular applications are CAD workstations, ECA is issued by Philips Electronic Components and telecommunications equipment, and the latest home and personal Materials Division (Elcoma), which embraces a worldwide group computers. Systems built using the new SCC68070 will provide com- of companies with sales and manufacturing facilities in every major parable performance to the 68000 but with fewer components, lower component market. power requirements and reduced cost. The SCC68070 comes in an 84 The latest issue is completely devoted to the Philips extensive pin plastic leaded -chip carrier bringing all the benefits of surface HCMOS range. The subscription for this quarterly magazine is $25.00 mounting. a year. Send now for more information. O The CPU has a 68000 -compatible instruction set and a 16 Mbyte addressing range plus vectored and auto -vectored interrupts with seven levels of interrupt priority. Further, the SCC68070 has an on -chip bus with additional registers to control its added functions. Enhanced bus - error handling similar to that of the 68010 and on -chip bus arbitration and control circuitry ensure that the parallel system bus is managed well and performance remains high. Consumer and professional The SCC68070 is the culmination of a process involving the analysis of market -needs information, the development of a product -requirements model, and a zero -defects quality environment. Because the new microprocessor is designed based upon needs that cross consumer -and-professional -system boundaries, it will be marketed to developers of systems in both market areas, worldwide. Some previous microprocessors have on -chip memory management - -I I- for high-performance, multi -tasking systems. Others, aimed to lower- 1 cost systems, feature several peripheral functions integrated alongside the central processing unit. The SCC68070 has both. . }- is built using The chip has approximately 1,000,000 transistors and _."," 2 -micron design rules. Despite its complex circuitry and speed, the - SCC68070 will consume only about one watt of power. It is therefore attractive for portable systems using battery power and for systems re- 1171--1 quiring dense packaging with reduced cooling requirements. Prototyping/Samples Samples of the SCC68070WP are expected to become available late in 3rd quarter 1986, at less than A$200 each. An evaluation board is under consideration. Documentation .0 [13- Already available is a users manual for hardware implementation, at $50 from Elcoma. A software manual, applications notes, and ECA ' article will appear in second half 1986. (ECA = Electronic Compo- nents and Applications, an excellent quarterly technical journal available from Elcoma on subscription). Modular Extension using distributed intelligence.

PHnIPs Electronic Components and Materials PHILIPS

Philips Components from the worldwide Philips Group of Companies MULLARD PHILIPS SIGNETICS VALVO VIDELEC AIRPAX AMPEREX CENTRALAB DIALIGHT FERROXCUBE RTC-COMPELEC MEPCO-ELECTRA

For more mtormation contact Philips Electronics Components an0 Materals, PO Boo 577, ARTARMON, N.SW. 2064. SYDNEY (02) 4393322. MELBOURNE (03) 5423333. BRISBANE (07) 440191. ADELAIDE (06) 2666701. PERTH (08) 2774199. R&D up The Australian Bureau of Statis- tics has released preliminary results of the Survey on Expend- iture on research and development (R&D) carried out by the business sector in 1984-85. They show an increase in expenditure of 43 per cent in constant prices, . over the 1981-82 period when the last survey was carried out. , Human resources devoted to R&D business enterprises increased by 36 per cent over the level for 1981-82. In a joint statement the Minis- ter for Industry, Technology and Commerce, Senator John But- ton, and the Minister for Sci- .0.41 ence, Mr Barry Jones, said "The most encouraging aspect of the figures is that the private sector R&D expenditure has increased significantly over the three year from most Back on full power radio stations as it is period. We welcome the change a non-commercial operation in direction, after a period of de- Recently (ETI, Dec 85), I re- the and tower transmissions staffed by volunteers. cline in which Australian private ported on the destruction of the resumed in a matter of a few Dunedin Radio 4XD operates sector R&D investment alone transmitter building of Radio days of the fire. on A new concrete 1305 kHz. As there is no fell, of the 24 OECD nations. 4XD in New Zealand by an ar- block transmitter has building other station using this fre- But we start from a very low sonist which put the station off been completed and will house quency in either Australia or base. the air. The transmitter building two surplus 2 New BCNZ kW AWA Zealand, its signals are well "The increases also reflect the is located at Highcliff overlook- transmitters, one for regular received on the East Coast of growing recognition of the im- ing the city of Dunedin, along operation and the other stand- Australia and in the South portance of R&D expenditure in with other aerial towers belong- by. Pacific. The mailing address is improving the quality and ing to Radio New Zealand and The broadcasts of 4XD Dune- Dunedin Radio 4XD, PO Box desirability of Australian prod- Radio Otago 4X0. din Radio are unique in that the 404, Dunedin. Broadcasts are ucts, and the necessity that we The Broadcasting Corpora- station has been operating since 0600-1100 with UTC daily an look beyond our own coastline tion of New Zealand (BCNZ) 1922 and is one of the oldest earlier sign -on on Saturday at to seek markets in other coun- was quick to supply a mobile in broadcasters the British Com- 2100 UTC. tries. transmitter which was hooked to monwealth. It's also different - Arthur Cushen "While this change in direction is pleasing, it should in no way be a signal for complacency Stereo AM survey by the business enterprise sector. In comparison with the other OECD countries, the level Consumers are prepared to pay and FM in stereo. casting in stereo. of R&D carried out by Aus- a premium to hear both AM and Just under 50% of the sample on the Commenting first tralian business enterprises, is FM radio in stereo, according to said they would pay an extra $40 birthday of AM stereo, Mr still much lower than the coun- a McNair -Anderson survey re- or more for a new car radio with David Maxwell, chairman of tries with which we compete. cently released. both AM and FM bands in Stereo AM Australia and Gen- However, it does indicate that The survey, which was com- stereo, as opposed to AM eral Manager of Sydney's Radio industry is beginning to head in missioned by Stereo AM Aus- mono/FM stereo. 2UE, said "stocks of stereo AM the right direction. tralia (a committee representing The survey should be good receivers are no longer limited AM radio "These results are consistent stations broadcasting news for both car and radio re- and the range of model options in stereo), shows with the Government's expecta- that 70% of ceiver manufacturers who are for is consumers also increasing tions. Indications of expenditure Australians would prefer to buy selling (or soon plan to sell) daily". a car fitted with by companies claiming the 150 both AM and radio receivers with stereo on However, considerable pres- FM radio bands in per cent tax concessions for stereo. More both AM and FM bands. sure still exists for the Govern- R&D are that there will be a fur- importantly, the survey, which Stereo AM Australia reports ment to allow conversion of AM ther increase of 33 per cent in was based upon a national sam- that one year after the introduc- licences to FM. The Department ple of real terms this year and we ex- 1312 people, shows that tion of AM stereo over 55 differ- of Communications has released over a the pect additional increases in fol- third of population ent models of stereo AM receiv- a report on the issue, and ex- would pay an extra lowing years." $100 or more ers are available, and over 45 pects to make a decision late this for a hi-fi system with both AM AM radio stations are broad- year. 16 - ETI September 1986 NEWS DIGEST

NZ voice on SW Borland breakthrough New Zealand's only regular shortwave broadcaster, Arthur Borland International has programming in logic. It is al- Cushen, and our shortwave fea- released what it calls a 5th gen- ready being adopted by the busi- ture writer, was guest speaker at eration language development ness and industrial sectors, an International Radio Conven- system called Turbo Prolog. educational institutions, and re- tion in Montreal in July. Arthur Borland says the system out- search and engineering organi- Cushen broadcasts over the performs other existing Prolog sations around the world. English Service of Radio Neder- language tools by factors of up According to Kahn, wide- land on Pacific affairs. to 10,000 with performance spread acceptance and use of Arthur's voice is known to comparable to prototypes of the Prolog will transform computer millions around the world as his Japanese 5th generation com- programming as we have known contribution on Radio Neder- puters. According to Borland it for decades. land is repeated 16 times President Philippe Kahn, the "Up until now, the computer throughout the day from trans- availability of powerful Turbo programmer had to instruct the mitters in Holland, the Carib- Prolog programming tools will computer in solving a problem bean, and off the coast of East Arthur Cushen spur the development of new by providing a structured series Africa. (Total output power of During the convention a more powerful expert systems, of steps or procedures for the these transmitters is over 3 mil- meeting of frequency managers and customized knowledge computer to follow. With lion watts.) from the BBC, Voice of Germa- bases. Prolog, programmers need only He is a frequent broadcaster ny, Voice of America, Radio There will be an acceleration describe facts, and let the com- from the BBC and within New Free Europe, Radio Liberty and in natural language front-end puter determine the solution on Zealand, his 'Radio World' fea- many other organisations was systems for vertical markets, its own. This takes the PC a step tures are carried by Radio held in Montreal to plan their and 'smart' information man- beyond its traditional computing Rhema and 4XD Dunedin. Dur- frequency requirements for the agement systems. "Even proto- functions of numerical calcula- ing the period when Radio New forthcoming months. typing of applications will be tions or data storage and retriev- Zealand broadcast a shortwave Recently Arthur was guest on faster using Prolog," he said. al. Prolog brings the capability service, his 'DX World' program American Broadcasting Compa- "Most software today is quite to infer or derive information ran from 1960 through to May ny's 'Coast to Coast Talkback primitive, and very little of it is from stated facts," he said. 1982. Show', the Ray Briem Show. designed to make efficient use of The Prolog language employs The Montreal Convention was During this five hour program personal computers. We de- a theorem -proving algorithm for hosted by Radio Canada Inter- listeners from throughout North' signed Turbo Prolog for the PC logic programming in order to national and organised by the America phoned in for advice to make it perform consistently take a set of premises and arrive Association of North American from experts who were in the with large computer systems in at an appropriate conclusion. Radio Clubs, an umbrella or- KABS studios, Los Angeles. terms of speed, throughput and The algorithm utilizes pattern - ganisation of radio clubs. The Additional information was performance," said Kahn. matching and back -tracking -a Secretary General of a similar available from Dr Richard Prolog was developed by true part of Al technology. European organisation in the Wood in Hawaii and from Ar- Alain Colmerauer at the Uni- For further information con- South Pacific Association along thur Cushen in Invercargill, versity of Marseilles, France, in tact Arcom Pacific on (07) 52- with Arthur was also present. It New Zealand, who were linked the early 1970s, and designed for 9522. was the first time that the three to the program by telephone, umbrella organisations have dis- giving a broader base to the cussed mutual problems about network feature. their leisure pastime. - Arthur Cushen Telecom to help Oz manufacturers Bosch joins Philips Telecom has opened a Technical ogy". Bosch and Philips are founding a Philips 30 per cent. Liaison Office to provide Aus- "Telecommunications tech- joint company for professional Bosch will integrate its Televi- tralian companies with technical nology is advancing rapidly and television equipment. sion Systems Division in Darm- information to assist in the becoming more complex," Mr Robert Bosch of Stuttgart, stadt and its Video Equipment development and manufacture McKinnon said. "We need to Germany, and Philips Gloeilam- Division in Salt Lake City, of new telecommunications help companies identify oppor- penfabrieken of Eindhoven in Utah, provided the American products. tunities, be aware of relevant The Netherlands, signed a con- Federal Trade Commission Mr Bob McKinnon, Tele- standards and specifications and tract last July, 1986, for world- gives its permission. com's General Manager, Net- have the chance to develop wide cooperation in the field of Philips will lose its develop- work Engineering, said "We Telecom designs and industrial professional television equipment and manufacturing facili- want to encourage more Aus- properties." ment in order to continue and ties in Breda, The Netherlands, tralian research and develop- The Technical Liaison Office extend their mutual activities in and its sales company, Philips ment. Not only do we need new will be at Telecom's national this field. Television Systems in Mahwah, products for our own network, headquarters at 3rd Floor, 172 They have set up a company New Jersey. we would also like to see Aus- William St, Melbourne. (03)606- with the name BTS - Broadcast For further information, con- tralians exporting the latest in 5068 or (03)606-6806. Television Systems with its head tact Bosch Electronic. Products telecommunications technol- office in Darmstadt, in which Division, Robert Bosch (Austra- Bosch has 70 per cent and lia) on (02) 887-4099. ETI September 1986 - 17 NEWS DIGEST CARTRIDGE OF THE MONTH New time code for VNG An updating of the broadcast plex. time code format has been im- The addition of this extra in- plemented on the shortwave formation in binary-coded deci- standard frequency and time sig- mal (BCD) form, will enable nal broadcasting service, VNG, time code receivers to operate to add time of day and day num- directly from the received signal ber of the year information with- by decoding the pulse sequences out alteration of the existing and updating a receiver's time 5 ME7OB minute, -minute and 10-minute output completely every minute. identifying sequences or DUT1 For maximum security under coding. The DUT1 code relates marginal reception conditions, the deviation between the the so-called 'slow code' at a bit Earth's angular position time rate of 1 Hz has been adopted, scale UT1 and the Coordinated the complete information thus M104E Universal Time Scale UTC. extending over most of one The M104E is ideally suited for VNG has operated from minute. The low transmission the person who needs Radio Lyndhurst, Victoria, for rate also permits decoding by outstanding sound performance 20 years. Telecom Research the use of simple recorders. and wants to upgrade their Laboratories were responsible As VNG has Australia -wide system on a limited budget. for the establishment of the ser- coverage, the upgraded time ME92E This cartridge captures and vice and continue to maintain service will have many new ap- recreates sound with elliptical the carrier frequencies and in- plications where HF radio re- shaped diamond stylus tip and stant of time, as transmitted, to ception is the only convenient an aluminium alloy shank to within close tolerances of the source of accurate time informa- faithfully reproduce your Telecom (ATC) Standard of tion. Such applications include favourite music. Time and Frequency operated at surveying, data logging, tele- The M104E cartridge is the Clayton Laboratories corn- metry systems and shipping. compatible with 1" mount tone arms or most Pmount tone arm systems. The M104E features a slide-on Hard disk drives too ME99E stylus guard plus a screwdriver and mounting hardware. reliable You'll find no other cartridge offers so much for so little as "The hard disk drive has be- tions to ensure their data's pro- the M104E come so reliable that users for- tection. get that it's even there and then He pointed out that Daneva, pow! right out of nowhere alone, offers at least seven solu- glitch, a heavy handed user or tions to the backup and security an SPECIFICATIONS employee with an axe to problem. "For as little as $200 a grind erases a year's worth of PC user can backup 10 MB in 'B'addng Fore at the Stylus lip: data." So says Optimum: 12.5 mN (1.25 grams) Daneva Australia eight minutes using Fastback, a Maximum: 15.0 mN (1.5 grams) Marketing Manager, Max Pie- floppy based archiving system. liadtabillty al 12.5 :TIN (1.25 gram) -tracking truschka. On an AT you lay Force (Typical in cm/sec peak velocity): could down M104E: 400 Hz: 24 cm/sec Max has seen the cost of hard 20 MB in the same time. Frequency Response, Essentially flat disk drives drop to the point that "Removable hard disk media, 20-20,000 Hz the average PC isn't complete although just gaining accept- Gunnel Balance: Within 2.0 dB without Gunnel Separation, 1 kHz: 25 dB typical one. "It isn't that they ance, is an excellent method of Output Voltage (Typical): are being given away with every having your hard disk and stor- M104E: 5.0 mV RMS at 1 kHz at computer," he 5 cm/sec peek velocity continued, "it's ing it too. At the moment there i Net Weight (with mounting adapter, just that users no longer equate are about three standards of M104E screw and nut): the value of their stored data tape drive with the data car- M104E: 7.3 grams: also P-mount compatible with the value of the storage tridge being the most popular. SMY(FZE device. What price do you put "The ultimate backup for high on 20 Mbyte AUDIO ENGINEERS PTY. LTD. of data? I'm not performance hard disks of 342 Kent Street, Sydney, NSW 2000 only talking about re-entry man 70 MB and above just has to be Ph: (02) 29-6731 hours, some data is just not the laser disc. Prices for these recoverable!". drives are dropping rapidly as Max sees an urgent need for the industry discovers the ad- AUDIO ENGINEERS (QLD) MARKETEC PTY. LTD. education of the PC fraternity so vantage of having an incorrupt- Cnr. Jane & Buchanan Streets, 51 Scarborough Beach Road, that they really understand the ible, transportable and rapid ac- West End, Qld 4101 North Perth, WA 6000 limitations of hard disk integrity cess medium on which to store Ph: (07) 44-8947 Ph: (09) 042-1119 and take the necessary precau- their hard won data."

ETI READER SERVICE 6 18 - ETI September 1986 VIEW PROGRAM WITH ON -SCREEN MENU Image versus word processing A report just released by Inter- 1122) has just released a colour national Resource Develop- graphics package called Screen - ment, a US based consultancy ware. It is intended for process group, says that image process- control terminals such as are ing is now reaching such levels now commonly used in factories of sophistication that the tradi- to control assembly lines. tional role of word processing is The idea is that almost any X-1 graphics board display under threat. IBM screen can be animated to The new phenomenon is make the operator interface called desk top publishing. This more user friendly. Information is taken to mean bringing the can be conveyed more easily and power of graphics functions and operator errors, now a major w i' awl alphanumeric manipulation pro- problem, are reduced. Mel 1121211 213` vided by the new breed of mi- Of course, communications is e cros to bear on the paper that trends, SW .as fundamental to these r atr gets churned out of a million of- whether it be across a factory, fices across the nation. The re- across an office or indeed, Fr port looks at the convergence of across the state. But news that a range of office technologies: Telecom Australia has hiked the photocopier, fax machine, prices on its Megalink local area scanners, digitizers and so on. lines has angered many in the The latest trend is towards con- .omputer industry. Austcad trolling these with a PC, thus in- boss Chris Harris fired off an IBM colour/graphics adapter display tegrating all their functions. angry press release in which he Central to this trend is the ad- described the new charges as un- vance of PC technology. The timely and unjustifiable. possibilities in the area are dis- Megalink lines are used by played by the latest offering Austcad to link its computer e cwM from Sublogic, the Illinois based aided design facilities and termi- company that developed Flight nals to clients in the manufactur- Simulator and Jet. It's called the ing, engineering and architec- IB-3DI and includes real time tural fields across the Sydney oliat/w

animation language (RTAL), a and Melbourne metropolitan ;ES I y,M 3D editor, an animator, plotter areas. Austcad's major clients and digitizer interface, a 3D include Westpac Engineering, database and demo program. Tubemakers and Sydney County The whole thing is designed for Council. an IBM-PC fatted with Sublog- ic's Xl board. Although the X1 board has a resolution of only 640 x 200, its powerful hardware and onboard software functions mean it can draw 7 million 4 -bit pixels every second, and an even more im- pressive 100 million polygons every second, once again with 4 -bit pixels. The importance graphics and computer imaging are starting to assume can also be gauged from the growth of educational institutions offering graphics 411213 21111U13 PorZu.n. iño: iñcv 2 courses. The latest news we HUI 0 fill' ES1 Éta: Uitir ~derRes«. , have is from Preston TAFE in Is* FI Melbourne, which is starting a CAD concepts course. Signifi- sOiia . ,.mi... cantly, the prerequisite for the course is in drafting, not in com- S a 3 2 I 4a1i1 31:. iiárSiNi.:12 a puter literacy. 1i74"rl Graphics is also making itself , . felt on the industrial front. l.`if+! 0ttlPtYWTI011 tia, , Navatech controls ((02) 758- , ETI September 1986 - 19 FREE POSTAGE FOR ALL ORDERS OVER $50! FREE POSTAGE FOR ALL ORDERS OVER $50!

W I %yl HI Ft SPEAKERS 0-' comprehan aloe range of Amatched appearance speakers, 1..dr all with square sliver grey trems and black cones - ideal for building up low cost speaker systems that will look and sound 10 TURN WIRE WOUND superb. UV EPROM ERASER Erase your EPROMs quickly and POTENTIOMETER safely This unit is the cost effective Spectrol Model 534 M* solution to your problems. It writ 1/a" shaft. erase up to a 24 pin in 9 devices Equiv (Bourns 3540S, Beckman COMPATIBLES complete safety, in about 40 minutes 7256) (less less for chips). Dials to suit 16.1-11, 18-1.11, Features include: 21-1.11. from $ 9 has NEW INTRA Incredible deals to sun everyone Chip drawer conductive foam 914050 SOR R14100 It/2" TWEETER HIGH 5K Including spaded package deals! pad RESOLUTION RGB 814055 1009 R14110 10K SPECIFICATIONS: Mains '256K RAM, single dove, graphics, powered COLOUR MONITOR! R14060 2009 R14120 20K Sensltivny: 9008 High UV disk controller and punter cards $949 Freq. Response: 1 intensity at chip surface SIze: 14 inch R14070 5009 914130 50K 2.20 kHz ensures EPROMs are thoroughly Sync. Holz Scan Frq: 15.75 256K TRACKBALL Impedance: 8 ohms KIN R14080 16 914140 100K RAM: Colour Graphics. Disk Durable, accurate and reliable, erased Sync- Vent. Scan 50 Hz Power RMS: 10 warts Frq: R14090 21( Controller Card, 1 parallel port, and with lee new Engineered to prevent UV Bard 18 MHz dual buttons. these Magnet Weight:2 or width: 1-9 10+ 2 disk doves and 3 months track balls exposure Resolution: 640 400 are suitable for use with dots warranty. only 51,395 the Commodore VIC.20. Atan home Cat C10200 $4.95 Dimensions 217x80 0 68mm Display aden 513.50 512.50 640K video Atari 4130 Wmout DisplayI co 5our RAM: Colour graphics, game and 800 Mme inter CaL X14950 yonB0 n2Chs Munifuncoon Card, Disk computer and Sears Arcade Game. Input Connector: 9 pin O type Controller Special, only $79,95 Card, 2 serial and 1 parallel ports, Cat. C14225 539.95 Cat. X14520. only 5695 2 disk doves and 3 months warranty. only 51,495 256K PACKAGE DEAL includes Colour Graphics Card, Multifunction Card Desk Controller Card, 2 serial and 1 parallel ports A 120 C.P.S. 1 pnnter and a monochrome monitor 41/2" MIDRANGE NE and 3 months warranty' only 51.995 WITH SEALED BACK 7 /r¡ RAAIL UR 5+3 is 640K PACKAGE DEAL: Includes Clothed edge surrounda 1 í% / ' 10312 Colour Graphics Cud, Multifunction SPECIFICATIONS: - Sensnlvny: 97dB Ilnesl Card, Desk Controller Card. 2 serial Freq. Response'. 600.8 kHz and 1 parallel ports A 120 C.P.S. ARLEC SUPER TOOL Impedance: 8 ohms punter, a monochrome monitor A versatile 12V electric tool for... and Power RMS: 20 watts SCOPE 60W SOLDERING Sanding 3 months warranty) only $2,095 MO* Magnet Weight: 5.4 oz SYSTEM Engraving 'IBM it a registered trademark. Cat. C10206 Infinitely adlustable temp. 200 C to Gnnding 512.95 470 C. Sliding control selects Polishing desired tip temperature (LED Cutting readout monitors tip temp.) Drilling Safety holder features ceramic Milling burn-proof bush and can be Erasing, etc convened to left-handsae. DELUXE JOYSTICK Features: Suds Commodore 64, VIC-20, Atari, Soft and cool hand grip in pliable Operates on sale, low 12 volts from rubber, Sears. NEC PC -6001 computers or mains electricity tea AC adaptor Screw type connector prevents games, (supplied). Light and easy to handle ECONOMY Coleoal. C14210 514.95 accidental plug removal and with touch switch and lock lot PROGRAMMABLE guarantees solid contacts. TRANSFORMERS continuous running High torque 24 HOUR TIME SWITCH 1-9 Temperature lock allows 48 10+ motor. 10,000 R.P.M. Can doll 2mm switching possibirdies per day 2155240V 6-15V 1A production supervisors to control holes in sleet. 2 year guarantee 2400 AC, 2400 watt. 10 amp soldering temperatures Cat. M12155 36.75 55.95 Contents: Suitable for turning on... Mb seize tip retention design Heaters/Coolers 2156 240V 6-15V 2A 12" WOOFER 12V Super Tool reduces nsk of thread seizure by pool filter Cat. M12156 59.50 58.95 Plugpack AC adaptor RIBBED CONE rernOrring locking nut to cooler end of electric blankets ñ - Cloth edge roll surround. 1 spherical milting cutler 2851 240V 12-6V CT 150mA barrel. cooking appliances SPECIFICATIONS: 1 were brush Cal, M12851 54.50 53.60 Optional 30W sobering pencil is making Sensitivity: 9208 1 grinding wheel available for finer work. lightspu.yotc security 6672 240015.30V IA lapped Freq. Response: 32 4 kHz 4 drill bits, 0.6.0.8, 1.0, 1.2mm rtinghte ou're away from hone! y Cat M16672 59,95 59.30 Impedance: 8 ohms Cat 712900 Normally 5159 Set of 5 chuck collets Bargain Pncel 2860 240V 15V CT 25OmA Power RMS: 30 watts NOW 5149 6 eraser sticks Magnet Instruction sheets Cal. M22002 only $19.95 CaL M12860 54.95 53.95 Weight: 13 3oz Cat. 012300 549.95 Cal Cí0214 $39.95

k POWERFULL MINI DRILL QUICK STICK JOYSTICK Featunng a powerful 6000 rpm. Features: motor, this lightweight (113gm) trill 3 Fast Responsive Flung Buttons, for is ideal many lobs Petted ter AT Arcade joystick feeling. PCB work! Has a 0.8 to 1 2mm IBM STYLE" Comfortable Grip. - 0 chuck and lmmdnll bit. KEYBOARD RECHARGEABLE 12V Bran In stabilizing Gnp. Requires 12V 1 AMP,(use with t00% IBM' PC. XT compatible. Compatible with..., Mt UHF TO VHF TUNEABLE low profile keyboard design. GEL. BATTERIES Commodore 64 VIC-20, Leakproof and in CM 712302 proper placement of shift keys with 3 convenient Atari, vs- 517.95 DOWN CONVERTER sizes, these long service Ice Suits all TV's and allows large key tops to suit professional Sears 12" VHF sets to batteries are ideal for burgular HIGH POWER watch and listen to SBS Channel 28 Npists NEC PC -6001 et systems, emergency lighting or as a MUSICAL SPEAKER Has built In amplifier to ensure no 3 step height/angle adpustmen Cat C1a215 Aluminium SI computer backup power supply. only 59.95 die cast chases signal loss Cherry brand Ts o001 mm low19 Ideal tot many power needs Carbon fibre impregnated cone Tuneable UHF band 4/5 to VHF switches, meet 30mm paper j channel 1. ergonomic requirement. and Cat. 515029 12V 1.2 AH 512.95 Foam edge provide high performance o Power supply 12V DC 100mA and Cat. $15031 12V 2.6 AH $39.50 Light grey cone, silver dust cap (included). maximum reliability. High temperature X- Cat. 12V 4.5 -NOME voice Allows TV without UHF to recieve Curl lead plugs straight into 515031 AH 549.95 cal. on -air UHF signal or use VCR, IBM' PC/XT SPECIFICATIONS: TEXTOOL Video Game, Comn cater, etc. Status displays, (3) 1 Sensitivity: 970B tr SOCKETS Just lIke the "reel McCoy" only at P1701616pin Cat. 115021 599 Frequency Response: 50-4kH2 514.50 traction of the pwcel impedance: 8 ohms ó P17024 24 per 514.50 Cat. 012020 Normally 5245 Power RMS: 60 watt CC P1702828pin $19.50 SPECIAL, ONLY $199 Magnet Weight: 30 oz Cat. C10216 559.95 O P17040 40 pin $22.50 "SNAP TOGETHER" PLASTIC CABINET J 41 Top and bosom simply snap together (no screws required). remav J able front and back panels. n Dimensions 1861W) 5 12510) x Q 50fHImm Cat H10116 $6.95 pep FREE STANDING, FOLD ',V} UP MAGNIFIER An ecconomicallypriced Rands bee' a magnifier, lets you take care of all `--' those dicky hoe detailed loos so s ti often encountered Is electronics, or . . any HOOK UP WIRE of many Other practical uses Cat. No. Description such as home, work hobbies etc. W1 1 251 13/.12 TND BLK Cat. 112083 514.95 W11252 131.12 TLD BROWN W11253 13'.12 TLD ORANGE '-!:::2C W11254 131.12 TLD YELLOW CENTRONICS GENDER W1125513/.12TLD GREEN CHANGER WI Female Female 1256 13/.12 TLD BLUE to W11257 Saves modifying or replacing 13:.12 TLD WHITE MICRODOT DISKS PRICES PER 100 METRE ROLL rvan-matug Centronics cables 100% certified and error free guaranteed) 1-9 10 Where else All 36 pins wired straight through can you get 100% guaranteed disks Cal 015662 533.95 55.95 55.00 at these prices?! W1126014/20RED 1-9 boxes 10+ boxes W11261 14/.20 BLACK INLINE SWITCHING BOX W11265 14/ 20 BLUE 51/4íI S/S (C12440) $17.95 $16.95 25 pin "D" plug to 25 pin W1126014/.20 WHITE socket (RS232/ PRICES PER 10a METRE ROLL 51/4íI D/S DIP switches allow easy 1-9 10+ (C12445) $19.95 $17.95 switching or infernal wiring. Bulk and dealer Inquiries welcome please phone 103) 543 2166 $12.00 510.00 Cal. P 532.95 W11270 24/,20 REO W 11272 24/ 20 BLACK W11274 24/.20 GREEN 51/e" DISK STORAGE PRICES PER 100 METRE ROLL Efficient and practical. Protect your 1-9 10 disks from being damaged or lost! Features.,. 514,00 512.00 Smoked TELEPHONE ADAPTOR plastic cover W11280 Austrafian plug to U S socket Lockable keys 32/.2 BROWN (2 supplied) W11282 Length 10cm High impact ABS 31. .2 BLUE plastic base. PRICES 100 Cream colour cable Deriders/spacers PER METRE ROLL 1.9 10+ Cat 116026 $6.95 Cat C16020 ONLY 519.50 $20,00 $18.00 FREE POSTAGE FOR ALL ORDERS OVER $50! - FREE POSTAGE FORi1'4J:17 : . ii : A FREE POSTAGE FOR ALL ORDERS OVER $50! FREE POSTAGE FOR ALL L.

tO,r4. II FOR IBM NICADSI SPEECH SYNTHESISER PROTOCARD DPM-200 PANEL METER Size 335 a 101 mm (approx.) Ultra Low Power Size Dees. 1A 10+ CHIPS! ) 5,000 holes (appro. Separately Addressable AA 12 A.M. 51.95 $1.75 SP0256A-AL2: Speech synmevser ex lmm diameter ck:p, needs progremmng to work. Annunciator C 1.2 A.H. $7.95 Double sided 15mm Milts 56.50 513.95 BRAND NEW FANS Plated through D 12 A H. BWrOgap Reference $7.95 $6.50 Nor noisy pullouts) Stacks uses In Solder pad both sides CTS256-AL2: Contains the code of A low profile LCD DPM wdn a range power amps computers, hotspot Gold plated edge connector reoogekon circuit to enable the of useful symbols as shown, The poling etc Anywhere you need IRT protect to plug directly on the printer Cat. H19110 549.50 DPM 200 features 15mm 312 dgn -_ an IBM Glair.58 display, and ultra low current Loft. or Into 0V Cat. 712461 $12.95 r PL$27.95 EXTENDER CARD onsumptlon and a bandgap Doki 115V 4543" Cat. 112463 eference for high stability. It also . 512.95 FOR A SET OF EACH 539.50 IBM Auto 1 240V 312" Cat. 712465 512.95 Now aveflablel How long have you features Auto -zero. -polarity, It may le - 1 been waning for one of these? 200nW NO. be used single ---- 115V 312" Cal. T12467 $12.95 ended. ddferential or ratio metrc NEW1 Cal -1119115 $49.50 'e 10+ lens (mixed) only $10 eacnl modes The Isd can be easily 1 changed by the user to indicate any other units. The decimal pocos and di 1 symbols can all be driven horn an %» HIGH INTENSITY internal source. Wide supply and LED DISPLAYS symbols can all be driven from an Overall Dimensions: Internal source. de supply rat RS232 8 D' TYPE 12.7mm across. 19mm hgh. (5-15V DC) with a vanabe threshold SPECIALS Cat. Z10190 BREADBOARDS low battery warning Indicator. Part Description Cat.No. Price 1-9 10+ 100+ Supplied *nth mounting clips and Cat. No. Description Price DE9S 9 pin Female P10881 51.75 $1.75 $1.50 51.30 copreereeslve data sheet P11000 100 Holes S 2.75 SPECmIFICATIONS: DE9P 9 pin Male P10880 $2.25 P11005 640 Holes $10.75 Accuracy: 0.1% +-1 dgn DE9C 9 pit cover P10882 51.95 Linearity: +-1 digit D P11007 640+100 Holes DAl SP 15 pen Male P10890 $13.00 Samplea'sec: 3 $2.10 P11009 640+200 Holes $17.50 Temp. Stability: 50 typical DA15S 15 Female P10891 52.25 MULTIDIALS ppm HIGH INTENSITY IBM* COMPATIBLE SPECTROL P11010 1280+100 Holes $19.95 Temp. Rengo: 0 - 50-C DA15C 15 pit cover P1089251.15 ORt Mode: 16.1-11 Supply Voltage: 5. 15V DC (.9") P11011 t 280+300 Holes $32.50 DB25P 25 pen Male P10900 LED BAR GRAPH DISK DRIVES Supply Current; 50uA typical $1.95 Ave you sick oh uP 10 100% CaLRI4400 516.95 Dimensions: irarn9 P11012 1280+400 Holes 536.75 Max DC Input Volts: +-20V DB25S 25 Female P1o901 52.95 more for Japanese Disk Drives? Overall: 63mm across, Smm Model 18-1.11 I1- s 1.75- Rect.) P11015 1920+500 Holes DB25C 25 pin cover P1090251.20 We now have "direct import" disk 557.50 Cal. 015510 $99.95 1mm h.°LEDs:5s CaLR14405 538.50 Cat. 210180 doves at much lower prices? P11018 2560+700 Holes 564.95 Model 21-1-11(1.82") 1-9 10+ 100+ Description 1-9 10+ 52.95 $2.75 52.50 500K 5179 5169 Cal.R14410 537.50 1 M/B a 5219 $199 1.611 Vte 5239HST 5219 C IA- S REDgED:. you out of hibernatin._nhberna.t r n Sp sP a45,,,, 7(,'> J 'üó SPECIALS! (C DIGITAL SPEEDO/ UNIVERSAL BATTERY I 71 1.9 to+ 100+ 4116 $3.75 $3.50 DIGITAL TACHO/ CHARGER AND TESTER $3.95 Save money on expensive batteries 11 4164 1,2.75 5 6 $2.95 52.50 SPEED ALERT with this battery 2716 $5.50 55.50 universal charger. L $5.90 Digital readout (LED) for both Features Include meter tester, and T (-6J1 APPLE* COMPATIBLE 2732 $6.25 $5.95 $5.50 f tacho and speedo. provisions for D.C. AA. AAA N. 2764 56.25 55.95 55.00 SLIMLINE DISK DRIVES Alarm with sound at variable button and cell batteries. 9V and 6V C * PANEL METERS 27128 $6.95 $6.50 $625 Japanese Chinon preset speed. (square types). Comes complete mechanism, GALORE! 6116 $2.95 $2.75 52 50 and casual X19901 Audible beeper with detailed Instructions Cat. Normally $225 We have a great range of panel 41256 $6.95 $6.50 $6.00 indicator. Cal. M23533 PUSH BUTTON NO 5195 meters at great prces! 6264 56.50 $5.50 5525 In built light indicator for might 527.95 Is regurwed DIALLERS ( Appb trade nab Cat.No. Description Price 27256 511.50 510.50 510.00 Ikumination. 010500 MU450.1mA 12.50 negative Tired of old fashion dialling and WORLD MODEM CHIP Designed for 12 volt 010502 MUd550-0/SOuA 1250 earth electrical systems re -dialling engaged numbers? MU45 0-100uA 12.50 Cat. U21614 Normally 549.50 These convenient push button 010504 Speedo: 0. 199kpn 010510 MU45 0.5A 1250 Save 520, SPECIAL 529.50 9900kpn Include last number radtionsial Tachometer0 diallers 010518 MU450-1A 12.50 (up to 16 digits) and nshuc or Speed alert: 40. 120kph 010520 MU45 0.15 12.50 Compete with mounting hardware. an easy changeover. MU45 0-20V 12.50 010525 Cat. A15064 Normally $69.50 Cal. A12030 . NORMALLY 519.95 010530 MU52E 0-1A 14.50 SPECIAL, ONLY 514.95 MITSUBISHI DISK 010633 MU52E 0-5A 14.50 SPECIAL ONLY 559.50 DRIVES 010535 MU45 VU PMetre 14.95 010538 M065 050uA 16 95 Rod Irving Electronics MF353 (31/2" DRIVE) 010540 MU65 0-1mA 16.95 48 A'Becketf St, MELBOURNE Double sled, double density. 010550 MU650-100uA 16.95 Phone (03)663 6151 per 1 MiByte unformatted, 80 track 010560 MU650.20V 16.95 425 High SL NORTHCOTE side. RITRON 19" RACK CASE Tremendous Value! Dimensions Phone (03) 489 8866 Cat. C11953 3280 sksm 480(W) a 134(H) X 250113)mm. Mall Order and Correspondence: M2896-63 Cat. H10415 Normally 547.95 P,O. Boa 620, CLAYTON 3168 Slimkne 8- Disk Drive. Double sided SPECIAL, ONLY $42.95 Telex: AA 151938 o Density No AC power required. 3ms N track to track, 1.6 Mbytes FUSE A unformatted. 77 track side 10Lsu 10 Two values, 3 Amp andL 1 Amp 100999 1000+ RITRON 2 MONITORS On soh error rate. 1-99 84 each 60 each Sc each Stylish swivel base mon tor, Cat. C11916 $895 ^á^ available in amber or greermn.. Case 8 Power Supply to suit LJ Green Cat. X14506 Normally $215 Cat. X11022 5159 Amber Cat. 014508 Normally $219 PC BOARD HOLDER MAIL ORDER HOTLINE m M4854 Barter then en extra pek or hands! SPECIAL, ONLY 5199 for PCB work. Slimline 51/,9 disk drive. Double A must all (03) 543 7877 sided. double density, 96 traciOch, Cat 712444 59.95 (2 lines) 9621 bit/inch. 1.6Mbyte unlormaood POSTAGE RATES: -11/ track to track access. 77 track/ 33 3ms 51 - 59.99 ...... $2.00 SPECIAL% side. 510 $24.99 $3.00 CRAZY Cal. C11904 $375 $2255,,,,,, $1.00 Case 8 Power Supply to suit X5449.99 FOR AL r SPECIALS Cal. 011011 $109 FREEVOSTAGE CRYSTALS OV ER 55012 r ORDERS We ,Imply have two many of these 50 Imo stock! M4853 pp pee crystal... Ís poefage only No.1-9 10+ Slimline 51/4- disk dine, Double Tins for basic Description Cat. Comet Road Freight, bulky and Y11000 $6.00 $5.20 Wed. double density, 1 Mbyte 1 MHz fragile items will be charged at 33 1.8432MHz Y1100356.00 $5.20 unformatted, 3ms track to track, 80 tradusde, 5922 bench. different rates 4MHz Y11020 $2.00 $1.60 PAD 4.194304MHz Y1102212.00 51.60 Cat. 1903 $295 ARGUS 726 ADJUSTABLE CODE KEY Cenitied Post for orders over Cl type keycode 4.433618MHz Y11023 $2.00 $1.60 Telephone dgitpad. , $100 included free! rn MAGNIFIER WITH LAMP Four dgn changeablale 4.75MHz Y1102512.00 51.60 M4851 CORDLESS perfect for Close up Registered Poet for orders over Absolutely Over 5000 possible comblnatons. 4.915200MHz Y11026 52.00 51.60 Stimtme 51/4- disk drove. Double RECHARGEABLE PCB's. protects. etc.« $200 headed free! work? Imncate Power consumption: SmA slary, Cl)/ SMMz VI103052.00 51.60 sided. double density 5001< breeze under this superb, SOLDERING IRON will be e SOmA claim. All sales lax exempt orders and 6MHz Y11040 $2.00 $1.60 unformatted. 408 Side. Steel Bulk el solder point illummaton ad/Islable magnilrrg lamp wholesale Inquiries to: Afve system Two sectm LED and 1 arm LED. Y11042 $2.00 $1.60 bard tIp 1 6.144MHz Easy replacement of solder Magniees 75 times Wrong mbar lockout. RITRONICS WHOLESALE. Y t 1045 52.00 51.60 6.670MHz Cat. C11901 $249 Protective stand welch also 40 waft incandescent lamp 12V operation S6 Reneer Rd. Clayton. V11050$2.00 $1.60 DC 8MHz Case 6 Power Supply to sun functions as charging unit 2 spring-balanced arms Relay output Ph. (O3) 543 2166 (3 tines) 8.867238MHz Y11055 52.00 $1.60 pad attach to stand le Sdable lo 95cm Cat X11011 $109 Sponge Panic button Errors and omissions excepted rn 10M1 -1z V11060 $2.00 $1.60 head for optimum Plug pack power adaptor Adt lade Normally open tamper south. 12MHz Y1107052.00 $1.60 Includes Nlcad battery .ettn '4ppk arc flhl reieesvred.cre a es 23 M4855 Dimensoms: 145 X 100 a 37mm 14.31818MHz Y11072 $2.00 $1.60 Slimline 51W' disk drive. double Insiructilon manual Comes withdesk clamp. ACP3 compatible. xft 15M11z YI1075 12.00 $1.60 sled, double density, 96 trackiirch. 12 months warranty (Interchangeable with base) Y11082 $2.00 51.60 Cat. A13014 Normally $69.50 V/SA cry 18MHz 2.0 Mbytes unformatted Cat. 712480 Normally $69.95 fantastic Value!! 18.432MHz Y11085 $2.00 $1.60 SPECIAL, ONLY 555.60 C- Our price $89 20MItz Y11090$2.00 $1.60 Cat. C11905 $385 SPECIAL, $59.95 Cat FREE POSTAGE FOR ALL ORDERS OVER $50! FREE POSTAGE FOR ALL ORDERS OVER $50! FREE POSTAGE FOR ALL ORDERS OVER $50! FREE POSTAGE FOR ALL ORDERS 1r- OVER $50!

. l I.,tir.el til. ' I SERIES 5000 GENERATOR INDIVIDUAL Lei r.déifx FUNCTION COMPONENTS TO . This Function Generator with digital readout produces Sine, Tnangle MAKE UP A SUPERB HOT SYSTEM! VIDEO FADER CIRCUIT and Square waves over a frequency By directly importing and more PH METER KIT a technically orientated Add a touch d professionalism range from below 20Hz 10 above organisation, ROD IRVING ELECTRONICS can bring you to your video movies with this simple Build this pH meter for use with t60Hz with low distortion and good i3 these pools Video Fader Circuit It enables you swimming to fish tanks to envelope stability. It has an inbuilt products at lower prices than their competitors. Enjoy the many gardening, this meter to fade a scene lo black (and back pH has many four -digit frequency counter for ease other advantages o1 R(E applications around the home. This Series 5000 kits such as "Superb Finish" galrn without loss of picture lock and accuracy of frequency setting. front at no Ssy"c unit features a large 312 digit liquid (EA April '82, 82A03AB) VIFA/AEM 3 WAY panels extra cost, top quality components supplied 11,'. crystal EA Janor '86, 8155ff10) display and resolution to The RIE Function throughout Over 1,000 sold) .01 pH Note: Generator SPEAKER KITI uses making it suitable for a high screen Cat K86010 519.95 use in has quality printed This superb 3 way speaker kit For those who haven't the time and want a quality hi-fi, we the laboratory as well. and prepunched front also (EA Dec 82)132P1412 panel) competes with syateme that cost sell the Series Cat 082040 2.3 times 5000 kits assembled and tested. .1; Cat.1(82123 the cost of these units? $135 Cat. K82041 $109 (which may even be using VIFA .. driver. etc.) Never before has h tf) "\-1/- been possible to get such .aeT-w' eillWitee exceptional value In kit speakers? cc I'S: Call in personally and compare for yourseffl , 4i. C 0 The system comprise.. . (¡ ("1-) { 2 x 019 dome tweeters POWER AMPLIFIER Ng e 2 075 dome rridrarge s WHY YOU SHOULD BUY A "ROD E O AUDIO TEST UNIT 2 x P25 woofers IRVING Just about everyone these days who 2 x pre -bat quality Crossovers SERIES 5000 a 1% has a stereo system also has a good ...,.ri. The cabinet kit consists of 2 knock- (J ó cassette deck, but not many people down braes N beautiful black gran are able to get the best performance MODEL ENGINE look with silver battles speaker ONLY3i from E. Our Audio RADIOTELETYPE Test Unit allows IGNITION SYSTEM cloth, innerbond, get clips, speaker you to set your cassette recorder s CONVERTER FOR THE terminals, screws and ports. SPECIAL bias for optimum frequency Get sure starts every time, without MICROBEE S30 response for a given tape or glow plug turnouts on your model D19 DOME TWEETER net .i 'cc Have your computer print latest SPEAKER alternatively. it allows you to tied out nes. the SPECIFICATIONS SAVEergnctrralTdeveloped by (ETI 1516 news from the international O which tape is best for your recorder. June'83) En Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms 1 e eil!OC, E CTRONICS and is being supplied to other kit (816010) (EA Oct '81) Cat. shortwave news service. Just hook Frequency K55160 $49.50 up this your Range: 2.5.20kHz suppliers. protect between short Free Ale Cat. K81101 $59.50 wave receivers audio output and the Resonance: 1,700Hz Sensitivity 1W at 1m: 8948 SPECIFICATIONS: 150 W RMS Into 4 ohms MicrOBee parallel port A simple bit Nominal POWER AMPLIFIER: 100W RMS into 8 ohms (+-55V Supply) of software the Power; 80 Watts does decoding (fo' 12081oct) FREQUENCY RESPONSE: 8Hz to 20Hz +Oe.0.4 dB 2.8Hz to 65KHz, MurSr be hooked up to other 5,000Hz, Can Voice Coil Diameter: +0e3 d8. NOTE: These I ures are determined solely by passive fitters computers loo Apr '83) 19mm cc OIM )ETI Voice Coll Resistance: 6.2ohms INPUT SENSITIVtTY:1 V RMS for 100W oupi4. Cal K47330 519.95 Moving Mass: 0.2 grams HUM: 100 dB below full output (flat). O Weight: 0.2869 NOISE: 116 d8 below lull output (flat. 20KHz bandwidth) 2nd HARMONIC DISTORTION: .0.001% at 1 KHz (0.0007% on Prototypes) U. at 100W ouput using a +e56V at 4A MUSICOLOR IV D75 DOME MIDRANGE SUPPLY rated continues .0.0003% for all SPECIFICATIONS: frequencies less than 10KHz and all powers below clipping W/ Add excitement to parties, card TOTAL Nominal Imped ce: 8 ohms HARMONIC DISTORTION: Determined by 2nd Haerranic Distortion nights and discos with EAs (see above). SONICS ACTIVE DIRECT Musicdor IV light Frequency flange;350. 5,000Hz show. This is the Free INTERMO ULATION DISTORTION: 0.003% at 100W. (50Hz and 7KHz INSERTION BOX. latest in the famous line of Air Resonance: 300Hz Sensitivity (1W at mixed 4 D. musicoirs It 1m): 9140 This inexpensive, easy to build DI and offers features Nominal STAB! : Unconditional. box was in such as lour channel "color organ Power; 80 Watts designed Conjuctgn with (b; 500Hz, 12d8/oc1) Sonics magazine and n fine for both plus four channel light chaser, front ELECTRIC FENCE Cat K44771 $359 live home panel LED display, Mains or Voice Coil Diameter: 75mm PA and recording work- It internal battery powered, this Voice takes an microphone, single sensitivity eiectnc fence controller is both Coll Resistance: 7.2ohms Assembled and tested $549 unbalanced Input and Moving Mass (IncL produces an output for control plus opto-coupied inexpensive and versatile. Based on air): 3.6 grams packing and post $10 suitable switching Weight: 0.65kg dnwng a balanced audio line. for Increased safety an automotive gmtion coil, a (EA Aug: 81) 81 MC8 should prove an adequeate SPECIFICATIONS: P25 WOOFER SPECIFICATIONS: SM Ratio: 100dB (ref OdBM) Cat. K81o80 $99 deterrent to all manner of livestock. Addeonally, Ifs operation Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms . . Distortion: 0.03% at 408M comforms ...... to the relevant Frequency Range: 25 -3,000Hz . W Input Impedance: 500k nominal clauses of Australian 1. Sind 3129. (EA Sept.'82) 82EF9 Free Air Resonance: 25Hz (unbalanced) Operating Power; 5 watts Output 1(82092 Normally U. Ynpetlwwa' 600 cdw, nomned Cat. 519.95 Sensitivity (1W at 1ln/1: 89dB PREAMPLIFIER (balanced) SPECIAL, ONLY $14.95 Nominal Power: 60 Watts THE ADVANTAGES OF BUY (ETI 1401 Sept'85) Music Power: 100 Walls "ROD IRVING ELE Cat. 1(41401 ...... 539.95 Voice Coil Diameter: 40mm Voice Coll Resistance: 5.7ohms Moving Mass (Intl. air): 44 grams LY $299 Thiel.Snall Parameters Om:3.15 Oe: 0.46 SPECIAL PRINTED CIRCUIT 0': 0.40 BOARDS Vas. 180:1 Weight: 1.9569 SAVE Cc ETI 044 52.95 $20eye that dollar for Ell 163 57.95 Speaker Kit CaLK90000 . $779 ommercial unit available that sounds as

. ETI164 52.95 Cabinet Kit Cat.K90000 .. $309 ET1193 All Together Cal.K90000. $989 PECIFICATIONS: 56.95 FREQUENCY RESPONSE: ETI256 a huge High-level input: 15Hz e1300Hz. +O.e10B 52.95 TRANSISTOR TESTER (Save 110!) Low -Level input-conforms to RIAA equalisation +w0 208 ETI 268 51.95 Have you ever desoldered a suspect DISTORTION: 1 KHz all inputs a J HUMIDITY 0.003% on (limit of resolution on measuring METER E11278 53.95 transistor. only to hnd that it checks equipment due to noise limitation). This project can be built to give a OK?Trouble-shootingexercises are Sit NOISE: Miggn-Level input. master full, with respect to 30omV input ETI 324 $4.95 hindered signal al readout of relative humidity either on often by this type of false lull output I1 20)9248 flat 10048 Aweighted MM Input, master lull, with a LED dot -node display or a ETI 412 53.95 alarm, but many of them could be respect to full output (1.2V) N 5 mV input 50ohms source resistance connected; conventional meter In addition it E11449 $2.80 avoided wrath an "in -circuit' +f1" .8608 IIat92dB A -weighted MC input, master full, with respect to full output Can be with component tester, such as the EA used another project as ETI 453 (1.2V) and 200uV input signal: .7708 flat .75de A -weighted. a controller to turn on and off a water $2.95 Handy Tester. (EA Sept:83) 83TT8 Cc ETI :r 11111c) Cat. K44791 mist spray in a hothouse, for 455 53.95 Cal. 083080 Normally 518.95 , $319 example (ETI May'81) ETI-256 ETI o 458 56.95 , (Includes humidity SPECIAL, ONLY $14.95 Assembled and tested $599 sensor 519 50) ETI Ail.: e 464 53.95 packing and postage 510 Cal. K52460 529.50 ETI466 59.95 611477 59.95 DIGITAL SAMPLER KIT ETI478SA 52.95 Digital sampling is at the Core of ll , ET1478S8 $1.95 many of the special sound effects rt,lil'r i, ifie,.,, I1, t,f 4 ETI 478SC used by modern musicians A trigger 51.95 input (usually a c0nstrucbon drum ETI 47850 51.95 pad) triggers a prerecorded sound U. ETI 490 $2.95 from the digital sampler. This sound THIRD OCTAVE E11494 53.95 has been recorded into the 4K of onboard memory and be - W E11496 $5.95 can GRAPHIC EQUALIZER digitally mafkpulated so that it SPECIFICATIONS: ETI 499 $7.95 sounds completely different on 15V DUAL POWER playback. BANDS: 28 Bands from 31.5Hz to 16KHz. sal . The unit has controls for En 53.95 PLAYMASTER 300 WATT NOISE: O. SUPPLY gain, regeneration and mixing It $0.008mV, sliders at aim ETI666 . , $3.95 This simple protect is suitable for AMPLIFIER also gives a choice of a number of 20104:z BANDWIDDWID TH DIS ! most protects requiring a dual ETI 668 54.95 Tbls module will deliver up to 200 different angering methods Elders a10, oaage (ETI 581, June'76) ETI672 52.95 waffs into an 8 Ohm load and up to (ETI 1402 May. June. July'86) $209 watts into 4 Cat. K45810 $19.50 Ell 688A 54.95 300 a ohm load. Cal K41420 O Comprehensive protection is SpECiAL, Ell 6888 52.95 included and a printer occult board Please phone for price and Ell 699 brings it all together in a rugged avallablllty °14 58.95 510 i : 19 ETI 724 easy -to -build module. It can be built E 52.95 in LISTENING SAV W. either fully-complemetary or POST $429 ETI 733 $5.95 -complementary quasi versions. so This device attaches between the Packing and postage $10 Ell 736A 53.95 output transistor shortages should audio output of a shortwave receiver be no problem at all. and the input port of It ^ cc E117368 $3.95 a computer. (80066) (EA July' 80) allows 6TI755A 58.95 decoding and punting out of Cat 080060 Normally 5109 morse code. radiofeletype (RTTY) SERIES 4000 ETI 755B 52.95 and (FAX) COMPUTER DRIVEN SPECIAL. ONLY 599 larsimile pictures using ETI 755C ' the computer. It has been designed SPEAKERS RADIO $2.95 -TELETYPE e0pa6 $15.95 from all readily .violable parts TRANSCEIVER Details for wnbng the software 80pg6 57.95 program included. Here's what you've asking for, are been fiooml0 (AEM 3500. a full trasma-receive system for 53.95 July'851 Puse. Ced computer driven radio teletype 82ps2 56.95 Cal. K93015 537.95 station The software provides all 82eg2 $2.95 AEM DUAL SPEED the latest "whizz-barg5 like 82vc3 MODEM . amid ( split-screen operation. automatically $4.95 aVai (49i ay The ultimate k4 modem teatunng repeating test message. primer 82pa7 511.95 more. 12000/00 baud, case etc. output and The hardware 82pc10 S3.95 Exceptional tried and proven PHONE MINDER value for money! uses techniques 83ma/l $5.95 (AEM 4600 Dec While designed to team with the Dubbed the Phone Minder, this '85) popular M,crobee, tips are amiable óaaul 52.95 handy gadget functions u both a S169 interfacing the unit to other 84mal l 52.95 ben extender and paging and, Of it STROBE KIT Errors and Ommissions Excepted cnompliers IF Ti Nov 84) ETI 755) 85e111 57.95 can pertorm either function Includes perspee covert separately, (EA Feb '84) 84TP2 (AEM 9500) EY Cat. K47550 5139 AEM 4600 ...... 521.95 ' Cat. K84021 $27.50 Cat. 093018 $59.95 FREE POSTAGE FOR ALL ORDERS OVER $50! . FREE POSTAGE FOR ALL ORDERS 01, - FREE POSTAGE FOR ALL ORDERS OVER $50! FREE POSTAGE FOR AL.

seo %AA -iió .. Phl .i . 30 V/1 A FULLY rl . PROTECTED POWER 1 q I SUPPLY git The last ELECTRIC DUMMY LOAD 9 PH METER KIT power supply we did was DUAL TRACKING the phenomenally popular E11-131. With this unit you can test power POWER SUPPLY Bad this pH meter for use with This low cost supply features full supplies at currents up to 15 Amps pools to fish tanks to It Built around positive and negative 3 - awimmrg protection. output variation from OV MULTI SECTOR and voltage up to 60 Volts. can meter has many Terminal Regulators, this versatile gardening. this pH to 30V and selectable current limit. "sink" up to 200 Walts one static applications around the home. This ALARM STATION dual tracking Power Supply can Both volalage and current metering Protect your home and possessions test and you can modulate the bad features a large 31,2 Mort liquid provide voltages up to 2A In unit Is provided. (ETI Dec..83) ETI 162 from burglars with this up to the to perform dynamic tests display and resolution to addition the Supply features a fixed crystal mute alarm system It's (ETI Oct. ti0) ETI 147 pH units. makirgil suitable for Cat K41620 Normally $59.50 burglar +5V 0.9A output and is completely .01 to costs less than Cal K41470 Normally $129 laboratory as well. easy build, protected against short circuits. use In the SPECIAL, $44.50 Dec.82) 82PH12 equivalent commercial units, and SPECIAL 5119 Overloads and thermal runaway. (EA features eight separate inputs, (EA March'82) 82PS2 Cat. K82123 $135 ndividual sector control, battery Cat. K82030 Normally $109 back up and salt-test facility. SPECIAL, 599 Specifications: Eigh1 sectors with LED status indication SA SS Two delayed entry sectors DELUXE CAR Variable exK entry and alarm ALARM time settings: entry delay BURGLAR vanable Stop your car from being one of the 10 75 between and seconds: exit 70,000+ stolen cars stolen each delay variable between 5 and 45 year with this "state 01 the art" car seconds; alarm time variable burglar alarm. Features include key between 1 and 15 minutes switch operation, delayed entry and ® Resistive loop sensing: suits exit, automatic reset, and provision 50V 5A LABORATORY normally normally both open and for an auxiliary battery Further POWER SUPPLY closed alarm sensors New switChmode supply can deliver SLIDE CROSS -FADER more, of the 10 most important to on really professional Battery back-up with in-bunt anywhere from three to 500 DC and Want pot features listed by NRMA this slide show? This slide cross -fader charger mewl. has of 5A at 35V or lower. EA Deluxe Car Nom 9 of them! currents CRYSTAL CONTROLLED can smooth dissolves from aim -in wren dwver, Highly efficient design provide (64ba5, EA May '84) TV PATTERN GENERATOR one protector to another. initiate The RIE kit Includes a superb (Ea May June83) 83PS5 and metal Cat 1(84050 579.50, Anyone wishing to obtain the slide changing automatically Irom printed prepunched Cal. K83050 Normally $169 case Inside metal work, maximum pertormance horn a colour an ,n-built vanalbe tinier, and and plus S159 a gall baneryl Unbeatable VALUE! SPECIAL TV reliever needs a pattern synchronise slide changes t0 pre- generator. Why not build this superb recorded commentary or music on a Cat. K85900 Normally $129 unit which provides five separate tape recorder. All this at a cost far SPECIAL, 5119 patterns: dot. crosshatch, Checker less than comparable commercial board grey Scale and white raster? units, (EA Nov: 81) 81 SS11 OP AMP TESTER Note: The RIE kit includes a large Cat. K81110 Normally $99.00 The Op Amp Tester which could ABS type case( SPECIAL, 589.00 save you hours In agonising whether (80pg6, EA June '80) that old op amp (hats been sitting in Cat. K80033 Normally $67.50 the draw for the last year. 562.50 (ETI Apnl'85, Eli 183) SPECIAL Cal. 1(41630 Normally $26.50 WIT SPECIAL. 521.50 T

VIu Se9 'e RES yo outSECI St0 to .. "t- i bring O'N SPtCIAL i - SAVE $20 12/240V 40W INVERTER This 12 240 V inverter Can be used to power up mains appliances rated - : ell BIT PATTERN up l0 40 W. or to vary the speed of a GENERATOR As will also rn are we KIT turntable. a bonus, It -17 In applications where you are work backwards as a Intlde charger 300 BAUD DIRECT Squired to look fora particular byte tO p up the the power 1rY ..... , of information in a serial or parallel Is n (EA Ma82 821V5 1 I , o, ) .. MODEM data path, a logic analyser or STANDARD CONNECT KIT stand Cat. 1(82050 Normally $69.95 FREQUENCY Think of the advantages of having a storage oscilloscope, there is not a er the equivalent 01 a rubidium t Get your own modem!! tot to help you. However, this Bit SPECIAL, 559.95 frequency standard by draping a Cant afford a floppy disc? Use Pattern Generator glues you a ace of wire over the back of your + your telephone to access one for simple and ecconanical way to TV serif Believe It or not your humble the cost of a call. detect and display specific bytes of provide an extremely television can Bored with your old programs? data. It may be used on both parallel LOW OHMS METER STEREO SYNTHESISER stable and accurate reference Download hundreds of free and senal data paths. How many times have you cursed FOR TUNERS & VCRs frequency. The wi acts as a you had to programs. (ETI 172, May'86) your Multimeter when the benefits of stereo sound transducer to pock up electromagnetic resistance? Enpy Want to gel in touch with fellow Measure a low -value TV AM tuner with from the back Of the set. Cat. K41720 (SenatiParallel Kit) you from your VCR. or radlaton computer enthusiasts? Well with the"Low Ohms Meter" The you would need to spend Use this Stereo Synthesiser. circuit Normally 'electronic mad'. Please phone for price can solve those old problems and in to dollars to achieve sits lust laid IC's and is easy thousands of Ever used system? fact measure resistance from 100 the "pans per a CPIM (82rí accuracy beyond Well modern 50/500MHz 7 DIGIT Ohms down to 0.005 Ohms, from ordinary CP-DOS? UNIX? a (e2ms8, EA September '82) thousand" you expect will make (ETI Nov,'81) ETI 1513 protect, an a your computer a FREQUENCY METER ROD IRVING ELECTRONICS K82091 meters. With this simple K41580 . Normally $39 50 Cal. 555.00 remote terminal on some of the Want a high performance digital 425 High Street, NORTHCOTE. 3070 Cat. extremely accurate 1 MHZ signal can most exciting systems around frequency meter that's easy to to AUSTRALIA SPECIAL, 534.50 be derived for very lane outlay. VICTORIA, Save on ready built modems. build? This unit uses lust five IC's, 9866 (Ell 174. July'86) Phone (03) 469 (ETI 699. May'85) measures period and frequencies 48 A'Beckett SL MELBOURNE. 3000 Cat. K41740 524.95 Cat. K46990 Normally $129 up to 500MHz, and features a bright VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA seven digit display. Save a small Ph. (031663 6151 SERIES 3000 COMPACT SPECIAL, ONLY 5109 over cornparable W nvnercail Mail Order and correspondence,: AMPLIFIER 4 (Shontorm without ohonel fortuneits STEREO I,L J PO. Box 620, CLAYTON 3168 A quality compact amp that doesn't Note: The RIE Frequency Meter Kit TELEX: AA 151938 sacrdlce performance! This amp !j Includes high quality prepunched delivers 20W per channel has low 41 and 1116 screened front panel! distortion and costs less than $100' ELECTRIC FENCE (EA December '611 tint SPECIFICATIONS: TESTER (50MHz 81km10a. 500MHe 81 Ob) 50MHz Cal K81120 ...... 5149 Power Output: EPROM COPIER This protect was developed to take 25W RMS. one channel Omen some guess work out 01 testing or This versatile EPROM colter is easy 500MHz option Cal 1(81121 20W RMS, both channels driven checking an electric fence. Many to build and will cost less than $100. add 529.95 Distortion: CAPACITANCE factors can influence the operation It can program 2716 and 2732 DIGITAL ORDER HOTLINE 1 kIz 0.03% at lull power MAIL and METER Mk.2 of an electric fence energiser and BRIDGING ADAPTOR at 12W RMS EPROM5 and copy 2708.2716 1031543 7877 0 013% from the EA March 130 fence, reducing its effectiveness, 08% at full power 2732 devices Updated CONVERTS SERIES 5000 10k1z:0 '84) issue, this Digital Capacitance This tester indicates the presence of Tines) Frequency response. (84ec11, EA November from POWER AMPLIFIER INTO Meter checks capacitor values each pulse the energiser and POSTAGE RATES Phono' within I dB, RIM Cal. K84110 .._ ...... 599 when the pulse voltage 300W MONO AMPLIFIER 1pF to 99.99uF over three shows . 52 00 within +-0.508 from two $1,59.99 Other Inputs: Its main features include a exceeds an amplitude o121,0, 311V Here's how to operate the $3.00 ranges ,n 510-524.99 Irom 10 Hz t0 20k1z; -3 dB at and 5kV. once calibrated. 11 used in ET1477 MOSFET power amplifier nulling circuit and a bright 4 digit 525-549,99 .. - . 54 00 40kHZ mode , the mil the 5000 amp in bridge LED display. an uncalibrated unit sans $50599.99 $5.00 Hum: the with the addition of a TRANSISTOR ASSISTED «Note:The RIE kit contemn quality Indicate pulse ampktudes on conlgunatwn Piton: -60 dB w r.1- 10 mV input 40%, 100% inexpensive module that fns silk screen and prepunched fence of 60% and Of simple 510 00 Other inputs: -70 dB w.r,L 200 mV IGNITION SYSTEM printed the 5000 power amp front panel AND an exclusive energiser output. inside $500 plus $12.50 input VERSION) '831 .. ... (LATEST Hggh Intensity Display! (ET11512, Feb. SPECIFICATIONS: This Is to, basic postage only. Comet Noise: Now with longer spark duration. (BOcm3a. EA August'85) Cat K55120 519.95 Power Output: Road freight. bulky and brag to hems Phono: -80 dB 011 10 mV input (791111. 83) EA February 300W RMS into 8 ohms will be charged al different rate{. Other Inputs: -86 dB w r.t. 200 mV Cat. K80030 559.50 Cat 1(83023 534,50 (at onset of capping) orders over input Frequency Response: Cerhlied Post for $100 Included 'tree'' Tone Controls: 8 Hz to20 kHz, +0-0508 Bass. +-10 de at 50 Hz CRYSTAL MARKER Registered Post for orders over SPEAKER PROTECTION (determined by passive Pets) included tree", Treble: + - t0 de at 12kHz HOWL -ROUND GENERATOR FOR Input Sensitivity: $200 Slew Rate: UNIT All sates tar exempt orders and STABILIZER/ system can RECIEVER AND CRO IV RMS for 100W output 15V/us An expensive speaker wholesale inquiries to RITRONICS destroyed bye 20 watt CALIBRATION Hum and Holm: Seperatlon: FREQUENCY SHIFTER be readily WHOLESALE. 56 Renver Rd - Clayton halls be with a high A simple but very useful piece of lest 100,18 below tall output or Sense Bono: 46 dB Feed back poems ,n can amplifier. Carelessness Phone (03)543 2166 corrected with this clever gadget. power amplifier can melt voice coils equipment la calibrating and Total Harmonic Distortion: Other inputs 40 dB and less than 0 003% Sensltivlly: especially when the selection of like cheese on toast. However, with aligning recievers, transceivers positions Protection Unit you can oscilloscopes, I1 Is portable, battery Stability: 5 mV foe lull output mkcrophaMs/speaker this Speaker V/SA Plane: 2 and inexpensive to build Unconditionally Stable inputs' 200 mV for full output doesn't het. avoid making the misery and expense operated Other 157. October'81) (ETI 479, Marco '82) (Eli 476. Nov '80) (ETI 485) (ETI455.) (ETI tg 544.95 Cat1(41570 $37.50 Cat.K44790 _.. ,. 519.50 Car, K44760 ...... 595,00 Cal. K44860 559.00 Cat. K44550 FREE POSTAGE FOR ALL ORDERS OVER $50! FREE POSTAGE FOR ALL ORDERS OVER $50! COMING EVENTS

SEPTEMBER Computer Society will be held 4-6 November in Canberra. A series of 1 day and 2 day courses on using computers in For further details contact Atek Promotions, 131 City business is being conducted by Management Technology Walk, Canberra, ACT 2601. (062)49-7799. in Sydney and Education Centres Melbourne throughout Aussat will hold a conference for satellite users Aussat September. For details contact MTE on (02) 290-3555 or - '86: New Horizons on 5 and 6 November at the Hyatt (03) 67-7117. Kingsgate Hotel in Sydney. Contact Aussat Public Affairs ACC '86 - Australian Computer Exhibition - incorporat- Dept on (02) 238-7800. ing the 2nd micro and PC exhibition will be national held The 1st Australian Artificial Intelligence Congress and Exhi- 23 to 26 in the Royal Exhibition Building, Mel- September bition will be held 18 to 20 November, Hyatt on Collins. bourne. Contact Trevor Riddell, Riddell Exhibition Promo- Contact (02) 439-5133. tions on (03) 429-6088. The 14th National Conference for Australian Urban and Re- ACC '86 Software & Computer Exhibition is on at the gional Information Systems will be held 25 to 28 November Chevron Hotel, Surfers Paradise 16 18 September. to Con- at the Regent in Melbourne. Contact Stuart Hunter on (03) tact Riddell Exhibition Promotions on (03) 429-6088. 617-9547. The Power Engineering Society of the IEEE is holding the Munich will be host to Electronics '86, the 12th inter- 1986 Transmission and Distribution Conference and Exhibi- national trade fair for electronic components and assem- tion in Anaheim, 14 to 19 California, September. Contact blies. Set aside 11-15 November. More details are available Noela Cain at the in US Consulate Melbourne on (03) 697- from the German Australian Chamber of Industry and 7900 for more info. Commerce on (02)29-3999. The Society of Manufacturing Engineers is conducting a series of workshops on manufacturing and manufacturing DECEMBER automation protocol in September in Melbourne, Adelaide, The third `mathematics -in -industry' study group will be held Sydney and Brisbane. Contact A. Greco & Associates on at Monash University, Melbourne, from 1 5 (02) 875-2377 for information on venues, dates and topics. to December, 1986. Further information is available from Dr F.R. de A seminar on space research will be held 10 and 11 Septem- Hoog, CSIRO Division of Mathematics and Statistics, GPO ber at the Southern Cross Hotel, Sydney. Contact Concise Box 1965, Canberra, ACT 2601. (062) 82-2011. Communications on (02) 438-2955. The 11th Optical Fibre Technology Conference will be held The eighth international conference for computer communi- 1 to 4 December. Contact the Institute of Radio & Elec- cation, ICCC '86 will be held in Munich, 15-19 September. tronics Engineers on (03) 606-6581 for more information. Contact Commercial Services Department, Telecom, 18th The Pacific Region Conference on Electrical Engineering Floor, 199 William St, Melbourne, Vic 3000, (03)606-5152. Education is on 15 to 17 December at Vue Grand, Queen- The Small Business Trade Fair '86 will be held at Centre - scliffe, Vic. Contact John Hulskame at RMIT on (03) 660- point in Sydney, 4-7 September. For details on displays or 2453 for more information. booths, contact Thomson Exhibitions, 47 Chippen St, Chip- The Intelligent Autonomous pendale, NSW 2008. (02)699-2411. Systems Conference is on 8 to 11 December in Amsterdam. Contact Secretariat, Confer- The Shepparton and District Amateur Radio Club is holding ence IAS, C/- Congressbureau "Van Neutegen", PO Box its Communications Day on Sunday, 7 September, 1986, at 27783, 3003 MB Rotterdam. (010) 433-3179. the Shepparton Showgrounds. For more information contact Peter O'Keefe VK3YF, PO Box 692, Shepparton, Vic FEBRUARY 3630. (058) 21-6070. Finance '87 Melbourne, an exhibition of money -handling OCTOBER technology, will be held at the World Trade Centre, Mel- Pacex, an international process and control exhibition will bourne, 10 to 13 February. For further information contact be held 21-23 October in Melbourne. Contact Thomson Ex- BPI Exhibitions on (02) 266-9799. hibitions, 47 Chippen St, Chippendale, NSW 2008. (02) 699-2411. MARCH If surface finishing is your go, the Asia Pacific Interfinish An International CAD/CAM Congress on current realities Congress and Exhibition will be held 26-30 October in Ho- and future directions will be held 17 to 20 March in Mel- bart. You can get more details from the Australian Institute bourne. Contact ACADS/FACE Congress Secretariat, 576 of Metal Finishing, 191 Royal Pde, Parkville, Vic 3052. St Kilda Rd, Melbourne, Vic 3004. (03) 51-9153. (03)347-2562. The dates and venues for the two PC87s are as follows: Professional Engineers Week '86 will be held 4 to 12 Octo- Eighth Australian Personal Computer Show, Centrepoint, ber with variously located public meetings and displays. Sydney, 18-21 March, 1987; and Ninth Australian PC Show Contact Kelvin Lillingstone-Hall on (03) 606-7559. `Communications 87', `Office Technology 87', Royal Exhi- Conventions on Engineering Education will be held 6 to 7 bition Building, Melbourne, 1-4 June, 1987. October nationally. Contact Barry Newish on (062) 73- 3633. APRIL Electronics 86, the Australian International Electronics and ATUG '87 4th Australian Telecommunications Exhibition & Computer Technology Exhibition and Conference, opens Conference will be held at the Hilton Hotel in Sydney 7 to from 7-9 October, 1986, at the Royal Showground in Ade- 9 April. Contact Riddell Exhibitions on (03) 429-6088. laide. Labex '87, international lab and equipment and products NOVEMBER exhibition, is on in Brisbane at the Science Pavilion, RNA Infotex 86, a computer and electronics exhibition presented Exhibition Grounds, 31 March to 2 April. Contact BPI on by the NSW Chamber of Manufacturers and the Australian (02) 266-9799.

24 - ETI September 1986 BUTCH CASSIDY & THEN SUNDANCE KID? Well not quite but certainly our best combination since introducing our "MODEL Chemical 700". Combining the proven model 483 desoldering and the 926 50 watt soldering Treatments stations for a great combi-station. Soldering & Coatings Pty Ltd 240 VAC to 24 VAC 50W Incorporated in Victoria 200°C to 480°C heat range Temp indicator 32 Windsor Road, Croydon, Vic. 3136 Australia. Desoldering Telex: AA 139664 SETECE 240 VAC to 24 Telephone: (03) 725 9666 VAC 40W 300°C to 400°C 4` heat range +I -. Agents and importers of Hot air outlet Both with zero cross switch temp control sophisticated equipment circuitry and manufacturers of Heyden-Spike Co. Pty. Ltd. fine chemicals for the 91-93 Old Pittwater Rd, Brookvale 2100 juliTel (02) 938-1566, Telex AÁ74709. printed circuit industry. Fax 938-1467 Melbourne - MEKTRONICS P L, (03) 690-4593 ETI READER SERVICE 7 ETI READER SERVICE 8 When the chips are down ... Heraeus botsch can improve your quality control.

?.1.41,514 I,,_ 1 A comprehensive range Temperature Test of extremely reliable Chambers environmental test chambers, from Climatic Test Chambers compact bench - mounted cabinets to Walk-In Test Chambers walk-in chambers large enough to .-- . r - . accommodate complete .. Corrosion Test :. bodies. . :: vehicle Chambers

HERAEUS-VOTCH Thermal Shock Test LABOTEST Humidity Cabinet Type VLK 07/90 - Chambers the compact, mobile, space Heraeus saving alternative Capacity: 90 litres. VÓTSCH 411 Temperature Range: -70°C to +180°C. Humidity Range: 1096 to SEE US AT ELECTRONICS '86. 95°) Rel. Humidity. 0 WHEN YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO BE WRONG eFOSSSydney IdPTY

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ETI READER SERVICE 9 ADELAIDE SHOW TIME

The Australian International Electronics and Computer Exhibition and Conference is on again this year. It will be held in Adelaide between October 7 and 9, and so far looks like attracting a record breaking number of exhibitors and guests.

Jon Fairall, 1836 SOUTH AUSTRALIA 1908

THE EXHIBITION WILL be held at the tralia, and to give them a feel for the ap- Fairchild, NEC, Zilog and many other Royal Showground and will expose some pearance of technology. manufacturers. of the big names in electronics in Austra- For the first time this year the confer- Also present will be Alan Bradley lia, with naturally, Ltd, a large representation ence is being run by a professional exhibi- which has sourced some new solid state from South Australia. tion company, Australian Exhibition Ser- relays; Cliff Young from Brisbane will be An interesting stand is expected from vices (AES). On previous occasions it was showing off a battery of connectors and the Technology Park as well as the various organized by the local South Australian test equipment. defence and aerospace industries that clus- electronics association. The hope is that Sydney based Foss Electric will be ter around Adelaide. rep- with a professional organization behind it resented by Heraeus Votsch of the Danish Among the more attractive stands will the event will become a theatre for Aus- parent company. Foss imports chemical be Philips', which is trying to improve the tralian engineering excellence. analysis systems, intensive care electronics visiblity of its Hendon semiconductor Major local manufacturer Teknis will be and environmental simulation gear. The plant. It is likely that the display will in- there in force. Particular lines to be company is particularly proud of its simu- clude an automatic testing station similar pushed include QA automatic test equip- lation chambers, which have been sold to to one used in the plant in the manufac- ment, magnetic sensing transducers from the Defence Department and Telecom. ture of thick film hybrid. According to Servopole and VHF AM/FM direction Representing instrument makers will be Dave Segal, the Manager of Philips Mi- finding equipment. Elmeasco Ltd, which has been a long time croelectronics, the aim of the exhibit will The local member of the George Brown recipient of Telecom contracts, and be to make will people realise that semicon- Group, Protronics, will be out selling his have on display a wide ductor range of locally manufacturing is booming in Aus- wares as well. Protronics is supplier for and overseas produced instrumentation.

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' i= IP'

. araa,.s, . At the SA Technology Park British Aerospace headquarters are under construction. The Gould 4050 digital storage oscillosope. 26 - ETI September 1986 FEATURE

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. `+ -,"^7". .

1 da4.f` i,i ^I/ ,,t -

Host city Adelaide.

Cipher cartridge tape back-up systems for IBM-PC/XTs and compatible computers, controller/coupler boards and DEI The Fluke 37. cartridge tapes, will be front of house features. -- Lots of new products from the Instru- ment Division will be shown, including the Gould Model 4050 digital storage oscilloscope with hand-held waveform processor, plus the Model 1425 connected to a per- ,r sonal computer via the IEEE -488 interface ..c bus. The Meguro Model 1255 is another new arrival; this is a 100 MHz, 3 channel, . 8 trace 'scope loaded with features. ` A range of Fluke digital multimeters 1.1 will be displayed, including the new Model Ni 37 - a new style of bench/portable DMM and the 51/2 -digit 8842A - with true rms and IEEE -488 interface. The Fluke 9010A Fluke 1020 Series Microsystem Troubleshooter which comes Touch Control Screen.

The new HP 4971S pr tocol analyser.

7 "^ , .+ FEATURE Plug into Electronics 86

Australia's only specialised electronics .00 r7ilt!a- and computer technology exhibition. 1 with a wide range of interface pods will be Talk to the suppliers and see the latest state-of-the-art demonstrated. developments in electronics equipment and computer will be the Also featured range of technology vital to your business, all under the one roof. IEEE -488 interface boards and software from National Instruments; these units can Electronic components Test and measuring equipment be fitted to a wide range of computers to CAD/CAM Process control equipment Microcomputers enable them to be used as instrument con- Communications equipment Scientific instruments trollers. Control instrumentation -And much more, all at Electronics 86. Look out also for the Fluke 1020 series If you need to be up-to-date with all that is in Touch Sensitive Displays; these units fea- happening ture a 12 -inch screen, green or amber, electronic high technology, you can't afford to miss Electronics 86. with up to 120 separate touch locations. For further information contact Australian Exhibition Elmeasco will demonstrate the Data Services Pty Ltd, phone (03) 267 4500. Electronics Data -Taker which offers very low cost, flexible data aquisition. Hewlett-Packard will also weigh in with a range of high end instrumentation equip- NOW FODE AllS ment for the local market. 4500 The conference will run parallel with the PHONE 03i Ñp \WORKSHOP exhibition and includes speakers from all A over the world who will talk on a wide ° SEMINAR variety of topics. However, there is a bias towards the current South Australian predilections. For instance, remote sensing, space applications and microelectron- ics get quite a serve. 7-9 October 1986 Another strand to the conference will be Royal Showground, Adelaide. concern about the future direction of elec- Tuesday Thursday 10am-6pm tronics. Various speakers will discuss new strategies in the communications industry, the state of the art in Australian manufacturing, and how to do business in electronics. There will also be a series of parallel workshops, at which there will be oppor- o tunity for people to discuss issues in a more informal situation. Some of the topics include custom, semi -custom, surface mounting and gate array technology. t 150 THE AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS AND COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY EXHIBITION AND CONFERENCE Royal Showground Adelaide 7-9 October 1986

SPONSORED BY THE ELECTRONICS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

1838 SOUTH AUSTRALIA 1986 28 - ETI September 1986 20MHz OSCILLOSCOPES

With Component Tester . The APLAB oscilloscope Model 3132 is a dual trace 20 MHz scope with minimum sensitivity of 2mV/div and minimum sweep speed of 0.5 . ,,,,,, us/div. , - r,, Triggering modes include TV line or TV frame ' 3.'3 .,,a j sync. A, .Uo Other features include: Built in triple DC source , +5V +12V +12V Dual component tester comparator. Ell READER SERVICE 10

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ETI READER SERVICE 11

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ETI September 1986 - 29 ONE CHIP MICROS S.K. Hui

Around .the world the winds of change are blowing. One ex- trical appliances such as the washing ma- ample is the computer on a single chip. And chine, microwave oven and even in some like a whirlwind smart toys. All these applications depend chasing its tail, this chip is the product of bigger, quicker com- on low cost, small sizes, powerful I/O and puters and has in turn encouraged their growth dedicated control. and develop- Another fast growing area for one chip ment. micro applications but perhaps less apparent to people is in the automotive industry. Twenty years ago, one would be lucky NOWADAYS, 32- and 64 -bit machines Applications to find more than five fuses in an average are riding high. Computer hackers and A typical example of a one chip micro in priced car. Today motor cars have fuel in- programmers are talking in terms use is a of in modem where it looks after the jected engines, self -adjustable suspension, words, not bytes. Much attention is placed house keeping functions, dialling and anti-skid braking systems, auto -cruising on the 'calculating power', 'multi-user', handshaking with the host computer. They controls, instrument panel displays, etc, all 'multi -task' aspects of computer systems. commonly provide automation in musical monitored by the one chip micro. The But while this trend continues towards mixing desks, in synthesisers, polyphonic trend will continue. Giant micro chip com- the flying end of the market, a new breed samplers, disco or special effects light con- panies like Intel, Motorola, Texas Instru- of computer chip with a completely differ- trollers, etc. This is a small list only in the ments, etc, are pushing this vision hard. ent architecture has been developed. As music technology area. Other applications Cars in the immediate future will have opposed to the gigantic 32- and 64-bit include as protocol controllers, in missiles, their amount of on -board electronics dou- CPUs such as the Motorola 68020, the in intelligent sensors, PABX systems, so- bled at least. Climate control, navigation Intel 80386, 80186 and the Texas Instru- phisticated security systems and many systems, trip computer and integrated ments 32010, these tiny but low cost single more devices. alarm systems will be standard features. chip micros are increasingly in demand On the for domestic level, one chip micros Automotive fault finding will change control applications. have already been installed in many elec- too. Each individual micro looking after a

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30 - ETI September 1986 the host computer would be too busy the one chip micro is usually re -designed looking after the speed, position, current specifically for control applications. It has and voltage in each motor. With a one a specialized CPU with dedicated instruc- chip micro, valuable CPU time can be tions for bit manipulations, much faster spent in calculating and controlling the and more comprehensive interrrupt re- specific function on board will report if a overall movement of the arm. sponses and more internal registers for fault develops in the system. In diagnosing convenient looping control in software. the system malfunction, the car mechanic Architecture and architects The one chip micro also heaps on more need only plug in an electronic test jig to To many of us, intuitively, a single chip 110 ports, timers and other peripherals. an easily accessible port to track down the micro is no more than a cluster of various Although micros have all been designed fault within a few seconds. existing chips in a discrete package. It's a for systems and control applications, dif- In other areas, a one chip micro is an customized chip with the CPU, RAM, ferent chip manufacturers have taken re- absolute must. For instance, a good qual- ROM, peripherals, etc, all mingled to- markably different design approaches. But ity robot arm needs one micro to control gether in the silicon. This is, in fact, not in one thing they are similar. International each motor. Without this arrangement, wholly true. The internal architecture of chip manufacturing giants have all continued developing micros along the same lines as their earlier CPUs, PIAs, etc. This 9- C> 4Z> kept their established customers happy 60_ with a set of micro instructions similar to 0- 11:» C:: 41» the old ones they were used to. 3: 6609 Q Financially, of course, similar designs --, are more economic. Manufacturers can cut ` li-- 96- t-'`66NC/ 1 ee the cost in R&D by borrowing the core 0 680' 39 . :0- 6,,, part of the CPU, PIA, UART, etc, from 76- the library, and avoid re -inventing the CD 4» óela'u ósoo wheel.

1 ® 461106EE Intel 1C_ ea 0 4:1) , Intel has three major families: the MCS- Y5_ 6O TO , --, 6701u1 .. 60' 0552 / 48, MCS-51 and MCS-96. They came out 06- `--' in 1976, 1980 and 1983 respectively. The 06- MCS-48 and 51 are 8 -bit systems with 1 to 0- 8K ROM, and 64 to 256 bytes of RAM on ¿E;) board. They usually have parallel 1/0 and a timer counter as standard features. With 1 I I I I I I 1 I I 1916 1976 7977 1970 1979 1960 1961 1962 19U 1961 the upgraded families such as the MCS-51 NTRODUCTqN YEAR and MCS-96, powerful peripherals like Genealogy of the cohesive M6800 microprocessor/microcomputer family. serial I/O, high resolution A/D, watch dog timer, high speed I/O and pulse width modulation output are all included in one MCS-96 chip. The latest family, the MCS-96, also 16 BIT CPU has an enhanced internal CPU to handle 8394 6/16 BIT BUS 16 -bit data simultaneously with an 8/16 -bit' 6395 8K ROM bus. 6396 232 BYTE RAM 8397 TIMER/COUNTER Two very special features offered by PARALLEL VO Intel are the bit addressing mode and the SERIAL I/O two level user program security system. In MCS-51 10 BIT A/D it is bit ability HIGH SPEED I/O fact, this unique addressing 8051 8 BIT CPU PWM OUTPUT of the MCS-51 family that makes it more 8052 48K ROM WATCH DOG TIMER dedicated to control applications than its 128256 BYTE RAM CPU counterparts. TIMER/COUNTER Most CPUs like the 8080, 6800, etc, MCS18 PARALLEL VO SERIAL I/O have quite a few different types of ad- 8 BIT CPU dressing modes but none capable of deal- 8048 1/2/411 ROM ing with a single bit in an 8 -bit word by a 8049 64126756 BYTE RAM re- 8050 TIMER/COUNTER single instruction. Conventional CPUs 8021 PARALLEL I/O quire a single word (8 -bit) to he read, 6022 8 BIT A/D then masked with another word to isolate the bit concerned before a decision can be made. This usually requires three instruc- 1976 .1980 1963 tions, and is too slow and inefficient to be Evolution of microcontrollers at Intel. tolerated in many control applications. ETI September 1986 - 31 FEATURE One chip micro applications in automobiles (courtesy of Intel Corp).

Security TORQUE To incorporate the micro into a design, a program is needed to determine the beha- AID 4 PMW I!O viour of the chip. It usually takes a fair CONVERTER amount of time and labour to get this soft- SPEED ware working, so Intel has developed a 16-BIT CPU TIME/ O two -level user program security system to COUNTER O protect it. OR SERIAL TRANSMISSION, PORT ROM o It consists of two internal security con- DASHBOARD OR trol bits in the memory of the chip which NETWORK RAM m can be programmed to prohibit the micro from reading or moving the internal code to external memory. It also disables any CONTROL MODULE verifying mode, TORQUE which might in some cases ELECTRIC SENSOR prove inconvenient. A verifying mode MOTOR %\\\\\\\\\ DRIVE GEARS checks on the memory to see if the cus- 1, tomized program has been burnt in cor- 1\111115,11111Y rectly before shipment, and is in essential RACK PINION a high grade quality control production line. To overcome these contrary require-

ments, only one internal . security bit is programmed, as well as a security table memory. The security table memory is 32 x 8 bits array of memory in the EPROM. The ELECTRIC STEERING user can electrically program any arbitrary code into it. The code will be used to mask the user program during program verification. Thus what is being read from OXYGEN CONTENT OF EXHAUST EXHAUST WASTE GATE the micro is a scrambled program which cannot be deciphered without the key se- Q2 SENSOR curity table. Programming the security bits also prevents programming the EPROM IIINJECTO and the security table memory, therefore, AIRFLOW TURBOCHARGER the security bits must not be programmed SENSOR za. before the user program and the security t ó table. Anyone who tries to copy the pro- TEM' 7 In gram illegally must erase the security con- SENSOR t/1 KNOCK THROTTLE VWIÑ SENSOR trol bits, but this will also erase the se- SENSOR O. curity table and the customized user program leaving TEMP the thief with nothing to SENSOR steal. Motorola Motorola has a wide range of products in o the one chip micro area, the z CRANK offering O SENSOR M3870, M6801, M6804 and the M6805 1= tn families. The M6801 is the throughput O PRE-IGNITION w leader of the range with 16 -bit data opera- W tions, binary multipy, and with an average ENGINE CONTROL MODULE LL of only 3.7 cycles per instruction. .6 The masked ROM memory capacities HIGH HIGH SPEED 16 -BIT CPU range from 1K byte for the M6805 and the INPUT SPEED M6804 families up to 4K bytes on the OUTPUT M6801 version. On -chip RAM sizes range ROM W DIAGNOSTIC from 32 bytes in the M6804 family to 192 PORT in e) bytes the M6801 family. Peripherals in- óa7 RAM SERIAL - ---1 cluded are pretty PORT much the same as of- az -4 fered on the Intel range: programmable 1 < - IN -VEHICLE interrupt vector, 8 -or 16 -bit timer counter, 1 NETWORK PROCESSOR parallel I/O and in the MC6801 family, a full 8 -bit UART with buad rate generator DIAGNOSTIC 8 ADAPTIVE MEMORY on -chip. In the MC6804 family, a few members have a 4-channel A/D converter ENGINE CONTROL included and one member has a digital portion of an rf frequency synthesizer added. 32 - ETI September 1986 iFue, OUP r "one -chip"

ENGINE modem I TRANSMISSION LCONTROL CONTROL MODULE MODUL doesn't use CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE just one ci CI r o ABS -- RADIO CONTROL CONTROL MODULE MODULE ))) chip.

I NETWORK I4 k L16/BIT CPU CONTROLLER ROM 1 1~1> DIAGNOSTIC PORT RAM CRT /-ss CONTROL TOUCH Q 8612 SCREEN SC11004CNn tSR ,RRUUU

BODY COMPUTER 1200 bps Modem

Q 8614 MASTER SC11007CN CYLINDER 11 CI SOLENOID SOLENOID SENSOR 1:3 !!' _ '=ñ' SENSOR VALVE VALVE :g Controller PUMP

VALVE VALVE

MOTOR SENSOR Despite the ads, most "one -chip" SENSOR 1t1 1= modems aren't really. [nclüding ours. TO ENGINE You'll actually need two chips from CONTROL & NETWORK Sierra Semiconductor, our SCI 1004 modem and its SCI 1007 controller, to get a AL a a t l DIGITAL LSERIAL the complete functions of a full duplex I OUTPUT PORT J 1200/300 bps integrated smart modem. But case, our competition takes six CPU x best 1 ó-1 ñ parts! z WHEEL VELOCITY RAM z; vm modem, you'll not only c & ACCELERATION With Sierra's mD m 4- INPUTS save four chips, you'll get both 2I2A and ROM ó V.22 compatibility. As you might expect, you'll also save considerable design work.

ANTI-LOCK BRAKING

\to% SIERRA SEM ICON DUC ISOR Ell READER SERVICE 12 , Lately, Motorola has been keen to in- It can act as a standard CPU, a co -pro- development, debugging and emulation. clude a low power CMOS version cessor or stand-alone single chip micro To develop a program, a (MC68HC11A4) with development EEPROM memory with a multiplication instruction that exe- tool like an assembler is essential. to replace the It trans- traditional ROM and cutes within 280 nanoseconds!! forms the assembly instructions written EPROMs. The by EEPROM is most suited A unique feature of the TMS7000 family the user to machine code which to the automotive can be ex- applications cited ear- is micro code control. Most of the one ecuted by the micro chip. lier. Data can be written into and read chip micros mentioned above implement Although assembly langúage is one level from the EEPROM just like when RAM their internal control by a programmable higher thus easier to use than machine there is power supplied. Data is automati- logic array (PLA). Therefore, their in- code, it requires the programmer to think cally saved even without the when supply struction set is fixed. However, in the in terms of flags, carry out and bits, which the engine has turned off. A further ad- TMS7000 family, a user programmable is pretty tiresome. Many of the cross-as- vantage offered by the EEPROM over control ROM is used instead of a PLA. semblers for the Intel, Motorola and RAM is that it requires higher voltage to The control ROM has a set of micro Texas Instruments one chip micro families write data than RAM. Thus it gives higher codes burnt in before shipment which con- can run on IBM personal computers and noise immunity against spikes and noises trol internal operations and form the VAX. Apart from assembling assembly in- generated by the engine and dynamo to standard instruction set of the chip. The structions, they also use higher languages the program stored in EEPROM. direct benefit of this arrangement lies in like C and PLM. For instance, the Intel the user's ability to reprogram the micro MCS-51 family has a PLM-51 compiler; Texas Instruments code. others use PLM-80 or PLM86 for their Thus, it is possible to modify the stand- corresponding families which compile in- Texas Instruments is another one chip ard instruction set to optimize the user's structions written in PLM (programming micro manufacturer with 8 -bit TMS7000 application. language for microprocessor) making the and 32 -bit TMS32010 families. Like the A user customized instruction set pro- programmer's job easier since the lan- Motorola and Intel series, the TMS7000 vides advantages of faster throughput, guage ís portable. The programmer uses family offers plenty of I/O pins, up to 12K more efficient utilization of user program the same set of instructions in PLM (or C) bytes of ROM, three timers and a com- ROM memory, and improved system se- to write programs for the plete UART on TMS70X1 versions. MCS-48 and curity through unique software algorithms. MCS-51 families. Although the family does not provide The ability to remicroprogram the code The machine code is then usually down- bit addressing capability, it has eight also provides an alternative solution for loaded to the emulator for debugging powerful addressing modes to handle in- and designs that encounter a critical timing emulation. The emulator plugs into the dexed, indirect calls and register -to -regis- loop or ROM space limitation. Remicro- user target system to emulate ter arithmetic. Five levels of interrupt pri- the one chip programming avoids system hardware micro, so as far as the target system is orities and capability of external pulse redesign. concerned, the emulator is transparent. It width measurement and modulation have Other companies which have their own does exactly what the one chip put Texas Instruments' TMS7000 series in micro one chip micros include General Instru- would do to the target a fairly competitive position in the market. system but allows ments with its PIC series, Zilog Z8, ZS8, the user to look at what's in the internal TI has recently knocked out a CMOS Sharp, NEC, etc. registers, setting break points in the version with more features. A standard program and single stepping NMOS TMS7742 has only 4K through the in- bytes of structions. EPROM, three timers and a serial port. Software development, Some sophisticated debugging software The new CMOS TMS77C82 has 8K bytes debugging and emulation tools are only symbolic, and an emulator of EPROM and 256 bytes of RAM plus The many long internal registers and inte- and a target system are not all the other standard peripherals on -chip, required. Top grated architectural structures on one chip of the range putting itself in a are tools to do logic state very challenging position micros have made software development against analysis on symbolic internal registers, the Motorola MC68HC11, which is almost impossible without some kind of data and address buses or to analyse the also a CMOS chip. The 32 -bit TMS32010- tool. The different tools can be classified performance of the user written software. 14 is probably the top model of the range. briefly according to their functions of Besides the original manufacturers,

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ETI READER SERVICE 13 34 - ETI September 1986 FEATURE Neither

Texas Instruments TMS7000 family evaluation board. does theirs.

1200 bps Modem

11119.11 t II tt Il 1U'°lly

Microprocessor fLt i` /

Power Supply r3ii1su11+1111/11 1 I To Target I I DART 1 /111/111

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Op Amp Any Host CPU with RS232 port

1 1 ®®®® Buffer 01ta104 It WWII 1.N4

Sierra's controllers, SCI 1007 for parallel _r - bus and SCI1008 for RS232 designs, come fully pre-programmed with the industry - standard AT command set. 129s4._ We'll see you get a "one -chip -solution" Power Supply that's at least a few chips up on the competition. To Target <- i, I I1

1 11111111 Distributed in Australia by daneva 64.66 Bay Road 17 Falcon Street PERIPHERAL MODE Sandringham Crows Nest Vhctona 3191 NSW 2065 Australia Australia PO Box 114 Telephone (03) 596 5622 Telephone (02)9512464 Telex AA34439 Telex AA20801 ETI READER SERVICE 14 FEATURE S1600

n there are quite a few companies around like Philips Scientific & Industrial in NSW, Daneva and Macro Dynamics in (1 '.... Victoria, and Baltec Systems in Queens- land, which supply a fleet of ¡_ _ development 1" systems, emulators, and stacks of }'h software arra44 tools to back up the application software :VI. development.

..'.!' ,rtq Firs,.. .ar_ceiaK ^~ --r.nn.,. ` - Production limitations: ... . _."9141iirt7-1`- economics . ii:fr- . . : r _ .,3 . Mentioned above are the facilities we can _. ,.. u.Mx. ` . - .. - ls. ... get in the one chip at ,. . micro present. What ' 10 ns-: .a .1' ` . r® is the outlook the T17f .!iL.k orr for future? Surprisingly, . . the most important limiting factor on what _ rti=. . can be put onto a chip is not the availabil- ;,w,N,.. r.' ity of technology, rather it's the econom- ., rT /iir:sctih . ics. Two hundred normal size chips could easily be masked on a single die these "' -3).41/4*1.jt days, so in theory, what's stopping a mas- . sive chip -per . -die 200 times bigger? The '. answer is the price of the chip, which de- - Oar 44.44 t, Q pends very much on the yield. If the price ,f.,... .11.1,sa-.., e of a chip was immaterial, it would be possible to produce a one chip micro with everything you could dream of on it. But the production process is your limitation. ... rr.,b On a die of 200 normal size chips, if two per cent fail that leaves 196 working ones available for sale. With a massive chip 200 times bigger, it only takes one faulty transistor somewhere in the chip to turn it into a complete dud. And the chance of having faulty transistors rises sharply with the size ETI-TEXAS INSTRUMENTS ONE CHIP MICRO COMPETITION of the chip. Nevertheless improvements Win a TMS7000 one chip micro family Send your answers to: continue apace towards a much bigger and evaluation board by answering the ETI-Texas Instruments Comp, purer silicon bar with sub -micron tech- following questions. The first correct entry PO Box 227, nology and higher yield. drawn will win the Texas Instruments Waterloo, NSW 2017. evaluation board worth $1600, capable It is not always of true that the price of a assembling software, debugging and chip is directly proportional to its size. emulation In the target system, and Compare the price and size of a $5 Z80 programming the EPROM. It Interfaces with The competition will be drawn 10 October a CPU chip with a smaller but more expen- standard personal computer, data 1986, by David Cartwright of Texas cassette recorder sive 74C926 4 -digit 7 -segment decoder and a printer. Instruments. driver if anyone has doubts about it. Questions: Mark your answer by There are many factors determining the circling or ticking the appropriate choice. price of a chip: market demand, (1) The yield, the 8 -bit microcomputer family is called: (6) How many timers does the TMS7742 have: degree of difficulty of the process. Size is (a) TI8000 (a) one a relatively insignificant determinant, (b) TMS7000 (b) two though these factors are interrelated. (c) TMS800 (c) three When CMOS was first introduced the (2) The new TI CMOS EPROM microcomputer (7) How much on -chip RAM does the is called: price was high, which reflected the fact TMS77C82 have: (a) TI77E42 (a) 256 bytes that the CMOS process was considerably (b) TMS77C42 more (b) 128 bytes complex than TTL. But the many (c) TMS77C82 (c) 256 bits advantages of CMOS over TTL were soon (3) How much on -chip EPROM does the (8) Does the TMS7742 have a serial port: realised and sales of CMOS began to rise TMS7742 have: (a) Yes sharply. As the CMOS market started to (a) 2K bits (b) No (b) 4K bytes grow, so was the money pumped back to (9) The TI 32-bit microcomputer (c) 4.2K bytes family is R&D to ensure higher yield, lower cost called: (4) How much on -chip EPROM does CMOS process. Now, the price for CMOS the (a) TMS32020 TMS77C82 have: (b) TMS32010 is much lower. If the same sequence oc- (a) 8K bytes (c) TI33000 curs with one chip micros it is possible (b) 8K bits (10) The that (c) 8.2K bytes TMS32010-14 does a multiply customers will be able to order a instruction in: batch of chips with their internal architec- (5) The TMS77C82 is fabricated in which (a) 280 nanoseconds ture and UO capability designed exactly technology: (b) 1400 nanoseconds the way they want - in much the same (a) CMOS (b) ECL way as they now supply artwork for (c) NMOS producing a customized pc board. 36 - ETI September 1986 GET AMONGST THE ACTION! THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR L- L - t-,_ DEVELOPMENT > L s4.sNZ MICROPROCESSOR

SINGLE CHIP MEW LÁ'1L L DEVELOPMENT TOOLS FROM CYBERNETIC I- MICRO SYSTEMS airs MI Program, execute debug code on your P.C. o Award winning simulator dynamically displays . flow. %[ source ! rT'A 8048 8061 TMS7000 8096 TMS010 18 e & manual Demo disk A f . .. X-ASM ./ available.

. w, . `% G EPROMPROG Iii- Comt,Nadd bye .n Electroolca Today SIMULATOR OTHER DEVELOPMENT TOOLS: * Scanners: Cross Assemblers for all processors (inc. 68xx) $ CALL What to Look for GTEK 7228 Universal EPROM Programmer $ 1140 PROTEL PCB V2.0 PCB Layout CAD System $ 890 * Rig Round -Up PC -compatible, 640K RAM, Dual Floppy $ 1285 MICE-II In -Circuit Emulators $ CALL * Buying, Building and Compilers for all languages, CP/M, MS-DOS $ CALL Setting -up Antennas offer At your Newsagent now! technical support foror all products. B/kITEC Or send $4.50 plus $1.50 post and packing to 47 CASTLEMAINE ST. MILTON Q. 4064 Federal Publishing Co, PO Box 227, Waterloo 2017. Phone: (07) 369 5900 Telex: AA 40894 SYSTEMS

GET AMONGST THE ACTION! Eli READER SERVICE 15 88070 T-1/CEPT PCM TRANSCEIVER Replace up to 100 MSI devices with the world's first single -chip PCM transceiver. Designed for worldwide primary rate applications, the R8070 from Rockwell International is a telephony breakthrough. This single -chip solution accommodates all primary telephone carrier requirements. The R8070 T-1/CEPT operates with AT & T extended framing, Clear Channel, and European C1ª;1'1' formats. -, ,ab.w+v.-kw,-'-,^1 Save on power, design engineering and component costs. As a single -chip CMOS transceiver, the R8070 minimizes board space requirements with its VLSI implementation. It significantly reduces power consumption, saves on component costs and reduces CRockwell engineering design investment as well. To find out how the R8070 can help you build your next generation T-1/CEPT communications Features system, talk to your Rockwell distributor. * PCM FORMAT TRANSCEIVER PROCESSING OF DATA * CMOS TECHNOLOGY DESIGNED * OPERATES WITH EXTENDED * 64 PIN QUIP PACKAGE FRAMING CLEAR CHANNEL * SELECTABLE SERIAL OR PARALLEL AND/OR CEPT FORMATS * SAVE ON POWER. DESIGN ' DIGITAL DATA INTERFACE ENGINEERING ETC. I * GENERATES SIGNALS FOR EXTERNAL UENERGY CONTROL PTY, LTD Q i d. 4 3 0 CflCI[ÇJ P.O. Box 6502, Goodna, Brisbane, Phone (07) 288-2455. Telex AA43778 ENECON. CONTROL N.Z. OFFICE: Phone 64-4-843-499. ETI READER SERVICE 16 Propel 11` MIDI MATRIX Behind every orderly studio stands a MIDI matrix. If you want to clean up your recording act or are just interested in MIDI products this project should put you straight. Neale Hancock

THE MIDI THRU BOX (project 609) which appeared in the March IN '86 Ell issue INSTRUMENT 1 marked our debut into the world of MIDI. OUT That project eliminated the need to connect synthesisers together via the MIDI thru socket, thus solving the associated timing IN problems. The thru box will suffice if the INSTRUMENT 2 MIDI system has only one master and many OUT slaves (on "masters" and "slaves" see my article about MIDI next issue). However, when the MIDI bug has got you and you IN have more than one master in the system, INSTRUMENT 3 there's a danger you can spend OUT more time plugging and unplugging MIDI cables than a actually making music. To save our readers from traumatic nightmares fighting through IN jungles of MIDI cables while trying to emu- INSTRUMENT 4 late the latest New OUT Order single, here is the OUT 2 3 4 ETI MIDI matrix to solve MIDI patching woes. IN 1 Outputs from any MIDI unit, be it a se- IN 2 quencer, a synthesiser or a drum machine, can be sent to the input of any other MIDI IN 3 t unit via the matrix. This re-routing of inputs and outputs can be achieved at the push of a IN 4 button, thus eliminating the hassle of swap- ping MIDI cables when a different set-up is required. Figure 1 shows a typical set-up in which the MIDI matrix re-routes informa- Figure 1. MIDI matrix system configuration. tion from any input to any output. The MIDI matrix permits synthesisers, sequencers and drum machines to send and receive information in two main ways. One way is to set up the matrix so that the output from one master is sent to three slaves. This IN SYNTH 1 permits the MIDI matrix to act as a thru box with switch -selectable inputs. The matrix orr can also be configured to allow two routes of MIDI information to pass through it. For instance, if you have a IN SYNTH 2 OUT 1 3 4 set-up where there is a sequencer, a drum machine and IN 1 two synthesisers, you can switch the MIDI OUT from the drum ma- IN 2 chine to the MIDI IN of the sequencer, then IN switch the MIDI OUT from the sequencer SEQUENCER to the MIDI IN 3 OUT INs of the two synthesisers. All' O of these connections are performed by pushing only three DD IN 4 buttons. This set-up allows the drum machine to send synchroniza- DRUM MACHINE tion information to the sequencer as well as OUT allowing the sequencer to play the synthesisers. Figure 2 shows the set-up diagramati- cally, simplified so only the relevant signal paths are shown. The buttons Figure 2. MIDI configuration with two routes. to be pushed to connect the signal paths are shown with darkened squares. 38 - ETI September 1986 0

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The circuit of the MIDI matrix consists of four optically coupled input stages, a switching matrix and four buffered output stages. The optically coupled input stages are identical, each consisting of a high sensitivity optocoupler and two inverting buffers. Since MIDI information is transmitted Below: Interconnections inside the box. and received via a 5 mA current loop the input stage requires an optocoupler to convert the incoming current pulses to voltage pulses. The optocoupler used in this project is a Hewlett-Packard 6N138 as recommended in the MIDI specification 1.0. buffers mentioned The two inverting 1.1 above are connected in parallel. One of them drives the indicator LED, and the other buffers the signal before it goes into sr . MI the matrix. The reason for buffering the signal before it goes to the switching matrix is Ar to save the optocoupler from having its output excessively loaded. The switching matrix allows the signal from any of the input stages to be switched to any of the buffered output stages. The r104190140;_ rows of the matrix carry the signals from the input stages and the columns of the matrix carry information to the output stages. The rows and columns are connected by push- nar,P, button switches at the cross points. For instance, by depressing the pushbutton switch at the intersection of row 1 with column 2, input 1 will be connected to output 2. Each of the four output stages has two inverting buffers connected in parallel. One of the buffers drives the output indicator LED and the other buffers the output signal. The output signal is re -inverted by this buffer to compensate for the inversion of i the input signal by the input buffer. The re - inverted and buffered signal is then sent to the 5 -pin DIN MIDI output socket. work with than the plastic used to make tres outside the dotted line and filing the Construction re- rest. If you decide to mount the MIDI ma- Before you do anything with regards to zippy boxes. It's easier to cut the slots in Rod Ir- trix in a zippy box, cut only the corner the construction of this project, you will quired for the DIN sockets the cut slots in the where "ETI-611" appears. The zippy box have to decide what sort of case you are ving Electronics case than box. will need to have one of its pillars removed. going to put it in. This is advised because side of a zippy the cut the pc board needs to be cut differently to When you have decided on case, accordingly. If you decide on Have a break? fit different cases. The case which I used the pc board use Now that you have remodelled the pc was the console case sold by Rod Irving the Rod Irving Electronics case, a hack- lines on the board, check it for broken or bridged Electronics, however, the pc board will also saw to cut along all the dotted thought of hacking into tracks. If you find any tracks that are a box. I chose the Rod Irving pc board. If the fit into zippy broken they can be repaired by soldering a Electronics case mainly for its aesthetic your pc board like that gives you a churning lower you can short length of wire across the break. When qualities, but I must add that the plastic sensation in your abdomen, millime- repairing broken tracks, start by melting which it is fabricated from is much easier to play safe by cutting the board a few ETI September 1986 - 39 ETI-611 - HOW IT WORKS solder onto either end of the break, also melt some solder onto the wire. By melting solder onto the pc board and onto wire Each Input stage consists of an the opto- drive up to eight TTL loads. This permits it coupler, two resistors, two inverting makes it easier to solder the link to the butters, one input signal to drive three outputs. a diode, an LED and a 5 -pin DIN socket, board. Place the link on the break and heat Buffer IC3f receives the same signal as which Is a standard input it with a soldering stage for MIDI butter IC3d and is used to illuminate LED1. iron until the solder equipment. For Input 1 these components The switches SW1 to SW2 connect the melts. If any of the tracks are bridged, cut are IC1, R1, R2, R3, IC3d, IC31, D1, LED1 cross points of rows and columns in the the bridge away with a scalpel or a similarly and SKI. For Input 2 they are IC2, R4, R5, matrix and thus allows any input module to sharp R6, IC3d, IC3e, 02, LED2 and implement. SK2. The cor- be connected to any output module. For In- responding components for Inputs 3 and 4 After examining your board and repair- stance, If SW1 is depressed the signal from are easily recognized on the ing any faults, you can circuit input 1 is switched to 2. start assembling. diagram. output Each output consists of two Begin by soldering in the three links, these The signal from the MIDI resistors, Current loop en- two inverting buffers, an LED and the out- are located near ICI, 1C2 and IC5. Mount ters the circuit through SK1 and the diode, put socket. Output module 1 consists of the eight sockets, (four D1, protects the optocoupler, IC1, from input and four out- the resistors R13, R14, Inverting buffers IC4d, possibility of this signal having a put) and the resistors. The diodes can now reverse IC4e, LEDS and output socket SK5. When polarity. IC1 enables the go in along with the current loop to inverter IC4d has a signal from the input capacitors, but since transfer data to the inverting butters (IC3d these components are stage switched to it via the - polarised, check their and IC3f) without any electrical matrix, it re connection inverts this signal, to its original form. The orientation against the component overlay to the circuit. Optically coupling the current output from IC4d is sent first. Next solder in loop to the rest of the directly to SK5, all the ICs, but be sure circuit permits the which is the MIDI output socket. Butter IC4e loop and the circuit to be to check their orientation as well. electrically Isolat- Is used to Illuminate LEDS. ed. Since there is no connection with an There are two ways of mounting the The source of power Is derived from a electrical ground anywhere In the loop, switches. Both ways cur- plugpack or a 9 V battery and D5 are shown on the com- rent loops are practically protects Immune to earth the circuit against a reverse polarity being ponent overlay. Before you mount them, loops and other sources of hum. applied from either of these. Capacitors make sure that they are all The output from the optocoupier Cl first switched is sent and C2 protect the circuit from power sup- off, thus saving to two Inverting buffers connected in paral- yourself some hassles when ply irregularities. IC8 is a voltage regulator, testing lel. Butter IC3d inverts the signal and sends which the unit. To check that they are it to the provides a 5 V output to the rest of switching matrix. This butter can the ICs. turned off, test for continuity between their lugs. If there is continuity push the switch until you hear it click off. 40 - ETI September 1986 POWER

LED1 .{R2}- D5 33

INPUT 1 SW3 SW2 k {R] ) IC3 o LED2 SW6 SW5 INPUT 2

k SW4 I 0 SWY SW9 LED3

I INPUT 3

lT/SW1212 SW11 SW10 OPTIONAL LEDO WIRING INPUT

R15

SK5

4 OUTPUT 1 OUTPUT 2 / OUTPUT 3 i OUTPUT 4

LED5 LED8

ETI-611 - PARTS LIST

Resistors all 5%, 1A W R1-22 220R Capacitors Cl 2201 25 V electro C2 220n Semiconductors D1-5 1N4004 LED1,4,9 red LED5-8 green IC1.2,5,6 Hewlett-Packard 6N138 optocouplers IC3,4,7 74LSO4 Hex inverters IC8 7805 voltage regulators Miscellaneous SW1-12 push on/push off single throw switches SK1-8 pc mounting 5 -pin DIN sockets SK9 3.5 mm phono socket ETI-611 pc board; case (see text); Scotchcal front panel; hookup wire; 0.8 mm (or 22 SWG) tinned copper wire. Price estimate: $70-$80

For a guide to components and kfts for projects, see SHOPAROUND this issue.

ETI September 1986 - 41 IN SYNTH 1 SLAVE MIDI nit OUT CHANNEL 1

If the project is to be mounted in the Rod SYNTH 2 Irving case the alternative wiring arrange-

I t/ IN SLAVE MIDI ment illustrated on the overlay should be OUT 3 4 CHANNEL 2 used. When using this wiring arrangement IN 1 you can link the switches together with 0.8 mm (or 22 SWG) tinned copper wire, IN 2 SYNTH 3 but be sure to mount the switches in the IN SLAVE MIDI case first. The switches are linked in this IN 3 CHANNEL 3 way to reduce the number of flying leads to the pc board. After the switches have been linked, they be IN 4 can connected to the pc IN SEQUENCER board as shown on the component overlay. MASTER MIDI By soldering short leads of 0.8 mm OUT CH 1, 2, 3 diameter tinned copper wire to their lugs, the switches can be mounted directly onto the pc board. This mounting technique is Figure 3. Recording configuration. recommended for those who wish to use a zippy box. The only remaining thing to be done is to connect the LEDs and the power socket to the pc board via flying leads. To make the IN SYNTH 1 wiring neater, try to keep the flying leads as SLAVE MIDI short as OUT possible. CHANNEL 1 With this project a MIDI cable is required for every input and output, so if you have four instruments you will SYNTH 2 require eight MIDI cables. To save you spending r IN SLAVE MIDI exces- OUT 1 2 3 4 sive amounts of money (up to $20 each) on CHANNEL 2 ready-made MIDI cables, you can make IN 1 them yourself for much less (about $3 for a IN 2 SYNTH 3 2 metre cable); they are almost as easy to IN SLAVE MIDI make as guitar leads. IN 3 CHANNEL 3 To make a MIDI cable, you require two 5 -pin DIN line plugs and two metres of twin core shielded cable. The rear view of a IN 4 DIN IN SEQUENCER plug is shown in Figure 5. To make up a SLAVE MIDI MIDI cable connect pin 4 of one DIN plug OUT CH 12,3. to pin 4 of the other using one of the insulated cores, and connect pin 5 to pin 5 using the other insulated core. The shield which Figure 4. Playback configuration. goes around the two cores is used to connect pin 2 to pin 2 on the DIN plugs. Testing and operation Before you apply power to the pc board, 1 20 50 72 93 114 128 TA examine it for shorted tracks and dry joints. Both of these problems can be rectified with 7 a soldering iron. To remove a short from ® ® ® ® between tracks just run a soldering iron be- 23 tween them. This should melt the solder between the tracks and push it away. Dry joints can be fixed by reheating the solder 44 joint and applying a little more solder. This should be enough to establish a link between the track and the lead. When you power up the MIDI matrix do 6s not have anything connected to it. Upon applying power, the LED labelled ON should light up. If it doesn't, turn the power off and 86 re -check the pc board and wiring. None of the other LEDs will light up when power is applied providing that none of the switches are on, (this is why I suggested that you ALL DIMENSIONS IN mm switch them off before you solder them in). The switches are arranged in four columns and four rows, with three switches in each row. The inputs come in the rows and 42 - ETI September 1986 pr?o»©'a el

the outputs go out of the columns. If you press any of the switches in the columns, the LED at the top of that column will light up; this indicates that an input has been connected to that column. For instance if you a ---¡° press the switch in the bottom left hand corner, then the LED at the top of that column . (indicating output 1) will light up. This means that data from input number four will be sent to output number 1. Now connected your prized MIDI synth to input 4 of the MIDI matrix. The LED labelled input 4 should flash slightly; this is the MIDI clock information being transmitted. When you press a key on your keyboard the LED should light up at the same time. The reason why there is no switch in the bottom right hand corner of the matrix or along the diagonal, is to prevent an instrument sending MIDI information back to Above: View of rear and side sockets, and plugs. itself. If a MIDI instrument receives its own information while receiving information Below: Pin connections using DIN line plugs and twin cone shielded cable. from another source, the poor thing will probably get confused. If you have an instrument plugged into input 4, its output data can be switched to outputs 1, 2 or 3 by pressing the corresponding button in the row. When this is done the LEDs corresponding to these outputs will glow. If all three buttons are pressed, outputs 1, 2 and 3 all receive the same MIDI message. This makes the MIDI matrix be- have the same way as a MIDI thru box. To indicate that all three outputs are connect- 4s, ed, all three output LEDs will glow. To create two routes through the MIDI matrix (as shown in Figure 2) first connect up all the inputs and outputs from your MIDI equipment to the MIDI matrix. Next push the buttons indicated by a darkened square. The output from the drum machine will be sent to the sequencer and the output from the sequencer will be sent to the synthesisers. In this configuration the tempo of the sequencer is controlled by the drum ma- .b. chine and the music to be played on the synthesisers is sent by the sequencer. This set- up is most useful if you have a computer sequencer that requires its tempo to be set different MIDI channel for each layer. from the computer keyboard and you have When the layers of music are to be played a tempo knob on your drum machine. With back on different synthesisers, the MIDI this arrangement tempo can be controlled output from the sequencer is connected to by simply turning a knob. the MIDI inputs of the three synthesisers With the instruments connected to the using the set-up shown in Figure 4. In this MIDI matrix, life is made much easier than set-up the roles of the sequencer and syn- when using a real time sequencer. To write thesiser 1 are reversed, so that the se- layers of music to the sequencer with this quencer is the master and synthesiser 1 is set-up, the MIDI output from the master the slave. Rear view of DIN plug. synthesiser goes to the MIDI input of the One thing to remember: some MIDI in- Figure 5. sequencer and the slave synthesiser con- struments do not appreciate having their nected to the relevant MIDI channel. Fig- MIDI inputs plugged into an output on the in the system which is sending data, no con ure 3 shows how the MIDI matrix should be matrix which has nothing connected to it. fusion will ensue. configured for this set-up; the bold lines To prevent such problems, make sure that To those who have MIDI systems up and show the flow of information with this ar- the output connected to the master key- running, best of luck with your musical rangement. Different layers of music can be board has its LED illuminated. This can be exploits; I hope the ETI MIDI matrix will written from the master keyboard to se- done by switching any input to it and since bring your patching problems under quencer and the slave synthesisers, using a the master keyboard is the only instrument control. ETI September 1986 - 43 d

44 - ETI September 1986 JA YCA P No.1 FOR NEW KITS INTELLIGENT MODEM MODEM $379.50 PHONE Cat. KE-4716 CONTROLLER "milloP. ETI 684 POWER Ref: EA June 1986 $55.00 See ETI June, July, August 1986 Cal. KA1672 SUPPLY $49.95 The Ultimate Modem Cat. KE4715 Features: FROM 7- V21 300/300 full duplex

V23 1200/75 halt duplex $379.5 Automatic baud rate selection on reception (auto baudin ) Other standardsar foundfo n overseas like Bet 103 and other 600/ 600 and 1200/12130 standards are supported by the hardware Intelligent auto answer INTRODUCTORY Intelligent auto dialling Fulty software driven OFFER 48 RAM bufferter Cassette Interface under Viatel standard control BUY BOTH Software controlled loudspeaking FOR $419 Responds to Industry standard Hayes commands al Especially tailored for use by both professional and hobby users. RS232 TO COMMODORE Ref: ET! Ju 1986 Supplied withoutCommodore edge Connector. PLAYMASTER Cat. KE-4722 60+60 $14.95 High quality, low priced stereo amplifier from Electronics Australia. See EA May, June, July 1986 PARAMETRIC ONLY $249.00 EQUALISER Cat. KA-1650 MODULE L Ref: ETI August 1986 This module can be used on its own or In gangs as effects units and also in synchronous sweep effects / Cat. KE-4724 V ¡ e

VIFA SPEAKERS . 19 s This now Vila/EA speaker kit Is especially r designed for use with the new Playrnaster 60.60 amplifier. The kit includes 8' woofers, dome tweeters, crossovers and cabinets. "sw J Sealed box design of 15 litres volume. Great sounding speakers at a very atlordable price. DIGITAL 60 watts rms handling. See EA Sept. 1986 SAMPLER ETI 142 ONLY $399 Cat. KE-4720 Cat. CS -2470 $119.00 Complete speakers and y ly cabinets TURBO TIMER See EA Sept 1986 A simple sensor system to prevent the car ignition being turned off before the Turbo unit LIGHT has cooled down (approx. 90 seconds). A must for those with turbo charged cars. SAVER Cat KA-1679 Ref: EA June 1986 Supplied without plate and epoxy. KA-1670 ' $29.95 Cat.

SCREAMER SOLDERING IRON i CAR ALARM TEMPERATURE ,, Ref: EA August 1986 i Incorporates two sensors and utilizes CONTROLLER a piezo screamer Inside car. See ETI Sept. 1986 Cat. KA-1675 A variable control using diodes. No transfor- SHORT FORM mer required, soldering iron connects through this to power outlet. Staple to install. $29.95 Cat. KE-4725 ONLY $25.00 L _J SHOWROOMS SYDNEY 117 York Si 102) 267 1614 .-- Mon Fri 830 am530 pm MasterCard., Thurs until 830 pm Sat 9 am 12 noon VISA Pennant Hills Rd car 1 Cnr Carlrngford 8 ay CARLINGFORD (02) 872 4444 Mon Fri 9 am 530 pm Thurs until 830 pm Sat 9 am 12 noon ELECTRONICS INCORPORATING ELECTRONIC AGENCIES e" r_: MAIL ORDER VIA CONCORD 115 Parramaua Rd 1021 745 3077 OLD. BURANDA 144 Logan Rd 107) 393 0777 Mon Fri 830 am 530 pm only 53n pm Mon Fri 9am YOUR PHONE POST PACKING until 8 30 pm Sat 9 am 12 noon HURSTVILLE 121 Forest Rd (02) 570 7000 Thur. Mon Fri am530 pm HEAD OFFICE 115 Parramnea Rd MAIL ORDERS 55 5999 S 2 00 S 75 Thurs until 830 pm Sat 9 am . 12 noon Concord 2137 PO Box IRS CO, ord 2137 510 52499 3 72293 525 54999 S 4 50 Pacific Bellevue Ave) 1021 747 2022 Telex .02, r47 1888 HOTLINE GORE HILL 188 Hwy (Cm SSO 59999 S 650 (02) 439 4799 Mon Fri 9 am 5 30 pm rrlrlll t 22 RRH TOLLFREE I OVER 5100 S1000 Sat 9 am 4 pm ROAD FREIGHT ANYWHERE IN AUSTRALIA 53.50 FOR ORDERS ONLY pr>'oDsel 522 TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED SOLDERING IRON If you have put off buying a temperature controlled soldering iron because they are so expensive, your problems are solved with this low cost soldering iron temperature controller. However, a substitute problem: how to solder the solderer? Herman Nacinovich

the like. Too low a temperature, on the other hand, makes soldering difficult and increases the time required - which might also result in damaged components. Not only that, use of too low a temperature may lead to dry joints, an almost certain recipé for future circuit problems. Where operating temperature is concerned, conventional (non -temperature controlled) soldering irons are anything but ideal. The two major problems with a conventional iron are that its temperature is not adjustable, and that its operating temperature is dependent on external factors such as the heat absorbing capacity of the components being soldered, and on variations in the supply voltage. A variation of ±10% in the supply voltage, for example, will result in approximately 20% variation in the heat-, 7 J ing power of the iron, all things being equal. ,q4 M The power rating of an iron directly re- I cok' lates its suitability to any particular application. A typical iron intended for electronics work would be rated at around 20 W, which would be just adequate for average pc board work. But try to solder a large component, such as an electrolytic capacitor in a WHILE THIS TEMPERATURE control- Why temperature control? power supply with a 20 W iron and you ler may not have all the features of a solder- An important factor in good soldering might find yourself getting stuck (literally) ing station, it provides fully regulated, ad- technique is the correct choice of soldering because a lot of heat is being absorbed by justable temperature control over a reason- iron temperature. Experience suggests that the component, and the iron doesn't have ably wide temperature range. And there is there is an optimum temperature for every enough reserve power to keep the solder no need to discard the soldering iron that soldering job and that this should be ad- above melting point. In such cases a higher you have now. This temperature controller hered to as closely as possible. Excessively power rated iron (eg, a 25 W or 30 W iron). will work with just about any conventional high or low temperatures should definitely is necessary. However, higher power means 240 V soldering iron rated from 20 W to he avoided. Too high a temperature during a higher temperature, especially when the 75 W, and can easily be adapted for use soldering may obviously result in such iron sits idle in its stand or if it is only used with higher powered soldering irons. nasties like damage to sensitive electronic for light work. There is then a greater risk components, tracks lifting off pc boards and of damaging components and the iron may 46 - ETI September 1986 l

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- 1 1 I t i t .1 M$

4114. miaow III i 111 !!!..+ Y

be uncomfortable to work with. dissipated in the rheostat, and besides, a for the required constant temperature. Before temperature controlled irons be- rheostat capable of dissipating such power ' However, as soon as you start to talk came generally available, it was sometimes would be expensive and probably difficult about temperature transducers in this kind necessary to have several different irons on to obtain. of application you run into all sorts of prob- hand so that the most suitable one for the Alternatively, the rheostat may be re- lems. Because of the high temperatures in- job could be used. However, apart from the placed by a diode. With ac power applied, volved, devices like ordinary thermistors cost of having several irons, this approach is the diode conducts during alternate half and silicon diodes won't do. Special devices not very convenient. A temperature con- cycles, so that the soldering iron operates at rated for high temperatures are required. trolled iron does away with this inconven- half power. Short out the diode with a The most likely choices are thermocouples ience. In essence, a temperature controlled switch and the soldering iron operates at full and 'high temperature' thermistors. These iron is one which is automatically switched power. This method is highly efficient be- are not too difficult to get in lots of, say, off when it reaches operating temperature cause very little power is dissipated in the 1000 or more but just try to get one from and switches on again (automatically) when diode. But although simple and cheap to your local electronics supermarket or the it drops below operating temperature. This build, a diode controller is of very limited distributors. Not very likely! switching action provides for an iron with usefulness because only two control settings Nevertheless, assuming that this problem plenty of reserve power for those `difficult' are possible. A better method would be to has been overcome, there is the second jobs without the danger of overheating. The control the average power going to the sol- problem of mounting the transducer onto benefits include constant temperature and dering iron using an SCR or triac controller, (or inside) the soldering iron. There would adjustable temperature, consistent solder- such as in an ordinary light dimmer. How- also have to be (presumably) at least one ing quality, and use of a single iron for light ever, SCR and triac switching circuits tend wire going from the transducer to the con- and heavy work. Another advantage is that to generate considerable amounts of rfi trol circuitry as well as the usual power sup- temperature controlled irons generally (radio frequency interference) unless zero ply and earth wires. All of which suggests a reach operating temperature much more crossing switch techniques are used. somewhat drastic modification of a conven- quickly than conventional irons. Each of the methods mentioned suffers tional soldering iron. These may not be in- Typically, if you wanted the advantages from the serious drawback of poor tempera- surmountable problems to a manufacturer of a temperature controlled soldering iron, ture regulation. This means that the tem- who is prepared to set up a production line you had to buy a soldering station which perature of the soldering iron is influenced for temperature controlled soldering irons, comes with a special, low voltage iron and by external factors, such as variations in but they are clearly serious objections for a inbuilt temperature sensor, or an iron with power supply voltage and the nature of the hobbyist. inbuilt temperature controlled switching. soldering work. This characteristic is un- At this point you may be thinking that Now you can build one yourself. desirable and rules out these methods as there is no practical way of using feedback such for a fully regulated temperature con- to control the temperature of a soldering Design considerations trol system. To overcome this drawback iron without modifying the iron. But de- Let's look at some of the ways in which negative feedback must be used. This re- spair not, there is a solution. the temperature of a soldering iron might be quires the use of a temperature transducer The basic problem is what to use as the controlled. One method might be to use a of some kind to monitor the temperature of temperature transducer. As it happens, we rheostat in series with the soldering iron the soldering iron, and a switch responsive already have one right there inside the sol- heating element. But this method is very to the output of the temperature transducer dering iron itself. The heating element in a inefficient because a lot of power would be to maintain the power to the soldering iron typical soldering iron is essentially nothing ETI September 1986 - 47 ETI-1532 - HOW IT WORKS

The soldering iron Rx, together with resistors R1, R2 and R3 and diodes DI and D2, form a bridge which Is connected across the ac mains power supply. The voltage at the junction of D1 and R2 is taken to the negative Input of comparator IC1 via R4. Similarly, the voltage at the junction of D2 and R3 is divided down by potentiometers RV1 and RV2 and taken to the negative Input of IC1 via R5. Components R4, Cl and R5, and C2 form low pass filters to reduce ac ripple at the comparator inputs. The output of comparator IC1 controls transistor Q1 which, In turn, controls SCR1. Assume that RV1 (coarse adjustment) and RV2 (fine adjustment) have been set for a desired operating temperature. Initially, the soldering Iron has a relatively low resistance. The output of IC1 Is low, causing Q1 to turn off and SCR1 to turn on. Full power flows Into the soldering iron and it heats up quickly. When the soldering iron has reached the set temperature, the output of IC1 goes high, turning on 01 and turning off SCR1. The current then flows through the soldering Iron only during negative half cycles via D2 and the power drops to half. The temperature will then start to fall below the set temperature and the cycle is repeated. Thus, the soldering iron Is maintained at a relatively constant average temperature. Diode D4 isolates the bridge from the SCR and associated drive circuitry which might otherwise load the bridge during

ETI-1532 - PARTS LIST

Resistors all 5% or better R1 330k, 'h W R2, 7 10k, Y4 W R3 120R, 5 W R4, 5, 10 47k, Y4 W R6 27k, 1 W R8 100R, W R9 100k, 1/2 W

R11 47k, 1 W RV1, 2 500R Capacitors C1, 2 1µ tant C3 47O11, 16 V electro Semiconductors D1 -D5 1N4004 D6, 7 1N4148 01 BC548 IC1 LM339 SCR1 C106D Miscellaneous 1 A 3AG fuse; fuse holder; 6 -way terminal block; 240 V neon bezel; 2 x cable clamp grommets; 2 x lengths 3 -core flex; 240 V plug; 240 V line socket; 150 x 61 x 103 mm metal cabinet (Dick Smith (at H-2742); ETI-1532 pc board; Scotchcal label; 4 x plastic spacers; bolts; nuts; spring holder; 2 x crimp lugs; 2 x knobs. Price estimate: $26

For a guide to components and kits for projects, see SHOPAROUND this Issue. 48 - ETI September 1986 522

TABLE 1. SUGGESTED COMPONENT Results with 'Lotring' Iron VALUES FOR DIFFERENT RANGES A: MAX TEMP SETTING A (see text). 8: MED TEMP SETTING negative half cycles and upset operation. C: MIN TEMP SETTING negative dc supply for the comparator is Range R3 R8 500 derived directly from the ac mains via a resistor, R6, and limited 680R voltage dropping 20 - 30 W 100R 400 by zener diode, ZD1. 30 - 40 W 68R 820R During operation, a neon indicator lights 300 up when SCR1 conducts. When the solder- 40 -- 60 W 47R 680R ing Iron Is either above or below the set op- á 200 erating temperature, the neon Indicator Is 60 - 75 W 33R 1k either fully off or fully on, as the case may 100 75 100 W 27R 820R be. The neon indicator flashes when the - soldering iron is at operating temperature. 100 -- 120 W 18R 1k8 A feature of this circuit is that SCR1 is 0 4 10 12 14 16 TIME (MINSt turned on only near zero crossings of the 120 - 150 W 15R 1k5 ac voltage wavefórm, thereby minimising dl (radio frequency Interference). Here's how It works. Assume that the output of IC1 Is low. At the beginning of a positive half cycle, the voltage across resistors R9 and R10 Is relatively low and transistor Q1 is prevented from turning on by the low output of IC1. Current therefore flows Into the gate of SCR1 via resistor R11 and, being a sensitive gate device, the SCR turns on early In the half cycle. Suppose, however, that the output of IC1 happens to go low In the middle of a positive half cycle, r when the voltage across resistors R9 and R10 is fairly high. These resistors form a potential divider with the base of transistor Q1 connected to the Junction. In this case, 01 Is turned on despite the low output of IC1, thereby shorting out the gate current of SCR1 and preventing It from turning on. more than a wirewound power resistor. likely to differ ín their temperature/resíst- construction and because of the presence of Now, it is the usual characteristic of a resis- ance characteristics, a single calibration dangerous voltages on the board, there are tor that its resistance changes with tempera- would not necessarily be valid for different several precautions which the constructor ture. The temperature coefficient (propor- irons. For that reason, in the case of the MUST be aware of. First of all, the metal tional change in resistance per degree prototype, RV2 was simply given an arbi- cabinet and all exposed metal parts, such as change in temperature) may vary with the trary calibration from 1 to 10. A neon lamp knobs, pot shafts, etc, MUST be securely type of resistance wire used by the manufac- which lights up when SCR1 conducts pro- earthed. When making earth connections, turer, but all practical resistors exhibit some vides a useful indicator for setting up and for example, do not merely solder an earth change in resistance with temperature. If adjustment of the front panel controls. wire to a lug but use a crimp or other me- then the resistance of a soldering iron heat- With the component values shown in the chanical connection to ensure secure con- ing element could be measured on a contin- schematic, the range of adjustment avail- tact. Although human contact with mains ual basis while the soldering iron is being able is limited for use with soldering irons neutral or a short circuit between neutral used, it would be the ideal transducer for rated from 20 W to 75 W (approximately). and earth will not have serious conse- temperature control. For irons rated less than 20 W, the benefits quences, assume that all components on the of temperature control are marginal at best, pc board are or could be at a potentially dan- Circuit details since these irons have barely enough power gerous live voltage. Therefore at every stage The soldering iron temperature controller for most jobs anyway. If you want to use the of construction check that there is no weak is designed to be connected between a 240 soldering iron temperature controller for point at which any of the components could Vac mains outlet and a soldering iron. The irons rated above 75 W, replace R3 with a make contact with each other or the metal circuit works directly off the mains and de- lower valued resistor. In fact, by suitable cabinet. rives a low voltage dc supply for the elec- choice of R3 and R8 the range of adjust- Construction may begin with the pc tronics via a straightforward resistor zener ment can be optimised for a particular iron. board on which most of the components fuse and diode network (R6, ZD1). Two front panel Table 1 gives some suggested resistor values apart from RV1, RV2, holder controls are provided. A coarse adjustment for different irons. These figures have not neon bezel are mounted. Before soldering pot RV1, labelled POWER, is calibrated been verified by experiment so you may components, check the board carefully to approximately in terms of the nominal have to alter the values slightly if you do not make sure that there are no bridges be- power rating of the soldering iron being get the range of adjustment that you need. tween tracks or breaks in any of the tracks. used (from 20 W to 75 W). A fine adjust- The components may now be soldered to ment pot RV2, labelled TEMP, is used to Construction the board in any convenient order, but I set the operating temperature of the solder- For this project, I chose a metal cabinet would suggest that you start with the ing iron. Ideally RV2 could be calibrated in to house the `works' rather than a plastic smaller components and leave the larger degrees centigrade. However, this project one because a plastic one would be all too components, such as the electrolytic capaci- was designed as a general purpose device easily damaged by accidental contact with a tor and terminal block till last. and, since different soldering irons are hot soldering iron. Because of the metal If you wish, you can use an IC socket for ETI September 1986 - 49 pToo po1 11E22

IC1. After all of the on -board components have been soldered in check that all polarised components, which include ICI, 01, SCRI, the diodes and capacitors, have been correctly mounted. Incidentally, reversing the polarity of any of these will most certainly cause problems later on. Now connect up the potentiometers RV1 and RV2 with approximately 50 mm of hookup wire to each terminal (use only insulated wire rated at 240 V1250 V for all connections). Be particularly careful when soldering the wires to the pot terminals because these could easily bend and make accidental contact with the metal case if the connections are not carefully made. Also, break the lug off the SCR as this is not needed. Now, solder two lengths of hookup wire, about 75 to 100 mm each on the board for the neon bezel but do not as yet solder the ends to the neon bezel. Leaving aside the pc board for the time being, drill holes in the front panel if this has not already been done for pots RV1, RV2 and the neon bezel. A photocopy of the front panel artwork could be used con- veniently, as a template for this operation. In addition, holes will also have to be drilled in the base for the pc board mounting screws and in the rear panel for input and output cables and for the fuse holder. Ream or file away any burrs and rough edges. Carefully apply the Scotchcal label to the front panel, making sure that the hole positions on the label are exactly aligned with the holes in the front panel, then cut out the holes from the label. Drill a hole in the cover to receive a bolt for fixing a spring - 'type soldering iron holder, if desired. Now you can mount the pc board in the cabinet using machine screws and plastic spacers. If you elect to use metal spacers, use plastic insulating washers between the dicator will light up when the setting corre- and that the calibration may not be the spacers and the pc board so as to make ab- sponding approximately to the rated power same for a different iron, even if of the same solutely sure that there is no possibility of of the soldering iron is reached. If the neon power rating due to slight variations be- electrical contact between the metal spacers lamp doesn't light up or is constantly on re- tween irons. and any of the tracks on the board. It is also gardless of the knob position, switch off If the temperature controller doesn't .recommended that, when mounting RV1 power and check for faults. work, the first things to check are the power and RV2 to the front panel, spacers such as Assuming everything is OK, adjust the supply connections and that all of the com- washers or be nuts used between the pots TEMP pot to about mid -position and allow ponents have been soldered in the right way and the front panel so that the metal cases the iron to heat up to full operating tem- around. Under no circumstances start prod- of these pots are not mounted too closely to perature. Now, turn the POWER knob ding around the circuitry with the the panel. power The reason for this is to leave a (RV1) till the neon lamp is just on the point switched on. If the fault still can't be found wide gap between the soldered pot termi- of going out. The neon lamp will begin to you might try checking all the resistors, nals and the metal panel so as to lessen the flicker, a sign that the circuit is working, since the circuit may not work if resistors of risk of accidental contact between them. If and the soldering iron is ready for use. If de- incorrect value have been used or if the you wish, you could lay a piece of plastic sired, you can then make fine adjustments tolerances of critical resistors are way out. (say, about 0.5 mm 1 or mm thick) over the to the soldering iron temperature using the The critical resistors are R1, R2 and R3. inside face of the front panel so as to pre- TEMP control. If you want to calibrate the Also, don't discount the possibility of a vent any chance of such contact. unit in terms of actual temperature, this can short circuit between tracks, for example be easily done using a soldering iron tem- due to solder bridges or a break in one or Testing and calibration perature meter. (I purchased a low cost more tracks. When Generally, these are readily construction is completed and meter from Jaycar not very long ago for this checked using everything a high power magnifying checked, plug in a soldering iron purpose; such meters may still be available glass. As a last and switch on. resort, you may have to Turn the POWER knob from there and possibly some of the other check if individual from the fully components have failed, anticlockwise to the fully retailers.) Note, that the calibration will although this is clockwise position. not very likely if care has If all is well, the neon in - change if the POWER select knob is moved been taken during soldering. 50 - ETI September 1986 SOE ON OVAI/TY PRODUCTS FROM PRE - PAK SOLAR CELL PLASTICAogñácccCópó Dupor: 0.44 18 v 7wATr resistors CERAMICS All Wanted Velar. $2 PACKS OF loo 1 ohm.l0 Meg/ohm. $4.. 4501 A SOLAR PANEL 12 Pole TERMINAL ONE VALUE V Charge 12v baftrie 100 IAco Pacvt of SOLAR BATTERY vp fe 380mA or 27111 so ONE VALUE Greenc ;;A' per doy BLOCKS $120, 1/4 WATT CHARGER 512.1",-,;:°: SEND S.A.E.."... 240v Ac OR FOR THE afy3413ra 5 WATT CARBON FILM Solar Experlmnt. Rif' 69eo SOLAR CATALOGUE! IOAMPS /f ea 2 PRICE OF 1

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Talk to the real world. This add-on to the ETI-694 Forth board controlled by a bus extending from port E. will allow the RSC-Forth development to Table 1 gives a combination of outputs from system interface to this port. analogue inputs or outputs. It has a programmable amplifier, a The output chain is also multiplexed. The watchdog timer, in fact all the goodies you need. Go Forth, data bus is fed to two digital -to-analogue converters (DACs), either of which can be and you will multiply and add and divide and .. . selected by software. Finally, two of the digitial ports on the OH NO, I hear you say, not another com- developed a complete ROM based Forth 65F12 are available to the outside world puter language. However, if you're into system consisting of the CPU, memory, through one of the connectors. controlling robots, mechanical arms, wash- UO facilities and the RSC-Forth software ing machines, train sets, etc, then it's integrated into a single chip. Thanks to Construction about time you looked more seriously at Australian Rockwell agents, Energy Con- Building the Forth analogue card ought Forth. It is a which was de- language trol, a low cost single board microcom- to present few problems. Start by examining veloped with control in mind and is more puter which runs Forth is now available. the board in the usual fashion for defects to flexible than either Fortran and BASIC It was described in ETI May 1985 as the tracks or bridging. In view of the profes- when it comes to whizzing stepping motors ETI-694. A development of this basic sional nature of the boards you should find around or checking the status of sensors. project was described as ETI-696 (Dec 85) very few. In fact, it was designed at Kitt Peak and shows how to interface the system to The first thing to do is to put in a jumper solar observatory by astronomers who disk drives and printers. It also imple- from pin 13 of U11 to the 12 volt positive needed to make rapid calculations and mented some input/output ports to allow rail. This is missing from the artwork: Then then use the results to drive telescope con- you to control the outside world. ' mount all the small components, resistors trol motors. A major limitation is that the UO is and capacitors, as well as the jumper blocks To briefly summarize its features, a Forth digital, problem in an analogue world. JB1, JB2 and JB3. Pay particular attention is a language in which you add your own This describes an project interface for the to the zener diode. This comes in a transis- operations by defining them in terms of development system that implements eight tor -like package, and should be inserted previously defined operations until a single input analogue channels and two analogue with an orientation opposite to that shown word (or operation) represents your whole outputs. on the board. program. It is a structured language. It Solder in the IC sockets, carefully check- uses the concept of Reverse Polish Nota- Description ing for solder bridges as you go. Some peo- tion (RPN) and is quite easy to learn. The board mounts piggy -back fashion on ple may prefer to ignore the sockets, and Most people agree that it is simpler to use the development system. It is designed to solder the ICs directly into the board. This than Assembler yet has many of its slot directly into the 65F11 socket, using a is probably a more reliable way of connect- advantages. 40 -pin DIL connector. The analogue board ing the IC to the board, but bear in mind For those curious about the language carries a 65F12 which replaces the 65F11 as that if you make a mistake you will probably there are two excellent books that I can the controller for the whole system. not be able to remove the chip without a The recommend. first is Starting Forth by Input is achieved via any one of eight great deal of pain. Leo Brodie which takes you through pro- input channels. They are time multiplexed Finally, make up the connection to the gramming, etc using drawings, cartoons together and then presented to the ana- development system by pushing the 20 -pin and the like. Certainly a good beginner's logue -to -digital converter (ADC). The par- wirewrap strip through the board as shown book but not recommended for anyone allel output from the ADC is read directly in the photograph. When you have soldered who already knows about computers. The into the data bus of the 65F12. it into place, secure a 40 -pin DIL socket second book is the RSC-Forth User's The resolution is eight bits wide. How- onto the ends of the wirewrap terminals to Manual which comes with the kit from ever, between the multiplexer and the ADC give the whole unit some stability. Energy Control. It describes the Forth a programmable amplifier has been in- Now plug it into the 65F11 socket on the development system and language ex- stalled, with gain that can be switched be- mother board and connect up power to the tremely well and saves you having from to tween 1, 2, 4, and 8. socket in the corner of the board. Notice plough through loads of rubbish to find This function can be used in a number of that the numbers on the plug might not be relevant information. different ways. It can improve the dynamic the same as the numbers on the board. Up until now, the way of getting hands- range of the system, improve the resolution, Stand back while you switch on. If you on experience with Forth was to purchase or even be used to implement autoranging see the RSC-FORTH V1.7 message on the a disk or tape and load it into your home functions if required. screen then you did all right if it blows up computer. Rockwell, however, recently - Both the multiplexer and the amplifer are in your face you probably made a boo-boo. 52 - ETI September 1986 e - 74122 PC - uAalts cAt! P Nu tt1001:tS1A WMlU '3..9741,137$M 'ta-- 1411. !° t t ..... MtNAYStA 4HA yj; t 1pStY74tS373N .l .. . GIT ii,, r 4d,4f'tA 1

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R A : _ P r a r lt 414 íc t t t t_ t t t tt t1 tt - !!!--! S-' q .. _._.g.. Calibration J4, and connect 5 V If all is well, the next stage is calibration. will take care of all the other states. It's channel zero, pin 19 on This involves setting up both input and out- probably a good idea to check at least that to it. Now, select the channel and specify amplifier, and put ports so that the 65F12 is given true in- the zero state 00 in fact outputs zero. the gain in the programmable formation about the value of the voltage on To adjust DACO, write FF to the appro- send it to port E. For example HEX 00, PE the output. priate address, and adjust VR6 until the C!. Now adjust VR5 until the voltage on the reads 5 V. Essentially, the procedure is to drive the output, pin 3 on 14, reads 5 V. To adjust ADC input, ie, pin 6 of U8, output ports high, then adjust the appropri- DAC1, similarly write FF, and adjust RV4 Incidentally, to understand the signifi- program line it may be necces- ate variable resistors until precisely 5V is so that pin 1 on J4 reads 5 V. cance of the output. The inherent linearity of the device To do the ADC calibrations, start with sary to consult the December 1985 issue ofd

ETI September 1986 - 53 ENERGY. caNrR(}: «, 6

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ETI-1605 - HOW IT WORKS One can divide the ET1-1605 frito Iwo functional groups: input channels and output channels. The Inputs are available on the J4 connector; from where they go to an op - amp connected like a buffer, le, its gain is a one (U14 and U15). Its function is to make 00 the board as Immune as possible to the o o input resistance of the device connected to 0 it. O The output of these buffers Is then fed O into U10, a multiplexer, whose job it is to 00 pass just one of the voltage values on the O o input to the output pin 3. Which input Is 0 connected is defined by the selecting pins 9, 10, 11, connected to port E. Output from the multiplexer Is then sent II o II to a programmable amplifier made up of two sections of U15, VR5 the 4051 multi- \ \\\\\\\\ 1\\\ plexer and the associated resistor networks. By selecting appropriate combinations on pins 10 and 11 of the 4051, which are also IG11 44 o Oei,000ÓÓ000a ab controlled on port E, ft Is possible to connect some combination of R7, R8 and R9 to a .. , ground. This in turn, gives gain of 1, 2, 4 or 8 to the amplifier by shunting some of the 1 o oa 0 o output from U13d to ground. o - Fine adjustment of the voltage can be o made by VR15, which Is buffered by U13a to :By: ó 0 0 \ f e oa o a r give low output impedance to the network. 8 On reception of a start conversion signal :,1 a rf::**38r q on pin 3, and a chip select signal on pin 1, 0 o osa°`o the ADC formed by U8 takes the analogue O a O voltage on pin 6 and spits it out as a paral- A q ci o lel combination on the data bus. This o 0 Io r d $d Is in- `8( ,o terpreted as a digital word 'by the 65F12, thus completing the A -D conversion. 0000 o é The output channel begins at the data O o o bus, which Is presented to two latches U6 O o a S _, a ooI and U7. These form the beginning of the dala: 0o fa DAC process. When the appropriate chip. J o0 0 select °(0 0_..0Í 0 i/° o (CS) signal Is received, the latch : places the dl'gltal word on the data bus on goa .al _ _ its output pins. It will keep this word there, a ° g b II 13IIII j II J2 40 PIN JUMPER TO R65711 1111 ?cumNIm:811SP1$'BRRÑRRXRRs1 m U.,.., IC Y Ñ Y t551S m ll 2t tt 1 =' 2t ñ m z e, N.,,., o S/1 tI tt l Ñ. " _v .,aN.,. _r á$axtr,55'oeY", VÜY8..55Uv:XÑS U4 R65F120 (64 PIN QUIP) Ill ó881R1Rml'11".Rá8g3úÑRE;étbL., 9 _ - v r3 añ.a arGYYNalslamNfsSlIk`sMÑYIFtt; Y

ADDR

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220 22k 224 224 228 226 22k J

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------require a very Irrespective of other activity on the bus, This output is buffered by an op -amp to Both the ADC and the DAC to accurate until the next CS signal comes along. provide a low output resistance. The gain of good reference voltage provide by V1, a 5 volt The digital word out of the latch Is pre- the op-amp is set by the resistor network conversion. This is provided Vref, sented to the DAC, which converts ft to an around it. One of these resistors is made zener. R4 provides 4.6 mA to drive directly to pin 20 of the analogue voltage between 0 and 5 V in 128 adjustable so that precise output voltages which is presented steps, depending on the value of the word. can be achieved. ADC, and to the DACs via a 4.7k resistor.

ETI September 1986 - 55 HI-COM UNITRONICS pToPW IGO5 INT. PTY. LTD. 7 President Lane. Caringhah, N.S.W. 2229 Phone (02) 524-7878 P.O. Box 626, Caringbah 2229 Bankcard or Mastercard Welcome -t-- Mall Order Postage ro.. Less than 550 $3.50 550-599 $4.50 c c $100-6250 $7.so 5 Above $250 $10.00 Heavy Item add extra F-1- ETI-684 INTELLIGENT MODEM KIT + POWER SUPPLY $420 Tr o0 All PCBs have plated through holes and quality screen printing. J } ae Autobauding, Autodial, Auto -line monitoring, Cassette -Re- 1 corder. Interface, Answering Machine Capability, Hayes Com- mand c r--- c .. Compatible and many morellt [5"- , All specified components with BK RAM as standard. Demon- stration is available at the shop. I ; E__.__- El="_ 2 Ee 1. c - ,I . L" Tiüiüüibiü ETI-684 INTELLIGENT MODEM POWER SUPPLY KIT $45.00 I . Super safe power supply - directly plug into your intelligent modem. r 3 PCBs b EPROM only $120.00. F f RS232 CABLE MINI TESTER NORMALLY $29.00. Discount e for MODEM KIT BUYER $15.00 ,J Ideal tester for 0625 serial cable. ENERGY CONTROL RS232 SERIAL CABLE with RF Shielding 1.8M male to female, m/m or f/f $25.00 TELEPHONE EXTENSION CORD ti 5 Metres $8.50 10 Metres $13.50 RS232 SWITCH for A Modem between 2 computers $139.00 TABLE 1. Decoding Channel and CENTRONIC ETI-1605 PARTS LIST PRINTER SWITCH between 2 computers or a - Gain computer, between 2 printers $149.00 selects on Port E BUILD YOUR OWN IBM XT COMPATIBLE Resistors all r%W, 5% COMPUTER KITI PEO PE1 PE4 PE5 PE6 R1 100k Japanese made top quality PCBs for reliability and trouble = 1 R2,5,9 10k tree! Gain 0 0 X X X Gain = 2 R3,10,11,12 4k7 256K RAM main board with 8 slots 1 0 X X X R4 1k5 Diskdrive Controller Card (handles 4 drives) Gain = 3 0 1 X X X Colour Graphic Card R6 27k Gain = 4 1 1 X X X All for R7 2k7 $555.00 ADCO X X 0 0 0 2 -NIX MOUSE FOR YOUR R8 IBM PC/XT $180.00 ADC1 X X .1 68k 3 with 0 0 Button inch card, compatible with PC Paint, Paint- ADC2 R13,15 2k2 brush, Autocad, X X 0 1 0 Lotus, etc. ADC3 R14 22k X X 1 1 0 RN1 47k SIP resistor network ADC4 X X 0 0 1 '., ADCS VR1-VR6 10 turn 5k0 cermet X X 1 0 1 (Spectrol 64Y502) C=D .,,. ADC6 X X 0 1 1 ADC7 Capacitors X X 1 1 1 Cl 68µ 16 V tantalum IBM XT COMPUTER KIT $1,650.00 C2 0.1p. ceramic 640K Mother board, Colour graphic card, Multi 1/0 card, 2 C3 10µ 1 V tantalum disk drives, 130W power supply, case and keyboard ETI and the description of the development C4 15O1 ceramic ASCII TO SPEECH 'SYNTHESISER for your PC/XT kit system. C5 at pin 16 $180.00 In of U11,U120.011 order to calibrate the amplifier, it's C6,7 10n neccessary to adjust the pots VR2, 3 and 4. 20 decoupling capacitors marked on the Reduce the input voltage to 2.5 V. The overlay as 'C' 0.1p. bypass. voltage on pin 6 of the ADC should follow, Semiconductors suit. Now re -address U1 74LS122 port E, selecting a gain U2 of 2. HEX 01 74LS138 alamisis PE C! will achieve this. The U4 R65F12A0 voltage on pin 6 IBM XT COMPATIBLE COMPUTER of the ADC should jump to U5 74LS02 High quality 5 Japanese made multi -layer boards with 640K volts. If it doesn't, adjust the VR2. U6,7 74LS373 RAM, 2 x 360K Disk Drives, Colour Graphics Output, Paral- U8 ADC0803 lel/Serial & Games Ports, Repeat with gains of four and eight. Set Built-in Clock, Metal Case P. Key- board U9,10 4051 51750 the input voltage to 1.25 V and adjust VR1 Optional U11,12 DAC0800 enhanced Graphic & Super High Res. Colour Moni- so that 5 V tor extra appears on pin 6, then set up $1850 U13,14,15 LM324 or similar 1M Byte 0.625 UNFORMAT TEAC disc drive $330.00 and adjust VR3. It's probably a good V1 LM336 5 V DISK DRIVES FOR APPLE 11 + OR 11E $275.00 idea while you have a voltmeter connected Miscellaneous APPLE 11C $350.00 up, pc board available from Energy TVM 14" to confirm intermediate values and also Control ($8.00); COLOUR MONITOR 18 Colours 640 x 400 Interlaced all 20 -pin wirewrap strip: 40 -pin DIL socket. $750.00 values on the other channels. Be careful TTL AMBER MONITOR FOR IBM PC/XT Computer 5249.00 not to saturate the by Price estimate: $89 excluding tax 640 x 400 suit Hercules graphic card amplifier going much SUPER 5 above 5 volts. EN1201 DOT MATRIX PRINTER $590.00 It may not be possible to get $99 Including tax 120 CPS, NLO, long life ribbon, IBM Graphics and 11 Inter- it precisely correct across national characters built-in. all channels, in SUPER 5 which case you might EN1090 dot matrix printer $450.00 have to make some in- This 100 project is available from Energy Control, CPS, IBM Graphics & 11 international characters built- termediate settings in. that make everything PO Box 6502, Goodna, Old 4300. nearly correct. An (07) 288- SERIAL PRINTER alternative of course, is 2455. Included is an operations manual with ADAPTOR FOR SUPER 5 PRINTER to set it $150.00 correctly on one channel, and note some software examples to drive the ports of the on the ETI-1605. ETI READER SERVICE 18 errors the other. 56 - ETI September 1986 WOOD FOR CHIPS... WOOD FOR CHIPS ... WOOD FOR CH/PS ... WOOD FOR CHIPS ... WOOD FOR CHIPS ... WOOD FOR CHIPS ... WOOD FOR C á F ano #NEW CHIPS IN STOCK 5V a POWERED DUAL RS232 o TRANSMITTER/RECEIVER Phone us for prices AX232 o SY6502A CPU Yes it meets all RS232C specs but only 3 SY6520A Peripheral Interface.Adaptor MOOS ONO needs a 5V supply because it has built-in SY6521A Peripheral Interface Adaptor converters for the +10V and -10V power SY6522A Versatile Interface Adaptor supplies. Can also be used as a voltage quadrupler for input SY6532A RAM I/O rn R.O voltages up to 5.5V. Timer Array NINO Also SY6551A Asynch Comms Interface Adaptor contains 2 drivers and receivers. Uses MC6845P CRT Controller low power CMOS. Handles 30V input levels and provides a t9V output swing. Ideal for battery powered TALKING CHIPS FOR systems. $12.16. UNDER $30 ADJUSTABLE VOLTAGE & bT..1 Our code -to-speech chip set consists of two CURRENT REGULATOR er,l'g71 chips - the SP0256A-AL2 an allophone - L1200C based speech synthesiser and the CTS256A-AL2 an 8 -bit microcomputer Handles output currents up to 2A and programmed with a letter -to -sound based voltages in the range 32V down to 2.85V. algorithm. The chip set translates English Thermal overload and short circuit characters into speech. protected. Input over-voltage protected to 60V. Only $2.50. Two projects use these chips - the Programmab e AEM4505 Speech voltage regulator with Synthesiser (Feb 86) current limitng which includes Microbee software plus an article on Speech Synthesis in general. The LOW NOISE PRECISION other project is in June's AEM and converts MACHINED PIN WIRE ASCII text files into speech - ideal for OP AMP OP27 WRAP SOCKETS talking word processors. is This one for the Continuing our policy of stocking the latest IBM PC Due to the enormous and works just like a printer. high tech ICs, the OP -27 provides popularity of our GOLD excellent PLATED low profile IC sockets we Buy the performance in low noise have now CTS256A-AL2 for $28.00 or applications added Wire Wrap types - again at ridiculously the such as pre synthesiser SP0256A-AL2 only for -amps, stable integrators, low prices. Remember these aren't the cheap just $15.95. Yes the price is right) precision summers, comparators etc. tin plated variety these are GOLD PLATED. 8 pin 820, 14 pin 51.50, Features 16 pin 51.72,18 pin 51.95, - 20 pin 52.15, 24 pin 52.58, 28 pin 53.00, CONVERT YOUR Low Noise 80nV -p from 0.1 Hz to 10Hz 40 pin 54.50. MULTIMETER INTO A 3nV/F-Iz Low Drift 0.2uV/° C THERMOMETER High Speed 2.8V/uS slew rate 8MHz Gain e See ETI June 83 which features a project Bandwidth .. C°..,.C, 126dB ' using the AD590JH (ETI-153). The CMRR AD590JH produces an output current Open Loop Gain -1.8 million °.. MOONING proportional to absolute temperature. It's The «°:.° . OP27GZ gives you outstanding specs .TO° Áw.:" ideal for remote sensing as long OA cable runs at 516.27. INTO have CONTACT ..[. negligible effect on accuracy over a O.c hundred metres or morel The simplest requires Circuit one resistor and one pot Ou, OPEN FRAME LOW and a battery, but better to build the proper SAL circuit and get an accurate 10mV/degree PROFILE IC SOCKETS centigrade output to put into your DM M. The AD590JH is only $5.95. SINGLE IN -LINE SOCKETS & ADAPTORS Eddystone . ; ., Die Cast it : Boxes i, The original die cast box!! Ideal for r.f. Highest quality glass filled polyester with shielding and heavy duty MACHINED contacts. Four finger GOLD applications. SIP sockets feature four finger Sizes given are outside dimensions - GOLD PLATED contact. Terminals are tin plated for PLATED beryllium copper contacts with tin easy soldering. Open frame ensures good ED7969P 92.1 x 38.1 x 27.0mm plated brass terminals. 20 pin strip can be cooling, easy cleaning and checking. ED6809P 119.1 x 93.6 x 52.4mm easily snapped apart to form shorter lengths. Available in 8 to 40 pin configurations. Maintains spacing ED9830P 119.1 x 93.6 x 30.0mm when mounted end to end 8 pin 560,14 pin 980,16in51.12,18 pin 51.26, end ED6827P 187.1 x 119.5 x or o side. Socket strip 52.50. Adaptor 20 pin 51.40, 24 pin $1.68, 28 pin 52.4mm strip 51.96, ED6357P 187.7 x 119.5 x 77.8mm $2 00. 40 pin $2.80. b 8.30 to 5 Monday ro Friday, 8.30 to 12 Sat. Mail Orders add $5.00 to cover postal charges. GEOFF WOOD ELECTRONICS P/L INC IN NSW R Al picas INCLUDE salsa tax. (02) 4271676 o 229 Tax exemption certificates accepted if line value BURNS BAY RD. TWX 71996 (CORNER BEATRICE o exceeds $10.00. i ST.) P.O. BOX 671 o LANE COVE WEST N.S.W. LANE COVE N.S.W. 2066 BANKCARD, MASTERCARD, VISA, CHEQUES OR CASH CHEERFULLY ACCEPTED specialising in electronic components for the professional and hobbyist. INSIDE YOUR COMPUTER 4 DISK OPERATING SYSTEMS drive. This part of the corded in the directory without altering Last month, we looked at the disk the file; series looks at the software that makes the disk drive usable erasing files: removing the directory entry; one the disk operating system. copying files: copying the contents of - file into another file; of a file IT'S ALL VERY well having a disk drive directory from the disk into RAM. This di- printing files: sending the contents that can hold 10,000,000 characters of infor- rectory is a list of all of the files already on to the printer; information from a mation - how do you know where it all is the disk, plus the particular parts of the disk listing a file: putting the on the disk? How do you know which part that they cover. For example, the first file file onto the screen. an easy way to con- of that 10,000,000 bytes is your mailing list, may start at track 2 sector 3, and cover sec- So the DOS provides of space on a disk to and which is your word processor program? tors 4 and 7 on track 2 and track 3 sector 8. trol the allocation Organizing the information on the disk is (See last month for an explanation of `track' particular files of information. one of the jobs of the disk operating system and `sector'). (often shortened to `DOS'). There are So, to create a file the DOS has to find a many varieties of DOS, but they all operate blank part on the disk - let's say that the User interface of the DOS is the in much the same way. next blank spot available is track 4 sector 5. The user interface part Most DOSs need some sort of program It does that, and then makes another entry part that actually talks to the user. It's the type built into the computer's ROM to tell them in the directory with the file name MAIL - part that interprets the commands you how to start reading information off disk. LIST, and makes a note that it starts at track in. user in- Typically, when the machine is first turned 4 sector 5. There are basically two styles of which I on it follows that ROM program to start the Now you start entering information into terface on the market these days disk drive turning and to start reading the the MAILLIST file. DOS will record the in- will call the MS-DOS standard and the rest of the DOS program from a predeter- formation on track 4 sector 5, until that sec- Mackintosh standard. mined part of the disk. tor is full, and will then look for the next The MS-DOS standard is based on a line - This achieved, the DOS program is blank sector on the disk, which may be by -line entry of typed instructions into the loaded into RAM, and is then run just like track 6 sector 7. As you enter more infor- computer. A typical sequence is shown in any other program. DOS stays in RAM mation, it will start recording it at track 6 Figure 1. while the computer is on and is wiped out sector 7, having made a note in the direc- The [D] is a prompt to tell the user that when you turn the machine off. The next tory of the disk that this is the next sector in the DOS is ready for the next command. time you turn the machine on, it will load the file. First, the user types in dir to get a directory DOS from disk again. listing. This shows each of the filenames on The advantage of this arrangement (as Random the disk in the form WS. COM, followed by opposed to having the whole of DOS in Since during creation of a file it is not pos- the number of bytes in each file (1.622 in ROM) is that it's very easy to change to a sible for the DOS to know how much space WS. COM), followed by the date and time different version of DOS - you just start the file is going to take up, the directory ac- of creation - the date is in American for- using a disk with the new version of it. tually holds a list of each track and sector mat MM-DD-YY. At the bottom of the di- DOSs change fairly quickly these days: one that the file is in. Files are spread across the rectory listing the DOS tells you how much very widely -used DOS, MS-DOS, is already disk in a random manner. space is left on the disk (6528 bytes). available in version 3.1, and it's only been The great thing about disk operating sys- The other standard for user interface is around a few years. tems is that all of this allocation of sectors radically different from this one. It was pio- Once the memory-resident part of DOS goes on without your knowledge. All you neered by Xerox in the US some years ago has been loaded into RAM, it can start to see is the information going into a particular and first found its way into microcomputers ask the user for instructions. All DOSs or- file, with a particular file name. in the Apple `Lisa' computer, which formed ganize the information on a disk into a num- Later, when you want to get the informa- the basis for the much smaller Apple 'Mack- ber of files, each of which has a name given tion back off disk, you just tell the DOS the intosh' machine. to it by the user. These filenames are how file name that you gave it, and it can look to Its user interface is a pointer which the the user tells the computer what to do with the appropriate places on the disk and fetch user moves around the screen, either by giv- the information on the disk. the information in the same order as you ing it instructions from the keyboard, or by For example, when you first create your typed it in. using a device called a `mouse', which you mailing list (a list of names and addresses Other functions that the DOS can pro- push around the top of your desk. As you for. producing envelope labels from), you vide directly for the user are: move the mouse away from you, the pointer might typically give the file the name MAIL- listing the directory: listing on the screen all moves up the screen; when you move it to LIST (most DOSs can only handle capital of the filenames in the directory of a the right the pointer moves to the right on letters, numbers and symbols in file names). disk; the screen, and so on. As you move the To create the file, the DOS first loads the renaming files: changing the filename re- mouse away from you the pointer moves up 58 - ETI September 1986 [D] dir

Uolm in drive 0 has no label Directory of D:\eti

4-11-84 12118a

4-11-84 12:18a MIC DOC 12918 7-16-86 9:18a ETI HED 188 5-22-86 6116a Phil Cohen WS COM 1622 7-16-86 1:15p

the screen; when you move it to the right 5 File(s) 6528 bytes free the pointer moves to the right of the screen, and so on. By moving the pointer around, and then pressing a button on the top of the mouse, you can select various things from the screen, and tell the DOS what to do that A Figure 1. An MS-DOS standard interface. V DOS between you and the machine. way. Although the user interface is radically different, the functions that the DOS provides are exactly the same. Programs But interacting with the user is only part of what a DOS does. The other important* part of its job is in interacting with programs running on the computer. Files can hold either data (as in the case of the MAILLIST file), or actual programs "'"'r-~"7-7 which can be loaded (read from disk and Jw, : put into RAM) and run by the use of DOS commands. In Figure I, the file WS COM is a common word processing program called 'WordStar' (which in fact, I am using to write this article!). Typing the simple command ws into the DOS would cause it to ~11 load the WordStar program file in RAM and start running that program. The DOS would stay ín another part of RAM all the time, so that when WS COM was finished, it would give the [DI prompt again, ready for the next command. WordStar itself talks directly to the DOS; while running WordStar, I can call up a text file for editing. When this happens, Word- example) at the point at which it jumped to List: put a copy of a file, or a directory, on Star asks the DOS for the characters in that the DOS entry point. the screen. file one at a time, and as they are passed Load: read a program (stored in the form of back to WordStar it puts them on the Glossary a file) from a disk and put it into RAM. screen. Create: to make a directory entry for a file Mailing list: a list of names and addresses When a program demands putting infor- DOS: Disk operating system. used for printing labels for envelopes. mation into a file or creating a new file, or DOS entry point: a particular point in RAM Memory-resident: a term used to describe a even putting a character onto the screen, it where a part of the DOS program starts program that stays in RAM the whole does it through the DOS. which can perform various functions time. Interactions between programs and DOS needed by other programs. Mouse: a device for controlling the move- are done via the DOS entry points, which Delete: same as `Erase'. ment of a pointer on the computer are particular addresses in RAM. To put a Directory: part of the disk which holds de- screen. character into a file, for example, the tails of all of the files on the disk, and Pass control: to start running another pro- character is placed in .a particular part of what parts of the disk each file uses. gram. RAM which then starts running the DOS Erase: to remove the directory entry for a Prompt: a short message at the start of a program at the entry point. In the DOS at particular file. line which tells the user that the program that entry point is a little program to put File: an area of a disk which has been allo- (or DOS) is ready for the next command. the character into the file. cated a name by the user. Rename: change the name of a file without When the character has been put into the Filename: the name given by the user to a altering the file itself. a DOS which file, the DOS passes control back to the particular file. User interface: that part of the user. program, which means very simply that it Free space: how much space on the disk is takes commands from starts running the program (WordStar, for not already allocated to files. ETI September 1986 - 59 WTI. ZettezQ ta de Sdita2 t..'

Changes tor the Chatterbox WITH REGARD TO the Chatterbox, project 677 (Jan 85), the Centronics connections listed on page 76 are incorrect: the STB line (RDY Microbee) to pin 6 of IC2c should be connected to pin 1 of the Centronics plug not as listed; and 1w the BSY line should be connected to pin 11 of the plug not pin 1 as listed. I found the STROBE pulse of the Centronics port (I have a CAT computer) insufficient to drive the Chatterbox. 11 I am uncertain why but I think the pulse was both too short and too small voltage -wise. I finally got it going using a 555 triggered by the STROBE line from the port and delivering a 10 µs pulse to the Chatterbox. The circuit is shown here- with. Note that the links still need to be changed for Cent tronics type input. Finally, thank you for an excellent publication. Keep it up. John Loadsman, ONE OF THE JOYS of being appointed editor is that it's a Nowra, NSW chance, finally, to tell people what you think. In future issues I promise to offer thoughts on the most diverse of electronic (FROM POSITIVE subjects. For starters though, it's probably a good idea to be a STROBE SIDE OF CS +Vtt ON CHATTERBOX little narcissistic and offer some thoughts on this A FROM PIN 1 magazine. OF CENTRONICS OR PIN 6 OF WV) new editor is a chance for a new editorial policy. Off with the CONNECTOR old and on with the new! Let me say at the top that ETI is about readers. We want TO +5V SIDE you to read us, the more the merrier. We want to interest you, OF R15 inform you and generally make you await the next issue with bated breath. We are about the new. We will not regurgitate last year's TO PIN 6 OF IC2 amplifier circuit, or even last year's idea of what an ie WHERE STB electronics ENTERS magazine should look like. Here you will see tomorrow's ideas, BOARD not only in our circuits, but in every aspect of electronic life. We want a magazine that appeals to the widest possible cross-section of people with any kind of interest in electronics at all. That includes people who fiddle with bits and pieces on Keeping standards a Saturday arvo, technicians who fiddle with them every day, I READ WITH interest the article describing a low cost engineers who don't have the time to fiddle any more, and frequency standard, the ETI-174, July 86. who captains of industry, never fiddled, but like making money You may be interested in some information which follows out of all that fiddling around. logically from the article. If a counter is driven by the want We to keep you informed about the world of electron- source described and with a small number of other bits and ics in all its wonderful diversity. In these pages you will find pieces, the line rates of the other television stations can be the itty-bitty of circuit technique and the broad sweep of indus- measured. try policy, the latest systems developments as they happen as To within the resolution of the set-up I have well as arranged conjecture on possibilities of the future. and using the ABC as a reference, the line rates of the And the possibilities of the future are limited only by the other Melbourne services are: quality of your dreams. ABC 2 15625.0000 Hz (reference) Above all else, we want to be part of the renaissance of elec- HSV 7 15625.0006 Hz tronic engineering that's taking place in Australia and New GTV 9 15625.0000 Hz Zealand. We will be first with news of Australasian designs ATV 10 15625.0058 Hz and achievements. SBS 28 15625.0000 Hz For example: in this issue we explore promising new Austra- ATV 10 is the only station that is off frequency lia.. designs being developed and at the University of New South hence any of the others could be used as a reference. Wales and Mt Stromlo observatory, test a new Australian amp It is also possible to measure the differences between the (is it better than the Kiwi efforts?), deliver a new circuit using line rates another way. Some years ago I did this and found Rockwell's FORTH, look at financing high tech and step in- that the difference between the ABC and GTV 9 was side MIDI. And more, more, more! about five parts in loll. This is about 30 nHz and can So, if you want to get with be neglected the strength, get with us. All the for most purposes. It is easier rest is merely history. to get a feeling for the difference by saying that it is about 5 Hz in 10 GHz. Jon Fairall Charles Edmond VK3AFV Editor Melbourne, Vic

60 - ETI September 1986 FEED FORWARD

SERVICES

READER SERVICES: All en-. boards. Although any form of Shots in the park quiries regarding back issues, reproduction is a breach of MY PROBLEM IS one of losing arrows when I play at my photocopies of articles, artwork copyright, we are not con- favourite sport. Occasionally at long range, arrows pass the or technical enquiries must be cerned about individuals con- target and disappear into the grass. Although they may be directed by mail to ETI Reader structing projects for their own only from 10 to 60 millimetres below the surface it may as Services, PO Box 227, Water- private use, nor by bands (for well be 10 to 60 metres. At $8 per arrow plus labour in loo, NSW 2017. Enclose cheque example) constructing one or or money order the appropri- for use making them this is becoming a pain in the rear. Yesterday to more items in connec- ate value with your request. tion with their performances. I lost two. Relevant charges including Commercial organisations The arrows are made from tubular aluminium 7.7 mm postage within Australia and should note that no project or diameter and 795 mm length. I recently found an old proj- New Zealand are: back issues part project described in Elec- ect ETI-566 (April 80) pipe and cable locator. Is it a good $4; photostat copies: $4 per arti- tronics Today International or idea and if so, where can I buy a kit or the bits? cle or $8 if project spreads over associated publications may be Doug Sinclair, more than one Issue; artwork: offered for sale, or sold in sub- Rozelle, NSW $5 per board or panel up to 10 stantially or fully assembled cm2 or equivalent, $10 for larger form, unless a licence has boards. been specifically obtained so to See Shoparound on page 71 of the April 1980 issue. We do from the publisher, The Fed- can't find anyone selling a complete kit. As to whether it's a TECHNICAL ENQUIRIES: eral Publishing Company, or good idea: 1 dunno. Why not use the flight of the arrow to holders. telephone will from the copyright drive a propellor driven dynamo which could charge a large No enquiries by be accepted. Readers have two capacitor. On impact, a discharge cycle could drive a piezo options: to submit a written en- LIABILITY: Comments and a locate the arrow by its alarm for few seconds so you could quiry with $5 money order or test results on equipment re- noise!! - Ed cheque and receive a postal viewed refer to the particular reply; this service is limited to item submitted for review and projects published within the last may not necessarily pertain to five alternatively they other units of the same make or Calling on designers years; may forward enquiry without model number. Whilst every ef- PROWLING THROUGH DICK SMITH sometime back, I money and expect a published fort has been made to ensure spotted your publication Projects for your Car (1985). I reply in the Feed Forward col- that all constructional projects have already completed the Fluid Level Detector, Courtesy umns at the editor's discretion. referred to in this edition will Light Delay and Windscreen Wiper Control Unit to my operate as Indicated efficiently satisfaction. and properly and that all neces- CONTRIBUTIONS: Submis- sary components to manufac- While I was making device, a problem that the latter sions must be accompanied by ture the same will be available, bugs turbo diesel owners, myself included, came to mind. a stamped, self-addressed en- no responsibility is accepted in After a turbine has been working, it is recommended that velope. The publisher accepts respect of the failure for any the engine be left idle at zero boost for up to two minutes no responsibility for unsolicited reason at all of the project to depending on how hard it has been working. This is neces- material. operate effectively or at all sary to prevent the oil vapour which lubricates the turbine whether due to any fault In from 'cooking' and eventually clogging the bearings. COPYRIGHT: The contents design or otherwise and no re- of Electronics Today Interna- sponsibility is accepted for the Now I've installed a vacuum gauge so that I can keep an and associated failure to obtain any component eye on the situation and assess how long to leave the motor tional publications is fully protected by parts in respect of any such idling. However, it is not always possible to sit and wait for the Commonwealth Copyright project. Further, no respons- the time I think is necessary. Act (1968). Copyright extends ibility is accepted in respect of What is needed is a timing unit which is wired into the to all written material, photo- any injury or damage caused ignition circuit so that, when they key is turned off, the en- graphs, drawings, circuit dia- by any fault in the design of gine continues to idle for the selected period. It should he grams and printed -circuit any such project as aforesaid. adjustable in 30 second steps up to two minutes. Further it should also incorporate an isolation switch so that it can be overridden during tune-up. Surely you have a boffin on tap who could sort this one CLUB CALL Announcing the VZ200/300 User Group which hails from the postal ad- out. Don't forget that turbine engine boosting is becoming dress PO Box 316, St Kilda, Vic 3182. Those interested in joining could the norm so that it will make a desirable addition for the contact Scott Le Brun. next issue of your booklet. For those with Tandy computers there is a TRS-80 model 1 & 3, Sys- newslet- In conclusion, I've had a ball working on the projects I've tem 80, Tandy colour computer group. For "80 -Gamer" club Ave, West Pennant Hills, already completed as well as producing useful articles. My ter, contact operator Jim Fisher, 37 Fairbaim NSW 2120; for "Cass -Gamer" contact operator, Craig Tollis, PO Box only regret is that i haven't kept tabs on the developments 584, Port Macquarie, NSW 2444. in electronics since my wartime service. I guess I can't do The Microcomputer Users Group of Alice Springs (MUGAS) has inter- everything. est groups which cover Apple, Commodore, IBM-PC compatibles and F. Martin, CP/M compatible computers as well as a digital communications group Eltham, Vic which covers RTTY, AMTOR, Morse and packet radio. Basic membership to the club is $15 which covers a newsletter and access to all groups. A remote access system run in conjunction with the club is - any boffins want to contribute a circuit? available to all on (089) 52-8852. More details can be obtained by writ- -Ed ing to PO Box 3290, Alice Springs or contacting Mark Little on (089) 52- 8230.

ETI September 1986 - 61 'FEED FORWARD rt 2 Help! Unfortunately this month we didn't find a entry'suitable for the "Idea of The Monlh' award. To all of our experimenting readers, send in your ideas but keep them short, keep them simple and keep them clever.

Baby pacifier Light activated switch

This circuit, designed by J.J. triggers IC2 which is a 556 dual Schutz of Camden Park, SA, timer. One of the timers is con- provides a distraction for a figured as a monstable and the RELAY screaming infant in a cot. combination of R4 and C4 sets When the baby starts to cry, the time for which the mobile the circuit is triggered and an flashes. array of LEDs in the form of a The output from the timer mobile hanging out of reach mentioned above enables the above the cot starts flashing in second timer which is arranged sequence. The LEDs flash for as an oscillator. The flashing four seconds or so, then stop speed for this oscillator is set until retriggered. by R5, R6 and C6. The output S. Carney of Corrimal, NSW turns on and energises the coil The circuit consists of a small from the second oscillator sent us this light activated of the relay, thus closing the speaker acting as a micro- clocks IC3, which is a 4017B switch circuit. The switch is op- relay's contacts. When the light phone. The signal from the decade counter. The outputs erated by shining light on to a is removed from the LDR the speaker is amplified by IC1 from IC3 light up the different light dependent resistor transistor turns off and the coil which is a 741 op -amp. The coloured LEDs in sequence. (LDR). ' of the relay de -energises via input sensitivity is set by RV1. A variety of colours are used When the LDR is exposed to the 1N914 diode, and the The output signal from ICI to create an interesting mobile. light, the BC558 pnp transistor relay's contacts open.

467 1006 100k RED GREEN ORANGE YELLOW LED'S 16 44

100k N 1 88:16 LINE 14 4 9 4 TRANSFORMER I) 7 SENS 2 10 470k 40178 Ir-il { 6 10 lA 150n 556 33k

+[ 4 12

5cm SPEAKER 44 8-320 47 317 470 15 e 13 í00n 10n

"CLUBDA", (CLUB DATA), is a pro- who are dying to see a new use for display, editing, and printing of records, gram that has Club Data been devised to help their diskless Microbees besides play- the insertion of new records, as well as club secretaries to maintain records of ing games. printing Brian Horrocks, address labels. Naturally it also gib club members. It is a ROM -based pro- This program allows input of the club permits the saving and loading of data. gram Paralowie, SA 5108 which does not lend itself to name, year of current account, and In order to be useful, the program speedy operation, however, there are relevant financial year, before display- needs a 32K machine at least. still a great number of people out there ing the main menu. It then supports

00100 REM 1.44 CLUB RECORDS 4141 00330 PRINTTAB25,'12).019PLAY A RECORD - 00110 REM II AUTHOR... Brian Horrdck. , DATE...26/0/05 00340 PRINTTA823,'131.EDIT A 00120 REM II COPYRIGHT RECORD' 26/0/05 /1 1 00350 PRINTTAB25I'1.). SAVE DATA' 00130 REM t T1,. oran'.. 110... ..,nt...0c. the o1 typ,cal apart,nq Club r.card 00360 PRINTTAB23I.151.PRINT A RECORD' 00140 6010 190 00370 PRIM7TAB25;'(6).LIST OF MEMBERS' 00380 PRINTTAB231'17). INSERT NEW RECORD' 00050 CLS,PRIRT- INVALID SELECTION...TRY AGAIN,GOTO1640 00160 CL5,PRINTINvALID 00390 PRINTTA825,-IS).LOAD DATA" SELECTION...TRY AGA,N',0000 300 PRINTTAB25,'191.PRINT 00170 A1t.KEYt,IF A14."THEN 170 00400 LAPELS. 00100 RETURN 00410 PRINT,INPUT'SELECT OP7100..)A 00190 POKE 220.111S13,S 191 00420 IFA< IORA39TNEN160 REM Ifs 00430 (10,00/0 460.1060.650.1430.1050,1250,270.1320,1050 00200 Set Hearing v.r, chin for ed1t routine ' , 00200 N6fe' ,N.4. 00440 1.1-1 ',N35. '1N2 00450 REM III Input Data lar retard. 144 00220 010001100,121 00460 CLS,1.1a1,INPUTN..e..',DO4(1,1) 00230 CLS, INPUT'Ent.r Club N....."INI 00470 IF L.ENIDOe11.111)27TNEN 2300 00240 PRINT, INPUT -Yaw, 00400 IF LENID0611.11)<3TIEN 2300 el Account..'5524 00490 0OSUB 1640 00250 PRINT, INPUT'End 04 Ftn.ne1.1 ear..'0134 00260 (0000 290 00500 CLS, INPUT -4.0.4.8. Nu.bar... Nl't D0611.2) 00510 00270 CLS,CIRB 527, INPUT'Ca.puter Nu.be. Regutr.d...,t,0010 440 INPUT'N0./Street..'.D0411,31,INPUT'Subb..'100011.41,INPUT'St.te/Po4t Cod 00280 0.0 w....00411.51 00520 00290 REM 1111 main50 0 41.1 INPUT'Phone Number..(00411,01 00530 INPUT 'Financial 00300 007.1 OFF,CLS,CLR9 151PRINT'OPTIONS AVAILABLE. 16,811..'.00.11.71 00310 CURS 215:PRINT------00540 PRINT r1..6.r .',DO611.61 00320 PRINTTA025,'111.ADD RECORD5' 00550 INPUT 'Club F..s..4(FI 00560 INPUT'Joining Fw..S'IJI, INPUT'S.A.A.A. Fn...S01 ll,

62 - ETI September 1986 WORLD -CLASS la QUALITY. , ocoL ROYEL I 240V APPROVED.

ASK YOUR NEAREST Benefits: ELECTRONIC PARTS Lightweight, reliable, cool handles. SUPPLIER! Correct heat for Printed Wiring Boards. Many tip profiles available. Q á No transformer required, Q 1 ``/° 1-, plugs into 240V. LOW ,y/oy v ó // -,(1-..,1 % .5. , JV JJ (9-9. Qó Q SpPO COST., ,, OLD: (07) 277 4311 NSW: (02) 709 5099 SA: (08) 232 0001 WA: (09) 381 5500 TAS: (002) 34 2233 ETI READER SERVICE 20 MML 3691

" MINIATURE SOLID TANTALUM CAPACITORS"

KEMET*ULTRADIP II The new gold colour epoxy series with laser marking to MIL-1-46058. Conforms to Telecom spec. CE -65050 (RJEP451 .../ ..) This series has many features of the Kemet military approved types, but at prices allowing design into commercial -industrial equipment. Available - exstock. FREE SPECIFICATIONS AND DATA FROM: CRUSADER ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS PTY. LTD. 81 PRINCES HWY, ST PETERS, NSW 2044 Phone 5195030 5163855 5196685 Telex 23993 or 123993 APPOINTED DISTRIBUTORS: SYDNEY GEORGE BROWN & CO PTY. LTD. PHONE 5195855 GEOFF WOOD ELECTRONICS PTY. LTD. PHONE 8106845 WOLLONGONG MACELEC PTY. LTD. PHONE 291455 CANBERRA GEORGE BROWN & CO PTY. LTD. PHONE 804355 NEWCASTLE NOVOCASTRIAN ELECTRONIC SUPPLIES PHONE 616055 MELBOURNE R.PG. AGENCIES PTY. LTD. PHONE L. E. 4395834 JESEC COMPONENTS PTY. LTD. PHONE 5982333 GEORGE BROWN & CO PTY. LTD. PHONE 4193355 BRISBANE ST LUCIA ELECTRONICS PHONE & CO PHONE 3691277 COLOURVIEW WHOLESALE PTY. LTD. PHONE 2753188 BOUGHEN PHONE 2336946 PERTH SIMON 527466 ADELAIDE PROTRONICS PTY. LTD. PHONE 2123111 D.C. ELECTRONICS PTY. LTD. HOLMAN & CO PHONE 381 4155 PROTRONICS PTY. LTD. PHONE 3621044 Ell READER SERVICE 21 00570 009(I,91.STRe(Fl.J1.31/ 01000 CURS 18,13,PRINTN6.,CIRS18,8,PRINTD00IF,81,OOT0780 00580 PRINT,CLS.PAINT'TOTM,....',D0NII.9) 01010 CURS 1,4,PRINT' Computer N eber....,F 00590 PRINT,PRINT "Press any Key to Continue' 01020 CU(S1.13, INVERSE,PRINTD0 you have another Member to update 7 tY or N/ 'IN 00600 Lle.KEY.. IFLI9. "TIEN 600 111, 0 00610 R.1 01(030030 I3.1.KE .IFUSet' T/EN1030 00620 0010300 01040 IF 1131.99'03M'y' THEN650 ELSE 300 0063.0 OUT,' OFF. CLS,C1R35301PRINT'There may not be any Record..9,PLAY0,30 01000 CLB,CIRS 10.INPUT'M,lch Record No mould you Ilke..T'IFIOUTeI ON.130701070 00640 0010300 01060 CLB,CIRS 10, INPUT'N,,1ch Record No. would you Ilke..T'IF 00650 REM tit EDIT ROUTINE St/ 01070 0.S.PRINTTABIO,N18,' Record.. 00660 CLS,Cl1R85,711NPUT'Nnlch Record No. would You 11ke...'IF 01080 PRINT 00670 ON ERROR GOTO 630 01090 ON ERROR BOTO 630 00680 CL S,CURSI,/.PRINT'1--N...'m ID0.(F, I/ 01100 PRINT 00690 CIRSI.2.PRINT2--M.A. A.A. Number... VH'IDOt)F,2) 01110 PRINTTABIO,9NIBE...ID015(F.1/ 00700 C31,3,PRIN13--No./Street...50061F,U( 3) 01120 PRINTTABIOI'ADDRESS...910091F.3) 00710 CSl,4,PRINT'4--Suburb...',OM)F.411R 01130 PRINTTA02010041F,4)

00720 CSIS.PRINT'3-St.t./PostUR COO....' 1 DO. 1F.51 01140 PRINTTAB20,0041F,5) 00730 CURS1.61 PR)NT'6--Member St.tu...'IDOF(1.6)11 01150 PRIN1TAB10/' TELEPRIOE No...90011(F,01 00740 CRS1,7.PRINT'7-ilnanct.l unt11..'1000(F.7) 01160 PRINTTAAIO,9M.A.6.8. 80.P ER...VN-'IDOS/F.2) 00750 CiR81. 8.PRINTe--Computer Nu0ber..9,F 01170 PRINTTABIO,'MEMBERBHIP STATUS...'1004 1F.61 00760 CiPSI,B.PRINT'B--Phone number..'FD061F,3) 01180 PRINTTA91019FEES APPLICABLE...4'IVALIDOS(F,9)) 00770 CURSI.9,PRINT'9--Computer Number . .'Ii 01190 PRINTTA81019FINANCIAL 00780 CURS1.13. INVERSE.INPUT'Enter Line No. to Edit..or `E' to Exit. .'IC7$,NORNA 01200 PRINTTAB)0i9COPUTER M00ER...";F L 012)0 CUT01 OFF 00790 IF X78'E'OR X70THEN'.TN 1020 01220 PRINTIPRINTTA85,9Pr..e any key to cat/nue... 00000 H-IN/1VAL1X791) 01230 U31KEY4.IFU36.99TNEN 1230 00810 IF H<10R>87/EN11 1020 01240 AOTO 300 00820 CRS1.13,PRINT' 01250 ON ERROR BOTO 630.CL8,01TLe1 ON,LPRINTTA25IN160' M.mb..'01p Llet..',LPRIN 00830 CIRS1,11,PRINT' 01260 LPA INT'LIBT'I,LPRINTTAB9, 'NAEE'11 LPR /NTTAB321 DISTRICT' LPRINiTAB37, 'P11O1 00840 E',.LPRINTTA86819M.A.A.A.4.LPRINT ON N 0000 850.870.890.910.93-0.950.970,990PE 01270 FOR Bel TO R 00050 CURS1,11.IUT'N.w Na..'I001F.11m 0 01280 LPRINT LPRINTTAB 00860 0 3100910.1)t,LPRINTTA030,005(0.411,UPRINTTA856,00410,0) C(RS10,1,PRINTN6. .CU1510,.PRINTOO,IF,I).00T01001. LPRINTTA0681' V84-'1000(6,2) 00870 CU(S). Ill 1P UT'New 0.6.8.6. Number..641"(008(F,2) 01290 NCXT IF 00880 CURS 24,2,PR1NT N4.ICURS24,2,PRINT DO.IF.2(,GOTO 780 01300 Q ILO) OF 00090 CIRS1,11:IMPUT'Ne. No./Streut...10O.1F,31 01310 0010 300 00900 CURS (7,3,PRINT N6.,CURS17,3,PRINT009(F,3).00)0 780 01320 REM1I/L 00910 CURS 1,11.10"n -09w Suburb..'100(F,4)9 01330 CLS 00920 CURS (3.4,PRINT N64,CURS13,4,PRINT DO81F,41,HOTO 780 01340 *05ÚB 1590 00930 CBCURS 1,11)INPUT9New State/Post Cod...9IDOSIF,5) 01350 00940 IN.3,00T400FF CURS 22,5, PRINT N6..CLR822.5.PRINT D0$(F.3).00TO 7130 01360 INPUTZ7S)IFI76111.51<>' 'THEN 220 00950 CURS I,11.INPUT'mberMo Status..'061I,6/)D 01370 C1.27.1,I1.16).R-INTIVAL(Z7.116.10)U .POKE61440.R,13 00960 CURS 19.6.PRINT N6..CURS19,61PRINT DOt11,6).00TO 780 01380 FORTITOi,IPPUTZ78.DO.11.1).D001I,21.00.1I.3).DO.(I,4),00.(I.5/.00.11.61,0 00970 CURS 1,11,IUT'FInancl.lPP Ontll..'091F.7110 040,7/.00411,8/.00611.9) 0098 RS UPS 21,7,PRINTN6.. CURS 21,7.PRINTD00)F.7).00TO 780 01390 IFINTIVALIZ791)<>ITHENNEXTS 11420 00990 CURS 1,11,1UT'NmmPP Phone Nu.ber..'0.(F,8),D 01400 POCE61439I,9,NEXTII INE).01TB0

Multigraph This program plots various 2D maths BASIC tokens and other necessary functions supported by MicroWorld characters. Multigraph's limitations lie John Halar, BASIC. It works by asking you to input only in BASIC itself. NSW Ryde, 2112 the function, the range of the function One word of WARNING: Do not edit, and the increment. The program can add or delete any lines of text before. look at any section of a curve. You can, line 760 as it will cause the program to specify the ranges again by pressing < crash. If you wish to modify any lines, C> when the plot is done. It then pokes note the memory location of line 760 so the function to a line number using that the function may be poked at the correct location.

00100 REM .Men by John Haler 1994 00500 0.214:CC2,0000 540 00110 REM (netruc than. 00510 11.215:C.C.3:0000 540 00120 CLS 00520 6.2101C.C11:0010 00130 540 UNDERLINE:CURS 25,IIPRINT MULTI - PLOT' (NORMAL 00530 1'ASCIA291 00140 PRINTS' Th/e program le designed to plot any m.thenatical (unctlon.The 00540 0.0.1:FORE 5000.0,0100TO 300 unction to be (e el.p)y typed plotted in when prompted for.") 00550 REM ARIES 00150 PRINT'HOo.ver. the function mutt be typed rltS In the Correct Syntex and 00560 NIRES:PLOT 97.0 TO 97,244 set E. In the form of 'Y. X' and only the right hand tld. Is 00770 CURS 1,21PRINT'Functlpn':CURS 00160 PRINT' e.9.'I 1,3:PRINT '1...F111:CURS 1,0:PRINT 'T/Incr.n.n t':CURS 4,9:PRINT'.'12:CURS 1,0:PRINT 'x ':CURS 00170 PRINT TABUS/1'y. x.2 would he typed 4,7fPRINT'.'1l in . 'X'2'' 00580 %1.Á,51X111112ABSIX2)8Y1.AB51Y11:T2.Á851921 00180 PRIM T*B11511'y. a sin 'S1NIx1 " 00590 00190 PRINT TAB x3.400/11A651XI(.6B51X211/Ill (I511'y. Mp 'EXPIXI " 00600 %0.1%1/Ií.%3).106 00200 PRINT'The ne9.tlye and po./tive extrieues and the of Increment e.ch'1ee/e 00610 PLOT INT(X0(,0 TO INTIX01,250 Is . A rill bell wound when the raph Is complete,' 00620 00210 PRINT'.nd .111 T3.244/()4851Y11.A851Y211/121 you have the option to pre.. (ESC) to enter anotner't'dunct 00630 T0.0I/I20T3.6 ion, (C) to change plot ente.... end Increment or (E) to end.' 00640 PLOT 105,1140(001 00220 CUPS TO 511,INT(70( 18,16:PRINT'PRESS

64 - ETI September 1986 FEED' FORWARD

01410 CLSIPRINT C111.PLAY 9100TO 300 01060 60001* 2270.PRINT'SELECT OPTION '0.0050* 2290 01420 11400.0UTSOCW5960,PRINT "BAD LOAD'. PLAY 9,3.60TO 300 01870 ZINT(VAL12741),IF 141 UR 2>4 THEN 1860 01430 REMISFSAVE 01000 CLS, IF 7.4 THEN 300 01440 CURS 960. INPUT Ent., .lx letter file name 1276, 01890 ON 2 00811* 1900,2000.1940400TO 1930 01450 Z7MZ740'XX0XXX'.C16.2761,1,61 01900 Z-O.PRINT.FOR 1.1 TO R 01460 005011 1590 01910 PRINT0'1 IITABI6)ID0$(I.l) 01470 POKE 61440.11.13 01920 2241.IF2.10 OR I -0,005ÚB 2270.0081182200.CL$,PRINT.Z.O 01480 O/T03 01930 NEXT 1.RETURN 01490 PRINT 1215 R11C16 01940 INPUT'N.e.... ',DOS10,11 01500 FORI.ITOR 01950 REM 01510 PRINT 115 111',', 01960 INPUT'No./Strmet... ',00610.31 01520 PRINT DOS11,111,ID04(1,2)).10041I.311.',D0611,411',ID04/I,5/I,1I)0N 01970 INPUT'Ton or Suburb..1DOS10,4) 11.61,','1DOs11.7),,'1006/1,0),.'1D0(1,91 01900 INPUT'State/Poet Cod.. '100410.51 01530 POKE 61439.1,9 01990 S.O.FeOISOTO 2020 0(540 PLAY 0,4 02000 INPUT'Enter Start Name Number )S 02010 INPUTEnter Finish Wee Nu.bor ',F SEXY I 01550 02020 01560 PRINT .0.0.0.0,0.0.0.0' IRPUT.Gutntlty to be printed '10 02030 INPUT'Printing TAB Posltton 01570 WT00,PLAY 23023 IT 02040 FOR TO F 01580 SOTO 300 .1.8 02050 FOR 1.1 TO O 01590 REM eta STMT TAPE eel 960,PRINT'START TAPE RECORDER 6 PRESS '1 02060 OUTLSI ON 01600 CURS 02070 TAAIT)ID0*IJ,11 276."TIEN 1610 LPRINT 01610 27s.KEY,IF 02080 F(R K.3 TO 01620 PLAY 23,RETURN 5 02090 LPRINT TABIT)0006(1.K/ 01630 REM SRI membership Statue .election Menu SSe 02100 NEXT K 01640 ELS,CURB 151,PRINT'1ENBERSHIP STATUS' 658* 01650 CKRS215IPRINT 02110 LPRINTNN,REM SS8*8 adjust space to neTt label 01660 PRINTTA13251. 11).FLYIND' 02120 NEXT I PRINTTAB251. 12).ASSOCIATE' 02130 NEXT .1 01670 GOTO 300 01680 PRINTTAB251.13*.JUNIOR' 02140 02150 REM See Ne.bersblp Status Subroutine Pep 01690 PRINTTAB251. 14). PEHSIOER' PRINTTAB251. (51.LIFE MEMBER' 02160 DOS(1,61e'Flying Neebw..'.RETURN 01700 Hember..',RETURN 01710 PRINTTAB251.16).HONORARY LIFE MEMBER. 02170 DONII,61.'Assoc. Meeb.,...'.RETURN 01720 PRINTTAB251. 87).SOCIAL NEYWER' 02100 D0411,6).Junir 01730 PRINT, IMPIJT'BELECT APPLICABLE STATUS..'*0 02190 DO61I.61.Pensl,4nw Member ..',RETIIRN 02200 DO61I.6/.'Life Meabe...,RETIIRN 01740 IF 811808>7 THEN 150 02210 DOs1I.6)e'Nono. Lie. M.mbw..',RETIIM ON B 605U1 2160.2170.2100,2190,2200.2210,2220 ry 01750 DOS11.6/.'S0cIa1 Meaber....RETU8N 01760 RETURN 02220 REM tee Data for Label Printing M.nu See 01770 REM nt C.ntr.11.e RII 02230 DATA 'LAPEL PRINTER OPTIONS..5. 15.' - LIST ALL NAMES' 01780 PRINT TABK64-LEN1Z7s11/2/Z7SIRETU N 02240 1 02250 DATA '2 - PRINT LABEL FROM LIST NAMES' 01790 REM Set Label PrInt/ng Menu 888 O 02260 DATA '3 - PRINT LAPEL FROM DATA TO BE ENTERED'..4 - QUIT. 01000 CLS.PRINT.READ 174.5080* 1770 CURS RINTEA63 Co RETURN TO 02270 C,P 321.,C11RS 01010 READ Z,T,FOR Ie1 Z.READZ7s 02200 PRINT'PRESS KEY TO CONTINUE.; PRINT TAB(TI,27$ ANY 011320 02290 174e1KEY, IF 27S.' TEN 2290 ELSE RETURN 01830 NEXT IIRETURN 02300 CLS,CIRS440.PRINT'N.me Not to be 000rtw Than 3 or Longer Than 27 Letters. 01840 REM See PRINT ,PLAY0,35. SOTO 460 011350 ON ERROR SOTO 630,RESTORE 2240,00508 1790

00420 IF 51.0 THEN 10 is a million 00430 CI -111/60,60/24 How much 00440 PRINT TAD 1101 Ell R. Wilkinson, 0040 rrINT 'e DAYS' Bay, NSW 2315 00460 NETT M Nelson 00,0 rBI,IT 'Ha. e , MILES In 1 Reps 22 1n6. Ions" 00010 CLS 00450 !PINT 00020 PRINT' NOW MUCH IS A MILLION 004.0 r3F M -I TO 100 00030 PRINT' 14/4/114 By R.I11161nson.' 00500 INPUT' NO. C1 step. All 00040 PRINT 00510 IF *1.0 THEN 10 No 00050 PRINT TAB 181' MENU LINE Z00 -- DAYS IN HOURS. 1' 00520 KI.AI/2346.6 00060 PRINT VAS 1201 LINE 290 -- DAYS IN TEARS. No 2' 00530 PRINT TA8110)KII 00070 PRINT TAB 1201' LINE 380 -- DAYS IN SECS. No 3 00540 PRINT . MILES' No 00080 PRINT TAB 1201' LINE 470 - MILES IN STEPS. 4' 00550 NEWT M 00090 PRINT TAB 1201' LINE 560 -- GALS.IN DROPS P.M. No 5' 00560 PRINT 'How n/ GALLONS et1.a..16rop. pet CIn' 00100 PRINT TAB 1201' LINE 650 -- GALS.IN DROPS No 6' 00570 PRINT 00110 PRINT TAS 1201' LINE 740 -- REVS. FOR NRB, No 7' 00540 FOR 0.1 TO 100 the LOOPS. 00120 PRINT:PRINT"INPUT '0' Il_I'C II D 31- r F C G R A N 00390 PRINT oo '0 CUP; ,,IO:r"ANT TAE :p,::, '1000000 ,1..1 'L19 Foil.'-:NoRNAL 00400 FOR K.) TO 100 00-00 CTB JNDEr.a::lr. 10:1.1 00410 INPUT 'INPUT No. of Socon.S 7. III 00 0 ENO

Broadway lettering K. Hardy, Macdonald, NSW 2255 96,96 DATO 124 9? 69.124 9: 99 99,.24 260 DATA 124.98,98.124.91.96 1 PPIITT'T 120 all of the VIC 279 DATA 10.98,99,99.10,106.199.79 This program changes 5 PprIM' 1*060.p, :E"ERI,11 130 DATA E0 99 99.96.916.98.98,68 98 9. 124 29) DATA 124,98 99.124,11..100.98,99 20's letters Into fancy, Broadway style 7 PRINT PPi11T' yEAR1Y. ISYIY/.' 1.9 D.T. 124 99,99 96 99 1896 12f 95 91.12? 290 087. 69 60.96.60,2.98.90.60 8 REM 150 96,124,96,96 D.79 96 96.96 96 308 DATA 126.24,24.24.24.?4,2.,24 lettering. 10 PRINT PRINT PPIHT PP1NT .9111T'- ---rYExE WRIT. 160 196 96 '2.92 69.98 310 D.T. 98 98.94,99.99.99,90.0 20.01E31 223 P0E52 28 POFE56 28C'ESS,2S1 1.0 DOTA 99 96.110.99.99.10 Broadway lettering changes all of the 320 DATA 99 90.99 Al 99 99.52,24 POKE2E069 ?SS lee DATA 98.98 98,121.99.99.90.98 23 1878 98 90.96.90 98406,106,52 . 770 letters to broad lettering. :0 194 DATA 60.24.2+,2+.24.24 24 60 upper case 0n9,.070C11 90.98.52.24.28 38.79.79 PEE.7.,_c.... 290 DATA 62.0.6.6.0.39.%4 2e 3.9 DATA This program takes 783 bytes to run, 40 P014'1E9'1 £ 3410 98.72,2+.24.22+.24.24.2+ R rrrr,wm.>'e-I/ ofR,r. 211 DATA 99 99.190 120 104.100.90.99 259 96.96.96.96,96.96.96.124 ?69 DATR 126 0 I'.24 .9.9. 9, Í2E and will not work in lower case. It was 9 IFAo IT1dl90 220 DA'. DATA Al 105.98.98.99.99.99 +.9 TATO -1 6K1 P01E .AdC 9 230 lie written on a 6655 byte machine, but DATA 98 114 104 102,98.99 94 40 6a GYM 2.0 270 DATA 60.99.99 99 90.98.90.69 WADY should work on an unexpended VIC. 110 DATA ,0% 99 126 98.99.99 9',

ETI September 1986 - 65 FEED FORWARD

Cave Hunter Cave Hunter is an adventure game for If you enter the room containing the, just enter one of the cavern numbers the Vic 20. The object of unexpanded magic sword, then you become invinci- (printed under 'EXITS:'), and to fire, T. elph, the game is to track down a deadly ble to the monster, and the randomizer Ulverstone, Tas 7315 just enter '99', then the cavern number. monster in a maze of 24 caverns and will transport you to a different cavern.' It helps to keep track of the caverns kill it with one of your acid sprays. You begin the game with three you have visited, so you can discover There are also zombies, quicksand sprays, and pick up more in certain where the hazards are by a process of and bats to make things difficult. rooms. To move from cavern to cavern, elimination.

100 P0KE36879.235'PRINT"T 410 00101000 105 SP --3 420 PRINT"l 1AA000(.0HHHH1HH THE ZOMBIE IS HERE...." 110 CPO.M.INTCRND(1)425) 430 00101000 111 OP=O 440 PRINT" O0.BLUBBER BLUBBER QUICKSAND IS HERE 113 B"IHT(RND(1)425).Q=INT(RND(1)025) 450 00101000 120 V=INT(RND(I)425)'2.1NT(RND(1)4125) 460 PRINT"OMIHTS RRE MERE THEY CARRY YOU ANA'...." 125 P"INT(RND(1)425):RINT(RNDC1)*25) 470 FORY=1103000:NEXT,CP INT(RND(I)425).00T0200 200 PRIHT"711CAVERH3";CP ri500 PRINT"'THE RANDOMIZER IS HERE" 201 PRINT"LSPRHYS2";SP 503 CP=1511 210 El.INT(RHD(1)425).E2.1NT(RNDU)F25):E3.1NT(RND(t)O25),E4INT(RND(1)425) 510 PRINT'IT TRRHSHSPORTS you 215 PRINT"O;FXITS:-"PRINT 515 FOPw=1103000TNExT'0010200 220 PRINT"11";El.E2.E3;E4 539 PRINT"1C(HE MAGIC SWORD IS HERE 221 I FR=CPTHENOOT0500 535 QP=1 222 IFP-CPTHENOOT0530 540 0010309 223 IFV=CPTHENO0T0560 560 PRINT"Q.'.ERE IS RN EXTRA SPRAY CAW MERE 224 IFB=rPTHENGOT0460 570 $P.SP*1 225 IFMCPTHENOOTO400 500 60T0300 226 IFZ=CPTHEN00T0420 1000 FORV=IT03000'NEXTV'PRINT"7" 227 IFOCPTHEHOOT0440 1005 FORJITO300: P0KE36879,RHD(1)424.$TP0KE36876,RND( V4t0*240:NEXT, POKE36879.23 230 IFM.EIORME20RM=E30Rn=E4THENPRINT' I WONSTER IS NEAR." 5 233 IFZ=E10R2=E2ORZ=E3ORZ=E4THEHPRINT",a2OMBIE IS NERR." 1097 P0(E36879,235 240 IFO=EIORO=E2000-E30R0"E4 THENPR INT"OOOU ICKSAND IS HEAR." 1010 PRINT"OKOOOOOOOOH 4*1E OVER" 250 IFE=EIORB.E2ORB=E30RB=E4THENPRIHT",1BATS FIRE HEAP.. 1015 FORTI102500'NEXT 300 PPINT"n7AHRT NOW"".INPUTA 1020 PRINT""]YODIIKKM,TKKaP10M10THER GAME (V/Hr 305 IFR=EIORA=E2ORN.E30RAE4THERCPA,0OT0200 1030 OETROTIF02""THEN1030 310 IFA=59THEH350 1035 IFAf="V"THEIICLR'RUN 320 PRINT"OSRN'T DO THAT.' 1040 IFAI."14"THENPOKE36879,27' PRINT"7".END 330 0010300 1950 00101930 350 PRINT'SOINHERE T04", IMPUTW 2000 PRINT'.T" 351 IFu-EIOR14=E2ORI1=E3ORN=E4THEHOOT0355 2001 FORS=IT0300'POKE36879,RND(1)424.0'POKE36076,RND(1)410.240NEXT.POKE36079,23 352 PRINT"OCRN'T SHOOT THERE...00T0350 5 335 IFW=MTHEN2000 2005 PRINT"1000OrenwiCONORATULRTIONS,91.1 !náLYOU KILLED THE MONSTER. 360 PRINT"gTISSED. SP.SP-1 2010 FORY.1103900:NEXT 365 IFSP.OTHENPRINT"020MUT OF SPRAYS "'00101000 2020 GOT01020 370 FORY.IT02000: NEXT, 0010209 400 IFOP.I THENOOT02000 READY. 402 PRINT"OirHE MONSTER IS HERE...IT KILLS YOU

Remove flux with a brilliant combination and brilliant consistancy... FREON' TMS &UN S NICS FREON TMS. The No. 1 fluorocarbon solvent for removal of flux from printed circuit boards. Worldwide. No wonder. FREON TMS is extremely effective. Reliable. And simple to use. It meets the industry's most stringent flux removal standard: MIL P-28809. So you're assured of a large safety margin. Even if you don't require this optimum standard. What's more, this gives you provision for future needs. FREON TMS fluorocarbon solvent is easy to use with any type of system: Spray, in -line, batch, ultrasonic or non -ultrasonic cleaning. Start removing flux with brilliant consistency today. Please send me your "Trouble Shooting Guide to Defluxing with Du Pont FREON Solvents." Name Title Company If it doesn't *Registered Address by Telephone say Du Pont LOVELOCK LUKE PTY. LTD. jpj 19-21 Buckland St., Broadway. Tel: (02) 211 2811 it's not FREON

Ell READER SERVICE 22 66 - ETI September 1986 Feed Forward needs your minds. If you have ideas for circuits that you would like to enter in our idea of the month contest, programs for the com- 'Idea of the month' contest Scope Laboratories, which manufactures and distributes soldering irons and puting columns or just want a word with the editor, send your thoughts to: accessory tools, is sponsoring this contest with a prize given away every Feed Forward ETI, Federal Publishing, month for the best item submitted for publication in the 'Ideas for Exper- PO Box 227, imenters' column - one of the most consistently popular features in ETI Magazine. Each month, we will be giving away a 60 W portable cordless Waterloo, NSW 2017 soldering Iron, a 240 V charging adaptor together with a holder bracket. The Contributors can look forward to $20 for each published idea/program which, is worth $100. should be submitted with the declaration coupon below. prize approximately Selections will be made at the sole discretion of the editorial staff of ETI Programs MUST be in the form of a listing from a printer. You should in- Magazine. dicate which computer the program is for. Letters should be typewritten or from a printer, preferably with lines double spaced. Circuits can be drawn roughly, because we have a draughtsman who redraws them anyway, but make sure they are clear enough for us to understand.

COUPON Cut and send to: Scope-ETI 'Idea of the Month' Contest/ Computing Column, Eli Magazine, PO Box 227, Waterloo NSW 2017.

"I agree to the above terms and grant Electronics Today International all rights to publish my idea'program in Eli Magazine or other publications produced by it. I declare that the attached idea/program is my own original material, that it has not previously been published and that its publication does not violate any other RULES copyright."' Breach of copyright is now a criminal offence. The winning entry will be judged by the Editor of ETI Magazine, whose decision will be final. No correspondence can be entered into regarding the Title of Idea/program decision. The winner will be advised by telegram. The name of the winner, together Signature Date with the winning idea, will be published in the next possible issue of ETI Magazine. Contestants must enter their names and addresses where indicated on Name each coupon. Photostats or clearly written copies will be accepted. You may send as many entries as your wish. Address This contest is invalid in states where local laws prohibit entries. Entrants must sign the declaration on the coupon that they have read the above Postcode rules and agree to abide by their conditions. L ttention! iopiCrhhet, icrobee,, users and admirers ONLINE -A GREAT MONTHLY 1111"1/4-- INFORMATION PACKAGE r: s : ©, year, you join the For only $25.00 per can SUBS a Owl, thousands of microbee owners who have found I ITC Please enter my" script ion, as marked, to Online for one the way of keeping up to date and in tune with I 7. year (12 issues) at a cost of $25.00. their microbee. Subscribers to Online, the I microbee journal, are privy to the latest Name hardware and software releases, are entertained y_ E4 Address. I by a myriad of applications and are tutored in the RL Íatestlanguages. r I Town/Suburb: State: P/code OF Money Order/Cheque I Don't let your microbee rest! Put it through its paces with METHOD PAYMENT: O O Please charge my Online - your monthly upgrade kit in a magazine. I IiI ft ft I iiII Expiry Date: Signature I 11, I Unless otherwise stated, your subscription will commence from the next issue to I be published upon receipt of thisforte. I Single copy price 52.95 plus 30 cents pd h per issue within Australia. microbee All subscriptions and enquiries should be addressed to: I computer The Subscription Officer, Online, P.O. Box 41, West Gosford 2250. J ETI READER SERVICE 23 MBS 012/ET/ Sept TOWARDS A BETTER MOLV

For the struggling inventor nurturing something more than a sense. But as communications got better, germ of án idea, trail to the costs of such a policy became more the market can be long, noticeable. Australians grew to resent a weary and confusing. One authority recently system which protected fat and lazy manu- established to the way is facturers while consumers lived in a world signpost the management 10 years behind the advanced technology investment company. centres. In 1974, when tariff protection ended, Jon Fairall manufacturing industry, particularly electronics manufacturing, died overnight in AUSTRALIANS ARE an ingenious lot. when new technology had to be intro- the onslaught of foreign goods. The Aus- We make contributions to the sciences, in duced. In fact, it made much more sense tralian population began a world class love engineering, as well as in the arts, out of to wait for others to develop new tech- affair with high tech, and accepted the all proportion to the size of our popula- nologies, make their inevitable mistakes higher levels of unemployment as a worth- tion. and find the solutions. Then we could while price to pay. The conventional wis- How can it be then, as we face the move in and rake over the pieces. dom then was that we would get our home of stretch the twentieth century that In a slowly paced world it made good money from a combination of service and we find our industries so old and inefficient, our ability to compete internation- ally so woeful? Are we indeed an embry- onic banana republic? It's a complex question and it deserves a more complex answer than we can give here, but in parts of industry, especially the electronic industry, the prevailing mood is far more optimistic. The question 1 there is how can we rejuvenate industry. In fact, there are signs around that we have moved beyond the questioning stage. Rejuvenation is alreadytaking place. The financial press is full of the benefits of investing in high technology, and new means of financing the most arcane of products are appearing. In the first quarter of 1986 the Department of Trade, Industry and Commerce reported a rise in the level of private funding of R&D in Australia for the first time in memory. s

H6story What's happening? To put the story into context, we need to remember that ever since Australia was founded there has been little or no need to have a progres- sive manufacturing base. Our industries ' have always been derivative. In the bad old days, strong reasons could be advanced for this state of affairs. Australia, with its small population could support little internal competition. Over- seas manufacturers didn't provide any extra competition because of the tyranny of distance. It made no sense to be bold Of mice and men. 68 - ETI September 1986 FEATURE

primary industries. Robots would do the Venture capital One can make some sense of it though. dirty work in between. It's the weapon of choice for a govern- Roughly, there are three different types of ment trying to build an industry. To un- situation which form a hierarchy in terms Challenge derstand venture capital, it's first necces- of the money held by the inventor, and For a while it was a strategy that sary to know the players. In the one cor- the amount of thought he has given to seemed to work. Mineral booms and high ner are investors, people with money marketing. agricultural prices helped keep up appear- burning a hole in their pockets. In the At the bottom are the government agen- ances. But as the 80s dawned the bottom other, innovators, people with no money, cies. Often these are the first port of call fell out of both markets, and all of a sud- but a great idea. In between: the govern- for an investor with a hot little prototype den bananas were the flavour of the week ment. Its role is sometimes to protect one clutched close to his chest. The agencies at every economics conference from Dar- party or the other, sometimes to just stand are short on cash, but long on advice. win to Hobart. there with its hand out. What capital there is, is available in a But it's not all doom and gloom. Many These three players need to get togeth- variety of forms. For instance it can take people are now working to create a new er. The facilitator is the venture capitalist. the form of a loan or a loan guarantee, industrial base without recreating the The role of a venture capitalist is to make sometimes even a direct grant. However, problems inherent in our last attempt. In- it possible for the investor to invest, the Harold Graycar of the NSW Innovation creasingly it is being recognised that the innovator to make use of the investment, Centre cautions that munificence is "as future wealth of the country must be built and in so doing, to satisfy the aims of the rare as hens teeth". on the brain power of its people, on re- government, whatever they might be. Far more common at this level are sim- search into devices and processes that Exactly how this works depends very ple counselling services. Not only do gov- break new ground. As a result the need to much on where the venturer stands in the ernment agencies employ people who can invest in industries with a future is becom- marketplace. The venture capital market give advice on the most appropriate way ing more urgent. is tremendously complicated. There are all to get a better mouse trap off the ground, There are many problems in doing this. kinds of government, quasi government they also do things like prepare business Probably the most important is finding a and private organisations, all aiming them- and financial plans, look at markets, sug- way to provide a financial system that will selves at different classes of innovators. gest company structures and so on. allow the risk taking, losses and occas- They each require a different level of The beauty of these services is that sional profits that are part of being a commitment by the vendor, expect differ- they're available to people without any of leader rather than a follower. The answer ent things and try to strike bargains of their own money. So is the next level up, is venture capital. greater or less toughness. a group one can loosely describe as the innovation exploiters. These are commercial enterprises set up to look at ways of ex- ploiting bright ideas. To interest such people you need a working prototype and a lot of persistence but not much else. The way such companies work is that they provide the financial, business and organizational muscle, the inventor supplies the better mouse trap. The problem with such a relationship is usually that the inventor expects an unrealistic amount out of it. The innovation exploiter is in a very strong position. Money and business knowledge come with the territory. The vendor usually has neither. It doesn't take too much imagination to realise who has t the upper hand. Avoiding this situation is not easy. If all you have is a great idea, you must expect to pay other people to turn it into a practical production item. To make the relationship more even, the inventor must do his own homework, be prepared to soil his hands in the murky world of high finance. A business plan is essential, as is a market survey. In other words, you must know both how to manufacture a better mouse trap and how you intend to sell it. Of course, manufacturing a mouse trap is considerably different from developing a prototype, and selling it is probably not as straightforward as the typical inventor thinks. Both exercises require specialists. One consistent message from everyone involved in the field is that getting a good team together is one of the first, and one of the most important things, an inventor Of men and money. ETI September 1986 - 69 FEATURE

needs to do. Management investment but large. In fact, 10 year planning hori- So, given the invention, the team, the companies zons may well be the norm. plan, what next? The third level of help is Rather more successful are the manage- much closer to the MICs offset some of the risk by holding real market place. ment investment companies (MICs). They There are a number a portfolio of investments. They will all be of different types of were set up by the government in 1984 in organization here: second high technology companies, but typically boards, manage- response to the increasingly dismal level of ment companies~ spread over a number of industries. merchant bankers and so private funding of high technology innova- on. Second boards are run by the stock tion. Since then the road has been some- There are currently 11 MICs with a exchanges as places in which companies what rocky, and MICs have found combined capital of $122m, presided over can list, plenty subject to much less restrictive of critics. by a licensing board. It's the responsibility regulations than in the regular stock ex- to an of the board to license and control the change. The capital has to be less, the However, increasing, degree, MICs are where the companies within the terms of an Act of years of operation less, and the risks of money and the management expertise are so parliament. failure, of course, commensurably higher. located, they must be doing However, funding comes from the ordi- something right. The most important elements of this nary investor on the stock exchange, so MICs are venture capital companies. control relate to ensuring that MICs carry the company is expected to perform on They seek a high return for funding risky out the functions for which they were es- much the same basis. high technology ventures. They take the tablished. For instance they must invest in The first second board was set up in funds of people who invest in the MIC, companies worth less than $6m and em- Perth. It was a runaway success and some and buy a stake in worthwhile companies. ploying less than 100 people. The compa- high tech glamour stocks listed on ít.. Big Since they share the success or failure of nies MICs invest in must be less than 10 institutional investors jumped on the the companies they support, MICs are vi- years old and show a significant amount of bandwaggon and the price of stocks sky- tally concerned with the long term devel- innovation in their choice of product. rocketed. opment of Not a few fortunes were made. their ventures. As well as Control is also important since MICs. However, funds, it seems to have done the cause they provide input into the manag- offer substantial tax advantages to inves- of high ing board of the technology R&D very little good companies they support. tors. In fact all the money invested in an in the long run, In a typical situation, because for every million- one of the members MIC can be deducted from tax. The,possi- aire there with of the board of the are hundreds holes in their MIC sits on the board bility of abuse of this facility is so obvious, pockets. As a of the company as well. result second boards seem a. and control so tight, that no allegations of bit moribund at present. Returns are expected to be long term, tax rorts have surfaced yet. /<

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Of Investment and reward. Eli READER SERVICE 24 70 - ETI September 1986 MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES Austech Ventures 9 Portman PI, North Sydney 2060. (02) 922-2577. Australian Pacific Tech- Level 25, City Mutual Building, 459 Collins St, Melbourne, Vic nology Ltd 3000. (03) 62-6481. BT innovation Ltd 3rd Floor, 60 Pitt St, Sydney, NSW 2000. (02) 27-5313 Critics Continental Venture Capital 4th Floor, BMA House, 135-137 Macquarie St, Sydney, NSW The tax concession to MICs amounts to Ud 2000. (02) 27-2614. CP Ventures Ltd 613 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne, Vic 3004. (03) 520-5333. money forgone by the country, so the First LIC Ltd Level 8, 2 Bligh St, Sydney, NSW 2000. (02) 221-4311. question is often asked: does Australia get SAMIC Ltd 28 Greenhill Rd, Wayville, SA 5034. (08) 271-6088. good value for its money? Stinoc Pty Ltd Cl- Wilson International Pty Ltd, 24th Floor, 77 St George's Ice, A number of people argue that we do Perth, WA 6000. (09) 325-4977. not, and not all of them are simply dis- Techniche Ltd 4th Floor, 410 Queen St, Brisbane, Old 4000. (07) 221-6022. 4th Floor, 493 St Kilda Rd, Melbourne, Vic 3004. (03) 267-8766 gruntled innovators turned away by MIC Western Pacific Investment 4th Floor, 395 Collins St, Melbourne, Vic 3000. (03) 614-5590. boards. Mostly, criticism relates to the fact Co Pty Ltd that MICs come in to bat too late in the Westintech Innovation Corp Suite 8, Technology Centre, 2 Brodie -Hall Dr, Bentley, WA 8102. game. Often it appears they begin funding Ltd (09) 362-4688. only when a company is already up and Enquiries about the program can be directed to: running successfully. Office of the MIC Licensing Board They argue that the capital is really Department of Industry, Technology & Commerce, Floor, when inventor is 7th needed at the time the 339 Swanston St, trudging the streets with his mouse trap Melbourne, Vic 3000. (03) 665-6746 or 665-6846 under his arm and not a sou to his name. or MIC managers do not deny the problem, Office of the MIC Licensing Board, but they do defend the system. "We invest Department of industry, Technology & Commerce, Level 3, in not products," says John businesses, Entrance 5, Grant of First MIC. Benjamin Offices, None of the MICs like the idea of talk- Belconnen Town Centre, ACT 2616. (062) 64-4951 or 64-4955. ing to a man of the street with only a better mouse trap clutched tightly in his people spread across 11 companies. "Even money trees. hand. MICs do not provide the ideas for if we wanted to we don't have the time." This is not as much of a indictment as it manufacturing or marketing a product. Anyone who has been through the experi- sounds. In the nature of the game, the "We are not interested in starting up com- ence will know that starting a company, MICs will initially invest in the proven panies ourselves," says John Paterson of even in low risk areas, is an 18 hour a stocks that fall within their definition of Austec Ventures. He points out that the day, seven day a week occupation that high technology companies as prescribed MIC industry only contains a total of 35 may last for years. in the legislation. One would expect, over Nevertheless, are MICs too conservative time, that the level of profit would come in their assessment of companies? The down and the number of failures go up as portfolios of some of the MICs show a more MICs are established, and more definite slant towards support for the deals concluded. glamour stocks of high tech. Western Pa- cific, for instance, lists Vision Systems The ivory tower (robots and lasers), Cochlear (bionic ears) Even so, the basic rules of MIC decision and Scitec (modems) among its portfolio making are already fixed. MIC managers of seven investments. All are already are far more interested in the quality of highly successful. Jo Bloggs and the better the people they support than the product. mouse trap don't get a look in. They are interested in results already ob- John Grant replies that First has never tained and in demonstrable future earn- rejected a deal based solely on a risk as- ings. sessment. Propositions are rejected be- They are not interested in the single in- cause, in the opinion of the MIC, they ventor. When the government set up the don't have a future. MIC regulations, there was much talk of At this stage of the game it's difficult the lonely genius in his ivory tower at last for MICs and their critics, much less jour- meeting Mammon. But much was political nalists, to know what the truth is. MICs rhetoric. MICs do not, and will not ac- were only started in late 1984. For much complish the meeting. of the intervening period they have been Should the government try to ensure setting themselves up; trying to learn how that they do? Perhaps there is an argu- to make realistic assessments of tech- ment for saying that the government nology that is often unfamiliar. It has only should make initial seed capital available been in the last year or so that things have to start attractive businesses; the returns really got going. due to increased productivity would Preliminary surveys suggest that perhaps presumably make it financially worth- there is some truth in the allegations. while. This is the reasoning behind such None of the MICs report trouble getting loans and loan guarantees as are given out funds. In addition, there have been only a at the moment. few collapses of MIC-backed companies. On the other hand, there is an argument This implies perhaps, that the risks are which says that making the first round smaller and the profits higher than they tough ensures that businesses are led by should be. Certainly, local MICs are find- competent people. A strong venture capi- ing it easy, much easier than their contem- tal sector will ensure that the rewards for poraries in the US or Europe, to identify making the initial plunge are worthwhile. good companies and turn them into ETI September 1986 - 71 EASY CONTEST y , es in SEIKO WRIST TERMINAL

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T12461 240541/2" 10.50 10.00 Cat T12465 240V 31/2" 10.50 W11302 2 Pair º5.00 º4 00 10.00 ' a ELECTROLYTICS S3'RIP HEADERS Cat. 112463 1156 W1130311303 3 Pair 37.00 35.00 41/2" 10.50 10.00 Cat No. Description 10+ 100+ Dual In Llne 2 54mm Cat T12467 115V 31/2 " 10.50 10.00 W11310 10 Pair 120.00 115.00 1.2 10+ i , R15705 IuF63V35 $0.12 $0.10 Per 200m Roll (Fan guards to suit also available.) e R15715 1uF 635 50.12 $0.10 P1224010 Way 1.25 1.10 Plus 20% tax where applicable 20% Sales lax where applicable P1224616 Way 1.35 1.20 ' 815725 2.2uF 636 $0.12 50.10 ,r< R15742 4.7uF 256 50.11 $0.09 P12250 20 Way 1.45 1.25 R15745 4.7uF635 $0.11 50.09 P1225626 Way 1.50 1.40 I e 875761 10uF18V $0.12 $0.10 , P1226030 Way 1.75 1.65 I DISK DRIVE e R15762 10uF 256 $0.13 $0.12 P12264 34 Way 1.95 1.75 1 815765 10uF635 $0.15 $0.14 P1227040Way 2.25 1.95 FOR 6502 815792 22uF 255 $0.13 20.12 P1227550 Way 2.75 2.50 SYSTEM e 414740°s 22uF 505 50.17 $0.15 + 0-1228060 Way 2.95 2.75 I875794 tf] (APPLE 815812 25uF 25V $0.13 50.12 7G Plus 20% Sales Tax where applicable ECONOMY TOGGLE .11 815831 25uF635165 50.176 $0.13 1 COMPATIBLE) I' 815831 170F 166 $0.16 $0.13 I _ SWITCHES - R15832 47uF255 50.16 50.13 1-9 10-24 25+ R.A HEADERS 5185 $150 $140 I R15835 47uF63V $0.22 $0.19 1-9 10+ 10-99 100+ I 815841 100uF 165 50.18 $0.16 P12241 R.A.10Way 1.45 1.30 Plus 20% tax where applicable 811010 (SPDT) 0.70 0.60 815842 100uF 255 $0.18 $016 HORN SPEAKERS 0-12247 R.A. 16 Way 1.55 1.40 (*Apple is a registered trademark) 511020 (DPOT) 0.90 0.80 R15845 100uF 63V $0.27 $0.24 Cat No. P12251 R.A. 20Way 1.65 1.45 Plus 20% Sales Tax where applicable I R15851 220uF 166 $0.17 $0.15 C12010 5" Plastic 10W Max 4.80 P12257 R.A. 26Way 1.70 1.50 1 815852 220uF25V $0.21 50.18 C12015 5" Metal 10W Max 4.70 P12261 R.A.30Way 1.95 1.85 R15855 220uF635 S0.50 $0.46 C12012 126 Siren 8.50 P12265R.A. 34Way 2.15 1.95 500K DISK DRIVE CRYSTALS 1 t No.Frequency Can 10+ 100+ 815871 470uF 16V $0.27 $0.24 Plus 20% tax where applicable P12271 R.A.40Wsy 2.45 2.15 Q HC33 540 4.75 815872 470uF 256 $0.29 $0.27 0-12276 R.A. 50Way 2.95 2.70 FOR IBMa rllaao IMN: ' 12 months warranty/ Y110052MHz HC33 2.25 1.95 815873 470uF355 50.75 50.70 P12281 R.A.60Way 3.15 2.95 1_g 10+ 5110052.1576MNz HC18 2.25 195 815875 470uF 63V $0.75 50.70 Plus 20% Sales Tax where applicable I g GREY FLAT 5165 $135 z HC18 1.20 .90 1000uF635 50.60 $0.58 5110153 57954 '815885 psi Plus 20% tae where applicable .90 R15891 1000uF 166 $0.39 $0.35 RIBBON CABLE 5110204 00MHz HC18 1.30 ¡'18M is a registered trademark! 5110224.194304MHz HC18 140 90 815892 1000uF 256 $0.45 $0.40 PER 100 FT ROLL ' 5110254.75MHz HC181.40 .90 R15893 1000uF 355 50.70 $0.65 Cat No. Desc. Fir Mtr1-3 4.9 IDC SOCKETS 1-9 10+ 9.25100 5110264.9152MHz HC18 1.40 .90 R15894 1000uF505 $0.00 $0.00 W12614 14 We 1.29 19.50 18 Y P1210116 Pin 1.95 1.75 1.25 5110426.144MHz HC18 1.40 90 51.10 W12616 16 Way 1.90 21.50 1950 R15903 2200uF 356 $1.20 P12101 16 Pin 2.25 2.05 1.65 l ,[ 40 ' f$ DRIVESn Y11050 8.00MHz HC18 1 .90 giR15904 2500uF 506 $1.30 $1.20 W12620 20 Wry 2.20 29.50 28.00 iB ' 0-12102 20 Pln 2.45 2.25 1.90 1.9 10+ 25+ 5110558.667238MHz HC18 1.40 .90 R15911 2500uF 16V $0.59 $0.50 W12625 25 Way 2.50 32.50 29.00 P1210426 PIn 2.65 2.45 2.00 4851 51/4" 500K $195 $185 $175 61107012 00MM, 14018 1.40 90 '815912 2500uF 256 50.95 50.90 W12628 26Way 2.60 34.00 32.00 , 0-1210634 pin 2.75 2.55 2.15 4853 51/4"1M $265 $245 $215 51107214.318MHz HC18 1.40 .90 2500uF35V $1.10 $1.00 W12634 34 Way 280 44.00 42.00 R15913 P1210840 Pin 2.95 2.75 2.25 4854 51/4"1.6M $295 $260 5235 Y1108016.0044112 140161.40 90 II 815914 2500uF 506 51.30 51.20 W12636 36 Way 3.00 49.00 47.00 P12110 ' 50 PIn 3.50 2.95 2.50 2896 8" 1.6M $650 5625 $600 51108516.132MHz HC18 1.40 .90 R15932 4700uF 255 $1.80 W 12640 40 Way 3.20 55.00 52.50 $1.90 Plus 20% Sales Tax where applicable Plus 20% tax where applicable 51109020 00MHz HC18 1.40 .90 815933 4700uF355 $2.40 $2.15 W12650 50 Way 3.75 62.00 59.50 , Plus 30% tax where applicable Plus 20% tax where applicable Pius 20% tax where applicable I I I 56 Renver Road, CLAYTON, 3168, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA. Phone 1031 543 2166 (3 lines) Telex: AA151938 ' ' RITRONICS N.S.W. DISTRIBUTOR: Bill Edge Electronics Pty. Ltd. 76 Porters Rd, KENTHURST 2156. Phone (02) 654 2046 I $5.00. Road over 10Kg is extra Minimum account order is 550, minimum cash sale is $25. Minimum post/pack $3.00. Minimum account post/pack Comet Freight, bulky items andfor I------.i-61ja--~1' Bankcard. Visa and Mastercard welcome. Errors and Omisswns Excepted TECHNOLOGY LABTAM and the world's best etching machine Unisearch, the University of New South Wales' commercial arm and Labtam International from Melbourne, have just signed a contract to develop a photolithographic chip etching machine. According to Chris Horwitz of the University of New South Wales, the yield and the quality of the work will be far superior to competitive machines, without any increase in price. Jon Fairall

IS LABTAM currently setting in motion ternational marketing, but certainly one generator is connected between a plate plans to manufacture the machine. A that has worked. Labtam is one of the top suspended inside an evacuated chamber, is plant being established at Braeside in export earners in the high technology in- and the walls of the chamber. The plate is Melbourne which will eventually supply dustries of Australia. Over 80% of its thus the cathode while the walls of the the South East Asian and European mar- total sales goes overseas. It won both the chamber act as the anode. The wafer to kets that Labtam currently exploits. Mar- Small Business and Export Awards of be etched is placed on the cathode. ket pushes into Japan and the US are also 1982. Sales topped $10m in 1985, and Under conditions very close to perfect expected. profit $600,000. vacuum, the residual gas ionizes when Labtam International has been around The key to all this is in R&D expend- subjected to rf, and forms a plasma. As since 1972 when R&D Instruments was iture: $1.2m. To turn the Horwitz device the ions are attracted to the plate they hit founded by Don Dryden and Heimo Eber- into a viable commercial product will re- the wafer, and cat away the silicon. This hardt. R&D became Labtest, a company quire still more. process is called sputter etching. lab that imported equipment from over- The current technology for making A sophistication of the basic process is seas. practical integrated circuits starts with a reactive sputter etching, in which a resid- However, as time progressed, the peo- process familiar to every pc board maker. ual gas containing flourine reacts with the ple at Labtest started making alterations The blank silicon wafer is coated with silicon. This increases the rate at which to the imported equipment, so as to im- photoresist, a mask is placed over the top the process happens, and also makes it prove their service to the customer. In and the whole assembly exposed to ultra possible to differentiate even more fairly short order they were making entire violet light. Then it's washed in a de- strongly between silicon, which reacts with here, pieces then designing them as well. veloper, and the exposed photoresist is the flourine, and the other layers like the In 1975 Labtest began work on an in- dissolved away, leaving behind a protec- resist, which do not. ductively coupled plasma. Matched with tive layer only in the areas that are not to The big problem with this whole process suitable optical equipment, it offered a be etched. is size. In the nature of the case, engineers new solution to analysing elements in an The details of this process can vary. But want to make their structures as small as unknown substance. no matter how it's done, the result will al- possible, in order to get as much on the By 1983 Labtam International had be- ways be to protect certain areas and to wafer as possible, and to make it go as come the biggest supplier of inductively leave others free. Another complexity is fast as possible. The smaller any given coupled plasma to SE Asia and the USSR. that the process has to be done in a num- structure is, the faster an electron can get Other orders have been received from Eu- ber of different stages. A practical inte- from one side to the other. This is the key rope and Africa. grated circuit consists of several layers: to very large scale integration (VLSI). In fact one of the few countries where will a there be substrate of silicon, and As things get smaller, we run into a Labtam has made no impact is the US. above it a sandwich of conductors and in- number of problems. One is chemical se- That's been the result a of carefully con- sulators. Each layer will need to be laid lectivity: the ability to etch one layer and sidered policy which has put breaking into down, then etched, the next layer laid leave the others untouched. Clearly this is the chauvinistic US market in the 'too over the top and also etched, and so on important, since there will always he at hard' basket, and left Labtam free to con- until the complete circuit is built up. least three surfaces exposed to the plasma: centrate on other countries. Etching is accomplished by exposing the the target layer, the one above and the Not a terribly common philosophy of in- wafer ¡o a plasma. A radio frequency (rf) one below.

74 - ETI September 1986 1

ADVERTISERS' / INDEX

Audio Engineers 18 Australian Exhibition 1 Services 28 Baltec Systems 37 ChemicalTreatments 25 Venture 70 .1 Continental CrusaderElectronics 63 .Daneva 33,35 11 4 Diamond Systems 88 4 Disco World 93 Du Pont IBC Elmeasco IFC Email 81 Emtronics 83 EnergyControl 37 Entertainment Audio 94 Foss Elect 25 Geoff Wood Electronics 57 Hagemeyer 8 Hewlett-Packard 6,7 Heyden Spike 25 Hi -corn Unitronics 56 Icom 105 Jaycar 45 Leisure&Allied Industries 89 Lovelock Luke 66 Macrodynamics 34 .. --". Microbee Systems 67 PhilipsElcoma 13,14,15 Chris Horwitz and Stefan Boronkay of Labtam with the hollow cathode etcher. Boronkay is touching the lower of the two cathodes. In operation, it slides up towards the compartment above, which is a vacuum Prepak Electronics 57 chamber. Below is timing and other control equipment. RAE 4 is which out that if you connect an- A second problem the angle at stance, it turns Rod Irving the silicon is etched. This is important be- other plate parallel to the cathode, so Electronics 20,21,22,23,73 cause if the angles are too steep, it will be making what Horwitz calls a hollow cath- Royston Electronics 63 impossible to put another layer over the ode, the result is to create a fireball be- top of it without breaks. tween the two plates. ScanAudio 88 A third problem is that it's difficult to This increases the intensity of the Scientific Devices 29 etch both wide and narrow gullies at the plasma to a marked degree. All of a sud- 5 same time, especially when dealing with den it becomes possible to make the de- Scope sub -micron dimensions. Because of the vice work at a much lower pressure than SharpCalculators 85 means the etching speed in- density of the gas the ions tend not to before. This STC 110 penetrate into narrow gullies, which creases, as does its uniformity. Because means that small structures are etched the gas pressure is so much lower and the Tech Rentals OBC more slowly than wide ones. intensity of the ion bombardment so much Telecom Aust 101 Horwitz stumbled across was a higher, etch rates increase dramatically, What Truscotts 107 method of fixing all these problems. "A and no longer depend on the size of the plasma is a funny beast," he says. For in- structure. Trade Power International 72

ETI September 1986 - 75 TECHNIQUES GETTING IT RIGHT

The RAAF has started taking delivery of its new fighter, the Hughes F18A Hornet. One result of this arrangement has been the creation of an infrastructure to handle the manufacture and maintenance of one of the most complex fighting machines ever built. Jon Fairall

THE GOVERNMENTs offset policy is video game, if you add in G forces and Predictably, putting it all together is a controversial to say the least. Critics say for- noise. complex job. Like all military equipment, it eign companies ignore it, its supporters say The cockpit is modelled on those used in must be built to withstand a considerably it's the best we can expect. Whatever the the Hollywood movie "Starwars", with lib- higher degree of heat, cold, vibration and truth of the matter, it's nice to be able to re- eral use of computers for tactical informa- mechanical stress that most civilian equip- port on one project and one place where it tion and for selecting information to be dis- ment. Just as importantly, it must bc cali- does seem to be working. played to the pilot. In fact, in an environ- brated to extremely high degrees of ac- The idea of the offset policy is that for- ment like a jet fighter where the pilot must curacy to fulfil all its functions. eign companies doing business with the react very quickly while under great mental Australian government should be made to and physical stress the ergonomics of the Philips' calibration lab spend a certain portion of their contract in situation, ie, the relationship between man The job of ensuring that parameters like Australia. In the best of all possible worlds and machine, becomes critical. voltage, current, capacitance, resistance this would increase the size of the Aus- Imagine trying to find the sixth prime and frequency are accurate is being under- tralian manufacturing base because foreign number while labouring under 4G with taken in a specialist laboratory, currently companies would sub -contract work to local someone trying very hard to kill you and being set up by Philips at its Moorebank firms. you get some idea of the magnitude of the plant. One contract where this seems to have problem. Moorebank is Philips' major manufactur- worked, at least to some extent, has been Even though speed should not be over- ing base in New South Wales. On one side is the F18A contract. The F18A is the new stated in a modern jet, they still move very PABX and other telecommunications high technology aircraft being built for the quickly in comparison with ordinary experi- manufacturing. On the other side, behind RAAF. The original few planes were made ence. Flying at 800 kph, it takes just four the doors with the one way mirror and God in the US, but the bulk of the 75 on order to seconds to travel a kilometre. If two aircraft alone knows what other security devices, is the RAAF will be built under licence,by the are flying towards each other, a pilot might the defence area, which currently means the Government Aircraft Factory. be able to see his opponent for just one or F18A radar to the exclusion of everything The F18A, like most modern jet fighters two seconds. else. travels at about twice the speed of sound. This was a problem even during WWII. It The head of the calibration lab is Jacques Go above that speed and the physics of en- was solved then by ground controlling ra- Degois. "Our raison d'étre is to service the gines and jet intakes starts to get very com- dar, and up until fairly recently, that was F18A contract," he says, "but we hope to plex, more complex in fact than it's worth. still the way it was done. Ground control be able to provide Australian industry with Also, practical aircraft building materials would guide the opponents towards each the best calibration service available within start to run into heat problems because of other. It was only in the final stages that 15 months". friction air the of flowing past. simple radars on the aircraft would acquire Currently, the lab is working up to its full As a result, the speed of modern jet fight- the target. operating potential. This takes time because ers hasn't increased at all since the 1950s. In With the advent of modern electronic air- each body of instruments needs to be cross fact, some of the most significant military craft, to a large extent the need for ground checked against other standards over a aircraft in the world aren't particularly fast. control has been done away with. The on- period of time in order for its behaviour to The Hawker Harrier of Falkland Islands board radar can acquire the enemy at a con- be assessed. fame, for instance, can't even fly faster than siderable distance. (Just how big a distance The most important concept in calibra- speed the of sound. is not the type of information freely handed tion is the ability to trace the reading. What This distinguishes modern aircraft is out.) The pilot can then discuss strategy means that it should be possible to trace the their electronic control systems. Without with his computer before engaging the accuracy of any reading taken within the exaggL.2tion, the is a F18A flying electron- enemy. manufacturing plant right back to inter- ics store. Everything that is opens and shuts In the F18, the radar is central to its effec- national standards. To do this a hierarchy is computer -controlled, electronically guided tiveness as a combat aircraft. Building it is set up, in which one instrument is checked or operated by optical fibres. one of the tasks assigned to Australian in- by another instrument. At each step there is For instance, modern fighters are built to dustry. It's not a tiny piece of equipment. an order of magnitude increase in precision. be aerodynamically unstable. They need a It's a grey painted, massive looking box, In a lab like the Philips' set-up, the exact computer to control their flight surfaces just perhaps two metres long and one high, with way that is done depends on the 'value in to achieve level flight. The pilot merely tells a flat radar dish at one end. In situ, it is con- question, but there is always an unbroken the computer where he wants to go. cealed under the nose cone of the F18A, oc- chain from an individual reading back to na- According to people who have had the cupying all the fuselage forward of the cock- tional or international standards. A dc volt- experience, flying it is much like being in a pit. age on a circuit board, for instance, is mea- 76 - ETI September 1986 Hughes F184 radar without nose rcone.

árylnY

ilt

,~11111101 ,, L l I

di sured on a high accuracy bench voltmeter. Inside the Philips lab. The voltmeter is calibrated against a 'transfer standard'. The transfer standard is itself calibrated against a set of test cells, which are kept stationary in a condition of constant temperature and humidity. The test cells themselves are compared with ones held by the National Measure- ment Laboratory and Hughes. They are compared by using a portable standard as a +r go between. Degois claims 2 ppm (part per million) is possible when measuring direct -. current in this fashion. The actual nitty- gritty of this forms the basis for a unique Measurement Assurance Program of ac- curacies. Alternating current voltage can't be measured quite as accurately as dc voltage, because the ac needs to be turned into a dc r voltage before it's possible to measure it. What happens is that two voltages are appa- lied to a thermocouple. One is the ac voltage under test, the other a calibrating dc voltage. When both thermocouples are at exactly the same temperature, dc voltage must be precisely the same as the ac rms voltage. This is a rather nice little test, since it conforms exactly to the definition of an rms voltage. 10tt. Instruments are measured against a particular clock is overly fast or slow, A great deal of time and energy goes into cesium standard in the lab. In the normal whether it's constant and so on. ensuring that the thermocouples will act as course of events, tracing a measurement The question mark hanging over the cali- desired. However, they're a major source of back to some physical constant like the bration laboratory at the moment is inaccuracy in the system. They are also vibration of a cesium atom is good enough. whether it will last longer than the F18A rather frequency dependent. As a result, However, for good measure the beha- radar. According to Degois the future is the lab claims 50 ppm but only for ac below viour of the clock is checked against a num- bright. He argues that as more complex 100 kHz. ber of other cesium clocks. In theory, they manufacturing is done in this country and Frequency is the parameter that can be all ought to be the same. In practice there is more physical values need to be measured measured more accurately than any other in some diversity. However, it's possible to sured precisely, there will be a constant de- the lab, typically in the order of one part in build up a picture over time of whether a mand for the service. ETI September 1986 - 77 comm. 11110110~M 5 ~VOX 0011110 "ml,m. . ` A microprocessor -controlled T N tape evaluation system MAO , if EJECT 4 (MICTES) will eject any buck- led cassette that is loaded. the ta. -Va onai Tisewa If íl7 LO MEIN. T UNE W %M MO aX SEEK cassette jams totally the r11 4001. MICTES will switch to radio 111 1íI operation. In both AM and FM mode, treble response is gradually reduced when the antenna signal drops below a preset level. While in stereo FM mode left The MCC2460E features an and right channel blending is ergonomic front panel on which also gradually performed. New Eurovox controls are grouped into radio, AM frequency coverage ex- tape and volume/tone sections tends from 522 to 1629 kHz to on the assumption that this type include the RPH stations in of layout is easiest to operate. A some capital cities. Channel receiver joystick is provided to set bal- spacing is 9 kHz for fast manual ance and fader at the touch of or seek tuning. one knob. FM channel spacing is Main display and function in- 100 kHz to Local car hi-fi designer Eurovox has released a stereo allow all Australian dicators are controlled through a FM stations to be received but radio/cassette featuring a new generation anti -theft routine photo -electric sensor that auto- still provide fast manual or seek which requires two predetermined codes to be entered before matically adjusts brightness to tune. De -emphasis is as per the the unit will operate if the has battery been disconnected. The suit lighting conditions in the Australian standard 50 p.s. code is supplied when the unit is purchased. vehicle, day or night. The unit retails for $1069. What's new Pocket computer with port and a built-in analogue -to - in antennas 80 Kbytes of RAM digital converter. For the more technical user there is a 60-pin We've The Sharp PC1600 pocket received news of three calcu- shown on the LCD as a 32 x 156 bus connector to allow direct ac- lator can be a wide vari- antennas from Dressler Elec- used for dot display. cess to the central processing tronics Co of West Germany, ety of applications by estima- The 80 Kbytes of RAM is unit (CPU). The high speed AOR of Japan and tors, engineers, architects and Scalar Indus- made up by two 32 Kbyte serial input/output interface is tries, The Australia. students. PC1600 can run memory modules and the stand- designed for optical communica- The which is Dressler ARA500 an- enhanced BASIC, con- ard 16K of internal memory. tions at 19.2 kbaud. tenna is an tained in 96 Kbytes omni-directional ac- of internal Smaller 16K and 8K memory There are also two peripheral tive antenna designed to cover ROM. Software written for the modules are also available. All expansion devices, a four colour the frequency range 50 PC1600's predecessor, the to of these memory modules are plotter/printer and a pocket disk 900 MHz. It will reportedly sup- PCI500A, is also compatible. battery backed up and can retain drive. ply gain of appoximately 18 The PC1600's dB liquid crystal data for five years if stored in For further information con- over the standard whip aerial. display presents text and sym- It the machine, or two years on the tact News Management, Suite 5, has a bols on a 4 nominal feed point imped- line x 26 character shelf. lA Broughton Rd, Artarmon, ance 50 display. Mini of ohms. graphs can be The PC1600 has an RS232C NSW 2064. (02) 411-7799. The design incorporates a two stage amplifier followed by a matching balun network. The cable and fittings. antenna is robust, designed to The offerings from Scalar In- Photocopier with a second withstand extreme weather dustries are 9 dB UHF rf control conditions and conies with a directional Yagi antennas avail- colour power supply, interference unit, able in six or nine element an easy to understand control eight metres of coaxial cable and models in frequency ranges 450- The Triumph -Adler 210TC panel indicating paper and toner mounting hardware. 470 MHz, 470-490 MHz and photocopier has an edit feature supply, interrupt mode, main- The DA300 model from AOR 490-510 MHz. Nominal imped- that makes it possible to select tenance required and number of is a discone type covering ance is 50 ohms. Termination excerpts from an original and copies. The 'clam shell' design 25 MHz to 1.3 GHz, aimed cables are to n type female and delete them, or copy them in a reduces the likelihood of mis - mainly at the scanning market. power rating is 250 watts. They different colour from the sur- feeds and facilitates servicing. It consists of 12 radials of vary- are made from high grade seam- rounding areas without the need For further information con- ing length with nominal feed less aluminium tubing. to mask and re -copy the origi- tact Adler point impedance of 50 ohms. It Business Machines, For more information on the nal. A second colour is available Cnr is made of high quality alu- Lane Cove & Waterloo Rds, ARA500 and the AOR contact at the touch -of a button. North minium tubing and Ryde, NSW 2113. (02) stainless Emtronics on (02)211-0988 and The TA 210TC also steel features 437-6766. and comes with mounting on the Scalar models contact bracket and 10 metres of coaxial Scalar on (03) 725-9677. 78 - ETI September 1986 NEW PRODUCTS

Philips and ANZ moving money

The recently opened ANZ available to ANZ customers. Bank's Night & Day Centre in Philips also developed the in- the Melbourne suburb of Bal- teractive video disc system wyn, is reportedly the world's which gives customers full de- most advanced self-service tails of all the services available bank. The new bank branch is from the bank 24 hours a day, equipped with the latest Philips seven days a week. With Laser- automatic teller machines and Vision, customers will be able to other advanced electronic find out about the cost of a loan equipment including a laser or see what holiday specials the video from Philips. bank's travel department has. Using their magnetic striped For customers who are still a cards, ANZ Bank customers will little confused about how the have access to a wide range of centre works - there is a 24 services 24 hours a day, seven hour hot line telephone service days a week in the specially -built in the centre. Special cameras, bank office. There is even a also supplied by Philips, keep drive -up automatic teller watch over the centre. ~AIM ~It CwTAf TIM .GA..M machine and a drive-in commer- ANZ Bank officials are plan- e. o erares routs. ^Nv rem TO ~AN r0 ~In7 cial deposit terminal. ning similar centres over the Customers of other banks will next 18 months. ANZ's General ~HIPS also be able to enter the centre Manager, Retail Banking, Alis- by using their own magnetic ter Maitland said he was looking striped cards but they will not forward to hearing from custom- have access to all the services ers who use the new centre.

Back up disks on VCR Custom LCD TLM Systems has released a VCR back-up for the IBM design guide AT/XT/PC. Australia's sole manufacturer of The VideoStore VCR back-up' liquid crystal displays, Consoli- board turns a VCR into a data dated Technology, has released storage and retrieval device. the "LCD Design Guide". This The device works in conjunc- is intended as both an LCD tion with a software package and user's guide and as an introduc- the VCR. On a wired remote tion to those not familiar with control VCR the VideoStore the use and operation of LCDs. will automatically rewind a cas- The "LCD Design Guide" ex- sette then read or write the data plains advantages of custom files identified. If the VCR is ,.:...... ' LCDs over other display tech- manually controlled or uses a nologies. Some of these advan- wireless remote control, the cas- tages include choice of exact sette must be rewound manually physical size, use of virtually any and PLAY and RECORD 1.1 character set (including com- pressed. I..If ,,, , pany logos), choice of various The VideoStore boasts a rate display colours and modes, se- of 2 megabytes per minute, lection of connection medium meaning an entire IOM hard - and the ability to cater for spe- disk can be backed up or re- r cial environments. stored in about 5 minutes. Both the LCD design guide The main features of the and the custom LCDs are avail- VideoStore are dual VCR inter- able from Consolidated Tech- face, microprocessor control, nology which can be contacted high speed LAN channel, error via PO Box 692, Frankston, Vic. correction facility, multiple copy 3199. (03) 786-8699. capability, choice of control levels, user software interface. For more information contact Paris Radio on (02)344-9111. ETI September 1986 - 79 r"-

Oz dc -ac sine wave inverter The Power Converter uses new technology to produce a 300. i watt peak, 12 Vdc-240 Vac, sine wave inverter. It has an auto start feature which senses the exact nature of the load. Other features include full current limiting, input reverse polarity protection, battery under voltage cutout, reactive power overload cutout, full voltage regulation, full transient suppression and protection. The Looking at stereo sound Power Converter is claimed to monitor the sum or difference be short circuit proof, has ther- Tektronix has released a stereo stereo sound. Distortion can between audio channels. mal overload cutout and twin audio monitor for audio mixing. theoretically be eliminated. There's an auxiliary mode too, power points. The new 760 Audio Monitor is The user can monitor and which allows the operator to The output wave shape is meant to assist in stereo audio compare the phase of the two monitor another channel such as sinusoidal with less than 5% dis- mixing. audio channels. LED's precisely SAP (second audio program) or tortion and efficiency equal to or With its ability to make exact indicate the amplitude of each a monaural channel. greater than 82%. comparisons between the two audio signal, and the CRT the For further information con- The device is available in a audio signals, 760 is the de- phase relationship. tact Tektronix, 80 Waterloo Rd, plastic case or in a rugged, signed to detect out -of-phase Another indicator lets you North Ryde, NSW (02)888-7066. water-resistant, higher rating,

Pioneer's new video

Pioneer Australia has entered the VCR and video field with the release of its new hi-fi video recorder and stereo TV. This CAM represents a new direction for the company in line with its total home entertainment philosophy and a broadening of its product i base, which until now, has specialised in audio and laser ea= technology. - -- - Pioneer has tried to optimise the VH 600 VCR for audio. Its two rotary audio heads are de- r signed to provide quality hi-fi reproduction. Some of its other features include three position input selection providing flex- ( 't,.r I. ible recording capability, a four - dt i event with a two-week duration t program timer, forward and backward fast picture search and J infrared remote control. Both monitors have been de- wants high quality sound. They appeal with the discerning view- Pioneer intends to match the signed with a smoked glass filter are not intended for the mass er," he said. VH 600 with a stereo TV, which to reduce glare for wide angle market," says Pioneer Market- Pioneer's two new releases will be available in 51 cm and viewing, 12 -position electronic ing Manager, Doug Bell. give the company a full range in 63 cm screen size. Both models timing to pre-set up to 12 VHF "We do not wish to compete the home area. Recommended will produce high quality sound. and UHF channels and full func- in the general TV and VCR retail price for the hi-fi/VCR will Its built-in dual sound system tion infrared remote control. market but Pioneer believes that be $1599 and the stereo TV will will enable the selection of "Pioneer's new releases are its reputation for quality sound be $1599 for the 63 cm and stereo or bilingual broadcasts. aimed at the consumer who will give it a specialized market $1299 for the 51 cm screen size. 80 - ETI September 1986 NEW PRODUCTS UK scientists develop optical processor Scientists at Heriot-Wall Uni- Professor Smith sees the fu- versity, Scotland, recently an- ture of optical circuits in image nounced the development of a processing, fibre switching and prototype optical processor. De- displays. He and his team have scribed as a primitive optical - so far progressed from the finite -state machine, the pro- development of a single -switch cessor is part of a project to re- device last March to an all -opti- place electronic currents in tran- cal digital loop circuit. sistor circuits with light beams. The project has been sup- The main advantage of optical ported by European scientists as technology is in speed and in al- well. Frankfurt University, the lowing parallel processing. Ac- Fraunhofen Institute in Frei- cording to Professor Desmond berg, the Max Planck Institute Smith who led the experimental for Quantum Physics, Munich, research into the optical pro- the Universities of Milan and cessor, "Optical circuits are Pisa, the CNRS Lab at Stras- unique in that they are capable bourg and the Free University in of processing large amounts of Brussels have all been involved. information simultaneously. By The program was funded to the 1 contrast, the present generation tune of $A2.9 by the European of microchips process individual Commission. signals consecutively. This First phase of the project was metal unit. Both are a similar be available soon. makes optical computers partic- aimed at ascertaining scientific price to ordinary square wave For further information con- ularly suitable for applications in evidence for the feasibility of an inverters. tact: Modulite, Factory 6, 42 the field of artificial intelligence, all -optical processor and at 800 W, 1000 W, 1500 W and New St, Ringwood, Vic. (03) as well as optical image process- financial assessment of the end 3000 W sine wave versions will 879-2825. ing". product. SOMETHING NEW IN TEST EQUIPENT! OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE & PRICE! Professional Electronic Digital Multimeters Oscilloscopes Test Equipment by Digital Clamp Testers Multi -Function Counters Clamp Testers Mini -Frequency Counters Digital Thermometers Optical Power Multimeters corporationSOAR Insulation/Earth Testers - Cable Length Checkers lit For detailed data sheets contact: 1_, IEMAZLÍ I BELLCO I . . - '1 andnd l i .. Controls .e;o`et- i ... SALES OFFICES: SALES OFFICES: . MELBOURNE 03) 544 8244 MELBOURNE 03 2888044 SYDNEY 02) 439 3311 SYDNEY 02 560 7077 ADELAIDE 08) 211 7855 ADELAIDE 08 211 7855 - 0.1 BRISBANE 07)391 6266 BRISBANE 07 391 6266 PERTH (09 446 9888

HEAD OFFICE: 15 Hume Street, Huntingdale, Victoria 3166

ETI READER SERVICE 26 NEW PRODUCTS

Datacraft catalogue Datacraft Direct Marketing has just released a new black box catalogue. It contains over 500 problem solving items which have proven popular in the past and more than 50 new lines. Contact Datacraft on (03) 725-1144. New micro NEC has released the 708108 microprocessor which is claimed to have an instruction set that is a subset of the 8088. Ex- ecution times are claimed to be faster. It's available through the George Brown Group. R Generator Dindima has released news of the Ballantine 6200A programmable function generator. It runs up to 20 MHz and is fully programmable via the IEEE488 bus. Comb filter TI product news Philips has introduced a comb filter for use on PAL video re- TI has introduced a new member of the TMS320 family in- corders. It's called the CRF873, and consists of a very thin tended for microcontroller applications such as servo con- slab of glass with a zero temperature coefficient mounted in a trol, high speed controllers, low -end modems (1200 bps and shock -proof housing. 2400 bps), audio processors, data encryption, vibration analysis, or similar applications. It's called the CCD camera TMS32010NL. AWA is distributing an ultra miniature CCD camera from Pulnix designed primarily for surveillance. Speed Dimensions are 36 enhancement to FIFO by 32 by 127 mm. Power required is only one watt at 12 V. Integrated Device Technology (1DT) recently announced speed enhancements to two CMOS parallel first in first out Motion detectors (FIFO) RAMs, the 1DT7202 and IDT7201. The new time Benmar International has released the GOS2578 pulsed mo- represents a 40% increase in speed over previous parts. tion detector from Alpha Industries. Frequency range is 9.47- 10.7 GHz, 1% duty cycle with 20 µs typical pulse width. SIPMOS signal transistors To meet the growing importance of automatic surface Chip caps mounting, Siemens is expanding its range of transistors in Penn Central is selling Sprague Electric tantalum chip caps SOT -23 housing. New arrivals are the BSS84, BSS131, and that conform to EIA standards. Values are between 0.11 and the BSS 138. 100µF.

HAKKO ACE DESOLDERING STATION

Have you got headaches from pulling big mother chips out from a double or multi -layer board? Desoldering bits are frustrating when the chips to be pulled out are of different sizes - one has to keep changing the bit size. With high density (ULSI, VLSI) chips, pins are arranged in a matrix form, and desoldering bits won't work with 44- them. Fortunately, Japanese company, Hakko, has provided a brilliant solution with its Hotas desoldering station. Rotas is a unique sensortess, zero-cross switching, on/off temperature control system developed to fit into its 40 W desoldering stations. The temperature is accurately controlled between 30010 400" (Celsius). Of the two models available, 481 the has the basic features and the 483 has an added user heat selection facility. The compact gun -type desoldering irons weigh only at 230 g, featuring one finger trigger with powerful suction up to 600 mm Hg. The sucking neck is narrow (13 mm diameter) and long (50 mm) to reach spots on today's high density pc boards. Inside the neck is a small tube for the melted solder to be sucked up from the board to the filter. steel wool can be easily checked. To replace the filter, one simply pulls a The length of the tube is surrounded by a high knob quality ceramic heating ele- at the back of the gun to remove the glass pipe. ment to keep the in solder a completely melted state until it lands on the filter. This unit is very useful and efficient all round. The only I Fitted to the end of the neck is an easily improvement could changeable nozzle. A variety of noz- suggest is the Incorporation of a user zles are available to match work selectable suction power option with a any requirement and permitting greater thermal maximum sucking power greater transmission efficiency. than 600 mm Hg. The sucking power as it is is fine when the filter is clean, but as the solder starts to accumulate, the The other end of the neck is joined to a heat -proof transparent suction glass filter force reduces until the filter is replaced. Although the replacement job is pipe. The filter inside the glass pipe is made up of some easy, it steel wool in the front would be nice to be able to re -adjust the suction power to block the sucked solder a and avoid replacing the and fairly thick layer of cotton behind the steel filter so frequently. wool to absorb the flux. With the glass pipe, the accumulation of solder on the - S.K. Hui 82 - ETI September 1986 EMTRONICS FOR RADIO COMMUNICATIONS FEATURES WORLD'S 25.55 OMHz continuous Frequency coverage - ÁR2002 FIRST 800MHz - 1.3GHz continuous (UHF TV Channels Colour hardcopy from screen to printer 550MHz to 800MHz-excluded). CONTINUOUS COVERAGE Electrical Equipment is selling the Graftel VP 200 video Modes: AM-NBFM-WBFM. 20 Channel Memory THREE MODE SCANNER Fine tuning control. Signal strength meter. COMMUNICATIONS processor, designed for printing colour hardcopy from Memory scan, bandspan priority channel, etc. graphics displays. It accepts RGB video input and is com- Clock. RS232 computer interlace - optional RECEIVER patible with virtually all computer systems. It has a palette Many other features. of eight or 64 colours with multiple shades. Resolution is APPLCCATIONS -y Ideal station monitor for all VHF, UHF and SHF radio - 1280 by 1024 pixels. Electrical Equipment is at Unit C, 8 communication channels. Commercial Air, M rive, Lyon Park Rd, North Ryde, NSW 2113. Military, Police, Fire, Radio Telephones, Amateur and -- - ) CB Radio and special services. - Extended distance data cables IICOM2 R-71A The Belden 9680 and 8102 families of paired overall - 0000 RECEIVER - FROM ICOM shielded extended distance data cables are now available COMMERCIAL QUALITY SCANNER from Acme Electronics in Australia. FEATURES - The 9680 family has a capacitance of 50.8 pF per metre 99 Memories. - - i" i - w i- - _ family has FM-AM-SSB. - - ` _ and a 6 dbv length limit of 640 metres. The 8102 J J C., :C., S -meter. - - a capacitance of 41 pF per metre and a 6 dbv length limit of Six tuning speeds. 640 metres. Acme Electronics is at 205 Middleborough Rd, Optional remote control. 100KHt-30MHz, AM FM SSB CW Box Hill, Vic 3128. Optional voice synthesiser and many General coverage receiver for others. See us for the best price. serious short wave listener. Solid state, microwave power amps Three new GaAs FET, microwave, power amplifiers, have R-2000 Two New CODE just been released by the Central Microwave Company, for the Connoisseur SWL CONVERTERS from ,.. adding to the excellent range of microwave power ampli- _«_ C7 : e. _ TELEREADER fiers currently available. The CMA 53750 covers 14 to 14.5 ti - -- - _ _ : Now you can monitor all short wave services 1 `>= - and transmission codes such as the CMA 44450 covers 8.5 to 9.6 GHz and the ' All GHz, ' - "/ r1 `- - t^ : f` CW-RTTY-ASCII-AMTOR and SITOR. you CMA34460 5.9 to 6.4 GHz. They are represented in Aus- peed o omem iwono veexrcfirtionmg General coverage: Comm. receiver C rrceif andc wuoet tralia by Benmar International, (02) 233 7934. covers all freq. from 150KHz to signals is at your fingertips. 30MHz. AM, SSB, CW & FM CWR-880 with vertical front panel $599 CWR-670 with sloping front panel $599 Teknis pad mode. An attenuator pad packaged as a hybrid has been developed by Teknis in Adelaide. The TE -2000 is a 600 ohm balanced BLACK JAGUAR REGENCY -- pad with seven fixed selectable pads between 0.5 dB and THE TECHNOLOG HX-1 OOO 16. dB. HAND 986HELD SCANNERY IN PERFORMANCE NO OTHER HAND KeyboardKe programmable. HELD SCANNER CAN MATCH IT. Ke30 ch memory. CMOS 16 -bit microcontroller FEATURES 6 band, National has apparently leapfrogged the rest of the industry AM/FM. Liquid crystal display. 16 16 Ch memory as from last March by producing the CMOS -bit Clock. j' on a single chip, Up/down tuning, of A complete microcomputer HPC16040. Lock out. . . the HPC16040 is the first release in the company's new Delay. FREO. RANGE HPC (high performance microcontroller) family. HF, VHF, low- VHF: 30-50MHz mid -high, UHF. 144-174MHz ! FREQUENCY RANGE UHF: 440-512MHz a---- 50-88MHz. - - MOST SENSITIVE AND á il 50-88MHz. - IVS 115-178MHz. - = RELIABLE SCANNER AND J Colour CCD 200-280MHz. BEST PRICE 360-520MHz. surveillance camera ACE" II - Personal 2 -way WE STOCK: Australia's Cameronics Tech- Cameronics' CCD can also be rt"EMTRON ` radio here at lastf Amateur, marine, nology will take on the giants of used for robotics systems and CB, ' - ' NEW professional, commercial radio the international electronics in- with underwater recovery vehic- A quality 40 Ch high power UHF CB hand held communications equipment: dustry when it releases an ad- les. transceiver Designed for receivers, transceivers RF vanced colour CCD surveillance As a seeing eye, it will allow a Aust. and DOC approved. - amplifiers, antennas, antenna camera on world markets later robot to select parts in a produc- . APPLICATIONS rotators, antenna hardware, this year. tion line by their colour or pc Farming Fishing, boating, power supplies, code The highly -sophisticated CCD identify objects underwater by - hunting, busltwalking (charged coupled device) cam- colour. Bushtire control converters, computer AG shows interfaces, digital comm. era uses new technology, which The Cameronics CCD uses a Security - -- systems, radio direction the company claims to be far unique imported computer mi- Construction sites Car rallies finders, security systems bug ahead of any competitor's prod- crochip, but the camera was de- Crowd control and man y detectors, telephone line ucts. A prototype has been thor- veloped by the company's re- others DEALER picture transceivers etc. oughly tested and will go into search and development depart- ENQUIRIES WELCOME - production within two months. ment in Perth. The camera's main advan- For further information con- tages over competitors' products tact Cameronics Technology, 58 1.e West- ;;: EI11ThDflICS is that it has ultra high resolution Clavering Rd, Bayswater, and that it shows colour under ern Australia 6053. (09)272- SYDNEY STORE: MELBOURNE STORE: extremely low light. 1000. 92-94 Wentworth Ave 288-294 Queen St Sydney, NSW 2000 Entrance from LT. Lonsdale St Phone: 211-0988 Melbourne, Vic 3000 Phone: 67-8551 NEW PRODUCTS

Perth circuit testing Circuit Technology Holdings has established Western Aus- tralia's first independent centre for testing electronic circuit boards at Willetton, Perth. This follows an agreement with the WA Technology Devel- s opment Authority to licence the Circuit Technology group to provide a testing service based on a Technos WPV 68 machine from Olivetti Australia. The equipment will check un- loaded boards for broken circuits and interconnections that shouldn't exist and pinpoint where the fault occurs. Circuit Technology is planning to increase the test centre's capabilities by installing equipment to handle loaded boards, that is, boards with fitted or bonded surface mounted devices, such as microchips. For more information contact Circuit Technology Holdings on (09)457-6388, or Mick McGowan (02)977-6513.

ew Pioneer releases Pioneer has released a new high power car radio/cassette for the up-market buyer, as well as a good quality 10 cm car front speaker system. AUTO-REVEg$E MIN The KEH 5020 features auto RRt!!T unATfON ..1..+hW111f1 ré.TfM Mu ^M,,,. reverse for uninterrupted play- 911111 back, electronic seek tuning, alit ® locking fast forward and reverse am. a Vex rRaOiO paga a y/1EaL! and the usual controls for vol- t. ume, aw eaºo etc. The new system will MLHIp belt out sound at 20 watt music output power. tiQ PIONEER .u. lVNTlIEI12lp nnln Pioneer's 2 -way, 30 watt speaker, the TS 1080, incorporates a specially designed hydro resistant 100 mm HR cone woofer or 42 mm cone tweeter ferences, for example. encased in new styling grilles Mobile sat dishes The dishes can receive sound made of heat proof resin. and video signals via any the Pioneer access to Aussat of suggests the speakers Aussat transponders. They will suitably with can team the 16 cm Network Technologies claims to lite dishes to any site in Aus- also work in conjunction with product in a four speaker have sys- designed and manufac- tralia which is accessible by vehi- any of the video transmission tem. They've been designed to the tured first mobile 3.7 metre, cle, be it a city hotel, a country standards of the various broad- meet the new high demand commercial quality, satellite office or a private home. The casters in Australia. placed on speakers with the ad- dish for These Australia. dishes dishes can be towed by any vehi- The Australian -made dishes vent of the compact disc and enable professional quality cle capable of towing a 4.5 metre can be hired on a short or long- with higher output amplifiers audio and video communica- boat and can be commissioned term basis or purchased from and graphic equalizers. The tions to be available at any loca- for use in a few minutes. The Network Technologies, 3rd speakers have frequency re- tion anywhere in Australia. dishes can therefore be located Floor, 77 Berry Street, North sponse of 50 Hz to 21 kHz with Network Technologies says it in remote places and allow par- Sydney, NSW 2060. (02) sensitivity of 91 dB. will 957- transport the mobile satel- ticipation in satellite videocon- 3137. 84 - ETI September 1986 8OIY" In D.

The new Sharp PC -1600 pocket BASIC with external devices, such as electronic computer is one of the most scales, lab equipment, measuring powerful pocket computers room to use it devices, even office lighting and the coffee percolator. available, offering more power in The PC -1600 has a 96Kb ROM your hand than many desk -top containing the popular BASIC computers. The Sharp PC -1600 is language. With extra Memory Modules Plug in a compact you'll have 80k of RAM... enough to a first cousin of the acclaimed run quite sophisticated programs printer and disk drive Sharp PC -1500/A - the new model without having to return to your office. This is where the Sharp PC -1600 really is upwardly compatible and will comes into its own. We have a special run the wide range of software Colour Plotter Printer and Mini Disk developed for the PC -1500/A. Interfaces with other Drive you can attach to the PC -1600. business equipment The whole unit is lap portable, battery operated and occupies space a Power up Sharp PC -1600 talks direct to other bit bigger than an A4 page. So it fits in a to 80K RAM personal computers for data and briefcase with plenty of room to spare. program file exchange. You can also Add the Plotter Printer and you can Equipped with a standard 16Kb MM, hook it up to a printer, an acoustic print out in text, or present your results the PC -1600 easily expands to 80Kb by coupler or modem, an optical fibre with highly sophisticated graphics. All adding two 32Kb Memory Modules into cable, a tape -recorder, a disk drive and this on the spot, on A4 paper in four the memory expansion slots in the back even a bar code reader (available soon). colours. of the unit. And with the disk drive you can store With its full memory complement It'll wake you up 1281% on each 2.5" floppy disk. the PC -1600 comfortably matches the even There are no untidy wires; the performance of many lap and desk -top and make the coffee. computer, printer and disk drive slot PC's. together into one sturdy, compact unit. Quotations, engineering The PC -1600's built-in timer acts as a an alarm clock. Before you decide on a pocket calculations, estimates, billing, price calendar, watch and computer, look at the Sharp PC-1600. lists and inventory enquiries, portable Connected to the built-in use the Because it can perform so many tasks data collection and data analysis can all communications port, you can and expand so many ways it may be be done on the spot. PC -1600's timer the only computer youll need for a very Business people, engineers, to control long time to come. researchers and sales people will find the PC -1600's ability to help them "think on their feet" ------and then store MK», o,,.rb, wn> PCIVErr a. calculations SHARP and data for later retrieval, POCKET COMPUTER K rálO a valuable time -saving tool. cc,,) ® .1 ~I- ©© 0 0© re is 0.(m 1 rs© o a ©o©a oogm! ©©cs©ai©©i.o c3c1nr=n 900 nnn comr cm. h9' l fock Phone us now for the location of your nearest dealer. Sydney 728 9111 Melbourne 763 9444 Brisbane 343 9144 SHARP Adelaide 294 7166 Perth 277 7477 Canberra 80 5288 Simply the best Advertising Partners 9910 Ell READER SERVICE 27

ETI September 1986 - 85 STARTING DXING From the past. The original studio building of Trans World Radio, Monte Carlo in 1956. RADIO SPREADS THE WORD

Once the listener can pick up signals and identify stations, a whole new world of programming awaits him. But not the soapies and humdrum of the other popular broadcast bands. r". Shortwave broadcasts are nothing if not didactic. ... lo A. Cushen

' it^rSt i Á MOST SHORTWAVE broadcasting sta- outstanding service in re -uniting families HCJB has progressed to offer a -lan- tions are multi established by authorities with a and friends. During those six years, over guage service with programmes scheduled message to spread, whether government one million messages were handled by Vati- to all parts of the world. Programme ser- propaganda or service information. One can Radio, and as it was located on neutral vices now cover not only international lan- broadcaster very active on shortwave is the territory, the station was able to more easily guages, but those directed to the local popu- gospel station and the is listener likely to perform this service. lation in the Andes area. HCJB has daily find no shortage of religious faiths dissemi- After the war the transmitting power was programmes to Australia, nated. 0700-1130 UTC extended to five 100 kW units. When the on 6130, 9745 and 11925 kHz, and operates The modern missionary is behind the writer visited the transmitting site at Santa around the clock. microphone and talking to millions of radio Maria di Galeria, outside Rome, he noted The station is also involved in education- listeners. Mass from the Vatican, Billy that the transmitters bore the name plate of al, medical and missionary work within Graham from the Philippines, Bahi from the donors: one was from Australia and Ecuador. Its pioneering spirit is evident in Ecuador, the Holy Koran Reading from New Zealand. the creation of its own hydro plant so that Saudi Arabia, Hebrew Services from Israel, Since then a new 500 kW transmitter has energy is available for the many transmit- and countless other religious services and been added, a log periodic aerial and the ters, including one of 500 kW. With its denominations are available on the high fre- number of language broadcasts extended transmission point high in the Andes Moun- quency bands. Radio has become the high from 16 to 35, broadcasting a total of 30 tains, close to the equator, it is ideally point in missionary work; it situ- is possible to hours per day. ated for world wide reception. reach millions of listeners world wide. Transmissions to Australia are 2205-2225 It was in 1931 that two religious organisa- UTC on 6015, 9615 and 11830 kHz; another FEBC & FEBA tions began missionary broadcasting. The broadcast 0200-0215 UTC on 7125, 9650 The Far East Broadcasting Company was Vatican commenced its first broadcast in and 11865 kHz, is also in English. A multi - founded in Manila in 1945, with the original February and later that year, on Christmas language programme called "Four Voices" slogan of "the call of the Day, HCJB Orient". Now it Quito, Ecuador made its pio- is also heard on shortwave though it is of identifies itself as "FEBC Radio Interna- neer broadcast. It is interesting to note that primary interest to visitors to the Vatican as tional, the sound alternative". neither of these stations have extended their it broadcasts tourist information. It is heard FEBC has concentrated its broadcasts on working by the use of relay stations, but weekdays at 0600 UTC on 6250, 9645 and the Pacific Basin and now has programmes have to increase preferred the power of 11740 kHz. in 60 languages and dialects. After its their estab- transmitters to reach the world from lishment in the Philippines, FEBC the one transmitting opened site. HCJB, Quito Ecuador stations in Okinawa which were later closed Using the Vatican radio slogan, "Heralding Christ when Okinawa was handed back to Japan. Jesus' Blessings," which makes up the call A powerful mediumwave station was then At 4.30 pm on 12 February 1931 sign acronym, this well known gospel sta- established in Cheju off Guglielmo Marconi, who the coast of South designed and built tion was founded on Christmas Day 1931. It Korea, followed the Vatican Radio on the by purchase of KGEI, most advanced scien- broadcast with low power from a sheep shed San Francisco. tific and technical principles, invited the and is regarded as the pioneer of missionary KGEI was established in Holy Father to use its microphones to speak 1939 at the radio. World Fair. It was later purchased by to the world. Pope Pius XI with great sol- FEBC The station signed a contract with the to serve Latin America and Asia. The emnity, delivered his message to all men. It latest Ecuadorian Government and has always station to be operated by was the first time that the voice of the Pope FEBC is KFBS been looked on as the official voice of that Saipan, which beams could be heard throughout the world. programmes to Asia government in time of crisis and disaster; it and has recently taken over the Japanese Transmissions were expanded and during has its offered transmitters when the need broadcasts, formerly carried on KGEI. World War II the Vatican Radio performed has arisen. FEBC broadcasts around the clock in 86 - ETI September 1986 DZ8 z JZ, S 0 0 7 1111 . -t ° I! 0000a. 0 r r 1ib tr I 1I 00 r -1.-.

The Far East Broadcasting Company, Manila original transmitter room, when broadcasting commenced in 1945.

many Asian languages, and its English Guam, which has a special antenna beamed service to Asia in a multitude of languages. transmission to Australia 0830-0930 UTC to Australia, used in the transmission on Its friendly voice is reflected in the tremen- can be found on 15350 and/or 11850/ 11735 kHz. On Saturday at 0830 UTC it dous mail received from the Asian area. 11890 kHz. As well as many shortwave features "DX Listeners Log". This Catholic gospel station has links with transmitters, FEBC operates a network of The Bonaire transmitter has a powerful Radio Vatican and Radio Renascencian mediumwave stations throughout the mediumwave signal on 800 kHz, PGB; its Portugal. Philippines ranging in power up to 250 kW shortwave services are beamed to North, The programme schedule is beamed ex- with the key station, DZAS Manila on Central and South America. In Sri Lanka, a clusively to Asia, but English transmissions 702 kHz. high powered mediumwave station, carries are often heard in Australia 0200-0225 UTC The Far East Broadcasting Association is programmes to Asia, while the Swaziland on 15195 kHz and 1500-1530 UTC on a British based gospel group and works in complex covers Africa. The transmitters on 9595 kHz. The studios are in Manila, and conjunction with FEBC Manila; the broad- Cyprus and Malta both have a power of the address is PO Box 939, Manila, Philip- casts of FEBA are from the Seychelles in 600 kW on mediumwave and broadcast pines. the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Africa. time is leased from the controlling Broadcasting commenced in 1970. The authority. AWR stations transmitting towers are unique as they are Adventist World Radio is rapidly expand- anchored on a coral reef which gives the sta- ELWA ing its radio network from its original trans- tion a tremendous lift in signal strength Broadcasting from Monrovia, Liberia, mission carried over the transmitters of throughout Asia and Africa. It is one of the ELWA was the first missionary radio in Trans Europe in Portugal. The AWR Asia strongest signals from East Africa in Africa and along with ETLF in Addis programmes were a familiar part of broad- Australia. Ababa, Ethiopia, it was a pioneer in this casting from Sri Lanka, and now a new sta- Broadcasts are directed to Asia, the Mid- field; the latter station was taken over by tion is under construction on Guam. AWR dle East and Africa in 25 languages includ- the Ethiopian Government some years ago. broadcasts, via its low powered transmitter, ing broadcasts in English at 0712-0845 UTC ELWA began in 1952 operated by the have been widely reported in Forli, Italy. In Sundays on 15120 and 17780 kHz, while a Sudan Interior Mission. Its coverage today Latin America the long established station in its second transmission is 1458-1608 UTC on includes all of Africa, using six transmitters in Guatemala is to be assisted pro- 11760 and 15325 kHz. and broadcasting in 42 languages. gramming to the Caribbean and Latin Broadcasts are frequently heard in Aus- America by a new unit in Costa Rica. Trans World Radio tralia at 0600 UTC on 4765 kHz and at 0700 The first broadcast on behalf of the Sev- Described as the most powerful complex on 11830 kHz. The station has a wide vari- enth Day Adventist denomination in South- in the world of gospel radio stations, Trans ety of programmes and relays of the BBC ern Asia, took place on 30 April 1950. It World Radio now broadcasts from its key and VOA news are popular features. was over Emisora Goa. When this station station in Monaco as well as relay bases in closed, transmissions were transferred to Swaziland, Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Guam and Radio Veritas the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation. Bonaire. It was on 11 April 1969 that Radio Veri- The first European broadcast took place The writer first heard its broadcasts when tas commenced broadcasting. The writer in 1971. The Trans Europe site at Sines, it opened in the international zone of can recall hearing the first transmissions in Portugal, was used to carry the broadcast on Tangier in 1954 as WTAN. Its power then the 13 metre band, prior to the official a 250 kW transmitter. Transmissions were was only 2500 W. The station then moved opening when it relayed mediumwave sta- later extended to include ones in eastern to Monte Carlo and today its world wide tion DZST. European languages, and a transmitter at network uses 21 transmitters on shortwave. Today Radio Veritas has one 50 kW Cyclops, Malta was added for this purpose Listeners in the Pacific are aware of mediumwave and one 50 kW and two in 1975. Trans World Radio KTWR in Agana, 100 kW shortwave transmitters carrying its In Central America the Guatemalan > ETI September 1986 - 87 STARTING DXING RELEASE FROM VIFA! VIFA EA 60/60 KIT SPEAKERS.

The value and the sound get better MONITOR AUDIO, HAYBROOK just to and better! mention a few. Some of these speakers As you probably know, the value of kit cost well over $1000 a pair. speakers has never been greater than The dividing network is of the highest it is today. Our falling dollar, together quality and produce no inherent sound with the rate of import duty, freight costs characteristics of their own; they simply and other handling charges make fully act as passive devices which accurately imported loudspeakers almost a super distribute the frequency range between luxury item. On the other hand, kit both drivers in each speaker. speakers can offer the same - and in The Ideal Bookshelf Speakers. most cases better -drivers and cross- The fully enclosed acoustic suspension overs and cost far, far less and sound Cabinets are easily assembled and are far, far superior. perfect for bookshelf use or on speaker A perfect example of the sound of stands. All you need are normal excellence. household tools and a couple of hours The new Vifa loudspeaker kit has been enjoyable application and you've built designed to completely outperform any yourself the finest pair of speakers in Adrian Peterson, compere of Radio Monitors similarly priced speakers. This is a 2 -way their class. International which recently ended 11 years of design Incorporating drivers which give broadcasting from the Sri Lanka Broadcasting a deeper, more natural bass response For further information and the name of Corporation. and 19mm soft -dome ferro fluid cooled your nearest Vifa stockist, please contact tweeters which provide clear, uncoloured the Sole Australian Distributor: operation is low powered on medium and sound reproduction. SCAN AUDIO PTY. LTD. el I These VIFA drivers are identical to the shortwave. In Costa Rica AWR has pur- 52 Crown St., ones used in such fine speakers as Richmond 3122. chased an existing station and will use the MISSION, ROGERS, BANG & OLUFSEN, Phone(03)4292199. I slogan Radio Lira International on the frequencies of 11870 and 15210 kHz. ETI READER SERVICE 28 United States MINIMART The postion in the United States is one of rapid growth after many years in which only WANTED: SYSGEN-M and/or documentation for E three gospel stations operated on short- MUON (ADDS) operating system. Please reverse wave; newcomers on charges, (02)660-3969, Rod, 189 Bridge the air or under con- Rd, Glebe, NSW 2037. P struction, total eight as we go to press. Al- ready in operation are WRNO, KCB1, WANTED: CIRCUIT LAYOUT for Fox Apple WMLK, KNLS, while under construction computer Ver 4.6, also Motorola D2 kits or ex- 2 pansion F. are KVOH, NDXE, KSPI and World Har- modules. Horvat. (08) 388-5430, PO Box 359, Glenside, SA 5065. o vest Radio. The Christian Science Monitor 3 is also proposing a shortwave service; it FOR SALE: KIND HOME wanted for 1950s joins the long established KGEI San Fran- radiogram. Repair or Install your hi -fl. Excellent cisco, WINB Red Lion PA, and the most cabinet, $29. Labcraft belt drive turntable $17. extensive (02) 498-7805. of all, WYFR Family Radio. The EP232 turns your PC or In 1974 Family Radio began shortwave FOR SALE: OLIVETTI 7E300 teleprinter tabletop CPM computer into a versatile broadcasts, and today from its transmitting version has wiring fault $100; Information elec- EPROM PROGRAMMER able to site at Okeechobee, Florida, transmissions tronics early model video terminal has ex- program all common EPROMS originate which cover tended serial and Europe, North, Cen- keyboard, printer ports plus up to 27512. tral and South America. The transmitters circuits $150. J. Wicks (08)547-7787. include eight 100 kW and Software provided gives a two 250 kW FOR SALE: RADIO HISTORY. A collection of 80 units. WYFR broadcasts around the clock pre -1950 radio and radar valves and cathode comprehensive set of in many languages and English is received ray tubes. Many not well known and very rare. commands. 0600-0800 UTC on 7400 kHz. Most are unused. 5350. Also a Bendix TA12B Simple interface via RS232 aircraft transmitter (WWII), KNLS Anchor Point Alaska is well re- any serious offers port. on this? N. ceived in its English Allen, 7 Lowry Heights, St Helens, transmission broadcast Tas. (003)76-1773. TTL PROM programming 0800-0900 UTC on 11860 and 1630-1930 on modules available. 11965 kHz. FOR SALE: SCANNER listing of Australian Locally made EP232 costs a This survey of gospel radio stations civil/military VHF/UHF aeronautical frequencies. Approx fraction of imported covers only the major broadcasts; there are 500 sorted freq/location/service 55. D. Vale, VK3CDI programmers. countless low OTHR, PO Box 2395, Mlldura, Vic powered stations on short- 3500. wave operating from such countries as CALL FOR DETAILS Bolivia, Honduras, El FOR SALE: ROTEL 1212 stereo Salvador and Haiti. amplifier. Diamond Systems (03) 714 8269 As well as this, many denominations lease 70Wrms/channel each with own power supply. P.O. Box 105, Hurstbridge 3099 time on international stations. Comprehensive switching facilities include pre out, main In, $150. Bruce Donaldson (079)22- 1382. ETI READER SERVICE 29 88 - ETI September 1986 WE CAN SUPPLY ALL YOUR REQUIREMENTS YOU BE WILL 20" MONITOR CONTROL PLEASANTLY (Colour) MS7 - 20 LEVERS SURPRISED . . 'a I rA SWITCHING I t; REGULATORS g695

s, 11. 2 WAY CONTROL LEVER ! Coil spring return microswitch operated. VSS -011 Input: 180 - 276 V Output: + 5 V 7 amp +12 VI amp - 5 V 1 amp

LS -7 CONVERTIBLE .; JOYSTICK ; ti S.

VSS-077 Input: 180 - 276 V Output: + 5 V 10 amp +12 V 1 amp CRT 19"V 90° deflection - 5 V l amp 819.7R inline TV grade Input Signals Separate Data Signal 2.5 - 5Vp-p (positive) WORLD CLASS QUALITY 1 Sync. Signal 0.5 - 5Vp-p HIV Composite negative JOYSTICK with 11/4" -32mm Center ball. Resolution 320TV lines Super strong black nylon construction Display Area 365mm (H). 274mm (V) trl One piece moulded black ballknob. 032mm. Display Time 42.5us (H), 13.5ms (V) on IOmm steel shaft Blanking Time 14us (H). 1 ms (V) Specially designed for production lines (easy Scanning mounting) 515 Frequency 15.75KHz (H). 60Hz (V) All spare parts available Video Model HSA-240 D Bandwidth 6MHz Input: 190 - 260 V Input Connector 6pin connector (JST) Output: ± 5 V 8 amp Power Source 100VAC, 50/60Hz Power 5 V 1 amp 111111111111111111II - 60W +12 V1 amp Consumption CRT Tilt ---- ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS AND -12Vlamp Weight 17.5kg PROGRAMING FACILITIES Contact our branches for special Options 1. Power source 120VAC AVAILABLE 2. Data signal negative prices for quantities of 10 or more. All roms. Bipolars. Pal etc. 3. H.V. Sync. separate YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED! Programmed to your requirements.

Contact your nearest LAI Office SYDNEY: 2.6 Burrows Road, St. Peters 1021 516 5111 MELBOURNE: 2 Urquhart Street. Northcote 1031 489 5222 ADELAIDE: 63 Handley Street, Adela.de 108)231 0355 BRISBANE: .35 Sandgate Road, Alb.on 1071 262 1033 PERTH: 34 Palmerston Street, Penh 1091 328 3611 i

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tem (which was my design responsibility). Murray Amplifiers Pty Ltd is an Australian outfit producing More recently they have been specified as professional quality audio gear. Its products have been the main work -horse amplifier for high quality amplification, sound monitoring and chosen for many a celebrated venue, such as in the New general public address applications in the Parliament House. Louis Challis tested the MA534 and found New Parliament House, Canberra. The amplifier that Murray's submitted it stood up well to Murray's claims for performance, with the for review is one of those specifically de- added attribute of a CD compatible direct input. veloped for the New Parliament House project. It incorporates many innovative concepts which make it suitable for a wide Louis Challis range of both consumer and commercial applications. TWO OF AUSTRALIA's best known There have been many thousands of Mur- names in the amplifier business are Bill ray amplifiers constructed for private and Design and appearance Cherry and Cyril Murray. Although Bill commercial use in Australia. The earliest The frontal appearance of this amplifier, Cherry is famous for his 'nested feedback privately constructed units hark back to the although unquestionably neat and to an en- loop' design, he appears to have lost inter- mid 50s and were based on Cyril Murray's gineer possibly attractive, is typical of the est in amplifiers in the last few years. By now famous 'single ended push-pull' design. unassuming and conservative approach of contrast, Cyril Murray has continued to de- That was probably the finest valve amplifier its designer. The front panel is designed for velop state of the art amplifiers based on available in the world at that time. In 1984 conventional 19" (482 mm) rack mounting large scale integrated and hybrid circuit Murray amplifiers were used at the Com- with a pair of neat chrome -plated tubular modules, and conventional field effect tran- monwealth Games at Brisbane, with nota- steel handles at each end of the front panel. sistors. ble success in driving the loudspeaker sys- The brushed satin aluminium front panel

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90 - ETI September 1986 i

MURRAY AMPLIFIERS PTY LTD MODEL MA534 POWER AMPLIFIER SOUND REVIEW Dimensions: 482 mm x 89 mm x 310 mm Weight: 10.2 kg Manufacturer: Murray Amplifiers Pry Ltd, 3a Railway Rd., Meadowbank, anced inputs and balanced outputs; a four - The second attribute of the field effect tran- NSW 2114. (02) 807-2077. The pin Cannon male socket for remote gain sistors is that they provide superior thermal ampliler may be auditioned at control; and a five -pin male Cannon socket stability and do not secondary voltage Arrow Electronics, 342 Kent suffer St, Sydney, NSW 2000. (02) for line monitoring of both channels. The breakdowns as do the bipolar power transis- 29-8580. only other control on the rear panel is an tors. Price on application output selector switch. It wires the output to The top cover of the amplifier case is slot- either the direct low -impedance output ted over the heatsink area, as well as over from the amplifier for directly connecting a the rear section of the amplifier, to ensure features simple, neat, black, silk-screened pair of 4 or 8 ohm speaker loads, or alterna- adequate thermal dissipation. The bottom lettering with a large red power switch at tively, to switch in the internal 100 V line of the chassis does not extend to the region the right hand end of the panel. Near the transformer outputs to meet the require- below the heatsinks with which it is directly centre of the panel are two recessed gain ad- ments of multiple speakers when connected connected. The amplifier does not incorpo- justing potentiometers for each of the two to extended length cabling. rate a cooling fan, but because of the config- channels, which are controlled by a The base of the amplifier features a sol- uration chosen, fitting of a cooling fan at the REMOTE/LOCAL switch. idly constructed 2 mm thick aluminium top or bottom of the rack would obviously The gain controls are flanked by four chassis. Either side of the base are deeply enhance the thermal efficiency of the sys- LEDs centrally positioned at the lower edge finned aluminium heatsinks with field effect tem. of the front panel. A further two are pro- power transistors mounted on normal mica - The inside of the amplifier is contempo- vided for voltage indication. These are the washers and covered by plastic covers. The rary in its quality of construction. The first only user accessible controls provided, with heatsink configuration has been carefully thing that catches your eye is the solid chas- the exception of a selector switch on the designed for minimal thermal resistance sis which has obviously been designed to rear panel. with an innovative and somewhat unusual withstand the rigours of commercial usage, The primary pairs of green and red LEDs solid external chassis providing external quite apart from any future needs of servic- indicate alignment level and peak overload mechanical protection. ing. conditions respectively. The REMOTE/ The field effect power output transistors The next things to catch my eye were the LOCAL switch allows you to change the have been selected for a couple of reasons. two toroidal 100 volt line output transform- amplification control to a remote potenti- The first of these is that they are primarily ers bolted snuggly to the base of the chassis ometer, about which I will have more to say 'an even harmonic' device which means that on one side of the unit. At the other end of later. It provides a flexibility which has both when used in push-pull circuitry they pro- the chassis is the toroidal 240 volt to low high fidelity and many commercial applica- vide optimum harmonic reduction. (By con- voltage power supply transformer, which is tions. trast, the conventional bipolar transistors neatly boxed and screened, and balances The rear panel incorporates a fused have a tendency to generate higher order the overall weight distribution. These trans- 240 V IEC mains socket; four pairs of male harmonics which are not effectively can- formers, although more expensive than the and female XLR three -pin sockets for bal- celled when used in push-pull circuitry.) conventional `E -core' transformers that

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ETI September 1986 - 91 MEASURED PERFORMANCE OF : MURRAY AMPLIFIER TYPE MA 534 SERIAL NO: 46 100V OUTPUT VIA TRANSFORMER might have been used, ensure that there is FREQUENCY RESPONSE (-3dB re I watt) : minimal flux leakage and inductive mains Input to Aux = 0.5V No 1 Left 14.4 Hz to 18.0kHz pick-up within the confines of the unit. No 2 15.1 Hz to 19.8kHz At the base centre of the chassis is a SENSITIVITY (for I watt in 100 Ohms) : beautifully constructed, fully -protected Left Right fibreglass motherboard on which all the in- Auxiliary 190 mV 182 mV ternal protective fuses are located, and which incorporates the Eurocard socket as- HARMONIC DISTORTION : semblies into which the two amplifier WATTS INTO 100 OHMS AT RATED POWER OF 1.0 boards are plug -mounted. These small 100 Hz I kHz 6.3 kHz preamplifier boards are the heart of the unit 2nd 102.6 100.6 93.3 and are fed by a separate regulated supply 3rd 96.7 103.3 98.6 from that used for the output stage. These 4th 117.9 particular circuit boards incorporate all the 5th innovative `loving care and design attention' T.H.D. 0.0016% 0.0011 ,1 0.0025 that Cyril Murray could bestow upon them. AT RATED POWER OF 100 WATTS INTO 100 OHMS They are undoubtedly examples of the most 2nd 70.9 90.9 94.2 advanced designs currently available in the 3rd 74.5 91.2 101.1 world. 4th 78.2 - 109.0 If these amplifiers are the heart of the 5th 82.5 108.4 unit, then their soul is within the two pairs 0.004% 0.0022% T.H.D. 0.053% of large-scale hybrid circuits fabricated to IEC HIGH FREQUENCY TOTAL DIFFERENCE FREQUENCY DISTORTION Murray Amplifiers' unique design by 8 kHz and 11.95 kHz mixed 1.1 Philips at Hendon in South Australia. One At rated power 0.0036% of the basic concepts that Cyril Murray es- At I watt 0.0021% pouses is the use of op-amps instead of 8 Ohms OUTPUT resistors for feedback. In conjunction with cápacitors, resistors can result in variable UNBALANCED INPUT LOCAL GAIN CONTROL time constants. The results with the op - amps are truly phenonemal. FREQUENCY RESPONSE I watt) : (-3dB re The voltage preamplifiers also contain Tone Controls Defeated the control resistors which measure the out- Input to Aux = 0.5V CH 1 140 Hz to 55.0kHz put current being fed through the output CH 2 140 Hz to 52.5kHz stage, and monitor each half cycle of cur- SENSITIVITY (for I watt In 8 Ohms) : CH I CH 2 rent to ensure that the pre-set limit is not Auxiliary 166 mV 168 mV exceeded. In the event that it is exceeded, the amplifier will automatically limit the IMPEDANCE ((6 : Right INPUT 'kHz) Left current drawn to a lower level and reset on Auxiliary 11.0 k ohms 11.0 k ohms the next half cycle. If the half cycle draws OUTPUT IMPEDANCE ((d 'kHz): 235 milliohms excessive current, it will similarly limit and process continues the NOISE do HUM LEVELS (re 1 watt in 8 ohms) : thereby the until overload, or short circuit, is removed. Input 0.5 V 94 dB(Lin) 89 dB(A) This particular protection feature is very Input 168 mV 89.5 dB(Lin) 85 dB(A) important in professional applications, HARMONIC DISTORTION : especially where the user insists on the am- AT RATED POWER OF 1.0 WATTS INTO 8 OHMS plifier continuing to operate, even at a lower power level. Similarly, professional 100 Hz l kHz 6.3 kHz users normally insist on amplifiers resetting 2nd 98.8 100.7 91.9 themselves without attention. Both of these 3rd 110.2 97.8 requirements are neatly met by this ampli- 4th 117.2 fier. 5th 116.1 The amplifier chassis alsó contains sur- T.H.D. 0.0013% 0.0009% 0.0028% face -mounted rectifiers, capacitors and AT RATED POWER OF 100 WATTS INTO 8 OHMS other components which are neatly 2nd 102.5 103.8 91.8 mounted in the classical manner and clearly 3rd 96.3 99.6 92.9 labelled for service identification. Each of 4th 120.1 120.5 104.5 the separate modules is terminated in a plug 5th 117.0 or socket to ease assembly, rapid mainten- T.H.D. 0.0017% 0.0012% 0.0035% ance and general troubleshooting. IEC HIGH FREQUENCY TOTAL DIFFERENCE FREQUENCY DISTORTION Although the amplifier features a reason- 8 kHz and 11.95 kHz mixed 1 j able amount of conventional wiring, all of At rated power, 0.003% this is properly clipped, harnessed and remi- At I watt 0.0021% niscent of wiring in devices that I used to see in this country in the late 50s and early 60s. MAXIMUM OUTPUT POWER AT CLIPPING POINT (IHF-A-202) : (20 mS burst repeated at 500 mS intervals) 100 V p -p 156 watts Objective testing The basic amplifier is a . Dynamic Headroom (re 100 watts) = 1.9 dB fully balanced transformerless design with a typical 26 92 - ETI September 1986 i SOUND REVIEW

will neatly fit into any possible application. The frequency response of the unit is obviously dependent on which of the output circuits you select. In the case of the direct Disco World 9t ltd. line output, this is +0 -3 dB from 15 Hz to : Showrooms: 52.5 kHz and is effectively ruler -flat from 300 Main Street, Lllydale 50 Hz to beyond 35 kHz. The low fre- P.O. Box 509, Lllydale, 3140 quency slope has been deliberately tailored Melb. Vic. (03) 735-0588 673 High Street, Preston 1 ms/div to reduce the impact and potential danger of dc offsets, which could otherwise destroy (03) 470 5822 when AMPLIFIERS Measured performance speakers they are connected. of Murray amplifier ZPE Series II (600W) $2,450.00 type MA534, transient overload recovery test The frequency response with the 100 volt (IHF-A-202). 10 dB overload re rated power into line output transformer selected is effec- DISCO MIXERS Chronic SM 350 $840.00 8 ohms, both channels driven. Overload tively 15 Hz to 19.8 kHz for one channel Arista with equaliser $350.00 duration: 20 ms; repitition rate: 512 ms. and 14.4 Hz to 18 kHz for the other chan- 195.00 nel. Whilst the low frequency response is al- JUMBO STROBE Scanner 150.00 most exactly the same as that provided by the direct line output, the high frequency HELICOPTER 2 ARM Spinner 260.00 response commences its slow droop from 4 ARM Spinner 495.00 2.5 kHz and smoothly rolls over to a -3 dB 6 ARM Spinner $ 532.00 point just before the `magical 20 kHz'. 111 lam PINSPOT These results are in agreement with the Par 36 $52.75 manufacturer's claims. 1 Par 46 $70.79 The noise figure and output characteris- MIRROR BALLS tics of the amplifier were carefully mea- MB 008-8" $49.67 sured relative to a 1 watt output with the MB 012 $77.49 gain set for 0.5 volts input and separately in r' Iim MB 014 $112.25 the maximum gain position. In the 0.5 volt MB 018 $150.41 MB input mode, the A -weighted noise figure is 020 $181.10 - 94 dB (which means that the figure would SMOKE MACHINES ms/div 50 be -114 dB relative to the 100 watt output Great for Special Effects Hand Held 240V $352.00 condition), whilst in the maximum gain kohm bridging impedance and a return loss position, the A -weighted figure is -89 dB Dynamite Smoke 1200 Machine Has remote control lead to of greater than 35 dB. The common mode. relative to 1 watt (corresponding to operate off-stage. We are so rejection of the amplifier is well above - 109 dB relative to the 100 watt condition). excited about this that full money 70 dB from 20 Hz to 20 kHz. This means The shape of the third octave spectral back guarantee will be valid for 10 that the amplifier really can minimise earth - analysis was a little unusual featuring a step days from purchase date loop problems in critical commercial situa- in the noise curve between the 500 Hz and Our own product $1800.00 tions where low level microphone circuits or 630 Hz octave bands which, although Fluid -1 litre $15.00 long cables are involved. strange, was by no means audible or other- MIRROR BALL MOTORS Although the designer makes a strong wise disturbing. The harmonic distortion AC 240V $37.30 Heavy Duty $99.40 point of the low distortion characteristics of levels at the 1 watt level exhibit delightfully the amplifier, the literature provided says low total harmonic distortion (thd) figures ROLLING LIGHTS very little about its ability to drive low im- which are 0.0013% at 100 Hz, 0.0009% at 8 x 4515 lamps $1,800.00

pedance loads in the 1 to 2 ohm range. In 1 kHz and 0.0028% at 6.3 kHz. At the 100 AUDIO CHASER the unmodified form with the preamplifier watt level, the rise in distortion is absolutely (DW4LC4000). $360.00 Musicolor and chaser all in onell control resistors set to their normal posi- miniscule with a thd figure 0.0017% of at Our own product tion, the amplifier can provide 180 watts 100 Hz, 0.0012% at I kHz and 0.0035% at C. into a 2 ohm load which is the same value as 6.3 kHz. All of these figures are exception- it will deliver into a 4 ohm load. Reset to ally good. o'. suit the 2 ohm requirement, the amplifier With the 100 volt line ouput transformer t cceococ' can deliver close to 300 watts of power with connected, the variation in distortion is of COSMO 111604:24 the current limit then being determined by marginal significance. The thd figures at the lamps$2,200.00 Half Ball rotary light the printed circuit board tracks on the pre- 1 watt level are 0.0016% at 100 Hz, 6 lamps $580.00 amplifier stage. 0.0011% at 1 kHz and 0.0025% at 6.3 kHz. The amplifier is stated to be uncondition- At the 100 watt level, however, the increase LAMPS all colours, so cheapl No on Breakages ally stable for all loads and frequencies and in distortion is much greater with the thd Warranty ES 240V 60W box of 25 $75.00 is fully short circuit protected by means of figure rising to 0.053% at 100 Hz, 0.004% BC 240V 40W box of 100 $77.00 the protective relays contained on the con- at I kHz, but dropping to 0.0022% at BC 240V 25W box of 100 $75.00 trol board. The basic parameters being of- 6.3 kHz. This drop in distortion at high fre- without fered are obviously more high fidelity than quencies is achieved because of the filtering Prices subject to change Items for hire or sale. in notice. commercial nature; the features of the characteristics of the output transformer. Power Cords not included. Send output and control circuitry are seemingly The IEC high frequency total difference S.A.E. with 60 cents postage for just as appropriate for military or quality frequency distortion characteristics of the free price list. control laboratory applications. The ABC amplifier initially proved to be something of Agent for Citronic gearl we have has specified these particular features for an enigma. The amplifier was straight from Piezo tweeters, Etone speakers, Rope lights and many other products. the New Parliament House, Canberra in the production line and, as I subsequently order to have a universal amplifier which discovered, exhibited an unexpectedly high Ell READER SERVICE 31 ETI September 1986 - 93 1 S. 1 1 I 1 1 S. 11

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One of the CAD packages around today that puts a sparkle in our draftsman's eye is the lower costing smARTWORK Tony Pugatschew package. Another is PROTEL PCB. Over the next two months Tony Pugatschew is lecturer in Physics at we review these packages, starting this issue with the South Australia Institute of Technology smARTWORK. at The Levels, Adelaide.

COMPUTER AIDED DESIGN or CAD lawyers than scientists. Accounting, data- related closely to the task at hand. For ex- is one of the most revolutionary tools base, pretty presentation graphics and ample, if we restrict our attention to pack- available to our modern technological wordprocessing packages have naturally ages based on IBM -PCs or the biologically society. In the hands of a race that has received more market attention. Another inaccurate term `clones', we can find gen- both vision and purpose the CAD ap- point is that 60 per cent or so of Austra- eral drafting packages such as Autocad, proach means that high quality technologi- lia's manufacturing industries are classed Cadplan, Versacad used extensively. Be- cal products can be efficiently designed as being small, too small to justify an ex- cause these products are general systems and brought into production. pensive, dedicated CAD system. It is ob- they can be adapted to provide symbol li-. In a previous article (ETI, July 86) we vious that small bureaux and personal braries for specific uses such as in archi- mentioned that CAD has been slow to puters must supply CAD assistance to tecture, town planning, electronic dia- take off in Australia. This is hardly sur- these industries. grams, etc. Electronic simulation and de- prising. CAD techniques are used by tech- Since computer aided design is merely a sign packages such as P -SPICE, Microcap, nicians, but Australia has 10 times more tool, the capability of the package must be Micrologic can be used to design and test

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96 - ETI September 1986 JJ1 .JZ, REVIEW

areas so it prevents solder bridges, etc, shorting out tracks. The mask also assists

in the production of boards by flow soldering methods. 1,,,`...a_,,,`...a_ ti ít'IIIÍ Pad master: A plot of only the pads on the board. This is necessary to produce U6 Í;11= .1111111911110 the solder mask. 111 ,.. Edge connectors: These are self explana- 1t111, -1111111..)1.1: tory apart from the crazy choice of : :Mti con- HtlIq: J:: 1. -111 : .._r: nector spacing. For example, most boards ---¡-.. have 0.1 inch spacing between connector fingers but STD bus boards have 0.156 i1. inches. %JZ-sJ- ' U: '71 smARTWORK This software package is probably the earliest attempt to produce a reasonably priced and simple to use system to design I I J1 U3 'JUS pcbs. The product is produced by the Wintek Corporation which is mainly involved in the production of microprocessor boards for industrial control applications. Since a package was not available complex electronic systems. the component side text. that combined the desired features on a Most modern electronic equipment Solder side of the board: The underside of PC, some of the engineers and computer relies on the placement of the relevant the board where the components are staff decided to write their own version components on a printed circuit board. soldered. and hence smARTWORK was born. The design of this board is a marriage of Pads: Circular or rectangular copper areas smARTWORK differs considerably many parts of the human intellect. For in- where components are placed and sol- from drafting systems that are extended to stance, the circuit must be designed, com- dered on the solder side. The pads are pcb design since it offers an elementary ponents placed to minimize production usually available in different dimensions form of auto routing. hassles, the interconnecting tracks must be and are placed on a fixed grid of 0.1 To quote the manual, the program "un- placed or routed and the whole complex inches. derstands electrical connections". If two design must be checked. It comes as no Pin throughs or vias: Small pads that per- conductors or pads are to be joined, the surprise that computer aided techniques mit a track to swap from one side of the user defines the start and end locations have replaced many of the past ways of board to the other. and the program will automatically find designing and laying out boards. Previous- Component overlay or silkscreen layer: It the shortest route and draw an appropri- ly, projects were handled by draftspersons is good practice for ease in loading the ate track. This track will not cross other who huddled over a light box sticking final board to have a component overlay conductors on the same side of the board, down tracks and pads. Changing a section silkscreened onto the component side. and will make numerous bends and turns of a layout because of design errors or the Outlines and component numbers that are if necessary. However, the operator can introduction of extra components meant similar to the circuit diagram can assist in define a path if necessary. redoing sections of the layout, with conse- debugging the board. Screen operation is also different being quent irritation and frayed tempers. Solder mask: The component overlay is based on a raster display which means that Computer based packages differ in the usually printed on a coloured epoxy coat- the layout can be smoothly panned complexity and price. The lower priced ing on the board (usually green). This through the working window. packages rely on the operator to place coating is insulating apart from the pad smARTWORK can handle the design components and lay the tracks. Higher priced packages can do the placements and routing automatically. These systems TABLE 1. SUMMARY OF smARTWORK can also work directly from a schematic Placement accuracy of components 50 mil and hence .are preferred tools when deal- Grid size 50 mil ing with complex, high density boards. In Maximum pcb size 10 x 16 inches window this article, and another next month, we Zoom size complete board, working window Pad sizes discuss the two lower priced products 62, 75 mil round or square Library of common outlines designed by user with block commands smARTWORK and PROTEL-PCB which Dip pad size 62, 75 mil round can be used for a variety of designs by Edge connectors selected with fat cells only relatively untrained operators. Track sizes one size 80 mil It is important to introduce several Plot scales 2:1, 1:1 or variable for pen plots Printer support terms that will be used extensively in this dot matrix plot on Epson printers Plotter output pad master, component, solder article. Thankfully, both the and silkscreen American de- Multilayer boards 2 layers signed smARTWORK and the locally pro- Plotters supported HP and Houston series duced PROTEL-PCB have standardised Documentation manual, disk 384K RAM on the use of these terms. 2 Floppy drives Component side of the board: Colour graphics adaptor The upper Colour monitor side of the board where the components Microsoft mouse are placed. Lettering may be placed on Demonstration disk available this side and, obviously, it is referred to as

ETI September 1986 - 97 REVIEW

of single or double sided printed circuits component insertion and block moves. pressing F4. The placement of pads can be and provides a silkscreen layer for a com- Moving around the working window is assisted by using the ALTF9 key to turn on ponent identification. To minimize de- done with the arrow keys or with the a dotted grid based on a 50 mil spacing. fects, smARTWORK enforces certain mouse. The screen continually pans or Repetitive pad shapes such as DIPS and minimum track spacings. A summary of moves with no need to use ZOOM or SIPS can be inserted from the COM- smARTWORK capabilities is given in SCREEN RECENTRE command. This indi- MAND line by entering, for example, DIP 28 Table 1. The completed layouts can be cates a different presentation strategy S 28 6 for a dual in -line IC package of plotted on most plotters and test plots from the PROTEL-PCB. A short discus- pins running south with 0.6 inch between suitable for prototypes can be generated sion of features is useful át this time. centres. Pin 1 is shown as a square pad on dot matrix printers. and an overlay outline is automatically Pads and edge connectors drawn on the silkscreen layer. The DIP started smARTWORK offers two types and outline normally appears as a rectangle Getting separa- The pcb editor is started with the EDIT sizes of pads: 62 mil and 75 mil round and with a notch at pin 1. Smaller DIP command. The smARTWORK logo is square. When placing a pad on any layer tions of 0.1 or 2.0 will appear outside of then displayed with version and serial using the F3 (place pad) key, smART- the two rows. number. A blank work screen then ap- WORK will create a 62 mil pad on both If a nonstandard pad combination is be with pears with a lower status line indicating the solder and component sides. If F3 is used then this unit may repeated current cursor position, board side and pressed again when the cursor is over an the block features that will be discussed cursor offset. existing pad the pad's size and/or shape later. The construction of edge connectors smARTWORK commands are either a will change to the next combination. The is constrained to the minimum grid spac- can be made from a command line input with text, a display - video display shows the appropriate shape ing of 50 mils and control function invoked with the ALT key for round and square pads, but due to the `Fat Track' or placing fat bits with the F5 and a function key, or single stroke key- limited resolution of the display, no dis- or F7 commands respectively. stroke functions with the function key. tinction can be made between 62 and 75 smARTWORK commands are entered mil pads. Elementary track laying by pressing ENTER or RETURN. A prompt The status line indicates the pad size so There are three working layers in line showing COMMANDS will appear and a check can be made on the selected pad smARTWORK: the component side, sol- the command can be entered. Most of the at a certain point. It is possible to change der side and overlay or silkscreen side. smARTWORK features are divided be- the default pad size when the editor is The colours of the various layers can be tween the function keys which perform commenced by typing >EDIT-P75r for use selected by several means. By pressing the pad, track and screen display options, and of 75 mil round pads. Pads are removed ALT -F1 key, the user is able to switch be- command word entries which perform by placing the cursor over the pad and tween a single layer displayed in one co -

2:1 artwork is also possible with smARTWORK. 98 - ETI September 1986 U2 U3

lour. ALT -F2 toggles the intensity of the background colour. ALT -F3 permits two a palettes of colour to appear on the screen: o 0 red, yellow and green, or magenta, cyan \o- and white. ALT -F4 displays switches the O -.1y. background from black to blue and ALT -5 0 displays two or three colours at one time. The colour of the active layer can be se- O lected with the ALT -F6 combination. Fi- nally, ALT -F7 permits the entire 10 by 16 inch design, screen to be viewed at once in 0 monochrome. This is a poor resolution o view but can be useful to see if extra components, etc, can be added. o The working layer is selected by using O the - and + keys. For example, if we are working on the solder side or lower layer o O-/ and the + is pressed we will move to the component layer. Another + entry will o o move to the silkscreen layer. This logical O O` system will then cycle up and down the layers without any problem. The selected layer is displayed on the status line as SIL, MANUAL ROUTING COM or SOL to remove confusion. To start a track place the cursor on the tend to be too close to pads, and use Text placement start point and press F1. The normal many sharp bends and turns. The user can Text can be placed on any of the layers. square cursor is replaced with a small manually place a track by going to the Obviously, text on a signal layer will be three line block to indicate that routing start point, pressing F1 and then moving etched in copper and overlay text will be has been selected. The cursor is then the cursor and repeating the F1 command. printed in ink. To place text, move to the moved to the destination point and F1 is Comparisons of these two methods are desired layer (using the + or keys). pressed again. Depending on the complex- - shown here. The current version of Move the cursor to where the text will ity of the track the shortest path track is smARTWORK has considerably opti- begin and enter the command Tine>TEXT drawn between these two points automati- mized track laying algorithms but lengthy cally. x. and tortuous paths may still occur. The x is the compass direction of text In the initial stages of the layout when A track section may be replicated with with respect to the cursor and can be n, s, the board is devoid of tracks this does not the track copy function by pressing the F8 e, w, the default compass direction is on produce the best pcb design. The tracks key. The previous track will be repeated. the solder layer and e for. the component and silkscreen layers. That is, the text is automatically mirrored on the solder side. U1 U-2 U3 If no x term is specified, the text is assumed to be mirrored or in the American 1,3:_\_;\/` 0 o vernacular "wrong -reading". It would be interesting to see the Japanese or Taiwa- 0 nese translation of this term. Text can be 1) O o removed by placing the cursor on the text 0 and using the F2 key (remove route func- b o o tion) or the right mouse button. Text is O O O o_ available in one size and existing text can be moved or rotated only with the block O o 01\ o O option. O 0 0 o o AREA FILL command The FILL command fills a specified layer o of a block or the smallest rectangle that completely encloses the non -empty portion o of the workspace with fat cells. To invoke the FILL command enter COMMAND> - o FILL 1. Removal of a filled block can be o- performed with the -FILL command. o Block commands o O O The block concept allows greater flexibility in manipulating areas of the layout. A block is a set of three congruent rectan- AUTO-ROUTI NG gles, one for each layer that defines a section of the workspace. To mark the first A comparison of auto and manual routing. corner of the block, the cursor is placed at ETI September.1986 - 99 REVIEW .=F-iCL k_p1 =.t 1 7 -ILA 1 1:3=5:31=t4..p.=bX N., 1_ r,_^_. F _ 1le- 1 7 the point and the F9 (mark block) key is .1.P ._. f 1 rra _ pressed. If the status line has been toggled p1-- off, then it will appear, and the word BLOCK will be displayed. The other corner is marked by moving the cursor to the t3a44b4o point and pressing F9 again. The marked block appears in reverse video. The normal video is restored when the cursor is C moved away from the marked block. The SAVE command will then save this block and the LOAD command will load in a saved block. The MOVE and COPY com- \, mands will permit the markéd block to be manipulated on the screen. It is important 44400 0440 to realize that the interconnecting tracks with T to the marked block are not dragged the block. Preparing final artwork 444410 0 4 4 0 smARTWORK supports both plotter and printer output with special programs for these functions. The plot program in normal use will prompt for a layout file, communication port and plotter type. The program also generates a plot file if the communication port is replaced with a file name. A temporary intermediate plot file can also be created that, when executing, 00000000, 000, minimizes the delay in plotting. This re- \. ? moves problems of ink drying in the pen. Command line options select trace 4 el .41 It widths with the PLOT -w 16 (16 mil 001, 0d trace); the trace separation is 17 mils in this case. The PLOT -w 20 command plots 20 mil lines and 15 mil spacing. The border which is drawn around each plot can be suppressed and the baud rate can be selected with the PLOT -bx command. Dot matrix printer output. The plot can also be scaled to other mag- nifications with. the PLOT -sf command. The primary use of this scale factor is to allow minor axis -by -axis adjustments to formation about the current layer: the ap- plots to compensate for linear errors in propriate board area to be plotted, the the plotter. number of each type of pad, the present The dot matrix plotter commands are and maximum number of text characters, similar to the pen plotter commands. A xl the pad, the present and maximum num- check plot can be selected and drawn with ber of text characters, the number of a rotated presentation with the DOT -r0 or holes, the estimated area of copper to be DOT -r90 command. used, and the appropriate space to save The plotting program offers some very the file on disk. This information may sophisticated features. Pads are shaved to be useful in estimating the cost of the maintain the conductor -to -conductor spac- board. ing and both the plot and dot programs The COLOR command allows the user will fillet or tear drop the junction of a to control the colours of all the layers. diagonal trace and a fat cell. This occurs The final command allows the board to be in the pen plot files and also the dot ma- cleaved or cut about a certain axis in trix 2:1 plot. order to squeeze in extra components. The command is CLEAVE d,w where d Extra commands indicates the compass direction and w smARTWORK features some extra specifies the cleft width in numbers of commands it pays to be aware of. The 50 mil units. Electrical connections are STAT command provides the user with in- maintained across the cleft with thin cells.

INSTALLATION AND PROTECTION Version 1.2 revision is supplied on a single disk with a complex software protection scheme. The Plotter. 3 local distributors manufacture the disks in Australia and promise speedy replacement if the master disk is damaged. Upgrades to new versions cost in the order of $50 and are available from the Australian supplier.

100 - ETI September 1986 R INFORMATION SERVI COUPON

Electronics READER INFORMATION SERVICE

1 26 51 76 101 126 151 176 201 226 251 276 301 326 Today 2 27 52 77 102 127 152 177 202 227 252 277 302 327 3 28 53 78 103 128 153 178 203 228 253 278 303 328 4 29 54 79 104 129 154 179 204 229 254 279 304 329 To find out more about the products and sevices in this issue, 5 30 55 80 105 130 155 180 2u5 230 255 280 305 330 circle the READER SERVICE NUMBER from the advertisement, 6 31 56 106 131 156 181 206 231 256 281 306 331 photocopy this coupon, enclose it In an envelope and send to: 7 32 57 107 132 157 182 207 232 257 282 307 332 FREEPOST No 4 8 33 /q8 133 158 183 208 233 258 283 308 333 The Federal Publishing Company 9 34 5 109 1134 159 184 209 234 259 284 309 334 PO Box 227 10 35 60 85 I113§ 160 185 210 235 260 285 310 335 Waterloo, NSW 2017 11 36 61 86 11 36 161 18 211 236 261 286 311 336 112 No stamp necessary 12 37 62 87 131 162 18 212 237 26287 312 337 if posted In Australia 113 13 38 63 88 138 163 1 13 238 263, 8 313 338 A. Engineer/Designer 14 39 64 89 114 139 164 189 14 23 284 314 339 15 40 65 90 115 140 165 190 215 24 265 290 315 340 B. Technician Please circle 16 41 66 91 116 141 166 191 216 24 86 291 316 341 the category t7 42 67 92 117 142 167 192 C. Manager 217 242 267 292 117 342 that best 18 43 68 93 118 143 168 193 218 243 268 293 318 343 D. Hobbyist fits you. 19 44 69 94 119 144 169 194 219 244 269 294 319 344 20 45 70 95 120 145 170 195 220 245 270 295 320 345 E. Interested Consumer 21 46 71 96 121 146 171 196 221 246 271 296 321 346 22 47 72 97 122 147 172 197 222 247 272 297 322 347 Name 23 48 73 98 123 148 173 198 223 248 273 298 323 348 24 49 74 99 124 149 174 199 224 249 274 299 324 349 Address 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 225 250 275 300 325 350

Postcode For a prompt reply: Post today!

Want a challenging career with Mechanic or Radio Tradesman. real lob security and continuous Electronics and Communications career development? It's yours with Certificate or Electronic TELECOMMUNICATIONS Telecom Australia, the organisation Engineering Certificate and four responsible for Australia's rapidly - years' relevant experience. developing telecommunications Trained as a Telecommunications ECHNICIANS network. Technician or We are looking for skilled, Telecommunications Tradesman motivated men and women who with Telecom Australia. can help us establish, maintain Appropriate B or C level and operate the latest Certificate Examinations of the telecommunication technologies City and Guilds of London in the Sydney city region. In Institute. particular, we need specialists in the fields of: Promotion opportunities Telecom Australia motivated Digital/analogue data and voice offers transmission people excellent opportunities to qualify for advancement to the PABX installation and acceptance testing Technical Officer structure and beyond way Installation or maintenance of by of external subscriber equipment ranging Certificate studies or Telecom's from single service telephones training program. to complex PABX switchboards Salary and Benefits and intercommunications systems. We offer a negotiable salary range Installation or maintenance of of 517,865 to $21,614 pa switching equipment and depending on your qualifications transmission systems ranging and experience. Benefits include from step by step and ARF security of employment, a career Crossbar to processor controlled structure, superannuation after a 1 systems. qualifying period, generous leave entitlements including maternity leave and a nine -day working Qualifications needed fortnight. You'll need to be an Australian citizen or a permanent resident of Interested? Australia, and possess one of the Call the Sydney Recruitment following qualifications: Officer, Telecom Australia, on Tradesman's Certificate or (02)2669290 or call in person to Tradesman's Rights Certificate the 15th Floor, 309 Kent St, in the discipline of Telegraph Sydney. elTelecom Australia An Equal Opportunity Employer

ETI READER SERVICE 33 ABOVE AND BEYOND the R7000 from Icom

Icom seems to release a new product before the old one has ceiver excellent coverage. In previous articles we have pointed out time to cool. The latest in its range will cover up to 2 GHz. Is that manufacturers can be somewhat mis- this the definitive scanner? leading when quoting sensitivity specifications. To be strictly correct, sensitivity must be quoted at a specific frequency mode and Andrew Shipley is technical consultant bandwidth for a given result (S/N or Andrew Shipley with Associated Calibration Laboratories. SINAD). An example of the correct way of stating receiver sensitivity is 0.5 µv FM THE R7000 is not your usual run-of-the- Frequency and sensitivity (6 kHz, B/W) at 140 MHz for 12 dB mill scanning receiver. It is aimed at the Until now the highest coverage in a com- SINAD. home user, and has many of the bells and mercial scanner was that of the AOR AR - Icom appears to be fairly confident, as it whistles that the smaller portable machines 2002 (see April ETI) from 25 to 1300 MHz has quoted sensitivity with all these above lack. with two bands 25 to 550 MHz and 800 to parameters included. There are two bands, It's most unusual feature is a bandwidth 1300 MHz. 25 MHz to 1 GHz and 1240 to 1300 MHz, that goes all the way up to 2 GHz. The R7000 has two gaps, one at 87.5 to with no specifications between 1000 and Is there much interest in the gigahertz 108 MHz (FM broadcast) and the other be- 1240 MHz or above 1300 MHz. bands? About the only use of the band between 1000 MHz and 1025 MHz, the latter The manufacturer includes no specifica- tween 1 GHz and 2 GHz is the 1296 MHz being a function of the design. We under- tions above 1300 MI-Iz and the reason for amateur band but there are still relatively stand that receivers covering the FM broad- this became readily apparent upon investi- few of these stations operating. By nature cast band will be available but with a differ- gation. The receiver has very poor perform- these frequencies require specialised recep- ent duty rate. ance here. Although it's difficult to design a tion equipment, high gain parabolic anten- With this sort of frequency range it's pos- receiver front end capable of covering nas, low loss coaxial feeders and propaga- sible to tune to a variety of stations: CB, 25 MHz to 2 GHz it's not impossible given tion characteristics that dictate highly direc- amateur, aircraft, marine, emergency ser- the jumps in receiver technology that have tional line of sight transmission paths. vices, government and television bands occurred of late. Microwave transmission links used by TV being some of the possible choices. Internally generated spurious signals, or stations might be a target. They are typical All modes are catered for, FM in three `birdies' as they are commonly known, are of this sort of operation. But as these are bandwidths (6 kHz, 15 kHz or 150 kHz), present in most receivers to some extent, point to point contacts, unless you are situ- AM and both sidebands. These are coupled but the R7000 was disappointing in the large ated in the link path, you are unlikely to with a choice of tuning increments from 0.1, number that were apparent (see test re- hear anything. 1, 5, 10, 12.5 and 25 kHz to give the results).

. aPF 1 -.a k AM a sPEED-~-DELAY _ tt'L'.5CUD 2s if 1AETER II +

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102 - ETI September 1986 .

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«eóO coÓ óLa ó cfa. ó ca .0> w .! i7 C.5`" L COMMUNICATIONS REVIEW

LABORATORY TEST FIGURES ICOM IC -R7000 S/N 01086 WITH IC-EX310 MODULE

1. SENSITIVITY 5. IF REJECTION Band (a) 25-999.999MHz (a) 25-512MHz Band (b) 512-999.999MHz Measured 25MHz 500MHz 900MHz FM Narrow FM Narrow FM(N) -121.5dBm(0.18µV) -117.4dBm(0.3µV) -117 dBm( 0.31µV) Freq: 250MHz Freq: 750MHz FM -113 dBm(0.5µV) -110.5dBm(0.67µV) -108 dBm( 0.89µV) IF: 778.7MHz IF: 266.7MHz Lab result: 89.6dB IF AM -111 dBm(0.631V) -108 dBm(0:89µV) -107 dBm(0.991V) Lab result: 70dB IF Rejection SSB -125.5dBm(0.12µV) -123.5dBm(0.15µV) -120.5dBm(0.21µV) Rejection (b) 1240-1300MHz 6. BLOCKING (Dynamic Range) Measured @ 1270MHz (a) Freq: 250MHz (b) Freq: 500MHz FM(N) -112dBm (0.56µV) Lab result: 72.6dB Lab result: 73.5dB FM -103dBm (1.58µV) DR Blocking DR Blocking AM -1dBm (0.451V) 7. 1MD Intermodulation Distortion) 8. SQUELCH SENSITIVITY SS -11414dBm (0.45µV) ( Frequency : 249.98MHz Frequency : 500MHz (c) 1300-1999.999MHz result : 81.6dB AM :0.07µV 1700MHz 1900MHz Lab Measured 1400MHz FM :0.06µV FM(N) _104dBm (1.4µV) -86dBm(11.21V) -74dBm(44.6µV) SSB : 3.261.J.V FM - 91dBm(6.3µV) -80dBm(22.41V) 'not measurable AM - 78dBm(28.2µV) -76dBm(35.4µV) -68dBm(89µV) 9. RECEIVER RADIATION (Antenna Socket) SSB -110dBm(0.71V) . -88dBm(8.91V) -77dBm(31.6µV) Highest -66dB at 580MHz ' Could not be measured because of noise present. With 2 GHz range selected spurious signals rose dramatically with the highest at -42dB at 1GHz. 2. S METER SENSITIVITY Si -103.6dBm 1.481V 10. INTERNAL ATTENUATOR S2 -99.6dBm 2.34µV Frequency: 250MHz S3 -96.3dBm 3.42µV Lab result: 19dB -91.9dBm 5.680 S4 11. FREQUENCY STABILITY S5 -88.OdBm 8.89µV (a) Freq: 500MHz (b) Freq: 1260MHz S6 -83.0dBm 15.8µV Result: 2ppm low Result: 2ppm low S7 -77.6dBm 29.4µV S8 -72.3dBm 54.2µV 12. AUDIO OUTPUT POWER 13. AUDIO DISTORTION S9 -66.9dBm 101µV Impedance: 8 ohms Result: 3.7% minimum +10 -56.7dBm 3271V Lab result: 3.125W for 5% distortion +20 -46.2dBm 1.09µV +40 -28.9dBm 7.99mV 14. INTERNALLY GENERATED SPURIOUS (BIRDIES) +60 -9.4dBm 75.4mV Frequency dBm µV 409.6 -88 8.9 NOISE FLOOR 3. M.D.S. (Minimum Discernible Signal): 445.6 -91 5.7 : 500MHz Frequency 614.4 -96 3.4 AM : -125.2dBm (0.122µV)FM( 7B8 -91 5.7 Note: : +125.8dBm (0.114µV)768 111 -91 5.7 Many other birdies were noted but : -73232 .6 dBm (0.052µV) SSB 1333.333 -67 101 were less than -104dBm and 4. IMAGE REJECTION 1444.444 -100 2.3 were mostly at frequencies above (a) 25.512MHz Band (b) 512.999.999MHz Band '1500 -37 3.15mV 250MHz. FM Narrow FM Narrow 1536 -104 1.5 ' Very high figure. Freq: 250MHz Freq: 750MHz 1614.4 -100 2.3 Image: 1807.4MHz Image: 1283.4MHz 1666.666 -72 54 Lab result: 78.6dB IF Lab result: 78.6dB IF 1888.888 -104 1.5 Rejection Rejection 1999.999 -72 54

Technical 266.7 MHz for the 512 to 1 GHz band. Fol- though it takes some time to familiarize The R7000 is not a technological break- lowing this is a standard arrangement of oneself with the numerous ways of scanning through, just an extension of existing de- bandpass filters and the AM, FM and SSB and memorizing frequencies. The receiver, signs. The front end of the receiver, without detectors with their associated bandwidth when operated with the correct antenna ar- a doubt the *most important section of any sections. rangements, gave excellent results on any of wideband unit, is fairly standard with All functions are under microprocessor the commonly used VHF -UHF frequencies. switched bandpass filters feeding a discrete control with the CPU having an RS232 in- wideband rf amplifier: It's disappointing terface output and control lines for the really, considering the hybrid devices avail- options of remote control and speech Overall able now. synthesizer. The Icom IC -87000 has more functions Operation above 1 GHz is achieved by and extra features than any of the wideband inserting an extra high-pass filter and mixer On air operation communications receivers/scanners on the section that converts the incoming signal Operation of all controls is precise and ef- market today. It's neat externally and well back down to the 25 MHz to 1 GHz band (a fective with a well layed out front panel. As designed internally with most of the rf front simple down -converter). Not a particularly with all the equipment from this manufac- end sections in individual shielded assem- adequate technique as can be seen by the turer the receiver is attractive with all blies. It is a well presented unit and with an sensitivity and spurious signal figures above switches and knobs marked clearly. The RRP of $1850 (approx) it would be most at- 1300 MHz. general appearance, shape, etc, follows the tractive to those Icom black box collectors Two different local oscillators are used to format originally set with the IC701 trans- who want a receiver with the lot. Now if it give two IF frequencies, one of 778.7 MHz ceiver series some years ago. also covered below 25 MHz it would be one for the 25 to 512 MHz band and one at Subjectively, reception was clear al- hell of a box! Maybe next year? 104 - ETI September 1986 m , - SlilLLl FM S g 701A Hu .1'rl rl rl rl s) r1 SPEED DELAY I LI LI. LI CI 1I111 LI 'LI. LI vsC-- METER SIC iS rC

4 II IICOMI COMMIINICATIONS HHCeIVL:A IC -R7000 )¡ DIMMER LOCK 1 POWER SCAN START/STOP - PRIO PR00 ¡ SEL-M MODE MEMORY L.» NR Id- SET

-SET SET SET/RESET-CL AUTO -M od ATT 'SPEECH =I Mg' n !MI Ml i MEMORY CH -1 T SQH:) WRITE to 12.5

¡ 5, ,25 I OH, 11I 1. CLEAR I. J

PHONES REC AF GAIN

Introducing a Professional Scanning Receiver atan Affordable Price. envy coverage as itional module required foe eragetoapprox.2.0GHz.) - MHz -P1ú5!, 251000I COM announce a scanning receiver IC -R7000 keyboard or byturning ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY that offers professional perform- the main tuning knob. CONSTRUCTION: The IC -R7000 has ance with IC -R7000 advanced tech- dual colour fluorescent display SCANNING: Instantaccess is provided channel readout nology - 25-1000MHz coverage, multi - frequencies with memory to commonly used and dimmer switch. mode operation and a sophisticated through the scanning system. The scanning and recall system. Auto -M switch enables signal Dial lock, noise blanker, combined IC -87000 covers aircraft, marine, frequencies to be memorized S-meter and centre meter. business, FM/AM broadcast, amateur while the IC -R7000 is in the Optional RC 12 infra red remote radio, emergency services, scanning mode. Frequencies that control operation. All the above government and television bands. were in use can be recalled at the professional features are pro- ICOM IC -R7000 has many out- operators convenience. duced in a convenient, compact standing features. An optional voice synthesizer , unit ofsize: 99 MEMORIES: You Can store up to automatically announces the Height 282mm 99 of your favourite frequencies scanned signal frequency to ease Width 286mm forinstant recall. Memory -_ - problems with logging. Depth - 276mm channels can be called up by simply Pressing the memory MULTI MODE: Push button Specifications guaranteed from Channel knob or direct through selection enables FM wide/FM 2 51000 M Hz and 12601300 MHz. and the keyboard. narrow/AM/SSB upper lower No additional module is required be received. KEYBOARD: Tuning can be quickly modes to for coverage to approximately achieved by selecting precise 6 TUNING SPEEDS: 01,1.0, 5,10,12.5 2000 MHz. No coverage is available frequencies directly through the and 25 kHz through knob selection. from 10001025MHz.

Please send me details on: ICOM 3353 IC -R7000 ICOM's full range of communications equipment. Senders details:

NAME I ADDRESS POSTCODE

PHONE- (BUSINESS) (HOME) POST TO: ICOM, 7 DUKE STREET, WINDSOR, VICTORIA, 3181. PH: (03)5297582. I ICOM Allstated specifications are approximateano subject to change without notice or obligation. 1 ICOM customers should beaware of equipment not purchased atauthorized ICOM Australia Agents. of Ideas. This equipment is not covered by our partsand labour warranty. The Frequency Ell READER SERVICE 34 ATOMIC FUSION

i~. power for thémilléfliüÑ Alan Concannon

Scientists and engineers have dreamed *about Towards fusion: hydrogen plasma discharge atomic fusion in Rotamak rotating field experiments of Atomic since the days of Einstein. It will make the ultimate power Energy Commission. source. But `twixt the dream and its realization are some nology is needed to initiate, contain and formidable problems. control a fusion reaction. The concept of design is a simple one, but there are still for- THE RESULTS OF 30 years of concen- itself and is therefore also unlimited in midable design difficulties to overcome. trated research on fusion reactors is at last quantity. Presently there are two methods on the bearing fruit. Around the world, scientists In a fusion reactor, nuclei of deuterium drawing board for generating a fusion reac- are cautiously optimistic that their labours and tritium (both isotopes of hydrogen) are tion magnetic fusion reactors and initial will be rewarded in the forseeble future. fused at an intense temperature. In the pro- - confinement reactors. Predictions by leading R&D engineers in- cess, a portion of the mass of the nuclei is dicate that by the year 2010 fusion reactors converted into enormous amounts of energy Magnetic fusion reactors should he in place on a commercial basis. in the form of neutrons and alpha particles With this method gaseous deuterium and The cost will be comparable to conventional that break -off at high speed from the fusion tritium are injected into a reactor chamber. coal or oil fired stations, but the energy reaction. The alpha particles bombard and There, the gas is heated to more than 100 source will he inexhaustible and the polu- are stopped by the wall of the reactor cham- million degrees Celsius. So hot, in fact, that tion negligible. ber. The speeding neutrons pass through it exists in a fourth state of matter known as If this is so, then fusion will he coming on the wall, colliding with and being stopped a plasma. In this state the deuterium and line none to soon. Power generation is shap- by lithium atoms in a blanket surrounding tritium nuclei fuse. Because there is no ma- ing up as a major problem. There is fear of the reactor wall. The collisions produce tiny terial today which can withstand such tem- nuclear fission, and events at Chernobyl fission reactions that have tritium as a by- peratures, powerful magnetic fields pro- have not eased anyone's anxiety. There is product. The tritium is then recycled with duced by magnetic coils surrounding the the cost and decreasing availability of oil. more deuterium (from the sea water) to fuel chamber contain and compress the plasma, Coal is controversial because of its products and maintain the energy giving reaction. suspending it in the vacuum inside the of air polution and CO2 build up. Atomic The collisions produce intense heat, ap- chamber. The plasma is continuously fusion will solve all these problems. proximately 100 million degrees Celsius. heated and refuelled. As it burns, neutrons The heat is then transferred by a heat ex- and alpha particles are emitted. What is fusion energy? changer system to produce steam for con- Initial confinement reactors The raw material for fusion is simply sea ventional turbine generators. Although With this type of reactor a tiny, solid pel- water. This is plentiful and globally distrib- tritium is radioactive, it is only one thou- let containing frozen deuterium and tritium uted. Its inexhaustible quality is an advan- sandth as radioactive as uranium in fission is shot into the reactor chamber. As it en- tage fusion shares with solar power. How- reactors. Tritium has a short life of 12.7 ters the chamber, laser or particle beams ever, on a cloudy day solar cells deliver little years and does not concentrate or linger in bombard it through several portholes in the power. Fusion energy is far more reliable. living tissue. Also, most of the waste ma- wall of the chamber. They converge on the The seas contain enough deuterium to terial is recycled back into the reactor - pellet, injecting it with several trillion watts power world with the fusion energy for mil- environmentally it is benign compared to of power. This vaporizes the outer surface lions of years. the Tritium, other basic fuel fission fuel. of the pellet causing an inward explosion. in fusion reactors, is bred in the reactor An extremely complex form of tech - The implosion fuses the deuterium and triti- 106 - ETI September 1986 TECHNIQUES SCOPE TOOLS urn. A strong pulse of neutrons and alpha In the next two years, the fusion projects From Truscott particles is immediately released. The cycle must achieve break-even energy produc- continues by shooting pellets into the cham- tion. To do this, stronger magnetic fields in ber at the rate of five pellets per second. the magnetic fusion reactors have to be con- Each pellet is approximately one cubic mil= fined for longer periods and temperatures limetre. nearer 100 million degrees Celsius must be INFINITELY Neutrons streaming from the pellet im- reached. But once the major obstacles of plosion are stopped by jets of liquid lithium achieving break-even energy production are ADJUSTABLE forming a blanket inside the first wall. overcome the other design problems can be 2000 - 470° C Tritium is bred in the blanket and the heat tackled in detail. generated turns water in adjacent cooling The high temperature involved in fusion Illuminated Temp. Zero Voltage tubes into steam to drive a turbine. reactors is an obvious problem. Fusion readout monitors switching for scientists have known for some time that actual tip temperature. maximum Progress to date materials to contain these high tempera- component The world's most advanced operating fu- tures (100 million degrees C) would prob- Select the safety. tip temp. is the Plasma Physics sion reactor at Labo- ably limit fusion-reactor development more required. ratory of Princeton University. On Christ- than any other single item. The choice of mas Eve in 1982, the first plasma was gener- materials for the first wall is also critical. ated in its Tokamak reactor. Since then, This wall is continually bombarded with plasma currents of more than one million high-energy neutrons - energies of 14 mil- amperes and lasting longer than a second, lión electronvolts are expected in most com- have been routinely generated. Researchers mercial reactors. Such a barrage makes the at Princeton are optimistic and expect to wall brittle and radioactive over time. reach break-even energy production by Austenitic steel (one of many steel alloys) 1986. has been considered, because it can with- Break-even energy production is defined stand neutron bombardment. Studies have as the level at which energy generated by shown that austenitic stainless steel could the fusion reaction is equal to the energy re- withstand a 14 MeV neutron flux of five quired to sustain the reaction. megawatts per square metre for up to five During 1983, the joint European Torus, a years. A modified austenitic stainless steel Tokamak funded by the Commission of the has been developed at the Oak Ridge Na- European Communities, produced and con- tional Laboratory in the USA that has with- fined its first test plasma. Since then plasma stood a 3.5 MW/m2 neutron flux for two currents of more than 1 million amperes years. CODE ETC6OL have been produced in the test device at the Then there is the blanket to be designed. British Atomic Energy Authority's Culham There are many proposed schemes for Burnproof & flexible lead. Laboratory. They hope to achieve break- heat in blanket and 60 Watts of removing generated the back-up even energy production by 1989. converting it into electricity. But although power - Ceramic encapsulated On 3 November 1983, scientists at the designs do exist, no-one has yet built a cool- 30W Pencil dement for lowest Massachusetts Institute of Technology ing system. In concept most designs call for optional. earth leakage USA, using its Alcator C Tokamak test a pressurized liquid coolant, typically water reactor, achieved for the first time condition or sodium, to circulate through or around critical to break-even energy production. the blanket absorbing heat. Using a heat ex- SOLDER REWOVER Using a deuterium plasma a 17 million de- changer, the liquid then heats pressurized METAL BODY - SELF CLEANING gree Celsius plasma was contained for 50 water in another closed system. CODE SR milliseconds. Energy break-even would occur at the same condition in a deuterium Economics - tritium plasma, if the temperatures were When the engineering problems are over- raised to 100 million degrees. This particu- come engineers will have to move on to lar reactor is not designed for the higher more conventional concerns like compo- SOLDER BLOTTER temperatures. nent reliability and operational safety. 2 M IN WIND BACK DISPENSER Power, materials and instrument engineers The foregoing test reactors are not fitted Avoid burnt fingers with first walls, blankets or cooling systems. all still have a lot of work to do. because metal They are designed only to produce scientific But the debate continues: when will fu- tipped container data about plasmas. sion reactors be available commercially and keeps fingers away at what cost? from iron tip CODE Engineering problems By the year 2000 the US Department of SB2 (2mm wide) Dispenser wide) Present design and testing has been fo- Energy is confident it will be able to decide SB3 (3mm locates tape cused on generating plasmas in test devices. whether electricity can be economically positively Other major areas which still need design- generated by fusion reactors. ing are the first wall of the reactor, the blan- Studies by the Argonne National Labora- ket and the cooling system. These, together tory in Chicago indicate that the capital cost with the so-called drivers (these first ignite of a 1200 megawatt unit will be about $US3 IAN J. TRUSCOTT the fusion plasma), are all scheduled for in- billion in 1984 dollars - which is compara- ELECTRONICS clusion in the engineering test reactors that ble to the cost of a fission power plant and 30 Lacey Street, will be built in the 1990s. At this stage, it is just a little more expensive than a coal-fired (Cnr. Windsor Street) envisaged that the potential of fusion for station. But the big plus with the fusion CROYDON, 3136 economic power production will be clearly power stations is the far cheaper running Telephone: (03) 723 3860 SCOPE defined. costs. JMS 195 ETI READER SERVICE 35 TECHNOLOGY FUSE LAUNCHES AUSTRALIA INTO o S C Ted Stapinski Ted Stapinski is Project Manager of the Starlab - group at the Mt Stromlo and Siding Springs Observatories of the Australian National University irnCanberra.

THE FAR ultraviolet spectrograph ex- satellites from overseas suppliers such as is applicable to areas other than space plorer (FUSE) is a joint US, European, was done with the Aussat satellites from projects. Australian scientific satellite which will en- Hughes or by the purchase of services from For future communications and applica- able Australian industry to rapidly develop Intelsat, Landsat, SPOT, etc. However, it tions satellites many parameters must he space technology. It will enable Australian means a large export of Australian dollars optimised for specific Australian needs. industry to prime contract all future Aus- and does little to establish high technology Without total system knowledge residing in tralian space endeavours. within Australia. The alternative approach Australia, they will not be determined and Australia needs an active space program is to establish a space industry within Aus- controlled by us, but by outsiders. The cur- to fulfil its requirements demanded by its tralia with the capacity to manage projects, rent offset program has done little for Aus- large size, its remoteness and reliance on perform system design, and manufacture. tralian design capability. primary industry. We will require many It is not sufficient to build subsystems The problem is how Australian industry satellites within the next 20 years for com- under the prime contractor leadership of a can extend to high tech from its current munications, defence, meteorology, science foreign company. This deprives Australian position. The answer is to follow the path and resource management (forest, crop, industry of the opportunity to acquire the of other countries with a viable space in- mineral, water and oceanographic). This expertise in large system engineering and dustry and start off with a science project can he achieved by the purchase of these high technology project management which where some risk taking and experimenting is tolerable. In the pressure cooker envi- e ronment of commercial communication I satellites mistakes are not permissible. Technology and system management are '7r tools that are assumed to he available and IA + in regular use. L ' r,a , .. However, in order to generate a high '' 4r I political and public profile, this scientific ° project needs to he a top space science project, judged by world standards. Fortunately such a project exists. The FUSE project is of strong interest to --- x---- scientists in the USA and Europe. Australia 1 1 has been invited to join because of its competence in low light detector technology. As this is a complex and challenging engineering task, FUSE will not he launched until 1992 or 1993 by either the USA space' dllullHuuuulul1llllllulul13$0 shuttle or the European Ariane. However, 1.11/-1- there is some desire to see our detector actually perform in space before committing it r r to the implementation phase of the project. Thus NASA will make room for a prototype Ír on a shuttle flight in January 1988. J The ultraviolet The FUSE mission will make the first spectroscopic observations of faint sources The light detector under test by Harry Tagoris. s1\ q 414 r:.,Q od 15 a ,, - 1ñ, May reported on S ,..1), a combined . ustra h, Canadian,OS ts ultraviolef space telescope. ká 1'ab never got off the FUSE e 4.019und, but it, did grow up. Five yarn en, the Project (FAR ULTRAVIOLET Manage reports on the son SPE OSCOP1 C EXPLORER) o A of Starlab. 4 An artist's Impression of FUSE.

The spiral nebula M83 taken with a prototype of the Lyman light detector. '

in the vital far ultraviolet band (90-120 nm) distribution to the various astronomical letter of agreement which outlines the col- and of any sources in the unexplored ex- institutions. laboration between the three agencies. All treme ultraviolet band (10-90 nm). Space The telescope for the FUSE mission has the committees required to manage and run technology has allowed the exploration of to provide a large collecting area and imag- the project have now been set up. The Joint the high energy X-ray, gamma ray, UV, ing capability for the ultraviolet wavelength ESA/NASA/Australia Steering Committee, visible and infrared spectral regions. But to region 10 nm to 200 nm. As efficient reflec- with two representatives from each country, date the far ultraviolet band has only been tive coatings are not available for this wave- will manage and coordinate the project. observed by the Copernicus satellite in the length region, conventional telescopes The Joint Science and Technical Team is early 1970s, and although only the bright working at normal incidence cannot be, made up of scientists and engineers from stars (stars a little fainter than those visible used. However, at small grazing incidence each country and will draft the scientific re- to the unaided eye) were observed, revolu- angles, much higher efficiencies for certain quirements and oversee the conceptual de- tionary discoveries were made on the state reflective coatings can be achieved. sign. Two tripartite meetings were held in of the gas between stars. Grazing incidence telescopes have been 1985 (the first in Canberra and the second in The development of new telescope, in- traditionally used for the X-ray region and Washington) to define the scientific require- strument, and detector techniques now al- the technology has just been developed to ments of FUSE and to discuss the manage- lows the vital far ultraviolet region to be achieve the required image performance for ment of the project. observed with a capability 50,000 times the UV region. The grazing incidence tele- During the previous four years consider- more sensitive than Copernicus. scope consists of a nearly paraboloid pri- able experience has been built up in the The far ultraviolet region is important be- mary mirror and a nearly hyperboloid sec- project management and spacecraft subsys- cause molecular hydrogen, a major constit- ondary mirror. The primary mirror effective tem technologies by the Starlab project uent of the interstellar gas, and deuterium, diameter is one metre but, because it is a group. Industries working on the Starlab, a crucial cosmological probe, can only be grazing incidence design, the mirror is made Endeavour and FUSE projects have also studied in detail in this wavelength region. up of four segments each 2.5 metres long. benefitted. Overseas expertise has been FUSE will measure simultaneously the Three instruments are required for the transferred to Australian industry from amount of cold, warm, and hot plasma in FUSE mission. These are the extreme ultra- MATRA, a major French space company objects ranging from planets to quasars at violet spectrograph (10 nm to 90 nm), the to Hawker de Havilland, British Aerospace temperatures ranging from a few thousand far ultraviolet spectrograph (90 nm to Australia, Thorn EMI and Dunlop Avia- to many millions of degrees. 120 nm) and the ultraviolet spectrograph tion. (120 nm to 200 nm). The ultraviolet spec- This experience should enable Australian The satellite trograph can use the optimised design that engineers to perform a similar role in ad- The FUSE satellite will be approximately was developed for the Starlab instruments vanced communication satellites or earth eight metres long by three metres in diame- by Australian engineers and scientists. This resource payload. Many of the skills being ter and will represent the ultimate achieve- spectrograph is a conventional design using developed in the FUSE project are directly ment of advanced technology in optical, a schwarzschild camera. applicable in these areas. electronic and mechanical areas. FUSE is It is proposed that all three spectrographs It is clear that Australian involvement in currently being designed so that it could he use the same style of detector based on the the FUSE project will develop many of the launched either by the NASA shuttle or by Mount Stromlo Photon Counting Array de- skills required for future Australian satel- the ESA Ariane launcher and placed in ei- tector. This detector would have an open lites and therefore a significant part of these ther a geosynchronous orbit or an orbit with window image tube, fibre optics image dis- satellites can be designed, manufactured a very low geosynchronous period. sector, CCD imagers and photon detection and tested in Australia. Once this capability FUSE will be controlled by ground sta- and centroiding electronic circuits. is established in Australia, the enormous tions in USA, Europe and Australia. In export potential of this high technology in- Australia, data will be sent via the NASA Current status dustry, particularly in the Asian region, can link to the Deakin Telephone Exchange for NASA, ESA and Australia have signed a he realised. ETI September 1986 - 109 DREGS

a small crowd. He stopped for a second. by any means". Someone asked him to continue, so he He almost yelled the word "any". Ron Copyright did. When he finished, the crowd moved asked where he had gone wrong, and was on leaving him alone with his grandchil- told that "any means" means retelling the by Paul Jones dren and two police officers. story in public. He looked up at the uniformed men and But it was from memory, not read from enquired if he could do anything for them. a book or played from a recorder, he They smiled, took his name, address and argued. other details, then they asked if he would It made no difference. He saw their FOR A MAN of 60 he had a fantastic come to the police station. Ron nodded point but thought it petty and left his case memory. A storyteller and a grandfather, and was led away. there. Ronald was taking his two grandchildren It was a large, wood panelled, court The judge found him guilty by his own for a stroll through a park when one of room. Ron sat in a small box in the centre confession and asked what settlement the them asked for a story. He found a bench, of the room. Behind him sat the judge film company required. A detailed ac- sat down and asked which one they would and to his right were the lawyers of the count was handed to the judge, and after like to hear. The children thought for a film company - which held copyright a time, he looked sadly at Ron and said, while and together replied The Golden over the story he had told in the park. "Three hundred and eighty dollars, to be Temple. The trial was short, the police reported paid within a month, plus costs." He looked a little surprised at this for it the events in the park. Ron could not Ron's jaw dropped, he had the cash but was a film they had seen only a year ago. deny these. He was asked if he had seen it was a dent in his bank account. He He shrugged his shoulders and started to the film. He said he had. He was asked if walked out of court room and was sum- retell the story. Same characters, same he had read the copyright message. He moned by a small fellow in a neat, clean names and the same story line. Ron's could not remember all of it because he suit. "By the way", the fellow said, "the memory was full of detail and his expres- was late in getting to his seat. TV network has bought the copyright to sive voice made for easy listening and in- The lawyer readilie copyright notice this court case, so you are not to tell any- volvement. About half way through he aloud to the court, "This screenplay has one outside your family, or in public." looked around and found he had built up copyright. None shall copy or reproduce it Ron stood agape.

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Testing a complete cI X25 Package . %..::;,11111111111. , Switching i r- rs ,.r.{^'li, Exchange -- -- - STC are leaders in the introduction of STC is Australia's largest electronic Electronics Technicians company, and in our state-of-the-art communications communication If you have the Electronics technology. We are deeply involved in modern production environment you'll Engineering Certificate, around 2 the manufacture, and be working with the largest development, years' experience in telephony &/or new from concentration of Computer Aided servicing of systems - digital technology, and have the to Testing in Australia. Career digital packet switching networks initiative and versatility to handle office communications. development has a high corporate constant updates in technology and priority and you can expect to If you have a keen interest in modern equipment, these are great career digital technology, STC may be able to progress on merit. opportunities. offer you a career with a very bright Salary, benefits, and conditions are as future, including work on X25 packet you would expect from a corporation Electronics Tradespersons switching, PCM, microprocessor of STC's stature. These positions are ideal for people possessing the Electronics Trades control, computer peripherals, PCs, For full details, or to arrange an Certificate, and around 2 years' and new systems yet to be unveiled. interview, please phone Norm Brady experience of component level on (02) 699 0044. repairs. If your work record indicates you are capable of working without 12l Careers with a future direct supervision, so much the better. 39,1 5I Standard Telephones and Cables Pty. Ltd., 252-280 Botany Road, Alexandria, N.S.W. 2015. ce STC a ETI READER SERVICE 36 110 - ETI September 1986 When -mainframe power gets this smell, Du Pont Electronks will have helped et 't e e.

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Du Pont technology has been helping electronic this technology led to improved solder masking which companies worldwide to develop smaller, more also increased circuit density and reliability. reliable and less costly The interconnection of products for over smaller and smaller circuits is aided by 20 years. o.-.:= .... 411,11.1.M^.[ For example, in 1964 Du Pont's connector technology. One result of Du Pont's thick film technology " helped computer companies this technology is the . ., modular jack which links ;;' i develop a new, ceramic circuit which contributed keyboards and personal computers to data significantly to the reduced transmission networks. size and enhanced Du Pont's significant performance of computers. contributions often result Today, this technology from developmental permits instant "partnerships" in which communication between the most complex customers draw on Du Pont's unmatched resources to semiconductor devices for even greater solve problems faster and move into production miniaturization. quickly and reliably. Du Pont's photopolymer-based dry film Whether you need materials or components for technology enabled easier production of high -density, today's products or scientific resources to help create high -reliability printed wiring boards. More recently, tomorrow's, DU PONT can help.

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Du Pont Electronics 887 1333 In Sydney, or elsewhere In Australia 22-25 Paul Street North from ETI READER SERVICE 37 North Ryde NSW 2113 (008) 22 6326 for the price of a local call. IOPON) ADMIN/DUP 278 Renting solutions is cheaper than buying problems A MULTI MILLION DOLLAR INVENTORY Over 750 models from 50 manufacturers, comprising almost 4000 individual units.

Test & Measurement Computers & Peripherals Communications Test Energy Management Industrial Monitoring 111 Microprocessor Development WE HAVE IT AVAI NOW! Phone for your Free Copy of our Product Catalogue. It's the first step to all tha/'s best in rental.

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