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$2.50 U.S. $2.95 CANADA MAY 1987 Handson 48784 SINCLUDING 12 -PAGE R GAJX ElectionTHE MAG AZINE FOR THE ELECTRONICS ACTIVIST! 3D OSCILLOSCOPF Add this depth -perception I feature to your scope! AMPLIFIERS Need a special circuit? J You can design your own. J ARMS & TURNTABLES IlInside the science of sound. Add a Remote (m DECODERDRI VER Add a Security DEMONSTRATOR System You can watch it work! NIGHT OWL A touch switch for those who cannot reach. 05 - o 71 896 48784III8 :0' IS COMING IN MAY . , . t.,'. ., ' t`'4.!.'. `.. aPMP°ce vNF 1Pe ezáa NpÓM N v' vOpÉHQS Qr°oe; r ÑE FpA `etÑ`¡1ÁPP'°< Gó e use áPPN óé 1°µs N°1gau°Ñt. °a 1 ° Vápß e P°kt°15 An electronics revolution is in the making, but you don't have emerging technology with a solid foundation in current re- to wait until 2001 to find out how it will change your life in search and development. the 21st century. Radio -Electronics will forecast the coming And its impact will be enormous It will change the way you changes and how they will affect you in the May 1987 issue! work... me way you pink... the way you live! Created by a special editorial task force-two years in prepa- 2001 is the kind of special publishing Event that can only ration -this unique issue, 2001, takes you into the research happen once in any magazine's lifetime and it will happen laboratories of Westinghouse, Texas Instruments, Ford and to Radio -Electronics in May, 1987. Bell Labs where the future is being invented today! With extra features and extra pages, 2001 will bear a pre- You'll get an advance look at what's coming in artificial mium cover cost, but you can reserve your copy now at less intelligence... new cars and highways (cleaner, quieter and than the regular cover cost by mailing any one of the sub- more efficient)... futuristic energy sources like magneto- hydro- scription orders in this issue. dynamic and particle -beam generators... personal commu- nications systems that will give you instant access to anyone 2001 is coming in May. Make sure now that you don't miss it! anywhere... super computers and teaching breakthroughs that will multiply your capacity to learn! Radio- Arthur Clarke introduces 2001. Isaac Asimov explores the marvels of robotics. But it is not science fiction. Rather it is Electrodes R INCLUDING apds 12 -PAGE GADO ICS Volume 4, No. 5 May 1987 SPECIAL FEATURES 33 3 -D Oscilloscope-add depth -perception to your troubleshooting arsenal 41 Smoke /Security Alarm -two ways to improve your smoke detector 45 Smoke Buster -add a remote sensor to your smoke /fire alarm FEATURETTES Smoke Entry Alarm -page 41 25 Stronger Magnet -to study electronic material 61 Hands -on Report /Fluke Model 52K /J Thermometer -It's computerized! 77 Hands -on Report /Micro Match -interface details on connecting many types of computers and peripherals THEORY AND CIRCUITS 62 Arms and Turntables -do more than just spin the tune Saxon On Scanners -page 94 83 Electronic Fundamentals-what you need to know about basic amplifier design CONSTRUCTION 67 Decoder /Driver Demonstration -seeing is believing (and learning) 70 Night Owl -a touch switch for those who cannot reach 75 Serial Bus Switch -for the Commodore -64 80 Pilot Carrier Frequency Standard -lets you pluck an accurate signal frequency out of thin air New Therrrometer -page 61 SPECIAL COLUMNS 26 Friedman on Computers- modernized communications 32 Jensen on DX'ing -the unknown becomes known to you 88 Carr's Ham Shack -MMIC wideband amplifiers 92 Circuit Circus- non -standard amplifier circuits 90 Ellis on Antique Radios -curing that uncontrollable hum 94 Saxon on Scanners -mobile scanning 95 Wels' Think Tank -we keep serving them up! DEPARTMENTS 2 Editorial -the assault on the battery 4 Letter Box -find out what your fellow readers have to say Matching Guide -page 77 8 New Products Showcase -here's what's new 18 Bookshelf -an information round -up 49 Gadget -the newsletter for grown -up kids Blanket with a Brain -Quantum's Cordless Automatic; It's In Your Hands -The Porta Copy; Big Feature, Low Price-Realistics' Linear Drive Turntable; Double Your Pleasure- Sharp's Dual Cassette System; Music Maker-Tascam Porta Studio; Dated Picture Taking-Canon's Tele Date; Shave On the Run -Braun's Pocket Razor Nite Owl-page 70 73 FactCards -we dig -up the data so you don't have to 39 Free Information Card -they'll get back to you pronto AAA 3D Scope Pics -page 33 1 L Volume 4, No. 5 The Magazine for the Electronics Activist! May 1987 Larry Steckler, EHF. CET The assault of the battery! Editor -In -Chief & Publisher Art Kleiman, editorial director Julian S. Martin, KA2GUN, editor Christmas has passed and I'm still paying for it! No, I didn't ring Robert A. Young, associate editor a big tab on my credit cards. What is still ringing up a up Herb Friedman, W2ZLF, associate editor humongous debt in the family's budget is the replacement cost of John J. Yacono, associate editor batteries for motorized toys and gadgets. Brian C. Fenton, associate editor Laron, associate editor The replacement cost of batteries is $2 billion -plus in the North Carl Byron G. Wels, K2AVB, associate editor American consumer market. Where do all those batteries go? M. Harvey Gernsback, contributing editor into is The entry of ultra -technologies our Christmas givings one Teri Scaduto Wilson, editorial assistant explanation; more so, our society is highly mobile, the need for Ruby M. Yee, production director reliable portable devices throughout our entire living experience Karen S. Tucker, production manager has channeled battery distribution into our food supermarkets, Robert A. W. Lowndes, editorial drug outlets, discount suppliers, and newsstands. The fact is associate Geoffrey S. Weil, production assistant that when I surveyed my home, finding batteries in smoke alarms, cameras, calculators, kitchen clock, tape recorder, Jacqueline R Cheeseboro, circulation director Arline R. Fishman, advertising director power tools, radios, watches...(I could go on), the total replace- BUSINESS AND EDITORIAL OFFICES ment cost for all types of batteries in use was $263, plus local Gernsback Publications, Inc. sales tax. That amount is larger than my family milk bill for the 500 Bi- County Boulevard year! Farmingdale, NY 11735. 516,293 -3000 President: Larry Steckler Due to the evolution of quartz timing mechanisms, clocks and Vice -president: Cathy Steckler watches are among the largest users of batteries. In 1984, less NATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES than 1.2 per cent of the clocks purchased did not use batteries. (For Advertising Inquiries Only) All the clocks sold since, and still in service, require battery Joe Shere MIDWEST PACIFIC replacement at least once a year. Over 60 million watches were 1507 Bonnie Doone Terrace Corona Del Mar, CA 92625 sold last year that require battery replacement at least once a 714/760-8697 year twice a year. -some, Alan Berg EAST /SOUTHEAST The average household purchased 14 batteries a year in 1981. 11 Manor Drive Marlboro. NJ 07746 Today, 27 batteries are purchased -which is not typical of my 212i603 -9510 household! I won't forecast next year's usage. Why the growth? Larry Steckler, Publisher The new -product market is a big battery mover. This year, more 500 Bi- County Boulevard than 12- million radios will be sold requiring at least one battery. Suite B -11 Farmingdale, NY 11735 More than 30- million battery- operated tape units will hit the 516-293-3000 streets this year -each is a battery gobbler. The growth of bat- Composition by Cover photography by tery- operated toys need not be explained. Quartz time pieces, Mates Graphics Dan Muro cordless phones, the old- fashioned flashlight, portable power tools, briefcase computers, pocket pagers -who can list them ASO all? tnsrnwndMp 1' , applied tot: This year and the years to come will see an increased interest by for more batteries, both in usable output consumers efficient Hands-on Electronics, ¡ISSN 0743-2968) Published monthly by Gernsback Publications. Inc . 500 Bì-County Boulevard. Farm and price. Rechargeable batteries and recharging devices will ingdaie. NY 11735 Second Class postage paid al Farmingdale, NY and al additional mailing offices One-year twelve issues. subscnp- see increased sales. Designers will be looking toward building lion rate U S and possessions 528.00. Canada 533 00. all other countries 535 50 Subscrption orders payable in U S funds only. complete products with an internal battery supply and charging International Postal Money order or check drawn on a U S bank U S single copy price 52 50 c 1987 by Gernsback Publications. feature. We are living in a battery revolution that is dynamic and Inc Ail rights reserved Printed in U S A indicate -saving improvements for the future. After Postmaster Please send address changes to Hands-On Elec- forecasts cost tronics, Subscription Dept PO Box 338, Mount Morns. IL all, $2- billion -plus can buy a lot of milk and cookies! 610549932 A stamped sell addressed envelope must accompany all submitted manuscripts and or artwork or photographs it their return is desired should they be relected. We disclaim any responsibility for the loss or damage of manuscrpts and o, artwork or photographs while an our possession or otherwise As a servato to readers. Hands-on Electronics publishes available plans or information relating to newsworthy products. techniques and scientific and technological developments Because of possi- Julian S. Martin, KA2GUN ble variances an the quality and condition of materials and work- manship used by readers. Hands-on Electronics disclaims any responsibility for the safe and proper functioning of reader-bulll Editor projects based upon or hum plans Of information published In this magazine 2 .J(li r OM i.