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www.americanradiohistory.com Electronics;,,d,ith Radio Electronics

Vol. 70 No.6 CONTENTS

27 Radio 17 Prototype Pirate Finding the tiniest particle, fingerprint scanners, Electroas an Internet refrigerator, if rocks could talk, and You may have heard about radio more. pirates on the news or from an acquaintance, or you might have heard 27 Night Vision for Your Car one of their broadcasts, but what is it Driving at night might become much safer that makes these clandestine broad- thanks to this system that will be available in casters so interesting to listeners and some cars beginning next year. - Bill Siuru the authorities? In this month's cover story, we take a behind -the -scenes look at the ever -changing world of unlicensed radio stations, the motivations 10 EQUIPMENT REPORT who run them, why of the individuals Canon PowerShot A5 digital camera and CD- loved by those who listen to them, why the govern- they are so well 200 digital printer. ment wants to shut them down at all costs, and where you can hear for yourself. Andrew Yoder them - 12 COMPUTER CONNECTIONS Lightning -fast on -line access. U I L D T H I S B - Konstantines Karagiannis 34 Parallel -Port Optical Isolator 14 ANTIQUE RADIO If or use computer -controlled circuits, you want one of you build The evolution of the AC /DC set. - Marc Ellis these to protect your PC should something go wrong. - Dave Sweeney 22 SERVICE CLINIC Testing flyback transformers. 41 The BreadBlox Prototyping System Sam Goldwasser These handy modules make the job of testing your circuit designs - than ever.- James Melton easier 78 TECH MUSINGS lights; PIC prototyping 14 Build a Solar Dosimeter Twinkle, twinkle, little boards; and more. Don Lancaster Is your garden getting enough sunlight? Are you getting too much? - Build this simple circuit and find out.- Paul Neher

LETTERS ADVERTISING INDEX 2 EDITORIAL 7 88

NEW PRODUCTS ADVERTISING SALES OFFICE 3 Q&A 18 88

85 NEW LITERATURE

to newsworthy products, techniques and scientific and technological As a service to readers, ELECTRONICS NOW publishes available plans or information relating used by readers, ELECTRONICS NOW disclaims any developments. Because of possible variances in the quality and condition of materials and workmanship published in this magazine. responsibility for the sate and proper functioning of reader -built projects based upon or from plans or information by U.S. patents, ELECTRONICS NOW disclaims any liability for the Since some of the equipment and circuitry in ELECTRONICS NOW may relate to or be covered and suggests that anyone interested in such projects consult a patent infringement of such patents by the making, using, or selling of any such equipment or circuitry, attorney. Inc., 500 Bi- County Boulevard, Farmingdale, NY 11735 -393 ,. ELECTRONICS NOW, (ISSN 1067 -9294) June 1999. Published monthly by Gernsback Publications, No. 334103, authorized at Mississauga, Canada. One -year Periodicals Postage paid at Farmingdale, NY and additional mailing offices. Canada Post IPM Agreement and Services Tax, Registration No. R125166280), all other subscription rate U.S.A. and possessions $24.99, Canada $33.15 (includes G.S.T. Canadian Goods order or check drawn on a U.S.A. bank. Single copies $4.99. countries $33.99. All subscription orders payable in U.S.A. funds only, via international postal money 1999 by Gernsback Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Printed in U.S.A. CO 80328 -5115. POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to ELECTRONICS NOW, Subscription Dept., Box 55115, Boulder, or photographs if their return is desired should they be rejected. We A stamped self- address envelope must accompany all submitted manuscripts and /or artwork while in our possession or otherwise. disclaim any responsibility for the loss or damage of manuscripts and /or artwork or photographs 1

www.americanradiohistory.com Hugo Gernsback (1884 -1967) founder

LARRY STECKLER, EHF, CET, Editor -in -chief and publish ADRIA COREN, Vice President KEN COREN, Vice Presiden:

EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT Fips Lives! CARL LARON, editor JOSEPH J. SODA, technical editor As most readers of Electronics Now know, our parent company, Gernsback EVELYN ROSE, assistant editor Publications, was founded by the legendary Hugo Gernsback. Hugo was an inven- MICHAEL A. COVINGTON, N4TMI tor, and innovator, a force in the electronics industry, and was the first to publish contributing editor electronics magazines. He also was a man with an incredible sense of humor. One MARC ELLIS, contributing editor expression of that sense was a SAM GOLDWASSER, service editor of humor series of articles published most Aprils KONSTANTINOS KARAGIANHIS under the pseudonym "Mohammed Ulysses Fips." computer editor FRANKLIN J. MILLER, audio edito The Fips' stories, which first appeared in the 1930s, were clearly fictitious, with DON LANCASTER, contributing edito? numerous technical giveaways scattered throughout, and they always ended with JANINE ABITABILE, editorial assistant the words April 1, April First, or April Fools. Yet they were cleverly crafted, with ART DEPARTMENT just enough of an air of believability that some would miss the fact that it was a joke ANDRE DUZANT, art directo' completely and either tried to build the described device or contacted the maga- RUSSELL C. TRUELSON, illustrator zine to get more information. Radio Craft and Radio- Electronics magazines (this magazine's predecessors) would often get piles of mail from irate readers who "fell PRODUCTION DEPARTMENT for the gag." A booklet, The Collected Works of Mohammed Ulysses Fips, remains a KEN COREN popular item in our Reprint Bookstore. director of desktop prodtction RUBY M. YEE, production directo' KATHRYN R. CAMPBELL Though we lost Hugo many years ago (he passed away in the late 1960s), we've production assistant tried to keep some of the values and traditions of his magazines going as best we MICHELE MUSÉ could. One of those traditions was the April Fools' articles. The sad fact is, howev- production assistant er, there are few writers who could spin a parody article with Hugo's flair. Some of the articles worked; more didn't. In the last several years, we've a CIRCULATION DEPARTMENT only done hand- ful of the April Fools' GINA GALLO stories (sometimes nothing more than a fictitious product circulation director announcement) between the two magazines we publish (Electronics Now and CHRISTINA M. ESTRADA Popular Electronics). The reason was simply a lack of suitable material. cvcula:ion assistant Then, lo and behold, a gem appeared. It was "The EC909 -12 Analog REPRINT DEPART Microprocessor" by Ken Kemski (April 1999). When we saw the piece, we JANINE knew it ABITABILE was reprint bookstore perfect. Unfortunately, we did not fully realize how perfect!

Typography by Mates Graphics Let's just say that the spirit of Fips has been reborn-with a vengeance! While most saw through the gag, and we got some really funny reader responses in reaction, more than a few fell for it completely. We really felt Electronics Now is indexed Ir there were enough big, red, Applied Science & Technology Index, technological stop signs in this story that everyone would realize it was a put -on by Readers Guide to Periodica Literature. the end, but it seems that many were so caught up in the incredible (and we do Academic Abstracts, and Magazine mean incredible!) advances that this fictitious processor promised that they ran Article Summaries. right through all of them. We have been deluged by those looking for more infor- Microfilm & Microfiche editions a'e mation. Fortunately, most took it well when they realized they'd been had. A few available. Contact reprint bookstore weren't as forgiving, and we do sincerely regret any discomfort we caused anyone. `or details. Oh, and by the way, there were also a couple of "suspect" in April's Advertising Sales Offices listed items "Prototype" section. on page 88. Electronics Now Executive and Adm nistrative Offices A cross section of reader reaction to the story appears in this month's "Letters" col- 1 -516. 293.3000. umn. Our only problem is what will we do for an encore? Subscriber Customer Service: 1 -800- 288 -0652. Oder Entry for New Subscribers: 1- 800. 999.7139.

VISIT US ON THE INTERNET AT www.gernsback.com Carl Laron Editor 2

www.americanradiohistory.com READERS' QUESTIONS, EDITORS' ANSWERS CONDUCTED BY MICHAEL A. COVINGTON, N4TMI

"Eeeeeeeeuuuuwwww ...pop...pop...pop" never change and you'll be stuck. Or you Gently Falling Frequency sound effect, and it's fully compatible can compute a more complicated func- fall exactly QI need a design J r an oscillator circuit, with TTL and CMOS logic circuits. If tion and make the frequency preferably 555- based, that will start out you're not driving logic chips, the supply the way you want. You could even use a at approximately 500 Hz and decay to 0 Hz voltage doesn't have to be exactly 5 volts. memory lookup table for a series of over a period of eight to ten seconds while The purpose of R2, which you won't steadily increasing time delays. maintaining an amplitude high enough to find in most LM33 IN circuits, is to bias drive other digital ICs. Any help you could the voltage -controlled oscillator slightly N := 1; give would be greatly appreciated.-J. A. S., so that the oscillation will definitely stop Smyrna, GA when the input voltage falls to zero, A: Delay N milliseconds; rather than continuing at a very low fre- Toggle output bit; AThis is not easy to do with a 555 (I quency. Resistor R6 is the pull -up resis- N: =N +2; won't say impossible, because next tor for the open-collector outputs. For month I'll probably hear from someone the functions of the other components, If N < 200 then go to A; (available who has done it!). Figure 1 shows how to see the LM331N data sheet Stop. do it with an LM331N voltage -con- online at www.nsc.com). FIG. HERE'S THE PSUEDOCODE for a oscillator. The frequency of Another way to get a falling frequen- 2- trolled microprocessor program to generate a sig- R3, and the con- cy is to program a microcontroller to oscillation is set by C4, nal whose frequency gradually falls to zero. trol voltage at pin 7. When you apply toggle an output bit at a steadily power, Cl and C2 charge, with most of decreasing rate. Figure 2 shows pseudocode (an English -like outline of a Since it only needs one output pin, computer program) indicating how this this application might be a good job for might be done. We'd appreciate feed- one of the new low -cost 8 -pin PIC back from readers as to whether microcontrollers (PIC12C508 and the pseudocode is a good way of document- like). Microchip Technology has just ing microcontroller software; the actual announced an 8 -pin PIC with an on- assembly code would be much longer board voltage regulator so that it doesn't and harder to read and would apply to need a 5 -volt supply. Information is R1 only one type of CPU. available online from www.microchip. I MEG The key idea is to delay N millisec- com or by writing to Microchip onds between output transitions, where Technology, Inc., 2355 W. Chandler 2 3 4 N is a steadily increasing number, and Blvd., Chandler, AZ 85224. gets high OUTPU- then stop altogether when N enough. As shown, the program takes 10 C3 R4, R5, R6 but the frequency 0.33 T 10K seconds to stop, decrease is nonlinear; the frequency Mystery Outlet drops very rapidly at first, then slowly QI have a digital electric alarm clock that trails off. Instead of just adding 2 to N began gaining time. I wrote it off to a FIG. 1 -THE OUTPUT FREQUENCY OF time, you might want to compute lightning hit we took a few weeks ago and this oscillator falls from 500 Hz to 0 Hz, each bought a new one. I plugged it in and it, too, reaching a steady +5 volts after several something like: 25% fast. then plugged both seconds. ran about I If N>8 then N: =N/8 else N: =N +1 clocks into other outlets in the same room correctly. I am the voltage ending up on Cl; pin 7 and they both are working completely baffled. Do you have any ideas? reaches about 1 volt and the oscillator so that the increase in N is proportional - runs at 500 Hz. Immediately, C2 starts to N itself. Note that N/8 is easy to R. E. S., Watkinsville, GA discharging through R1, and the fre- compute in binary; all you do is shift the electrical noise. As shown quency drops over a period of several number 3 bits to the right. However, if ATwo words: clock seconds, until oscillation stops com- you start with a number less than 8, you in Fig. 3, a line-powered digital cycles of the 60- pletely with the output high ( +5V). get zero, and in that situation, it's neces- keeps time by counting (This is normally more Connected to a speaker, this gives a nice sary to add 1 rather than 0, or N will Hz AC power. 3

www.americanradiohistory.com PEAKS OF 60 -HZ NOISE SPIKE 1 second 20 ms

I I CYCLES COUNTED AS ACROSS CLOCK ADDITIONAL PEAK 11.5 V COIL r TERMINALS OUTPUT J5V OF 555 (FIG. 4)

OUTPUT 5V OF LM339 (FIG. 6) FIG. 3 -NOISE SPIKES in a the electrical power lines could make a digital clock run fast. FIG. 5 -THE UPPER TWO WAVEFORMS are taken from across the clock -coil termi- accurate than using a quartz crystal.) going pulses? -C. R., Matthews, NC nals and at the output of the 555 in Fig. Apparently, your power line has some 4. The bottom waveform is from the output of noise spikes on it that are occasionally AI tried the same thing, using an old the 555 in Fig. 6. being counted as extra cycles. This may Copal analog -dial quartz clock (vin- have started when the lightning strike tage 1980). Clocks of this kind are driven "window comparator " -it detects took out some protective capacitors or by an electromagnet (coil) that gets a whether or not the signal voltage falls MOVs inside another appliance nearby, pulse of current once per second, moving within a small "window" around 2.5 V. probable either a light dimmer or some- the analog mechanism along every time Specifically, whenever the voltage on pins thing involving an electric motor. it does so. I found that I could get a 4 and 7 swings either higher than pin 5 or Connecting an oscilloscope to the line stronger signal by removing the coil alto- lower than pin 6, the output goes low. through an isolation transformer would gether, rather than replacing it with a Thus, you get a logic -level pulse for every give a definite answer; you might also try resistor. I then got 1.5 -volt -high pulses. cycle of the clock oscillator. unplugging appliances that might be the One way to convert this into logic - source of the noise. level pulses is shown in Fig. 4. Resistors R1 and R2 raise the baseline voltage of the signal to 2.5 V. Then it swings from +1.0 And Speaking 01 to +4.0 V instead of -1.5 to +1.5. This sig- Cheap, Precise nal is fed into a 555 timer IC, which Quark Clocks... changes state when its input swings above l would be very glad if could 0.5 -Hz identify Oscillator 'A or below 'A of the supply voltage. The a replacement for an IC designated QI'm sure many people could use a cheap, result is a 0.5 -Hz square wave. HD44001; this chip is from an analog clock S2, thrift -store pulse frequency standard. If you want one pulse per second, in an automobile. It's a 16 -pin DIP with a l bought a battery powered quartz -con- rather than one every two seconds, use 4914.5 -kHz crystal across pins 9 and 10; trolled clock with an analog dial, removed two comparators as shown in Fig. 6. Be pins 14 and 16 connect to a solenoid that the 390 -ohm coil, and replaced it with a sure to use comparators that have open - operates the clock mechanism.-G. C. T, 390 -ohm resistor I got a waveform of alter- collector outputs, not op -amps, so that Sayao, Philippines nating 0.7-volt pulses (Fig. 5, upper trace). the outputs can be tied together in the Is there some way I could get all positive- manner shown. This circuit is known as a AThere is no HD44001 listed in the standard ECG 7r!(HY/l tfr I111,16r.,üaily or NTE replacement cross -reference indexes, nor even in the +5V online IC Master (www.icmaster.com). I I Cl fear what you've run into is "house num- IC1 T0.1 bering" clock TLC555 -the manufacturer bought a large number of chips and had them R1 -7 DS V+ 4 labeled with his own part number, 10K X dpd00 L X- RS rather COIL 0.5 -Hz than the manufacturer's standard one. (DISCONNECTED) 6 TH OUT SQUARE Not all ICs are available in small 2 WAVE OUT R2 TR V- quantities to individuals. This isn't a 1 OK CIRCUIT BOARD FROM general -purpose IC like op -amps, volt- QUARTZ CLOCK WITH ANALOG DIAL age regulators, or microcontrollers; nor is it part of something that is likely to be repaired on the component level, such as a TV or stereo system. Few people take 81 1.5V their analog clocks to the (SEPARATE FROM 5V repair shop. SUPPLY) Accordingly, this chip probably isn't stocked by distributors at all; it goes FIG. 4 -THIS SCHMITT -TRIGGER CIRCUIT converts a standard clock circuit into a digi- straight from the chip maker to the 4 tal time base. clock maker, and that's probably who

www.americanradiohistory.com same fine products, as well as many new +5V ones. R3 Cl A couple of years ago I accidentally 10K R6 0.1 1K fried my Beckman DM25L by connecting it to a high voltage, and to my R1 10K -X-1.0117114"--X- delight, all the internal parts turned out COIL 12 to be replaceable -not one of them was (DISCONNECTED) a custom IC, and there was even a R2 Rzi schematic in the instruction leaflet. All I 2.2K 1 -Hz 10K CIRCUIT BOARD FROM was put in some new op -amps, QUARTZ CLOCK WITH PULSES had to do ANALOG DIAL OUT re -do the calibration, and the meter worked fine. Clearly, this instrument R5 IC1 10K LM339N was designed to be repaired, a rare fea- -F (GROUND UNUSED ture nowadays. The display and the B1 1.5V INPUT PINS 8, 9, 10. 11) (SEPARATE FROM 5V selector switch are presumably custom SUPPLY) items, since they could hardly be other- a standard wise, but almost everything else is a FIG. 6 -THIS WINDOW COMPARATOR generates 1 -Hz logic -level pulses from industrial component. clock circuit. standard you'll have to contact to get a replace- California, was returned by the Postal ment. Or a reader may recognize it as Service. Can you tell me the present equivalent to a chip sold under another address ? -E. B. C., Chestertown, MD Checking Flybacks I can find infor- name. Readers? QCan you tell me where ACertainly. Beckman's test equipment naation about how to check a flyback line has been acquired by Wavetek, transformer from a TV set ? -W. R., Wandell & Goltermann Inc., whom you London, Ontario, Canada Calling Beckman... can reach at 9045 Balboa Avenue, San AThere's a web page on this very sub - Q1 bane a Beckman Industrial digital maal- Diego, CA 92123, Web: www.wavetek. /REPAIR/ timetea; model DM 800. It needs repair, corn; e-mail: [email protected]; ject at www.repairfaq.org

I which is part of a large but my letter to Beckman's address in Brea, Tel: 619 -279 -2200. They still make the fh-test.html,

HOW TO GET INFORMATION ABOUT ELECTRONICS of manufacturers and parts deal- On the Internet: See our Web site at book is The Art of Electronics, by Paul addresses ers. Even if an item isn't listed in the catalog, http: / /www.gernsback.com for information Horowitz and Winfield Hill, available from the it pays to call Sams; they may have a sche- and files relating to our magazines (Elec- publisher (Cambridge University Press, 1- matic on file which they can copy for you. tronics Now and Popular Electronics) and 800 -872 -7423) or on special order through Manuals for older test equipment and useful sites. any bookstore. Its 1125 pages are full of links to other ham radio gear are available from Hi To electronics with your fellow information on how to build working circuits, discuss Manuals, PO Box 802, Council Bluffs, IA newsgroups sci. elec with a minimum of mathematics. enthusiasts, visit the 51502, and Manuals Plus, PO Box 549, Also indispensable is The ARRL Hand- tronics.repair, sci.electronics.components, Tooele, UT 84074. sci.electronics.design, and rec.radio. ama- book for Radio Amateurs, comprising 1000 radio circuits, and ready-to- teur.homebrew. "For sale" messages are per- pages of theory, Replacement semiconductors: Replace- available from the American mitted only in rec.radio.swap and misc.indus- build projects, ment transistors, ICs, and other semicon- Newington, CT 06111, try.electronics.marketplace. Radio Relay League, ductors, marketed by Philips ECG, NTE, dealers. Many electronic component manufac- and from ham -radio equipment and Thomson (SK), are available through turers have Web pages; see the directory most parts dealers (including RadioShack past at http: / /www.hitex.com /chipdir /, or try Copies of past articles: Copies of on special order). The ECG, NTE, and SK addresses such as http: / /www.ti.com and articles in Electronics Now and Popular lines contain a few hundred parts that sub- http: / /www. motorola.com (substituting any Electronics (post 1994 only) are available stitute for many thousands of others; a company's name or abbreviation as appro- from our Claggk, Inc., Reprint Department, directory (supplied as a large book and on priate). Many IC data sheets can be viewed RO Box 4099, Farmingdale, NY 11735; Tel: diskette) tells you which one to use. NTE online. www.questlink.com features IC data 516- 293 -3751. numbers usually match ECG; SK numbers sheets and gives you the ability to buy are different. in a Japanese many of the ICs in small quantities using a Electronics Now and many other maga- Remember that the "2S" a transistor credit card. You can also get detailed IC zines are indexed in the Reader's Guide to type numberis usually omitted; 2SD945. information from www.icmaster.com, which Periodical Literature, available at your public marked D945 is actually a magazines is now free of charge although it formerly library. Copies of articles in other library's Hamfests (swap meets) and local orga- required a subscription.Extensive informa- can be obtained through your public nizations: These can be located by writing tion about how to repair consumer elec- interlibrary loan service; expect to pay about to the American Radio Relay League, tronic devices and computers can be found 30 cents a page. Newington, CT 06111; (http: / /www.arrl.org). at www.repairfaq.org up Service manuals: Manuals for radios, Ns, A hamfest is an excellent place to pick parts, and other VCRs, audio equipment, and some comput- used test equipment, older Books: Several good introductory electron- meet Howard W. Sams & items at bargain prices, as well as to ics books are available at RadioShack, ers are available from IN 46214 (1- 800 -428- your fellow electronics enthusiasts -both including one on building power supplies. Co., Indianapolis, 7267). The free Sams catalog also lists amateur and professional. An excellent general electronics text- 5

www.americanradiohistory.com Accredited B.S. Degree in library of repair information maintained ORGAN-ized Services, Inc., Tel: 609- Computers or Electronics by our Service Clinic columnist, Sam 387 -2633; Web: www.organizedservices. Goldwasser. By coincidence, that is also com (no mailing by studying at Home address given). Read the the topic of this month's installment of Web page firstit's packed with informa- Grantham College ofEngineering Service Clinic, which can be found else- tion about electronic organs of all types. offers 3 distance education programs: where in this issue.

B.S.E.T. emphasis in Electronics B.S.E.T. emphasis in Computers Play It B.S. in Computer Science Slowly Thomas Organ And QIs there an easy way to slow a cassette tape C1E` Electronics Workbench Professional 5.0 recorder's speed down by half? My wife 1 included in our B.S.E.T curriculums Vacuum Tubes receives books on tape, recorded at half speed, -Approved by more than 200 Companies, Ill have a Thomas model AL -2 organ dat- from the National Library for the Blind. - VA and Dantes, (tuition assistance avail.) ing from the 1960s and need to get it M. M., Elko, NV repaired. Do you know where I can obtain For your free catalog of our programs dial schematic and troubleshooting advice? Also, AIf you slow the motor down electri- 1- 800 -955 -2527 where can I obtain a vacuum tube manual cally, it won't have very much torque. http: //www.grantham.edu like they used to have in the past, showing Instead, change the size of one or more the elements and pin connections of tubes? - pulleys in the drive system. You can sal- GCE E. C., Coventry, RI vage a pulley from another tape recorder, find one at a hobby shop, or Your first step A The tube manual is easy -get in even reduce the size of an existing pulley to help yourself touch with Antique Electronic by filing or grinding it. better your future! Supply, 6221 S. Maple Ave., Tempe, AZ 85283; Tel: 602 -820 -5411. They sell Grantham College ofEngineering reprints of tube manuals as well as plen- 34641 Grantham College Road ty of tubes and other old -style parts. Minding Our Bs And Hs Slidell, LA 70460 -6815 According to his Web page, you can OThe web address for closed -caption decod- get technical information, service manu- ing information that you gave in your als, and advice from Paul E. Doerr at October column, www.broubaba.com /..., doesn't work. -S. B., Missisauga, Ont., Some Say Watching Tropical Canada Well_ it was the November column, Fish Lowers Blood Pressure POPTRON1X® not October, and the address was Relieves Stress... brouhaha (with one B and two H's). The Online full address is: www.brouhaha.com / Edition -eric/pic/caption.html, and as of this writing it still works, although of course We're on the web we have no control over it. FREE Writing to Q &A We are starting up, As always, we welcome your ques- They Could 4e ®n TH but you can watch us grow! tions. The most interesting ones are Something. answered in print. Please be sure to include plenty of background informa- Projects for beginners tion (we'll shorten your letter for publi- to experts! cation) and give your full name and address (we'll only print your initials). If New Product information! you are asking about a circuit, please include Bookstore-discover a complete diagram. Due to the volume of mail, we regret that we what's cannot give per- new! sonal replies. Send to Q &A, Discover the Caribbean aboard a Tall ship. Electronics Now Magazine, 500 Bi- 6 & 13 day adventures from $650. http://www.poptronix.com County Blvd., Farmingdale, NY 11735. For more information call your travel agent Questions can also be e- mailed to or 1 -800- 327 -2601. q &a @gernsback. com, but please do not WE'RE WITH Windjammer. YOU EVERY DAY expect an immediate reply (being a Bar efoot'Cruises 24 HOURS A DAY! DROP IN! monthly magazine, we have to maintain WE'D LOVE a backlog) and please don't send graph- P.O. Box 90120, Dept.3369 Miami Beach, FL 33119 TO HAVE YOU VISIT! 6 ics files larger than 100K. CIRCLE 132 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD

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graph that begins "The SmartProbe's tip should read "Note that two of the com- Brainwave Correction is connected to one of the inputs on each parators (`a' and `c') ..." It has come to our attention that comparator," the following sentence The second error is in the schematic there was an error in the schematic dia- diagram (Fig. 1) that appears on page 46. gram for the "Learn to Relax with a There should not be a connection Brainwave Synchronizer" that appeared between R2 and R3. All four compara- in the April 1999 issue. In Fig. 2, on tors should have their outputs connected way: page 30, a connection is shown between to the printer -port inputs the same a diode and a pull -up resistor. R l /R2 /C 1 and R3 /R4 /C2. There signal - should not be any connection between Editor the two nodes; Cl and R3 should not be connected together. If the unit is built according to the schematic, the oscilla- Excellent Review tors will not work. The foil pattern for Regarding the recent excellent the PC board, on the other hand, is cor- review of The Soundsmith's new CDT - rect. We apologize for the error. Editor 4 Automated Audio Tester "Equipment Report" (Electronics Now, April 1999), we would like to make the follow- Attenuator Series ing comments: It has come to our attention that The CDT -4 not only tests CD there was an error in the schematic dia- Players, CD ROMs, and DVDs, but also gram for the "Build a Step Attenuator" pre -amps, amplifiers, VCRs/Camcorders, that was published in the April issue. DATs/Tape Decks, Tuners, or anywhere Although the text was correct in saying an analog signal can go. It can also be used that the various attenuator circuits are to test complete computer systems, wired in series, the drawing in Fig. 5 including hard drives, memory and sound showed the circuits wired in parallel. A cards for long -term integrity. corrected schematic diagram is shown Now available as an accessory for the here as Fig. 1. We apologize for any con- CDT -4 is our modified MP3 player for fusion that arose from this error.-Editor use as a signal source, eliminating the need to use a "known good" CD player as the source. While the suggested user SmartProbe Errors price of the CDT -4 Automated Audio It has come to our attention that Tester is $1099.95, we are pleased to there were two errors in the article "Test continue our introductory price of Digital Circuits with the SmartProbe" $749.95 until further notice. (Electronics Now, March 1999). In the We welcome customer inquiries at "How It Works" section on page 45, col- either our Web site: www. umn 3, the second sentence of the para- sound -smith.com or our toll -free number: 800 -942 -8009. PETER LEDERMAN, President Write To: The Soundsmith Corporation Letters, Electronics Now Magazine, 500 Bi- County Blvd., Fooled Farmingdale, NY 11735 April I read the entire article "The EC909- Due to the volume of mail we 12 Analog Microprocessor" (Electron- receive, not all letters can be ics Now, April 1999) by Ken Kemski answered personally. All letters (although I stumbled over the part are subject to editing' or clarity where it describes the amount of light and length. Fig. 1. output versus energy input -didn't that 7

www.americanradiohistory.com violate physical laws -but I wanted to your magazine. I would sure like to have something in the water here was causing believe). After all, I was excited: A their names. I have some beach front them intestinal distress, and so we allowed microprocessor fit that into a Pentium H lots for sale in Oklahoma, also for $12 them free access to our facilities for over slot, ran at the equivalent of 900,000 apiece. (Same price as processor.) six months. Now, we find that they are MHz, allowed you to turn a 4 GB hard Thanks for the informative article. attempting to pass off our EC909-12 as drive into a 16,000 GB hard drive and URA FARCE their own product. allow gigabytes of RAM! ?! ?!? Then I via e -mail The public needs to know that the thought is -this too good to be true. dangers of the Barrier Reflex Diode Finally, I noticed last the sentence: "The I was really taken by the article "The (BRD) are not fully understood at this scheduled release date is April 1." I EC909 -12 Analog Microprocessor" in time even by our own researchers. This checked out the name of the company: the April issue. Can you send me any product has caused several cases of spon- Ecraf ( "pronounce EK- raff'); spelled information you have about this compa- taneous combustion in our labs and backwards "farce." And I thought: YOU ny (Ecraf Technology Corp.) or if not I would be very dangerous in the wrong GOT ME! would like to get in touch with the hands. As to the so- called "Drs. Ecraf," Cheers. author of the article Ken Kemski. I rep- please be advised that none of these men STEVEN ALEXANDER resent a financial investment group even has the US equivalent of a gram- via e-mail looking to invest a sizable amount in mar school education, much less new technologies. Our typical minimum advanced degrees. These men are circus Nice article in your April edition investments are over $500 million. acrobats, good ones I have to admit, but about the EC909 -12. I fell out of my I understand that on many occasions certainly not capable of understanding chair laughing. your magazine conducts in -house tests or controlling the astonishing power of BRIAN COVERSTONE of the devices that are featured in the the EC909 -12. via e -mail monthly issue. I would like to request a In addition, since it was not men- copy of any tests that you have conduct- tioned in your article, your readers need Great article! I actually spent half an ed on this particular device. to be advised that further development hour desperately searching the Internet An immediate response is greatly in our labs has produced the Forward for Ecraf Technology Corp. until I came appreciated. Access Time Termination Interface to the slow realization that this was an SLOOF LIRPA (FATTI) that returns the answer to the April Fools' joke. via e-mail requested instruction prior to the com- DAVID EISENBERG pletion of the request itself. We consid- via e-mail I find it very offensive to hear that you er this the key to use of the EC909 -12. have placed a bogus article in celebration The ability to anticipate what it is being While you people may think it funny, of April Fools' Day. With all the informa- asked to do makes it even more powerful I just can't see the humor in your April tion out there that technical people have than the best digital processors. Fools' article about the analog proces- to scan through, we should not have to In the future, please get your facts sor. The reason that I bought your mag- deal with this type of behavior. I have straight before publishing such informa- azine was to try and find out about this always considered you to be a serious tion. A simple phone call to the local device. I feel that you owe me my money magazine. I must reconsider that. number for Ecraf Technology is back for printing this pack of lies called I have decided to stop purchasing your answered by a message advertising their informational journalism. magazine and have sent this message to all acrobatic prowess. Please be more care- If this is true, please tell me where to other technical students here at Florida ful the next time you provide free pub- contact this company. If this is not true, International University, so that they may licity for such scoundrels! I want my money back! do the same and find a publication that ART VIDERCI JAMES SMITH will not waste their time. via e-mail via e-mail Your publication is a disgrace to the profession. Shame on you. I just picked up the April issue and Could the " Ecraf' Barrier Reflex By the way, I got the joke: " Ecraf' is read the article about Ecraf Technology's Diode possibly be a "Farce" diode spelled farce spelled backwards. How original! analog processor. BRDs? Nice April backwards? Barrier Reflex Diode. Can't ROBERT BARRUECO Fools' joke. You had me going for a think a of reason for that name. via e-mail moment, because the first time I skimmed Apparently, no one else can either. it and missed the part about a chip light- 900 GHz speed? Will it wash my I was very disturbed to learn that the ing a city with a battery power source. floors and do my laundry and cook my Ecraf brothers are marketing a product Where can I get one of these ?!? food for me too? Enough power to light that was developed by our firm. Let me BILL PFEIL a room at 1.2V and MICRO amps!! explain. We hired the duplicitous Ecraf via e-mail Loved it. Great article. Nice to see brothers as acrobats to entertain our SOMEONE has a sense of humor. employees at lunch. Unbeknownst to us, I finally got a chance to sit down JACK DONOGHUE they were in our labs copying our designs, tonight and read your April issue. The via e-mail while we thought they were changing first thing that caught my eye was "Ken their tights. It should have been obvious Kemski's" article on the EC909 -12. I wonder how many people are going to us that acrobats do not have to change "Wow!," I said to my wife, "They've 8 to order the analog processor that was in clothing so often, but we were told that finally done it-an analog processor that

www.americanradiohistory.com beats out the digital stuff." She laughed, the food service industry with their knowing full well my passion for analog famous "Jell -O Stretcher" (April, 1980 ?). TIPS FOR MAIL ORDER me when the "DVD and my distaste for anything digital. Please inform PURCHASE I must admit you really had me going Rewinder" will be available at my local for the first half of the article -then the Wal -mart. I want to be first in line. It is impossible for us to verity the claims of ad- "light" slowly dawned on me: I never J. KNIGHT vertisers, including but not limited to product heard of the Ecraf Technology Corp. via e-mail availability, credibility, reliability and existence (ETC) or the Barrier Reflex Diode, and of warranties. The following information is pro- It is not I'm always up on new analog devices. vided as a service for your protection. intended to constitute legal advice and readers I saw it: perfect conductor and Then Mr. Möbius Revisited and Mr. are advised to obtain independent advice on insulator at ambient temps; wads of how to best protect their own Interests based "white light" at less than 1 milliamp. Klein Wanted upon their Individual circumstances and juris- Indeed! Okay, you got me: Ecraf = farce. In my article, "Möbius Circuit" dictions. 1998), I Great article! (Electronics Now, November 1. Confirm price and merchandise information SKIP CAMPISI discovered a mistake: a fundamental with the seller, including brand, model, color or and rebates included in the S. Bound Brook, NJ error in my description of the Möbius finish, accessories Strip characteristics. I realized this price. and/or refund What a great gag!!! I'm not a regular before the article was published , but as 2. Understand the seller's return return period, who Electronics Now, but I man- this didn't affect circuit performance, I policy, including the allowable reader of for returned merchandise and decided to let it stand and see if people pays the postage aged to catch that "review" of the Ecraf whether there is any "restocking" or "return" EC909 -12 and was totally blown away. I were reading and trying out these cir- charge. went around for days telling all my cuits-was I really reaching you all out 3. Understand the product's warranty. Is there there? friends about it. I'm usually not one to a manufacturer's warranty, and if so, is it for a fall for something like that, but it was As it turns out, I seem to be doing my U.S. or foreign manufacturer? Note that many done so well I couldn't help myself. job! Several people have already caught manufacturers assert that, even if the product warranty, if you Congratulations on a great gag. This the error (see "Letters," Electronics comes with a U.S. manufacturer's cutting the purchase from an unauthorized dealer, you are one article has done more to make me Now, January 1999)- manufacturer's warranty. If inter- not covered by the interested in your magazine than any- Möbius Strip results in TWO in doubt, contact the manufacturer directly. In thing else could. Keep up the good twined hoops, not ONE larger hoop as addition to, or instead of the manufacturer's war- work! stated. Many thanks to all who respond- ranty, the seller may offer its own warranty. In is covered by warranty, how VAN WILSON ed, renewing my faith in our readers. either case, what warranty period, where will the prod- Now, if you want to see something real- long is the via e-mail uct be serviced, is there a charge for service, what ly strange, try cutting the two inter- do you have to do to obtain service and will the I read your April Fools' article on the twined Möbius Strips down their product be repaired or replaced? You may want EC909 -12 microprocessor, as I have centers.... to receive a copy of the written warranty before placing your order. read other April Fools' articles year after On another note, if anyone out there year. I dislike them as I have no interest knows where I can purchase a "Klein 4. Keep a copy of all transactions, including to cancelled check, receipt and in I have no sense of humor. I Bottle," I'd be very interested in hearing but not limited humor. For phone orders, make a note about it. Thanks. correspondence. want to read fact. of the order including merchandise ordered, price, NAME WITHHELD SKIP CAMPISI order date, expected delivery date and salesper- via e-mail son's name.

5. If the merchandise is not shipped within the in the time, or if no time was promised, with- Great article by Ken Kemski THE COLLECTED WORKS OF promised April issue of Electronics Now about in 30 days of receipt of the order, you generally MOHAMMED ULLYSES FIPS the right to cancel the order and get a re- the Barrier Reflex Diode. I've heard have fund. there is some very sensitive research #166 -By Hugo Gernsback. April Here is a collection of 21 6. Merchandise substitution without your ex- being done in some very high areas of from Fools Articles, reprinted press prior consent is generally not allowed. our government where the "birds" are the pages of the magazines being integrated with the "Flux they appeared in, as a 74- 7. If you have a problem with your order or the page, 8h x 11 -inch book. The merchandise, write a letter to the seller with all the Capacitor" in circuits where the first between stories were written pertinent information and keep a copy. step in time travel has been solved. They 1933 and 1964. Some of the from have been able to slow down the speed devices actually exist today. 8. If you are unable to obtain satisfaction Others are just around the comer. All are fun and the seller, contact the consumer protection light. I'll keep my eyes -n -ears open include the Cordless of almost possible. Stories agency in the seller's state and your local Post for further developments. Radio Iron, The Visi-Talkie, Electronic Razor, 30- and even Elec- Office. DALE APPLETON Day LP Record, Teleyeglasses tronic Brain Servicing. Get your copy today. Ask If, after following the guidelines, you experi- include $9.99 (includes ship- via e-mail for book #166 and ence a problem with a mail order advertiser in the US (First Class), Cana- ping and handling) that you are unable to resolve, please let us da and Overseas (surface mail), and order from know. Write to Advertising Department, I am glad to see that the "U.S. Less" CLAGGK Inc., P.O. Box 4099, Farmingdale, NY Gernsback Publications Inc., 500B Bi- County company is still in business. I first encoun- 11735.0793. Payment in US funds by US bank Allow 6 -8 Blvd. Farmingdale, NY 11735. tered this company in April 1975 when I check or International Money Order. weeks for delivery. MAO5 tried to locate a "Steam Bucket" used by Be sure to include copies of all correspondence. 9 the US Navy. I later encountered them in

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Lightning -Fast Online Access

I'VE YET TO FIND A COMPUTER USER WHO IS COMPLETELY ing about DirecPC, from Hughes Electronics. Like its brother, DIRECTV, HAPPY WITH HIS OR HER MODEM. EVEN UNDER IDEAL CONDI- DirecPC uses an 18 -inch satellite dish that you'll have to install on your roof TIONS, ANALOG MODEMS ALLOW DOWNLOADS AT 53 KBPS -NOT (this excludes many renters, obviously). While it's not as peppy as some of the ALL THAT THRILLING. choices we'll deal with later on, it can be installed in almost any town, making it Considering how cluttered modern York -area price examples I might use in attractive to those living in more rural Web pages are becoming and how large these pages. They're only included to areas. files of all types are growing, an analog give an idea of the types of service you How fast is DirecPC? Compared to a phone line and modem just don't make might be able to find now or soon in modem, plenty fast. Downloads using for satisfactory online conditions. your area. DirecPC achieve nice 400 -kbps speeds, So how else can you get on the fast more than three times peppier than lane of the Information Traffic- Almost Wireless, ISDN at its best. However, DirecPC can Congested County Road? (It's anything Almost Usable Anywhere only be used for downloads-don't go but a "superhighway" most days.) Just a A nationwide provider offers the first yanking that modem out of your PC just couple of years ago the only options a technology we'll examine. It's a decent yet (though you will need an extra open home computer user had were modems choice for just about anyone. We're talk - PCI slot for the dish's interface card). and ISDN. The former are cheap and s~e. slow, the latter is a little faster (64 or 128 t*: -g41 kbps, depending on whether you use one or two channels), but hopelessly expensive. Are we forever doomed to seeing File Download dialogue boxes with messages like "3 hours 45 minutes remaining" in them? Have no fear. Now there are much faster ways to get data in and out of your computer, without spending a grand a DirecPC". month on a leased pipe to the Net (this is no joke -some companies pay even more). While the high- speed- access technologies we're about to examine are not available in all areas, they will eventually have versions available in every part of the country. For the time being, many of the solutions we're about to look at are provided by regional providers, instead of nationwide ISPs. That means that except for our first entry I can't really recommend NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE in the country, a DirecPC dish can get you much- faster- a good company to check out in your than -modem downloads from the Net. While you'll still need a phone line for upstream data, area. I apologize in advance for any New files will come to your PC at 400 kbps. 12

www.americanradiohistory.com actually set up As you likely know, surfing the Web is home) comes from a channel in the 5- to your room of choice and your combi- directional. Sending e-mail, typing in 750-MHz range; upstream data is car- the hardware and software on $50). URLs, clicking links -all these require a ried on a channel in the 5- to 42 -MHz puter (usually an additional initial fees way for your PC to send data, too. To band. This infrastructure provides for However, don't let these expensive accomplish those tasks, you'll need a up to 10 -Mbps data transfer, and is now deter you; cable is no more line standard modem and phone line. For in place in most areas -but whether than analog access. Adding a phone twice as most users, though, this isn't a problem; your cable company provides Net access to a house can cost more than install fee of cable. you all just want a faster way to get things is another matter. much as the into your computer. However, those of Before we toast to the speeds of cable, Furthermore, cable has no per- minute need to pay an you who do a lot of file uploading.... it's important to note that the medium's charges, and you don't We started our roundup with bandwidth is shared by each neighbor- ISP any longer. DirecPC, because it's available every- hood, which means at best you'll proba- Besides the speed that will have you 7 sec- where. Yet while it is cheaper than ISDN, bly only connect at a maximum of about downloading 1.5MB files in about nice benefit. It's DirecPC is still not affordable for every- 5 or 6 Mbps -which is only 100 times onds, cable has another up your one. In addition to your phone -line faster than your analog modem -and always online, so when you start to the Net. charges, keep the following in mind: You sometimes as slow as 1 Mbps. Still, at computer, you're connected have convinced me need to buy and install a dish, which could these speeds it will appear to you like Live demos I've seen cost anywhere from $300 (if you install it yourself) to about $500 (if you don't lift a finger after you place the order). Then comes the monthly fee. Remember how everyone complained about digital satellite TV when it first came out? You know, they'd say lines like "I bought the dish, now I have to pay what ?" Those with satellite TV have it better than DirecPC users, though - they don't have time restraints on when they can watch the tube. DirecPC's monthly service costs $30 for 25 hours of downloads or $40 for 100 hours (ISP account included), with each additional hour costing $1.99. While the preceding prices aren't exactly exorbitant when viewed alone, high to someone who just they do seem THE COMPAQ PRESARIO 5600 line features xDSL -capable modems. paid up to $500 for a dish and still has to either tie up a phone line or add one. As is. I might be much of an improvement as DirecPC is to your machine's accessing data off a hard how amazing the service as soon as the boxes just a modem alone, a cheaper and still drive or, at the worst, a floppy disk, rather moving soon, but cable Internet is one of faster option is available in many areas. than the Internet. Cable companies are are unpacked, promising to limit the number of sub- the first things I'm having installed. Finally, Something scribers they connect to each sector area Good on Cable of bandwidth, ensuring that your shared xDSL -Some Four-Letter Next time you're flipping through access won't end up back in the analog - Solutions technology is also your 70 or so channels of cable TV, modem range some day. Another promising in select areas right now. unable to find a single thing to watch, In the NY metro area, cable Internet only available service remember that the very same coax com- access costs $35 a month if you agree to The final versions of this speedy the core ing into your home could be connecting have the service for a year (you don't will go by different names, but with the "x" you to the rest of the computing world at need to pay it all up front, though). Five system is called xDSL, for one of several types of a whopping 10 Mbps! That's the amount bucks of that fee is to cover the rental of standing Lines. of speed available to most small networks, a cable modem -an external device that Digital Subscriber though faster and and is about 188 times faster than what connects to your computer via an Similar to ISDN- is a system that requires you can get out of a 56-kbps modem, Ethernet port. You have to have at least cheaper -xDSL digi- which due to telephone -line restrictions a 10BaseT (10 -Mbps Ethernet) an area to be equipped with special these lines are usually tops out at 52 or 53 kbps. Network Interface Card (MC) in your tal lines. Note that not just to your How is this possible? As it turns out, computer. Many cable companies give installed in your area, are made those new lines cable companies have NICs away as incentives, but they are home. Once the modifications both asynchro- been installing for years to prepare for very affordable (I've seen many in the by the phone company, xDSL, interactive-television features can carry $50 range, some for less). nous and synchronous forms of respectively, can a lot more than pay-per -view request If you order cable Net access, your or ADSL and SDSL, on page 87) 13 signals. Downstream data (i.e. to your cable company will add another line to (Continued

www.americanradiohistory.com BY MARC ELLIS

Evolutìon of the AC /DC Set

WE BEGAN DISCUSSING SCALED -DOWN- FOR -THE DEPRES- with their 6.3 -volt, 0.3 amp heaters (designed to operate with minimal drain SION "MIDGET" RADIOS IN THE APRIL, 1999 ISSUE OF from the storage batteries of the day) not been available. The 2.5 -volt 1.75 -amp POPULAR ELECTRONICS. THEN, IN THE MAY ISSUE, WE DROPPED range of tubes then common in home radios would have required a much THE SUBJECT TEMPORARILY TO DISCUSS PHILCO'S MUCH LESS heavier series resistor to drop the larger voltage at heavier current. As it was, sev- drastic approach to depression downsiz- lights. In that configuration, they eral watts of power had to be dissipated ing, which led to the development of the required 18.9 volts to operate. Placed in the resistor. Power dissipation means very popular (and far from small) "cathe- directly across the AC line, the string of heat dissipation, and things get hot dral" radios. Now it's time to return to tubes would of course immediately burn enough under the chassis to shorten the the original story thread and trace an out. However, a 310 -ohm power resis- life of capacitors and other components. important line of radio evolution which tor, mounted under the chassis, was began with the first "midgets." included in the series string to drop the Cooling -Down Strategies line voltage by about 93 volts more. The heat problem was minimized The International Kadette Because there was now no power through innovations on several different Universal transformer (a device that could operate fronts. First, the "below decks" power Back in that April column, the only on alternating current), the Kadette resistor was very soon replaced by one of "International Kadette Universal" (defi- could operate from DC as well as the two devices: (1) the "ballast resistor," nitely a midget) was presented as what AC line. In those days, the downtown which looked like a metal tube (some- was probably the first of a very influen- sections of many large cities were still times with heat-releasing perforations in tial design that became known as supplied with DC current, which had to its metal shell), plugged in atop the chas- "AC/DC" Let's review the meaning of be converted to AC by various means to sis like any other tube or (2) the line - that term. operate common appliances and motors. cord resistor, which was an extra con- The Kadette used only three tubes While this wasn't really a very big mar- ductor -made of resistance wire -built (excluding rectifier). The reason it could ket, AC/DC operation was still a useful into the line cord. In both cases, the heat get by with so few was that the tubes selling point and radios with series generated by the resistance element was (types 39, 36, and 38) were from a string heaters became known universally prevented from overheating the space newly -introduced (in 1931 and 1932) as "AC/DC sets." beneath the chassis. However, it's not high -performance series designed for This system probably wouldn't have unusual to find ballast sets with cabinets auto radio service. Two of those (the 39 even been considered had the auto tubes discolored (or even charred) by heat and 38) were of the new "pentode" design that offered greatly enhanced R12 SPEAKER performance with little or no increase in 25Z5 KIELO parts count. See the April, 1999 Popular 450 Electronics "Antique Radio" column R14 OHMS for a schematic of the Kadette. AC OR DC UNE As part of the strategy for eliminating GOT 6AT 606 251.6 25Z5 R13 the large and expensive power PILOT trans- LIGHTS former, the heaters of the three tubes HEATER CIRCUIT were made to operate directly from the AC line. This was done by putting the A TYPICAL AC/DC power-supply circuit. The three 6.3 -volt heaters in series, like an heaters of the five tubes are in series; R12 is a ballast resistor; pilot lights operate from a separate tapped resistor. The speaker field coil old- fashioned set of Christmas -tree doubles as filter choke. 14

www.americanradiohistory.com were about half as high as generated above the "tube." operation, emerged. One configuration tion of tubes in the original AC/DC The line cord resistor has often con- was so commonly used that it became the types used for the cabinet to have a fused new hobbyists who may replace it, known as the "All- American Five." That sets, allowing profile. More attention when frayed, with an ordinary two -wire set was made up of a 12SA7 pentagrid lower, sleeker to be paid to the aesthetics of the cord. The result is a dead radio and converter, 12SK7 RF/IF amplifier, began inexpensive sets began (depending on which two of the three 12SQ7 detector /amplifier, 35L6 power cabinet, and the a more sophisticated look. connection points in the set is used for output, and 35Z5 rectifier. Note that the to have plastics, which could be pro- the new cord) possibly a set of tubes with heater voltages (first two digits of the Catalin a variety of glowing colors, blown heaters. In attempting to replace type number) add up to 106, which was duced in were also sometimes used. Catalin cabi- the plug on such a cord, neophytes may close enough to the nominal 115 -volt fragile and become more so also either ignore the fine and easily line voltage so that no ballast or line - nets are cracking spontaneously broken resistance wire or tie it to the cord resistor was needed. with age, often stresses in the mate- wrong side of the line. In either case, because of internal are rare, especially though no damage will be done, the Other AC /DC Design Features rial. Catalin cabinets They are much tubes will not light. As has been mentioned in some of in flawless condition. Cords with line cord resistors can be the earlier articles on this subject, other recognized by their fatter -than -usual changes were also made in the power- cross section and (usually) cloth outer supply circuitry in order to reduce size, covering. Often this covering is frayed in weight, and cost. Among the earliest places, exposing the asbestos insulation simplifications was to substitute the field underneath. If a frayed cord is in work- coil of the dynamic speaker then in coming order, don't be tempted to replace it. mon use for the power -supply filter Resistor cords are hard to come by- choke. The coil substituted for the though there are alternatives that can be choke while at the same time receiving discussed in future articles. the energizing voltage required for the speaker to operate. later, the development of effi- Tube Evolution in AC /DC Sets Still BY THE 1940s, inexpensive plastic-molding Another innovation was the introduc- cient permanent -magnet speakers ren- techniques were making it possible to mass tion of tubes with higher heater voltages. dered dynamic speakers obsolete and produce cabinets with a sleeker, more look. The first ones to appear were audio-out- field windings disappeared. By that time, sophisticated put tubes such as the 25L6 and rectifiers however, inexpensive high -capacity by some collectors today and a such as the 25Z5. Tubes in those cate- electrolytic filter capacitors were avail- prized radio that sold for $19.50 in gories, because of the greater power that able. Using them, filtering action Catalin well change hands at $1000 they handle, could especially benefit from became so much more efficient that a 1940 might the greater heater output made possible power resistor of a few hundred ohms today! by the higher operating voltages. could be substituted for the choke. It's not uncommon to find early By now, improved tubes and circuitry Military Radio Take Note! AC /DC sets with a 25 -volt rectifier tube had made sets so sensitive that the tradi- Collectors received a query from and three 6 -volt tubes or with 25 -volt tional hank of antenna wire, unrolled I recently Richard J. Blondis, 291 rectifier and audio -output tubes and two under a rug or tossed out the window, Major (Ret.) Herboso, Green Valley, AZ 6 -volt. tubes. In either case, significantly became unnecessary. A neat, self-con- East Calle Tel: 520- 393 -0922. The Major less power needed to be dissipated in the tained loop antenna, usually mounted 85614; War II German military ballast or line -cord resistor to drop the inside the back of the cabinet, was has a World radio gathering dust in his remaining voltage. enough to do the trick. shortwave like help valuing the Among the six-volt tubes providing Changes in cabinet design also rate at storage area. He'd out how to market it. the detector, RF- amplifier, and AF- least a brief mention. The original set and figuring on the set are: Telegrafen amplifier functions in sets with line -cord midget sets were housed in compact The markings Musterr RV 14, Serie 77 or ballast resistors and two 25 -volt tubes wooden cabinets. Made to sell as cheap- Werkstatte, 151. Contact Major Blondis as described are the types 39 and 36, the ly as possible while yielding a profit for Number if you can assist him or if you are later types 78 and 77, or the still later the manufacturer and dealer, very little directly interested in the radio. 6C6, 6D6 and 6Q7. Six-volt power out- thought or money was expended on the personally it for this month! We'll see you put tubes in sets not equipped with a 25- radio's looks. Nevertheless, many of That's In the meantime, send your com- volt version are typically type 38 or the these wood cabinets had a kind of naive in July. to me at "Antique later type 43. When five -tube super- charm that I, personally, enjoy. ments and suggestions Now, 500 Bi- heterodyne circuits began to replace the By the early 1940s, more and more Radio ", c/o Electronics Farmingdale, NY 11735- four -tube tuned radio -frequency cabinets were being made of plastic. County Blvd., Or use my personal e-mail address: designs, the 6A7 pentagrid converter This material (usually Bakelite either 3931. a [email protected]. Regretfully time (also six -volts) began to appear. left in its natural brown color or with limitations do not always permit me to As the five -tube superhet circuit painted finish applied) was easy both to individually. But all correspon- became standard in the late 1930s, a mass produce and to mold into the respond be read with interest and whole new series of tubes, all with high - "streamlined" rounded shapes favored dence will in the column. voltage heaters for series heater -string during that era. Also, the newer genera- acknowledged 15

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www.americanradiohistory.com is K AT T O M O R R O W ' S TECHNOLOGY type

Counting The Particles On The Head Of A Pin

The bar has been lowered in particle - detection technology. A chemist at Bell Labs, William Reents, has designed Particle Derived Ions a novel instrument that detects particles 100,000 times smaller than a pin head, or about one -thousandth of a micron -a Output device Particle -laden gas flow development that could have a major impact on semiconductor manufacturing. Laser lens Today's transistors, for instance, are producing roughly one -quarter of a micron wide and focused beam as thin as one -hundredth of a micron. As Particle derived a result, they are subject to short- circuit- ions detected ing by minuscule particles that escape detection during manufacture. ++ Current particle- detection tech- Focused laser strikes niques, which involve spot -checking the particle surfaces of silicon wafers by observing whether light is reflected by particle deposits, detect particles only as small as two- tenths of a micron. This method requires the entire manufacturing process to be halted for inspection, and _n1121211 Of it is unable to determine size or composition of the particles found. BELL LABS' PARTICLE DETECTOR extracts gas particles out of the vacuum chamber A laser strikes each particle, shatter- The new instrument, whose capabil- individually, detecting up to 10 particles per second. ing it into charged atoms and molecules, which accelerate at various velocities toward a ity has been demonstrated only in detector. Based on the weights and charges recorded, the instrument instantaneously Reents' laboratory, detects particles determines the particle's quantity, composition, and size. between one -thousandth of a micron and nine -tenths of a micron (the average dust particle is 50 microns) during the tide, breaking it up into charged ions analysis, Reents said, has become process of semiconductor manufactur- and molecules. These then accelerate at increasingly important in recent years as ing and analyzes the particles in a various velocities, depending on their government regulators have voiced con- gaseous phase. While transmission elec- weight, and strike a detector. Based on cern about the health effects of sub - tron microscopes can see much smaller the weights and velocities recorded, the micron -sized airborne pollutants, both - particles (as small as an atom, or one instrument determines the particle's indoors and out. Another possible appli- ten -thousandth of a micron), those composition and size. cation for the detector is in performing instruments can only analyze particles This ability to analyze particle corn - trace analysis of particles in ultra -pure in stationary on a surface. position is also of interest in circles out- liquids, which are commonly used The Bell Labs instrument pulls gas side semiconductor manufacturing. pharmaceuticals and semiconductor particles out of the vacuum chamber Reents is at work adapting the instru- manufacturing. individually, detecting up to 10 particles ment to detect and analyze ambient par- Still, the Bell Labs device, which has per second. "What we do is, we pull a ticles in the surrounding atmosphere. the ability to detect particles in real time little bit of the gas stream with particles While other sensor methods can detect in a vacuum chamber, will likely find its from the chamber and bring them into particles as small as a micron, they can- first application in semiconductor manu- our `particle blaster'," said Reents. A not determine the complete composi- facturing. Better particle detection is high -intensity pulse laser hits each par- tion of those particles. Atmospheric important because transistors will 17

www.americanradiohistory.com e

approach the one -tenth -of-a- micron range in the near future. The ability to detect smaller and smaller particles will become even more important because tiny particles will be able to sneak into the increasingly smaller transistor features. In semiconductor processing, the current particle detection practice is to put a monitor wafer in the semiconductor production chamber, let it sit there for some period of time, pull it out and count particles on it. "You're limited to doing this only when you are not processing, so it doesn't reflect the conditions of the chamber during normal processing," Reents said. "Our instrument, on the other hand, can see particles whether you are processing or not processing, without affecting the process at all. You can have the plasma punning, you can be doing CHEMIN (for CHEmistry and MINeralogy) is a miniaturized XRD /XRF instrument that uses chemical vapor deposition, and it should a tiny X -ray tube and a charged -coupled device (CCD) to remotely analyze fine -grained soils, rock, and even ice samples, for chemical work for any of those cases." and mineralogical information. Reents believes the instrument, the research for which has been internally variety of mineralogy carries stories of and evolution. In order to do this type of funded by Lucent, should be able to pressure, temperature, oxygen fugacity, analysis, both X -ray diffraction (XRD) detect just about any particle. "We've and solution chemistry-all intertwined and chemical analysis by X -ray fluores- tried it on a dozen different things," he with histories of sedimentation, igneous cence (XRF) of minerals that contain said. "We tried it on some really tough activity, metamorphism, impacts, and water (including ice), sulfur, or halogens ones. Silica, for example, is easy to see surface weathering. are required. with this instrument; some people have Simultaneously determining the Recent progress in X -ray detector trouble detecting silica particles." chemistry and mineralogy of these bod- technology paved the way for the devel- More testing is planned before ies reveals the history of their formation opment of simultaneous XRD and XRF Reents confirms the device's suspected potential. "We are testing it on some instruments in our clean room, with shield some success so far," he said. "What we need to do is test it on several instru- sample ments, show that it's broadly applicable insertion and how good it is- quantify its signal 1 relative to that of a monitor wafer, carousel because when you have one tool that the engineers rely on you have to be bench - marked against that. If you can't dupli- carousel 1, aperture cate what they're used to, you've got drive problems. So we're benchmarking now." assembly After that, Reents hopes to license the technology and make a commercial window instrument available. "I think there should be a lot of interest," he said.-by Douglas Page field anode -alemitter _-_------::: ::: - =1 - If Rocks Could Talk The origins and histories of planetary, vacuum asteroidal, and cometary bodies are reflected in their building materials. electromagnetic lens Less than 100 naturally occurring elements combine together to form over 5 cm 3800 known minerals. This tremendous THIS SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM shows the components of the CHEMIN instrument. 18

www.americanradiohistory.com would in analysis. CHEMIN (for CHEmistry and amounts of each phase and crystal strut appear in the tubes just as they Each nanotube MINeralogy) is a miniaturized XRD/ ture parameters are varied. In addition, a vibrating guitar string. XRF instrument that remotely analyzes software is being developed to combine resonates at a specific frequency that fine -grained soils, rock, and even ice both the chemical XRF data and the depends on its length, diameter, density, samples, for chemical and mineralogical XRD result to perform this operation and elastic properties. you want information. Using a tiny X -ray tube more rigorously. "You can select which one it resonate," and a charged -coupled device (CCD), to examine and make turn up CHEMIN can answer questions about Poncharal explained. "Then you res- extraterrestrial mineralogy. It also has They Bend, But the frequency and another one will very applications on Earth in situations onate." The resonance occurs in a the researchers where a small, low- powered instrument They Don't Break narrow range, allowing properties of is needed, such as in geological sampling Small enough to weigh viruses and to measure the damping at remote, dangerous sites, or where soil other sub -micron scale particles, a the nanotubes. new field of has been contaminated. "nanobalance" is one application for "This opens a broad show that we can A flight-ready version of CHEMIN newly- discovered electronic and micro - study," said de Heer. "To carbon nanotubes is the size of a soda can, weighs less than mechanical properties of carbon nan- manipulate individual them with an electron a kilogram, consumes only a few watts of otubes. The use of the tiny tubes in this while examining power, and can be mounted on fixed lan- way depends on the ability to calculate microscope is breaking new ground." ders, soft penetrators, or small robotic changes in the resonant frequency that By applying a charge to a nanotube rovers. Small enough to fit onto a plan- occur with placement of an object onto a placed near an oppositely- charged etary rover, like the recent Martian nanotube. probe, the researchers were able to rover, CHEMIN gathers chemical data "This is comparable to putting an severely bend the tiny structures. "We degrees, and crystalline structure information object on the end of a spring and oscil- can bend a nanotube almost 90 simultaneously from samples. lating it," said Dr. Walter de Heer, pro- and it will still recover and straighten in Knowledge of crystalline structure is fessor in the Georgia Institute of out," said Dr. Z. L. Wang, professor and essential in determining whether a Technology School of Physics. "By the School of Materials Science keep chunk of extraterrestrial carbon is a dia- knowing the properties of the spring, Engineering. "You can on bending will not break. This mond or a lump of coal. you can measure the mass of the object. them and they The quality of CHEMIN XRD data We can use the nanotube like a standard shows that although nanotubes are very high elas- has now progressed to a point where calibrated spring." rigid, they have an extremely few materials can do this trace mineral occurrences ( <1 %) can be Applying this technique, Georgia tic limit. Very identified and quantified. Such applica- Tech researchers were able to measure without damage." tions illustrate the high sensitivity of the the mass of a 22 femtogram (1015 grams) As nanotubes are made thicker and prototype CHEMIN instrument, cur- graphite particle attached to the end of a thicker, they enter a new mode of bend- rently in use at NASA Ames Laboratory, resonating nanotube. "There is no other ing. Using high -resolution transmission in detecting very small quantities of way to weigh accurately something that electron microscopy, Dr. Daniel Ugarte diagnostic minerals. In operation since small," de Heer noted. of the Laboratorio National de Luz July 1996, this prototype instrument, They studied the behavior of multi- Sincotron in Brazil observed a rippling the collaborative work of Los Alamos walled nanotubes using a transmission on the surface of thick nanotubes as they in and NASA researchers, has verified the electron microscope with a unique sample deflected. This confirms that bending principle of CCD -based simultaneous holder designed and built by their col- these tubes is different. XRD and XRF. However, the instru- league Dr. Philippe Poncharal. The hold- "The elastic constant is varying as a is unex- ment is composed of surrogate compo- er allowed them to rotate specimens, apply function of its diameter, which nents that do not illustrate the full electrical voltage, and observe many fun- pected for a general material. This elas- capabilities that can be realized with an damental effects. The work was sponsored tic constant should be an intrinsic than optimized instrument. by the U.S. National Science Foundation property of the tubes, rather Nevertheless, the data obtained with and the U.S. Army Research Office. depending on its geometry or size," the CCD -based instrument are suffi- Electrical voltage can be used to explained Wang. m cient not only to determine the mineral induce electrostatic deflection and vibra- phases present, but also to apply tional resonance in individual carbon nan- Rietveld analysis in estimating the rela- otubes. This ability to selectively deflect The Once and tive proportions of mineral phases in the or induce resonance in individual nan- sample. Rietveld analysis involves calcu- otubes opens new potential microme- Future Fridge by Frigidaire Home lating a model diffraction pattern based chanical applications for the tiny Developed innova- on the crystal structures of the known structures, which are smaller than the Products, with technology ICL's retail systems division, phases in a mixture. The quality of fit finest features on modern microcircuits. tions from recently made between the observed and calculated dif- The researchers applied an oscillat- the first online refrigerator for fraction patterns is then improved via a ing voltage to induce resonant vibration its debut. It provides an opportunity least- squares process in which relative in the nanotubes. Resonant nodes "anything, anytime, anywhere" shopping. 19

www.americanradiohistory.com From their kitchens, consumers can via an Ethernet cable. the security needs of our customers. access selected retailers, order, scan and "Internet shopping is taking off, but PFS -100 combines the best of optical purchase goods, pay their bills, and even until recently, it was mostly the sale of and CMOS sensor technology to create watch television and send e-mail mes- books, CDs, and other leisure or enter- a very durable and low -cost device. The sages -all from their fridge. tainment items," says Tony Evans, PFS -100 finger -image scanner is a direct The prototype online refrigerator spokesman for Frigidaire Home Products. result of our experience with finger incorporates a flat -panel touchscreen "Also it focused on the PC or Web TV, images and with large -scale identifica- monitor and bar-code scanner, both which are not in the right place for people tion programs." Polaroid produces some located on the door, and has a 233 -MHz we call Kitchen Managers. This develop- 300 -million identification documents personal computer installed within the ment can bring `home shopping' directly worldwide each year. unit. It runs Microsoft Windows 95 into the kitchen and thus into the hands of using 32 MB of RAM. It also includes an the Kitchen Manager-the person who is external Ethernet connection. responsible for running the heart of the There are two ways for the refrigera- home and who is responsible for most tor to be connected to the Net. The weekly purchasing decisions. With ICL, refrigerator could be connected to a we've shown it can be done." m standard telephone line for dial -up capabilities to an Internet service provider. This requires only that a telephone line, Your Identity, jack, and cable be near the unit. The other method is to connect the refriger- Please ator to an in -home Ethernet network. In Designed for Personal Computer and THIS FINGERTIP that case, an available port on an network security, the PFS -100 SCANNER gives com- from puters and other Ethernet hub is all that's needed to con- Polaroid, devices enhanced securi- a low -cost finger-image scan- ty while eliminating the need for passwords, nect the in- refrigerator PC to the hub ner, is targeted at users with desktop PIN numbers, etc. security concerns and for personal security in e- The new device is a logical extension commerce applications. It of the identification tools and identifica- will be sold through origi- tion technology developed by Polaroid's nal equipment manufac- worldwide ID systems business unit. turers (OEMs) and Polaroid ID card and biometric technol- integrated into computer ogy already authenticates identification systems and keyboards. documents and their owners and pro- Key Source International tects driver's licenses, passports, and Inc. will be integrating the other identification documents from PFS-100 into their key- tampering and counterfeiting. board product line later "The PFS -100 finger -image scanner this year. is just one of the devices that will be The finger scanner is needed to eliminate PINs and pass- about the size of a pack of words, enhance PC and network securi- gum and can be easily inte- ty and enable e- commerce," said Robert grated into USB key- S. Murray, president of Polaroid's boards and other devices Identification and Transaction Systems in any orientation. The division. "Identity theft and fraud are CMOS chip used in the serious and growing problems. Annual PFS -100 is manufactured reported worldwide fraud losses are for Polaroid by ATMEL reported at more than $1 billion." Inc. and IBM supplied the Polaroid has been producing driver's advanced finger analysis licenses and identification cards using software. both photographic and digital systems. Philip J. Scarfo, vice The company currently produces dri- president of biometrics for ver's licenses in 37 U.S. states including Polaroid, said "We are California, Texas, Georgia, Hawaii, and using the knowledge and West Virginia. Polaroid's Georgia dri- experience of more than ver's license solution is the largest civil 50 years in the identifica- biometric system in place worldwide tion business to create a with more than 5 million drivers carry- BRINGING THE INTERNET into the kitchen, this refrigera- family of reliable biomet- ing licenses protected with fingerprint tor can even do your shopping for you. rics components that meet verification. 20

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www.americanradiohistory.com --wliMea .0 nNNM .1II- BY SAM GOLDWASSER SERVICE EDITOR

Testing Flyback Transformers

WHEN PROBLEMS DEVELOP IN THE HORIZONTAL SCOPE TEST POINT

DEFLECTION/HIGH VOLTAGE SUBSYSTEMS OF TVs OR HIGH QUALITY NON-POLARIZED MONITORS (OR EVEN MODERN PULSE CAPACITOR ALL OTHER OSCILLOSCOPES AND OTHER CRT INPUT - WINDINGS (LEFT OPEN) DISPLAYS), THE FLYBACK TRANSFORMER (OR LINE -OUTPUT TRANS- DEVICE UNDER TEST former for those on the other side of the Why is the Deflection and High pond) is often a suspected cause. That is Voltage Combined? FIG. 1 -IF YOU HAVE A SCOPE, a ring test using this set is due in part to the fact that the flyback is One of the main reasons up the easiest way to that TVs test a flyback. usually the most expensive and hard -to- and many monitors are designed with find replacement part in the unit and horizontal -deflection driven flybacks is could be a single winding. An alternative because flybacks are often less well simply economics -it provides a cheap is to provide a lower-voltage winding understood than other more common way to get the high voltage and many or and use a voltage multiplier (diode - components. most of the other voltages for the set capacitor ladder) to boost that to what is This month, we will look at the fly- with minimal hardware. (High quality required by the CRT Very fine wire back in detail. We'll deal with what it is, computer monitors sometimes use a (e.g., AWG 40) will be used for the high - how it fails, how to test it, and what to separate high- voltage supply.) The use voltage winding. The high- voltage lead do if it is indeed defective. But first, a... of the horizontal frequency rather than to the CRT is fed from the highest volt- Warning. Read, understand, and fol- the AC -line frequency of 50 or 60 Hz age output of the rectifier or multiplier. low the safety recommendations pub- allows the power -supply components to (Sometimes the multiplier is external.) lished in previous "Service Clinic" articles be small and light compared to a line - Resistive divider network for focus or at my Web site (www.repairfaq.org) operated power transformer and filter and screen (G2)-this will probably be before attempting any troubleshooting of capacitors. fed from only one of the series connect- a monitor or TV! If you don't know what ed windings (if used). Often, there are you are doing, or are careless, both you Flyback Construction adjustments for focus and screen right and your set could suffer irreparable While details can vary somewhat, all on the flyback. harm. flybacks consist of a set of windings on a Auxiliary windings- anywhere from gapped ferrite core. High -voltage diodes a couple of turns (for the CRT filament) What Is The Flyback? and resistive dividers (often with adjust- to several hundred turns (for a boost The typical flyback or Line OutPut ment pots) for focus and screen (G2) source). Those supply various voltages for Transformer (LOPT) consists of two may also be present. the typical TV or monitor: CRT filament, parts: A typical flyback includes the follow- logic power, analog power, boost source A special transformer that, in con- ing components: (where the flyback does not include its junction with the horizontal- output Drive winding -for a typical TV or own screen supply), etc. transistor /deflection circuits, boosts the monitor, this may be 100 or so turns of Ferrite core -this consists of two C B+ of the low- voltage power supply to medium gauge (e.g., AWG 26) wire. shaped pieces clamped together with the 20 to 30 kV for the CRT and pro- This is what is connected in series with either a spring arrangement or studs and vides various secondary lower voltages the B+ to the horizontal output transis- nuts. There will be a gap of a fraction of for other circuits. tor in a TV or monitor. a millimeter provided by a set of spacers A voltage divider that provides the High voltage winding -several between the two C sections. focus and screen supplies. The focus and thousand turns. This winding may be Most modern flybacks have all the screen are generally the top and bottom split into several series sections with a windings on the same leg of the core. knobs, respectively. high -voltage rectifier for each, or it The drive winding and auxiliary wind- 22

www.americanradiohistory.com the horizontal output transistor and other r expensive parts, like the low -voltage regu- HV OIODE(S), HV lator or switch -mode power supply. If the S1 CONNECTOR TEST (USUALLY no gaps Ti T2 core can be reconstructed so that BUILT IN) I In than the required ones where the 0 o--, (other t iÌ clamped Iv HV two halves join) are present and I 10T 10T WINDING glued in place, it should be possi- 1I II and/or IM 11= ble to perform testing without undue risk 17 11 1I of circuit damage but consider a replace- !I II HV as a long-term solution. RETURN ment flyback I I REWOUND FLYBACK UNDER TEST II FLYBACK 3. Internal shorts in the focus /screen II CORE (OTHER WINDINGS One sign of I1 LEFT OPEN) divider network, if present. 11 J this may be arc -over of the focus or screen spark gaps on the PC board on the neck of the CRT -BASED FLYBACK TESTER excites a flyback in much the same FIG. 2 -THE CHOPPER 4. Internal shorts in the windings. way as would occur in normal operation. 5. Open windings. More than one of these may apply in case. As noted, temporary repair ings will be wound and separately insu- trapped air bubbles and impurities in the any given possible for failures 1 lated under the high -voltage winding. Epoxy fill material contribute to failure. at least is sometimes 3 5, replacement is The high -voltage winding will consist of Temperature cycles and manufacturing and 2. For failures to alternative. many layers that have insulating materi- defects result in fine cracks in the Epoxy usually the only al (i.e., Mylar) between them. potting material reducing the insulation The other components will be breakdown voltage, particularly in the Initial Tests Warning: Before proceeding, make mounted in a separate part of the assem- area of the high- voltage windings, recti- have the TV or monitor bly and the entire unit is then potted in fiers, and focus /screen divider network. sure you and confirm that the main an Epoxy-type filler. Part of the core is They also physically vibrate to some unplugged CRT have been generally accessible -often one entire extent. A whole bunch of other factors filter capacitor(s) and leg. are also no doubt important. safely discharged! first tests, you'll only be A flyback is not an ordinary trans- Once a breakdown -sparking or arc- For these and perhaps a multi- former. The ferrite core contains a gap. ing- develops, it is usually terminal. using your senses a careful visual Energy is stored in the magnetic field of Actually, it is amazing that flybacks last meter. First, perform with power off. Look for the core during scan as the current is as long as they do with the stresses they inspection plastic, and ramping up. This was discussed when are under. cracks, bulging or melted for bad solder con- we dealt with deflection systems in pre- discoloration, Look of the flyback as vious Service Clinic articles on deflec- How Do Flyback nections at the pins can be pow- tion systems. Transformers Fail? well. If the TV or monitor for arcing or corona CAUTION: The gap is critical to Flybacks fail in several ways: ered safely, check and in its vicinity, the proper operation and is usually 1. Overheating leading to cracks in around the flyback tests for determined by some plastic spacers. the plastic and external arcing. If there is Next, perform ohmmeter between windings; Mark each one and replace them in no major damage to the windings, repair obvious short circuits reduced winding resis- exactly the same position if you disas- may be possible. However, arcing from look for greatly windings. Don't neglect semble the core for any reason. the windings punctures their very thin tances and open insulation so that shorted windings may to check between the CRT HV connec- on the Why Do Flyback already have developed. Even if the tor (suction cup) and the pins Transformers Fail? windings are currently in good condi- base; that should measure infinity. -voltage windings, service While flyback transformers can on tion, long -term reliability of any such For the low the expected DC occasion be blown due to a failure else- repairs is questionable. manuals may provide Photofact, for example). where in the TV or monitor's power Nonetheless, it doesn't hurt to try resistance (Sams' that will change enough to supply or deflection circuits, in most cleaning and coating with multiple lay- Sometimes, you have an ohmmeter cases, they simply expire on their own. ers of high voltage sealer, corona dope, be detected -if scale as these are Why? or even plastic electrical tape (preferably with a low- enough of an ohm. It is diffi- Flybacks are wound with many layers as a temporary repair, though I have got- usually a fraction or impossible to measure the DC of really, really fine wire with really, real- ten away with leaving this in place per- cult of the HV winding since the ly thin insulation. This entire assembly manently). If possible, moving the point resistance rectifiers are usually built in. The value is potted with an Epoxy resin that is to which the flyback is arcing further either. poured in and allowed to cure. away (i.e., a piece of metal or another is not published that are much less In some ways, these are just short cir- wire) would also help. Any measurements the published values likely indicate cuits waiting to happen. Flybacks get hot 2. A cracked or otherwise damaged than shorted winding. However, a during use, and this leads to deterioration core will effect the flyback characteristics a partially 10% might not be signifi- of the insulation. Any imperfections, to the point where it may not work cor- difference of than normal readings 23 nicks, or scratches in the insulation, or rectly. In some cases that could even blow cant at all. Higher

www.americanradiohistory.com might simply indicate that a design for a similar size TV or similar type of enough current for this. If you don't change was made. monitor (as appropriate). It may be close have one of these, use a simple 555 Of course, any continuity between enough to keep the drive circuitry astable circuit or function generator. separate windings is definitely a fault. happy. Power up the TV or monitor Look at the waveform across the Partially short -circuited windings (preferably with a series light bulb or on resonant circuit with a scope. A good (perhaps, just a couple of turns) and a Variac). If the B+ now climbs to a more unit will give a nicely decaying oscilla- sometimes shorts in the focus/screen normal value, a problem with the origi- tion, of at least a few cycles, possibly tens divider will drastically lower the Q and nal flyback is indicated. However, more of cycles. If there is a shorted turn any- increase the load the flyback puts on its thorough testing may be desirable to be where in the device, the oscillations will driving source with no outputs connect- absolutely certain. be seriously damped, and you'd be lucky ed. Those types of failures, which are If you do this regularly, keeping a to see two complete cycles. Experience not detectable by simple ohmmeter tests selection of "flyback simulators" -just and/or comparison with a known good or visual inspection, require the trou- the drive windings and cores -might be device will tell you what to expect. bleshooting techniques described in the desirable. Method 2: The circuit in Fig. 2 "Advanced Testing" section, a little later excites the flyback in much the same way in this article. Advanced Testing as in normal operation; note that none It is also possible that various types of When the basic tests are inconclu- of the component values in the circuit flyback faults can damage other circuitry sive, there are several ways of testing fly - are particularly critical. The only cau- (beyond taking out the horizontal- output backs (assuming you do not actually tion is that this tester probably does not transistor and its associated parts). have special test equipment for this pur- put enough stress on the flyback to find Therefore, if shorts are detected in the pose). Here are two possibilities. The an intermittent that fails only under full flyback, it is worth testing some of the first is easier if you have a scope, but the operating conditions. However, most components in the vicinity, and vice -versa. second is more fun. flyback failures are solid -once a short Method 1: The following technique develops, there is a meltdown of sorts The Process of Elimination works for flybacks; chopper transform- and it is there to stay. Before attempting the more ers; motors; mains transformers; deflec- You will need a 12 V power source of advanced tests suggested below, there tion -yoke windings; VCR, video, and at least 2 or 3 amps capacity (regulation may be ways being of more certain that other magnetic heads; and other transis not important-I just use a simple your flyback is the problem component. formers, coils, or inductors. It is called a transformer, rectifier, filter capacitor The following assumes that running the "ring test" and is the method often used type of power supply). If the circuit does TV or monitor with the suspect flyback by commercial flyback (or other not start oscillating at about 5 volts or results in an excessive load on the low coil/transformer) testers. The theory is less, interchange the two feedback con- voltage (B +) power supply, blowing a that a faulty flyback will have shorted nections to the transistor bases. fuse (or attempting to blow a fuse- turns in one of the coils. In such a case, The tester is just a chopper feeding excessively bright series light bulb). The the Q of the transformer is greatly the salvaged core from an old flyback (I B+ likely drops from its normal 65 VDC reduced. If excited by an impulse, a removed the inductance control spacers to 140 VDC or more (depending on the faulty transformer will resonate with a for this core). The drive (5T +5T) and actual TV or monitor and mode) to feedback (2T +2T) coils can be wound some low value like 25 when VDC mea- 'M 1 O TO HV CONNECTOR from hookup wire (#14 -#20) and well sured on the low -voltage power -supply _ 100K O insulated with plastic electrical tape. side of the flyback -drive winding. 100 MEASURE Connect the VDC HERE center taps directly to the (Measuring at the HOT can result in all coils -do not bring out a loop of wire. sorts of weird readings due to the pulse + r PROBE TO EACH PIN Make sure all the turns of each coil are nature of the waveform and is not rec- wound in the same direction. Wind the FIG. 3-IT IS IMPORTANT TO LOCATE the ommended- especially when everything feedback coil directly on top of the drive is working properly -since there HV return. This circuit makes that easier to you do. coil. The secondary of this core is a 10- will be dealing with 1500 V pulses!) turn well -insulated coil similar to the Disconnect all the secondary loads highly damped oscillation while a good other two wound on the opposite side of from the suspect flyback including the one will decay gradually. the ferrite core. CRT. Connect only the drive (B+ and Connect a high quality capacitor You will need to remove the suspect HOT). Power up the TV or monitor across a larger winding (not the fila- flyback from the TV or monitor. (preferably with a series light bulb or on ment) of the suspect device; see Fig. 1. Another 10 -turn coil is wound on the a Variac). If the B+ now climbs to a more Hope for a resonant frequency of a few suspect flyback core anywhere it will fit. normal value, a problem with the HV kHz. You may need to select the capaci- Connect one end of this coil to one end (CRT short) or one of the secondary tor value for best results. I have found of the 10 -turn coil on your old flyback loads is indicated. Connect each of these that a capacitor in the 0.001- to 1 -1F core. Use a wire nut or twist together up one a time (or test individual compo- (non -polarized) range will usually be securely. Provide an easy way of con- nents) to localize the fault. The flyback satisfactory. necting the other ends momentarily -a is likely good. Apply a pulse waveform to the par- pushbutton comes in handy. Remove the suspect flyback and allel- resonant circuit. In 1960, most Make sure you locate the HV return connect just the HOT and B+ to the scopes had a "sync out" on the time base lead on the flyback and use that as the 24 drive winding of a known good flyback that provided a few tens of volts at return for the arc. Otherwise, you may

www.americanradiohistory.com O HV CABLE IIf D1 (20 TO 30KV DRIVE WINDING 1.32 TO CRT "SUCTION II lo CUP" CONNECTOR 11 ON FAT RED WIRE) HOT 11

11 50V 0 11 R1 I1 FOCUS FOCUS D2 .11 II ADJUST VARIOUS - (3 TO 10KV, 35V O 11 (TOP POT) ORANGE WIRE) AUXILLIARY .28:11 WINDINGS 16V O 5 11 R2 SCREEN /G2 SCREEN /G2 L. OV b D3 O (200 TO 800V, ADJUST H1 BROWN WIRE) r a (BOTTOM POT) CRT HEATER < L_ H1 1 O CRT DAG GROUND (HV RETURN)

FIG. 4-A SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM of a typical flyback. Note the resistance values shown are illustrative and may differ widely from the ones on your unit. puncture the insulation when the high under the flyback -at the pins -either is unlikely. would voltage finds it own path to ground. you did not locate the correct HV return General diode failure (shorts) with the sorts There are several approaches that can be or there is a short inside resulting in HV probably not be detected typical taken to identify the lead -possibly in arcing internally to the low voltage of tests described above or with Actually, a combination: windings. flyback -testing equipment. Process of elimination -the HV I have used this "tester" on a dozen simple ohmmeter test between the HV If this return will often be an isolated pin on or so flybacks. It has never been wrong output and return might suffice! I suggest the the flyback not connected to anything (though I have opted not to believe it doesn't reveal anything, else. Check with ohmmeter. and gotten in trouble). following: way to test for this Check all connections on the circuit One possible capac- board and identify those that go to Flyback- Testing Equipment would be to attach a high -voltage return ground. One of those flyback pins will be Sencore and others sell test equip- itor between the HV output and are good, the the HV return. It will do no harm to con- ment that includes the "ring test" or of the flyback. If the diodes charge nect them all to ground during testing. similar capabilities built in. For the pro- tester's excitation should then out voltage Use a 100 -VDC or greater power fessional, these are well worth the this cap up (watch -the to be quite high!). While supply and a high -value resistor, say expense. However, a hobbyist could might get 100K in the set up shown in Fig. 3. probably purchase lifetime TV replace- charging, this load will make the flyback it Connect the power supply negative out- ments for the cost of one of these fancy fail any ring test. Once charged, put through this resistor to the HV lead gadgets. should pass. However, if the diodes are the flyback to on the flyback (suction cup connector). Bob Parker has now designed an shorted, I would expect to pre- Check each pin on the base of the fly- inexpensive, easy -to -use LOPT/Flyback test bad as the cap will continue and never back with the probe. Touching the Tester available through Dick Smith sent an AC load on the output return pin will result in the voltage read- Electronics. Information is available at: charge properly. ing dropping to perhaps 50 or 60 volts. www.nlc.net.au /-bobp /fbt.htm (Bob Schematic This is the forward voltage drop across Parker's FBT Page). This (along with his Typical Flyback a typical the high -voltage rectifier stack inside ESR meter) have been highly recom- The diagram in Fig. 4 shows found in a direct - the flyback. All other pins will result in it mended on the sci.electronics.repair flyback that might be moni- remaining at the supply voltage. newsgroup. view color television or computer for illustra- Once the HV return is found, the cir- Other flyback testers are described tor. Resistances are included only and may be quite dif- cuit in Fig. 2 is wired, and everything is at: www.usit.com /kephart/flyback.htm tive purposes flyback. double checked, it is time to "turn on (Kephart's FBT Page) and www.vaag.es/ ferent on your on the right the juice." produc/art/hr-stvdst-01/index_en.htm The high-voltage section constructed as a voltage If the flyback is good, then with the (VAAG FBT Page). Various electronics might actually be than a single winding coils connected there will be several kV magazines have published construction multiplier rather diodes. The rectifiers at its output-enough to create a small articles for various types of simplified with multiple HV and/or focus /screen divider arc C/8-inch typical, up to 1/2-inch for versions of these devices as well. or multiplier, to the flyback trans- color flybacks). might be external The load imposed on the oscillator Testing for Bad former in some models. transformers used in black - will be modest (the frequency increases High -Voltage Diodes Flyback monochrome corn - in response to load). If there are any A single diode failure would be tough and- white TVs and not have a focus and shorted windings, then there will be no to find if it is in series with other diodes puter monitors do network. Older ones do significant HV output and the load on (as is typical on larger flybacks) as it screen divider a -voltage rectifier the oscillator will increase dramatically. would only be a problem when run near not include high on page 87) 25 If you get arcing or corona from full output. However, this sort of failure (Continued

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www.americanradiohistory.com Shiver me timbers, here's a look inside the never boring world of clandestine broadcasting, more colorfully known as "Pirate Radio."

Rad!o tubes are glowing in the dim, electronics- equipment- strewn room. The aroma of incense laces the air. Steve Mann tunes around the shortwave frequency of 6955 kHz one last time to check for other stations using the channel. The radio emits only the light crackle of atmospheric noise. He leans over, flicks a switch on an aging amateur radio transmitter, and punches the play button on his cassette deck. Radio Eclipse is on the air. As the opening "signature" (interval signal) is playing, shortwave listeners from Ontario to Texas begin tuning in. Others dial up the nal, Mann turns off the tube finals articles about Stephen Dunifer of Internet to let friends know that and puts the transmitter in standby Free Radio Berkeley, who has tied Radio Eclipse is broadcasting a mode to cool off. Just aller turning the FCC up in court for several new program. the receiver back on, the static is years or about Radio Newyork Meanwhile, back at the clan- broken by the words "Good show, International or Radio Caroline destine studio of Radio Eclipse, the Steve." Mann flicks off the standby (from England), both of which strains of "Everybody Wants You" by switch. So ends the broadcast day broadcast from large vessels in Billy Squire die down. Steve Mann of Radio Eclipse. international waters. But how many begins the much -anticipated As you might have guessed, have actually heard a pirate? on "News of the Week" segment. As Radio Eclipse is a pirate station - Stations have been pouring usual, Steve mixes factual news with one of those almost -mythical phe- to the airwaves over the past five shortwave culture and complete nomena that have been quietly years in the United States and nonsense...producing often- hilari- making the headlines for the past Canada. By the FCC's estimates, ous results. In the past, Mann had decade, but that few people seem 300 pirate stations were broadcast- aired everything from barbs at to have heard or really know any- ing from the U.S. going in to 1998, sportscaster Mary Albert to thing about. Sure, many have seen but these numbers are certainly announcing a "list" of Andrew conservative. Miami, Florida alone Cunanan's potential victims that has boasted approximately 20 sta- ABOUT THE AUTHOR the station "discovered." This week, tions in 1998! A radio pirate in your publishes Hobhy Broad- however, Mann sticks with safer tar- Andrew Yoder hometown might even have casting magazine. He has also .vrìtten the escaped your attention. So, then, gets, namely those involved with following books about pirate radio: Pirate what is the goings -on in Washington. Radio Stations, Pirate Radio, and Pirate who are these pirates and After a few more songs, fake Radio Operations. He czn be contacted the hoopla all about? ads, station -address announce- at: ayoder @cvn.net or P.O. Box 642, Mont Alto, PA 17237. ments, and more of the interval sig- FM Pirates. Free Radio Berkeley 27

www.americanradiohistory.com has been in court with the FCC for more stations began broadcasting. since the AM "expanded band" several years over their right to Now it seems that in any city of opened in the U.S. Long- distance broadcast. But the group has done 100,000 or greater, at least a few FM U.S. -based radio pirates have much more than just create legal pirates are broadcasting, either on largely disappeared because any hassles for the FCC. FRB has also a set schedule or irregularly. The such stations appearing within the worked hard to spread pirate radio larger cities have literally dozens of band are for the most part crowd- (called "microradio" or "microcast- pirates, some of which are broad- ed out by much more powerful sig- ing" by those devoted to the casting on a 24- hour-per -day /7- nals from commercial stations at cause) to the masses. Stephen days -a -week basis. For example, night. But AM pirating lives on in Dunifer has sent out regular press when the FCC swept into Miami, other countries. Dozens of stations releases, newsletters, and corn- Florida in the summer of 1998, it raid- from the Netherlands crowd the area from 1580 to 1630 kHz, and pirates from Greece and Alternative! Yugoslavia often Your Alternative to the 6955 USB -AM can be heard there as well. These days, if any North American pirate would like to EC Lip broadcast on a clear nighttime s/tv!0 S channel, it would be necessary to move to 1710 or 1720 kHz. But will anyone be listening?

95 WATTS USB Shortwave Pirates. For decades, the shortwave frequencies rih>P1a ,r9 have !:!S:___ f..'iL. ,. 150 WATTS AM been a favorite pirate hangout. Those on the outside might wonder why anyone would waste their time A business card from Steve Mann's Radio Eclipse pirate radio station. broadcasting on frequencies that many can not receive. But upon further inspection, you can see that the ments concerning Free Radio ed 15 different FM pirates that were shortwave bands and pirate radio Berkeley in particular, and the unli- broadcasting on a regular basis. seem almost made for each other. censed radio scene in general, to Within a month of the enforcement the FCC and major mass -media actions at least five new pirate outlets across the country. broadcasters, all operating on regu- The press releases and newslet- lar schedules, could be heard. ; ters helped keep Free Radio The same story is being repeated re Berkeley and other unlicensed across the country. Stations begin . broadcasters in the news in the San broadcasting, the FCC closes some ,i1Stp Y1'FM Francisco Bay area, and as a hot of them down, and more opera- G% \ \ . -9 s feature across the country. But Free tions come to life. As the FCC raids ,/, Radio Berkeley did more than just more stations, the pirates become inspire others to broadcast. They more resourceful and more deter- actually helped put other stations mined. It appears that some huge on the air by producing transmitter events are on the horizon for unli- kits so that other like- minded peo- censed FM broadcasting. ple could have their own piece of Program Guide the airwaves. AM Pirates. For decades, AM As a result, stations began pop- pirate radio mostly occurred at the +fluter '97 ping up across the FM band top end of the AM- broadcast around the United States, many band. The earliest well -known AM Some pirate stations broadcast on a fired schedule and even provided a program guide such as using the FRB transmitters. The moti- pirates began broadcasting there this one from a suburban Boston operation. vation was simple; most radio in the 1960s and 1970s. From that enthusiasts seem to believe that point on, the 1615- to 1635 -kHz licensed radio has abandoned range was pirate territory. In the The greatest advantage of community and niche program- late 1970s and early 1980s, pirates shortwave is its ratio of signal cover- ming. Before long, companies such such as WFAT, Pirate Radio New age to power. The typical 10 -watt as Veronica, Broadcast Warehouse, England, WART, WDX, WENJ, KPRC, FM station will only cover anywhere and others were manufacturing KW Radio, Free Radio 1615, and from a few blocks to a few miles, higher -powered FM transmitters many others would have hundreds depending on the height of the and marketing them in the United of listeners, often receiving dozens antenna and the obstacles in its States. The competition lowered of calls during every broadcast. path. However, with a decent 28 the transmitter prices, and even Much has changed, however, antenna, 10 watts on shortwave

www.americanradiohistory.com face can easily cover several hundred ule, were staffed by volunteers from station owners were cuffed, from miles during the daytime or 1000 the community and often operat- down on the floor, agents agencies miles at night. ed from a fixed location. For the numerous government Obviously, if shortwave signals most part, the shortwave stations rifled through personal possessions, can cover such a huge territory, were more careful and operated confiscating radio equipment, audio these stations are much more diffi- only a few hours per month, but still equipment, and music collections. con- cult to locate using direction -find- mostly from homes or other perma- The enforcement activities ing (DFing) equipment. The pirate nent locations. tinued throughout 1998. Outspoken could be anywhere! Also, short- But in November 1997, the FCC opponents of the FCC, such as Free wave signals can reflect off large began to put the squeeze on much Radio Mutiny (Philadelphia), Radio Berkeley, and others were all closed down. The FCC claimed more than 200 raids against pirates in 1998. But the stations haven't disappeared; if anything, they've become more resourceful. Radio Mutiny was perhaps the master of strategic publicity. After a publicity campaign, the station broadcast from the site of the Liberty Bell. They stated that if their voice of liberty was wrong, then the FCC was justi- fied in raiding the station there, in front of os nation's symbol of liberty and the TV cameras. The FCC was apparently camera shy and the broadcast was a success. Armed with the promise of a media A QSL card from 1970s pirate WFAT in New York City. blitz, a female announcer broadcast from their studios completely the FCC to buildings, hills and mountains, water of the carefree broadcasting. The naked that night, daring another towers, etc. and provide false sig- first action was an attack on a trio of close the station. Again, Mutiny was nals for those who are attempting FM stations (87X, Lutz Community success. When Radio to locate the station. Radio, and The Party Pirate) in the eventually raided, the FCC waited and the The vast distances and many Tampa, Florida area. Those raids until no one was around borders traversed by shortwave sig- were notable because the FCC station was off the air. nals give those frequencies the final exercised considerable force to At a low -power FM conference advantage. Who wouldn't feel close down the community stations. in Washington, DC in October 1998, build- compelled to tune in mysterious Those who owned the stations were attendees marched to the broadcasts from great distances? awakened in the early morning ings of the FCC and the National (NAB). For example, in the 1970s and hours, with SWAT teams aiming auto- Association of Broadcasters the front of 1980s, Russian pirates, called "radio matic weapons at them. While the As the parade reached hooligans" by Soviet officials, offen broadcast in the 2000- to 4000 -kHz North American Shortwave Pirates region. After the fall of communism Some Active in the Soviet Union, the Russian Blind Faith Radio Testing and 1960s/1970s album rock. pirate Radio Without Borders Free Hope Experience A weird mixture of UFOs, free speech, and comedy skits. music -very mysterious! International was heard all over Mystery Radio All- instrumental synthesized Homebrew comedy all related to shortwave listening. Europe (and even in Canada) with Radio Azteca Radio Eclipse A wide variety of music and elaborate parodies. its -Western pop music format. pro Radio Free Speech Professional mix of novelty music, fake ads, and free speech editorials. Recent Enforcement Actions. Until Radio Metallica Worldwide Rock and metal music, plenty of R -rated discussions. relatively recently, pirate stations, WACK Rock music and telephone call -ins. both on shortwave and FM, have WEED Collage -style mixes of rock and punk music, with snips of movies. been broadcasting with reckless audio from speeches and rockabilly music. abandon, sometimes for several WLIQ Mostly WLIS "We Love Interval Signals " -interval signals from stations years. Many of those FM stations around the world and some rock music. bluntly challenged the FCC's rules WMPR Techno music and brief IDs. and their right to enforce them. WSRR "Solid Rock Radio" Rock, rap, and soul music, with some These stations, particularly the ones Christian sermons. that operated on a regular sched- 29

www.americanradiohistory.com the FCC building, a 10-watt FM The History Of Unlicensed Radio transmitter was turned on and Radio Mutiny began broadcasting, Without a doubt, pirate radio goes back Early Years by John Bryant and Harold to the earliest days of broadcasting. The Cones features speaking out against FCC control a photo from when the first broadcasts ever were made by Zenith flagship radio station decided to of the airwaves. The FCC again Reginald Fessenden on Christmas Eve defy the FRC's ruling concerning their fre- took no action. 1906. Just like the pirate broadcasts that quency in 1927. The station staff all In late November, two radio would appear nearly a century later, donned pirate costumes for the broad- activists in Berkeley, California broad- Fessenden's program appeared on a hol- cast! And a 1930s issue of RADEX, a cast for days, 50 feet up in a red- iday without a schedule; was relatively radio -listening magazine, mentions one short; featured variety show music, wood tree as "Tree Radio Berkeley." talk, listener who received QSL cards from and readings; and it surprised those who several different AM According to several reports, the Ohio pirates. tuned in. Of course, Fessenden's broad- Pirate radio slowed pair had received down for World War considerable casts were also unlicensed. According to Il, replaced instead by clandestine radio media attention and vocal support many accounts, these types of unli- and espionage. The Cold War of the 1950s censed, hobby broadcasts occurred also was tough on the independent broad- through the teens, up through the early casters. But as the commercial pirates 1920s when the Federal Radio (such as Radio Caroline, Radio London, Commission (predecessor of the FCC) Radio Mercur, Radio City, and others) banned unlicensed broadcasting and began to take to the airwaves off the coast broadcasting by amateur -radio operators. of Northern Europe in the late 1950s and It wasn't long until pirates began active- early 1960s, pirate radio suddenly caught ly challenging the authority of the FRC. the interest of a new generation. In addition The first -known "true" pirate was WUMS to inspiration from the Europeans, ( "We're Unknown Mysterious Station "), American enthusiasts were aided by then - which operated irregularly from the banks inexpensive World War Il surplus equip- of the Ohio River from 1924 until 1948. ment, Lafayette phono oscillators, and Station operator David Thomas even built such underground works as The Anarchist a secret transmitter into a table and man- Cookbook. aged to foil the FCC in court in 1938 and By the 1970s, pirate radio was a fully 1948 -even though he had been sen- established niche and some radio hobby- tenced to four years in prison and an ists even labeled themselves as "pirate $8000 fine. The real end for WUMS came radio listeners." The situation was espe- not from the FCC, but from the operator cially well entrenched in Europe, where himself. Thomas died of cancer in 1983, some shortwave pirates were receiving lit- soon after testing a new transmitter that erally hundreds of letters for just a Sunday would have put WUMS back on the air. morning broadcast. Activity was not near- Other early mentions of pirate radio are ly as organized in North America during difficult to find, but are recorded, nonethe- the 1970s, but still numerous stations Mystery radio is one of a number of active (a less. For example, Zenith Radio: The were active during the decade. of this writing) North American shortwave pirates. See the sidebar for others. look for FM pirates is to get to know been using 7415 kHz when a from people in the community. It was the broadcast spectrum and fre- licensed station (WBCQ) that also also reported that the FCC's first quently tune the clear channels. uses that frequency is off the air. Most attempt to serve the pair a Notice of Otherwise, it's a good idea to regu- pirates broadcast during the week- Apparent Liability failed because larly read the alt.radio.pirate news - end afternoons and evenings, they couldn't find a way to get the group on the Internet, check the although when activity was peaking papers up the tree! local record shops and alternative in 1997 and 1998 (before the FCC On shortwave, activity in the weekly papers, and read Hobby raids), weekday- evening broadcasts United States has decreased signif- Broadcasting magazine (see the were not uncommon. icantly following raids on four differ- "About the Author" box). Once you The European pirates typically ent pirates around the country this know that a station is active on a use the frequencies between 3900 past October. Unlike the direct - given frequency, then you can tune and 3950 and also 6200 to 6300 confrontation approach taken by in whenever you have a chance kHz. The former range is used pri- many FM stations, the shortwave and see if anything turns up. marily at night and the latter is used pirates have simply disappeared, Shortwave is very different. You during Sunday mornings. Often, apparently awaiting the time that don't need to really know a huge more than one and sometimes two "the coast is clear." variety of frequencies. Instead, most dozen stations broadcast every pirates congregate around several weekend, but these are very diffi- Tuning In To Pirate Radio well- known, clear frequencies. The cult to hear in North America If Stations. you live in a city or in current prime frequency area is plus because 3900 -3950 kHz is part of the suburb of a major city, you have or minus several kilohertz of 6955 kHz, the North American 80 -meter ham the opportunity to hear FM pirates. just below the 40 -meter amateur band and signals in the 6200- to But they can be difficult to locate. band. Also, one of the best -heard 6300 -kHz range don't travel far in In many large cities; the radio spec - pirates of recent years is Radio the daytime. 30 Crum is nearly full. The best way to Metallica Worldwide, which has (Continued on page 44)

www.americanradiohistory.com rlìqhT EISION FOR TOUR CAR

Night driving just got much safer thanks to this new system from Cadillac

vehicles are more visi- Nfight vision technology is now beyond what their unaided eyes are capa- mats, and moving routinely used by the military, ble of seeing. Depending on conditions, ble in the TI image because of their high to the back- law enforcement, fire departments, TV- with Night Vision drivers will see three to thermal contrast compared view TI scene on a news cameramen, and others who have five times farther down the road than with ground.. Drivers the developed by to "see" in darkness. Starting in the year just low -beam headlamps. Night Vision heads -up display (HUD) 2000, it will also be used by drivers of can also help drivers see beyond the blind- Delphi -Delco Electronics. on Cadillac's Night the new DeVilles as Cadillac is set to be ing headlamp glare from oncoming vehi- The IR detector Raytheon the first automaker to offer night vision cles or spot a deer amongst the dried Vision system (developed by uses an uncooled focal on a production vehicle. brush at the edge of the road. Systems Co.) of barium - Cadillac's Night Vision will make plane array (UFPA) made nighttime driving safer by helping drivers How It Works. Technically, the title strontium- titanate (BST), a ferroelectric of see objects that would otherwise remain "Night Vision" is a bit of a misnomer material. One important property at room in the dark. While nighttime driving rep- since that term is usually associated with that sensor is that it operates measure the thermal resents only about a quarter of total miles image intensification (H) technology used temperature to invisible to the driven, according to data from the commonly in night- vision goggles. energy of objects that are National Highway Traffic Safety Instead, the Cadillac system uses thermal human eyed while detector temperatures cool- Administration (NHTSA), it accounts for imaging (TI), or infrared (IR) detection. are stabilized with thermoelectric nor need, to more than half of all traffic fatalities. Thermal imaging is based on the differ- ers, there is no attempt, used While many other factors, such as ences in heat energy emitted by all objects achieve the cryogenic temperatures fatigue, contribute to this increase in in a scene being viewed. Everything emits in similar detectors. is required to nighttime crashes, decreased visibility heat to some degree, but humans, ani- No mechanical scanner object space to produce certainly plays a significant role. serially trace out pixel of the one - Cadillac Night Vision will help drivers FOR MORE INFORMATION an image. Instead, each "stares" out into see beyond the range of their head lamps. inch UFPA detector scene energy is However, it is not intended to be a "drive - Cadillac Communications space continuously, the 100 Renaissance Center is then pro- by" system or to replace a driver's view out modulated, and the image Detroit, MI 48265 -1000 scanning or of the windshield. What it will do is give duced by electronically 31 Tel: 800 760 -4078 The drivers additional visual information reading out the detector array.

www.americanradiohistory.com Pyroelectric Dele or Structure

BST Piiet

Rea4-Out intesi d Three key components in Cadillac's Night Vision system include the IR The IR detector consists of a harium strontium titanate reticulate structure detector (behind the grille). the HUD, and the controls. bonded to a readout integrated circuit. UFPA has 320 horizontal IR sensing ture range. The optics, similar to those removing their eyes from the road, elements and 240 vertical elements. used in visible -light cameras, refract the much like they use rear -view mirrors. Thermal energy is focused on the detec- IR rays from the object to the detector. The image has a horizontal field of view tor, using optics designed to pass After considering factors like sensor of I 1 degrees and a vertical field of view infrared wavelengths. Each element is a size, vibration, dirt, damage from stones, of 4 degrees. Objects in the image are temperature- dependent capacitor that and weather and temperatures, Cadillac the same size as the objects in the road changes capacitance depending on how located the sensor behind the center of scene helping drivers better judge the much IR energy is received. A chopper 2000 DeVille's grille. There it has an distance to an object. The virtual image disc rotates in front of the detector to unobstructed view of the road and can looks somewhat like a black and white modulate the scene's energy by allowing be kept reasonably clean by just washing photographic negative with hotter the pixels to view the scene and then an the car. It is equipped with a window to objects the driver cares about most -i.e. absence of scene. It rotates in phase with protect the optics as well as to provide a people, animals, and moving vehicles the detector read -out - circuitry timing. durable surface to clean. An internal standing out from the black background The circuit under each element samples heater prevents snow and ice build -up of the cooler objects. Having the HUD capacitance on a regular basis, and those on the window. image projected below the driver's line readings are converted into a mono- The HUD is integrated into the dash of sight also helps the driver handle chromatic video signal in which hotter in front of the driver and projects a vir- headlamp glare from oncoming vehicles. objects in the scene appear white. tual image that appears in the driver's The image location is ideal since the dri- Refractive optics, chosen because of peripheral vision above the instrument vers tend to naturally look downward their to smaller package, are mechanically pod, where it does not obstruct the view avoid the glare. controlled internally to keep the system of the road. Drivers can glance at the The system operates only at night, in focus over the anticipated tempera- virtual image without refocusing or when the head lamps are on and the "Twilight Sentinel" photo cell indicates it is dark. A switch controls image position and intensity. The image position is adjusted by moving a mirror in the HUD so the virtual image is moved up and down to the desired position. Night Vision can help even when you are not driving down the road. For example, it can enhance personal safety by detecting a person hiding in the dark near homes, offices, and parking lots. It can also help drivers see someone changing a tire on the side of the road where they might not be visible with the naked eye until it's too late. iñTakeSION AmericaIVJ. As 32 shown here, Cadillac Night Vision will help drivers see well beyond the range of their head lamps A public cervice of this magazine

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There are an ever -increasing Seriously, though, interfacing a puter's internal circuits. Even an quantity of projects and computer to a piece of hardware inductive pulse on the computer's devices that are controlled by the and having the software react to output could cause a smokeless output signals available from a com- feedback from external signals has tragedy. puter's printer port. Examples of opened up a new level of control What is needed then is a way to those devices include relays, stepper and sophistication in electronics. electrically isolate the printer port's motors, lights, and even electric The problem many times has signals yet let them pass through to trains. There have also been several become one of taking proper safe- the device that they are to control. projects that have appeared in both ty steps to safeguard your comput- The ideal solution is optical isola- Electronics Now and our sister mag- er from any errors that you might tion. That way the parallel port's azine, Popular Electronics. In fact, if a have made in assembling your lat- pins are disconnected electrically way can be found to use a 5 -volt est experimental project. The days from the outside world, but signals digital signal to control some device, where you could build a new pro- can flow back and forth on a it can be hooked up to a printer port ject and "watch for smoke" are beam of light. Combining the and controlled by some simple soft- sadly (or thankfully) gone. An Parallel -Port Optical Isolator pre- ware commands. With that ability at ungrounded soldering iron, voltage sented here with software that con- your fingertips, you could (dare we on a ground return, or a short at the trols the separate pins on the paral- 34 say it)...run the world! wrong moment could zap a com- lel port results in a system that's safe

www.americanradiohistory.com for computer control of your exper- LIGHT- PHOTOTRANSISTOR devices. EMITTING / imental DIODE 1/ +v

INPUT R2 Light Signals. By using light to con- SIGNAL -Wr -- duct a signal, optical isolators inter- o 1^h OUTPUT R1 SIGNAL rupt the electrical connection between their input pin and output OP -AMP pin. A typical arrangement, shown in INPUT OPTICAL OUTPUT Fig. 1, demonstrates the concept. GROUND ISOLATOR GROUND Inside the optical isolator are a light - emitting diode and a phototransis- i..1 aimplc r,pto- isolator circuit can completer isolate input from output electrically without tor. When a positive voltage is impeding the signal itself; the signal travels on a beam of light. applied to the LED through current - limiting resistor R1, the LED shines. The light from the LED falls on the photo - is very similar to the single isolation Input, the output will go high. A ref- transistor, causing it to conduct as if circuit of Fig. 1. While any opto- isola- erence voltage is needed to set will a current were applied to its (non - tor chip that has a similar pinout can the point at which the output connected) base lead. Note that on be used in place of the devices change state. A reference voltage some real -world optical isolators, the specified, keep in mind that the sug- of one -half the power supply volt- phototransistor's base lead is gested units have an isolation rating age is created by R41 and R42; brought out to an additional pin. of 5000 volts -much higher than that reference voltage is applied to Normally, the collector lead of most other units that are commonly all of the non -inverting inputs. As the phototransistor is at a positive available. long as the voltage from the pho- voltage supplied through R2. When In our discussion of the basic cir- totransistors does not fluctuate the phototransistor conducts, the cuit, we did not mention any beyond that level, the output of the current through R2 is shunted to the detailed description of the op- op -amps will remain stable. output ground through the photo - amp. Traditionally, an op -amp in its An additional opto- isolator, IC3, transistor's emitter. Because of the linear mode always tries to keep its lets the Parallel -Port Optical Isolator voltage drop 'inherent in all semi- two input lines at the same voltage send isolated feedback signals to conductors, the voltage on the level. By feeding back the op- the computer. Note that op -amp phototransistor's collector will gen- amp's output voltage to one of the buffers are not used. Since the paral- erally be below one volt -it will inputs, the output can be made to lel -port input circuit is a known load never reach a zero -volt potential follow an input signal at whatever that does not change, buffering is unless the emitter is connected to a ratio and pattern set by external not necessary. However, note that negative voltage that is equal to components. While that explana- the phototransistor's load resistor is the phototransistor's voltage drop. tion is very simplistic, it is sufficient for connected between the emitter At this point, the output signal is an our purposes here; a detailed dis- and ground, acting as a pull -down inverted version of the input signal; if cussion can fill a book. resistor when the phototransistor is is out- that is fine for your application, no When used in a non -linear mode off; the result a non -inverting further conditioning to the signal is (linear mode with "infinite" gain), an put to the computer. Although there needed. However, it is usually best to op -amp compares the voltage lev- are five input lines in a standard par- keep the polarity of the output and els of the inputs. If the non -inverting allel port, only four are implemented; isolator chip that we are input signals matched. In the Fig. 1 input is higher than the inverting the opto- example, the inverted and isolated signal is buffered and re- inverted by LISTING 1 an op -amp. An additional advantage of using an op -amp is having a 'Continuous pulse output to pin 3 low- impedance output. 10 'Start OUT &H3BC,0 'Reset all pins port 3BC is assumed. Port 278 or 378 possible It is very important to note that D =2 'Value selects pin 1 =pin 2, 2 =pin 3, 4 =pin 4, 8 =pin 5, 16 =pin 6, grounds are the input and output 32 =pin 7, 64 =pin 8, 128 =pin 9 not connected together in any PW =5 'Controls the time the output is high (pulse width) way; the purpose of optical isola- 'Begin pulse generation tion would be defeated if they OUT &H3BC, D 'Sets pin 3 high were. To further enhance electrical DO WHILE I,PW isolation, a separate power supply 1 =1 +1 LOOP should be used for the output por- 1 =0 is, - tion of the circuit; that the photo P1 =10 'Controls the interval between pulses transistor and op -amp. OUT &H3BC,0

DO WHILE I

Circuit Design. The full schematic 1 =1 +1 diagram for the Parallel -Port Optical LOOP GOTO 20 35 Isolator is shown in Fig. 2. Note that it

www.americanradiohistory.com o +v, R13 10K 825 R33 30K 1 100K 3 w

R14 10K 16 R26 834 30K 100K 13 14

12 IC1 9 150203 R15 R1 10K 2.2K R27 R35 30K 11 100K R2 tA 2.2K 10 P2 IC4-c R3 1/4 LM349 0 2.2K R16 P1 10K o w R28 R4 R36 15 2.2K 10 100K o 3013 wti 14 o 15 12 o / IC4-d o 1/4 LM349 o 11 o 0 4 o o o o 10KR17 w 85 R29 R37 o o 2.2K 30K 100K o o 15 4 4 w 0 o R6 7 0 o 2 2K IC5-a o 8 1/4 LM349 o o R7 R18 2.2K 10K MN1r o R30 9 w R38 o o 30K 88 14 100K 0 o 2.2K w 10 7 o o W. o o 2 IC5-b 11 IC2 -4 1/4 LM349 25 3 IS0203 R19 o 12 10K o- R31 WV- 25 R39 7 30K o 11 100K /7777 8 16 -4 IC5-c 13 1/4 LM349 R20 12 10K 4 R32 w- R40 9 30K 10 13 100K M 14 R9 12 2.2K 4M, IC5-d 1/4 LM349 wt R41 R42 11 810 100K 100K 2.2K W 12 R11 2.2K 13 R21 IC3 1 2.2K ISO203

16 R22 2.2K

R23 R24 2.2K w2.2K 7 6 IMO 16

E!1/. 2. The Parallel-Port Optical Isolator uses a series of eight opto- isolator circuits to isolate the pnrr'.+ output lines. An additional set of four circuits lets feedback signals enter the computer Note 36 that two con/pie/fly .separate grounds are used.

www.americanradiohistory.com using has four isolation circuits. With With a 12 -volt input, the values those input signals, the computer shown for Rl and R2 will set the out- software can react to signals from put to 6.5 volts. Variations in the sup- whatever external hardware is ply voltage might change 107's out- plugged into the Parallel -Port put voltage; adjusting the value of Optical Isolator. Similarly, only the R2 will compensate for any supply eight main data lines are used for variations. output. Since not all of the standard signals are connected, the Parallel - Construction. The Parallel -Port Port Optical Isolator can't be used Optical Isolator is simple enough to with traditional computer equip- be built on a piece of perfboard ment such as printers or other using standard construction tech- devices that plug into the parallel niques. However, a neater assembly port. Those limitations should be kept results if a PC board is used. For those in mind when you are connecting that would like to use the printed -cir- any type of hardware to the Parallel - cuit approach, foil patterns for the Port Optical Isolator. single -sided boards have been provided. Note that the power-supply Power Supply. As mentioned regulators have been placed on a A pair of power regulators supply separate board. Having two smaller Fig. 3. simple above, the Parallel -Port Optical the Parallel -Port Optical Isolator. Note that the Isolator needs a separate power boards instead of one large one output supply uses an LM3I7T to supply 6.5 supply to prevent any possible elec- gives you more flexibility in choosing volts to the op -amps. That way, the output of the trical damage to the computer. The a suitable enclosure for the unit. op -amps can reach a full five volts for CMOS compatibility. schematic for the power supply is If you decide to etch your own shown in Fig. 3. Each supply voltage PC boards using the foil patterns, easier. For now, just is regulated. While IC6, a simple 5 -volt follow the parts -placement dia- it will make testing regulator supplies power to the input grams when assembling the install the sockets; do not install the circuit (IC3), a higher voltage is boards; Fig. 4 is for the optical- isola- ICs at this time. When building the install needed for the output (computer - tor circuit itself while Fig. 5 is for the main board, don't forget to to- hardware) circuit. In order for the power -supply regulators. the several jumpers that are indicat- op -amps to achieve a 5 -volt peak It is a good idea to use sockets for ed; use insulated wire to prevent any output, their supply voltage must be the integrated circuits. Not only will accidental shorts. at about 6.5 volts. An LM317T that make it easier to replace a The adjustable regulator is used for 107. "zapped" IC when repairing the unit, A Ready -Made Enclosure. Parallel -Port Optical Isolator can be 000000 0 00 housed in any suitable enclosure. However, cutting the trapezoid - shaped holes for the DB -25 connectors can be difficult. It would also become annoying having to keep plugging and unplugging the Parallel -Port Optical Isolator every time you wanted to use it. The solution to those problems is to install the unit into an existing parallel - port A -B switch. Those devices, available at most computer stores, let you connect two pieces of equipment to a parallel port. By turning the switch on its front panel, you can connect either device to the computer without having to change or move any cables, saving wear and tear on the connectors, pins, cables, wires, and -most importantly -your sanity! In selecting an A -B switch, it is important to choose a mechanical one. There are "automatic" devices 4 -1/4- INCHES available, but they are completely electrical in nature and sometimes Here's the foil pattern for the Parallel-Port Optical Isolator's main hoard. require special software to use. 37

www.americanradiohistory.com O- R42-0-R41 P2

P1 o o 2 o 5 o- 3 15 -o o R25 o o o o o R2 o R3 o o o o-- 7 o o 8 o p O--0 R5 o o o 9 o 0-0-R7 10 o --0 o o O 11 0-10 0-43-R8 o o 11 o o R21 12 o J o 0 25 12 a-- o- R22 5 R23

R12 R24

Fig. 4. The Parallel -Port Optical Isolator uses a single -sided PC board. Note that several jumpers are needed to complete some connections. Some of the resistors might be a tight fit for flat mounting and might have to he mounted vertically.

Another important feature to look the appropriate holes on the main the power -supply board. When mak- for is that the A -B switch uses indi- PC board. The wire from the switch ing the connections for J 1 and J2, vidual wires to make the connec- goes to the Parallel -Port Optical the connectors can be substituted tions between the connectors Isolator's connections for Pl, while with direct connections between instead of a PC board. While the the wire from the DB-25 socket is the PC board and the transformers. PC -board version is considered a wired up as P2. The PC board has In that case, a suitably sized hole (3/8- "deluxe" model that minimizes extra solder pads for the wires that inch is a good choice) should be crosstalk between the signals, the are not used. Connecting them will drilled in the back of the case. modification of the wire -type prevent any lose wire ends from rat- Mount a rubber grommet in the hole switch is much easier. tling around in the enclosure. If you and run the transformer wires The author's prototype was don't want to make all of those extra through the grommet before solder- installed in such a box; it can be connections, the wires can be simply ing them to the power-supply board. seen in Fig. 6. Note how the main removed by unsoldering or simply Be sure to tie an overhand knot in PC board sits at the bottom of the clipping them off. the wires before soldering them to case while the power -supply board Note that there are several con- act as a strain relief. The obvious dis- is tucked against the front panel nections labeled "A" through "D" in advantage to that arrangement is next to the switch. Figs. 4 and 5. Those are the connec- the heavy transformers that are per- Start by removing the switch and tions between the main board and manently tethered to the unit, mak- the connectors from the case without breaking any of the wires. Select LISTING 2 one of the "output" connectors for `input sensing optical isolation; don't use the "com- 10 mon" connector that will go to the C)ATA°1o=0 Initialize a variable computer. Cut each wire between DATA3affiiNP(&H3BEJ) 'Read state of input pins that connector and the switch, strip PRINT DATA% Display value of pin reading GOTO 10 38 the two ends, and install them into

www.americanradiohistory.com read between 5 and 7 volts. On IC4 and IC5, pins 3, 5, 10, and 12 should read about 2.5 volts. Unplug the transformers and insert the ICs. With the power turned on, apply pulses from a pulse generator O to the input pins and check to see that the pulse appears on the corresponding pin on the other connec- 4 tor. Pins 2 -9 pass signals from Pl to P2, while pins 10 -12 and 15 go in the O opposite direction. If you don't have a pulse generator to test the unit, the 2 1/2 INCHES QBASIC code shown in Listing 1 can be used for testing the output pins. The comments in the program are Here's the foil pattern for the Parallel -Port Optical Isolator's power -supply board. self-explanatory. Monitor the pins on P2 with an oscilloscope and verify rises 5 and that Ing it difficult to move the Parallel - and output connectors: pin 1 to pin that the pulse to volts

1 is no crosstalk between pins. Port Optical Isolator from one loca- 1, pin 1 to pin 2, pin to pin 3, and there tion to another. so on. Once all 25 combinations The program will have to be modi- Install the main PC board in the have been checked, continue with fied to check each output pin in bottom of the case. Be sure to insu- pin 2 to pin 1, pin 2 to pin 2, pin 2 to turn. Don't forget to choose the port late the bottom of the box to pre- pin 3, and so on. address for the parallel port that the vent shorts; a piece of heavy gray On the same connector, pins 2 Parallel -Port Optical Isolator is "fish" paper, electrical tape, or gas- through 9 should read infinity to plugged into. The example program ket paper will work well. If you don't ground (pin 25). On the input con- is set for hexadecimal value 3BC; the want to drill holes for screws, nuts, nector (P1), pins 10 -12 and 15 other valid combinations on IBM and spacers, you can bond a few should read 2200 ohms to ground; compatible computers are 278 and pieces of hook-and -loop fastener on the optically -isolated connec- 378 (again, in hexadecimal values). If material to the bottom of the PC tor, they should all read infinity to you are unsure of the address of your boards and to the insulating paper. If ground. Be sure to use pin 25 of the port, you should check you computer's manual. If you have Windows95 or Windows98 installed on your J1 machine, port addresses can be found in Device Manager, which v can be found in the System Properties tool in Control Panel. If you

IC6 are at an MS-DOS prompt, the utility MSD (Microsoft Diagnostics) can tell you the address of the parallel ports that are installed in your machine. Again, consult your computer's documentation if you are unsure how to go about doing that. The simple program in Listing 2 can be used to check the input pins. As you apply a positive voltage to one input pin at a time, you'll see the value on the screen change. Again, check that there is is a simple single -sided construction. The four connections labeled Fig. 5. The power -supply board no crosstalk between pins. Also "A" through "D" show the connections between the power- supply board and the main board. note that the input port is one value higher than the address used you decide to go that route, be sure same connector as your ground in Listing 1. In the published exam - to glue the insulator to the case! reference when making those plt, the output port is 3BC; the checks.You should also read infinite companion input port is 3BD. If you Testing. With no ICs installed, turn resistance between the two power are using one of the other values, the switch to connect to the opti- supplies and the two grounds. the input address would be x79 cally- isolated connector. Measure Plug in the transformers. On depending on which address your for infinite resistance on all combi- IC1 -1C3, pins 10, 11, 14, and 15 as computer's parallel port is set for. nations of pins between the input well as pin 4 on IC4 and IC5 should Once the Parallel -Port Optical 39

www.americanradiohistory.com Isolator is verified as working with- The "OUT" Statement. The OUT Optical Isolator's input pins will out errors, it can be closed up and command sends a byte to a port; have to be determined by simple put to use. The OUT statement has the format experimentation. Once they are known, the signals can be read Using the Parallel -Port Optical OUT , and acted upon at one time or the Isolator. If you know how to write individual bits can be separated your own software in your favorite where is an address and out and examined one at a time. language, you might already be is a number in the range Since INP is a function and not a

familiar how to send and receive 0-255. In the Listing 1 test program, command by itself, a destination for data from the parallel port. If not, note that the address is being speci- the read data must be specified. A QBASIC provides an extensive array fied in hexadecimal rather than variable is the usual way to use the of commands for building your own plain decimal. The choice is one of function. Once the data is read in, port- control software to switch port personal preference; whatever for- the variable can be examined and connector pins high or low. Keep in mat you choose should be consis- the appropriate action taken. mind that since we are not using the tent across all of your software for Another technique is to use the INP Parallel -Port Optical Isolator to con- readability's sake. We've already dis- function as a part of an IF...THEN trol a printer, the published standards cussed what address to use to statement. However, it would that assign specific functions to access the parallel port; you should become quite cumbersome to each of the pins will not apply. already know that number at this mask out the bits that you aren't If you are going to be using QBA- point. The value for can be a SIC, a modified version of the test variable that is set by some other

programs shown in Listings 1 and 2 part of the program, the result of an can be used as simple subroutines. INPUT statement (that will be dis- Those subroutines can be used in cussed later), or even a constant any program that you write when- number. Converting a decimal to ever they are needed. Let's take a binary will indicate which pins on the closer look at the two statements parallel port will be set high. The dec- that the programming examples imal values of the output pins are list- are built around: the "OUT" and ed in the comments of Listing 1. Any "INP" statements. output pin that is not addressed will automatically be set low by the OUT PARTS LIST FOR THE statement. The combination of high PARALLEL PORT OPTICAL and low settings on the port pins will ISOLATOR remain until another OUT statement Fig. 6. The Parallel -Port Optical Isolator fits SEMICONDUCTORS addresses the port and changes the neatly into the bottom of a computer A -B switch. Note that the author's prototype, shown here, ICl- 1C3- 1SQ203 Quad opto- isolator, values of the port. has the power transformers hard -wired to the integrated circuit (Jameco 114083 or If you want to generate a series supply hoard. similar) of timed pulses or a single pulse on IC4, ICS -LM349 Quad op -amp, the parallel port, consecutive OUT interested in with a single state- integrated circuit statements must have timing loops ment. Additionally, if you want to IC6- LM7805 voltage regulator, between them to set the amount have several branches depending integrated circuit of delay between turning the pins on the state the input IC7- LM317T adjustable voltage of pins, you'd regulator, integrated circuit on and off (as was done in the pro- have to read the input port each D1, D2 -1N914 silicon diode gram in Listing 1). Keep in mind that time you wanted to test for a possi- any simple delay loops, especially ble branch. For example, if you RESISTORS in QBASIC, will depend on the want to have three possible (All resistors are' /4 -watt, 5% units.) speed of the computer's central branches in your program, you'd R1 R12, R21 R24 -2200 -ohm processor. Other solutions are avail- need three IF...THEN statements. R13R20-10,000-ohm able in more sophisticated pro- There is also the possibility that the R25 R32-30,000 -ohm gramming languages such as port value might change between R33R42- 100,000 -ohm Visual Basic, C + +, and Turbo Pascal readings for the various IF...THEN R43- 270 -ohm to name just a few. The use of those statements. Again, more sophisti- R 4 1300 -ohm program -development packages cated programming languages ADDITIONAL PARTS are beyond the scope of this article have many different approaches. AND MATERIALS and is left up to the reader's per- With the Parallel -Port Optical Cl, C2- 100 -µF, 16 -WVDC, sonal preferences. Isolator attached to your comput- electrolytic capacitor er, you can experiment with con- J1, J2-Co -axial power connector The "INP" Function. The INP func- trolling hardware without the fear P1, P2 -DB25 subminiature connector tion returns a decimal value of what a simple error could do to 12 -volt DC power adapters, case or between 0 and 255 that is read your computer. The worry of an existing A -B port switch, hardware, from a port. The values that are expensive computer going "up in wire, etc. 40 returned from the Parallel -Port smoke" is a thing of the past! S2

www.americanradiohistory.com The BreadBlox Prototyping System

Stop "re- inventing the wheel" whenever you breadboard a new circuit with these handy modules!

JAMES MELTON the 555's output is TTL com- The solderless oreadboard is While to voltage lev- without a doubt one of the patible with respect in mind that those levels best ideas that anyone ever had. els, keep will as the current load is Simple in concept, as most truly over again, doesn't it make sense change with a sup- good ideas are, the solderless to build those circuits on small PC increased For example, of 15 volts and a 200 - breadboard lets you try out a new boards, then add some pins so that ply voltage the highest voltage a 555 circuit idea or integrated circuit as the boards can be plugged into a mA load, out under those conditions fast as you can make connections solderless breadboard? Well, the can put Be sure to review between components. BreadBlox system presented here is only 12.5 volts. specification sheet for the chip Of course, not all is perfect. If you does just that. the to "push the have used a breadboard for any Whatever you're building, one or before attempting length of time, you know that that more of the five BreadBlox present- envelope." technique's disadvantages are: ed here are sure to be handy. They are a clock generator, a tone The Tone Decoder. The tone a decoder (see Fig. 2) uses an LM567 It is easy to make wiring errors decoder, an inverting op -amp, detection. That chip you must make sure each com- non -inverting op -amp, and a volt- for frequency and phase ponent makes good contact age regulator. Let's look at each of contains an oscillator together work as a You must keep an eye out for them. detector that circuit. The cir- or 'knocked over' compo- phase -locked loop loose the 1 four connections to nents The Clock Generator. Figure is cuit needs the solderless breadboard -power, is boring and tedious to wire the schematic diagram for It and "tone the same support circuits again clock generator. It is built around ground, the input signal, output. The LM567 can and again IC 1, an LM555 timer running in its detected" astable mode. The circuit needs use a supply voltage between 4.75 9 vo ts. By choosing the values If there were one way that the only three connections to the and capacitors, a breadboard could be made even breadboard -power (between 5 of R3 and the three of center frequency easier to use, it wculd have to do and 15 volts), ground, and output. combination can be set. with that last point. It has been the The astable mode of a 555 pro- and bandwidth frequency is set with author's experience that when vides a constant -frequency The center C4 sets the detection evaluating a new chip, there are squarewave based on the values R3 and C2; Formulas and detailed many subassemblies (referred to in of R1, R2, and Cl. The formula is: bandwidth. those calculations, the electronics industry as "glue information on application cir- 1 1.1) as well as test and logic ") that are needed to con- Four =((R +R2) x Cl x in the LM567's nect a circuit to the outside world. cuits are published That information, as well Since many of those basic "glue The output of the 555 timer will data sheet. of their entire 41 logic" circuits are used over and source or sink up to about 200 mA. as specifications

www.americanradiohistory.com back resistor (R4 or R7) plus an input J4 resistor (R5 or R8) on the inverting ro +V 7 input. The values of those two resis- IC4 tors set the gain for the op -amp cir- O OUTPUT LM741 cuit. In the inverting circuit, the gain 4 is given by the formula: o -V

VOUT=(-VIN(R2/R1)) R7 R8 10K 1K O INVERTING For the non -inverting amplifier, it is: INPUT (GND) x (1+(R2/R1)) O NON- INVERTING VOUT=VIN INPUT Fig. 1. A clock generator bull around an Fig. 4. A non -inverting op- and makes a hand LM555 is a handy BreadBlox. The frequency Note that an op -amp can lower impedance -matching circui . T to gain can eas- can he adjusted to suit, and the output can he or raise the input voltage depend- ily he changed by substituting lifferent resistor both TTL and CMOS compatible. ing on the values of R4 /R5 or R7 /R8. values. Many op -amp circuits omit R6 (as product line, is available for down- we've done on the non -inverting than even the 5 volts that is stan- load at National Semiconductor's circuit), but if you are dealing with dard on most breadboards; 3.3 volts Web site (hitp: / /www.national.com circuits that are intended to pass and even lower voltages are often /pf /LM /LM567.html). needed for microprocessor or digi- The output of 102 is an open -col- tal- signal -processing chips. With a lector arrangement. That means +V BreadBlox voltage regulator, you that you need to use a pull -up resis- can use the existing power supply tor for a valid voltage to appear. OUTPUT on your breadboard without taking That arrangement makes the out- up too much space. The capacitor put compatible with any type of selection depends somewhat on logic family. Limit the current drawn the input voltage, the load, and the from the output to about 10 mA. Be input ripple. If you are reducing a ready to have long (greater than voltage that is already filtered, such several seconds) times INVERTING detect at INPUT as producing a 5 -volt output from a lower frequencies. 12 -volt supply, you might not need NON- INVERTING C5. Do not eliminate C6. Under most The Op INPUT -Amps. The operational (GNO) conditions, a high- frequency and amplifier is among the most widely high -amplitude noise or ripple will used Fig. 3. An inverting Op-amp is one of the staples analog circuits; two versions of analog circuit design. be the result. have been included with the BreadBlox. An inverting op -amp cir- Construction. The BreadBlox cuit is shown in Fig. 3, while a non - DC voltages at very accurate lev- should be built on a PC board to inverting circuit is shown in Fig. 4. els, it is best to include that resistor. best stand up to repeated han- Although the two circuits are very If you want to simplify your circuit, dling and similar "abuse ". A foil pat- similar, there are minor differences you can replace R6 with a jumper tern for a single -sided board has between them. Both have a feed- wire; test your circuit to see if it will been included here. Note that all perform as needed. five BreadBlox are included on the Both op -amp circuits need a bipolar (positive and negative) power supply; the LM741 requires both voltages. A nice feature of op- amps in general is that you can J5 substitute many other types for the IN IC5 OUT LM7805 -0 OUTPUT LM741- nearly all single op -amps have the same pinouts. +

T47c025 C6 1 The Voltage Regulator. To round O GND out our collection of BreadBlox, we've included a three- terminal O INPUT regulator; the schematic is shown in Fig. 5. While a standard 7805 5 -volt Fig. S. While some powered breadboards might regulator is shown, other types can have a 5 -volt .supply, this BreadBlox can he used be substituted for whatever voltage for any voltage-positive or negative -simply Fig. 2. A tone -decoder BreadBlox m'ght he use- by changing IC5. If you want to make a nega- ful as a piece of test equipment as well is needed. For example, many of the as a part tive-regulator module, pay attention to the IC 42 of an experimental circuit. newer chips require lower voltages pinouts as well as the polarity of C5.

www.americanradiohistory.com PARTS LIST FOR THE BREADBLOX SEMICONDUCTORS IC I-LM555 timer, integrated circuit 1C2-LM567 tone decoder, integrated circuit IC3, IC4 -LM741 op -amp, integrated circuit IC5- LM7805 voltage regulator, integrated circuit DI -INI11 germanium diode (NTE109 or similar)

RESISTORS

(All resistors are ' /-watt, 5% units.) R1-100,000-ohm With the exception of the voltage regulator, all of the BreadBlox components are inserted into Fig. 6. R2 R4, R6, R7- I0,000 -ohm making them a miniature breadboard in their own right! machine -pin IC sockets- R5, R8 -1000 -ohm

one pattern; it is much easier to holes in the board should be drilled CAPACITORS one large board than five tiny just undersized for those pins; a spe- Cl, C2, C6 0.l -µF, ceramic -disc etch 25 -WVDC, electrolytic technique is needed to push boards. As an alternative, an cial 25 -WVDC, electrolytic the holes. Clamp etched PC board is available from the pins through C5- 470 -11F, 25 -WVDC, electrolytic the source given in the Parts Lid. If the PC board in a vise and hold the you decide to make your cwn pin near its top with a pair of ADDITIONAL PARTS needlenose pliers. Heat the tip of AND MATERIALS boards, be sure to use a high- quali- pins (Vector T -44 or 50 soldering iron J1J5-Wire-wrap ty fiberglass board such as FR -4 for the pin with a -watt similar) a stronger assembly. and begin pushing it into the Machined -pin IC sockets After etching and drilling the board. The PC -board fiberglass will Note: The following item is available James Melton, 2747 Wentworth boards, use a bandsaw or a pair of begin to melt and deform. Slowly from Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052: PC push the pin into the board while heavy tin snips to cut them apart. board and wire -wrap pins, $16.99 After the five modules have been keeping it hot until it is fully seated. plus $3.00 shipping and handling. separated, use a belt sander, a Let the pin cool -the melted board Texas residents must add appropriate will be sheet of emery cloth, or 100 -grit material will solidify around the pin. sales tax. No COD orders sandpaper to sand the boards The resulting tight fit will help give accepted. down as far as possible. The goal is the pin a better mechanical con- wiper- contact to make the boards as small as pos- nection to the board, so it will hold not use the low -cost pins will let sible without damaging any of their up while you are inserting and sockets. The collected miniature copper traces! removing the BreadBlox from your you use the BreadBlox as it easy to Follow the parts -placement dia- breadboard. It is a good idea to breadboards, making different resistors and gram in Fig. 6 for locating the vari- put all of the wire -wrap pins into all substitute to the circuit ous components. A good place to of the modules at one time while capacitors change characteristics of the individual start is with J1-J5. Those connec- you are set up to do so. high socket will tors, used to make all of the con- All of the modules, with the modules. A -quality insertions nections between the BreadBlox exception of the voltage regulator, also withstand repeated and the solderless breadboard, are get an IC socket that has and removals of components. wrap pins made from wire -wrap pins. The machined or " colleceed" pins -do After installing the wire

-o o

5 INCHES of the modules can he made at one time with this sin- Here's the foil pattern for the BreadBlox. All 43 gle -sided pattern.

www.americanradiohistory.com r 1 and the IC sockets, you are ready from 1200 -1400 UTC. 11470 can be to insert the components and test heard for longer amounts of time, You can Build Gadgets! your BreadBlox. but with a weaker signal, and 7490 A 7800- series voltage regulator is rarely heard. Here are 3 reasons why! has leads that are slightly larger than the holes in the board. If you BP345- GETTING The Future Of Pirate Radio. n STARTED IN are using that type of regulator on Whether you call it "pirate" radio, PRACTICAL the voltage -regulator module, the "microbroadcasting," or "LPFM," ELECTRONICS ._$6.99 leads will have to be cut with a pair unlicensed If you are looking into broadcasting has exist- launching an exciting of diagonal cutters so that they will ed since the earliest days of radio. hobby activity, this text fit into the holes in the board. That For years, people have speculated provides minimum es- will give the 7800 -series regulator a that the diversity of the commercial sentials for the builder better and 30 easy -to -build fun mechanical fit to the board. stations would eliminate pirate projects every experi- Invariably the regulator will be broadcasting. Instead, licensed menter should toy with. Printed -circuit board grabbed when removing the regu- designs are included to give your project a pro- lator module from the breadboard, fessional appearance. What Do I Need To Hear Pirates? so that component can use all the Hearing shortwave help it can get! pirates does BP349- require some specialized listening equip- You'll find the BreadBlox PRACTICAL OPTO- are as ment, but you don't need a wall of equip- ELECTRONIC handy to have in your experiment that could give NASA a run for its PROJECTS $6.99 menter's box as they are fun to use. money. Of course, the first requirement is If you shun opto -elec- After using them once or twice, a shortwave receiver. The receiver does- tronic projects for lack of n't have to be the latest in Stealth tech- knowledge, this is the you'll probably wonder how you nology, but it must be more sensitive than book for you. A bit of in- ever got along without them. the "boom boxes" that include shortwave troductory theory comes The BreadBlox can also be of first and then a number bands. Typically, any receiver that is capa- of practical projects benefit to instructors in high school ble of tuning in SSB (single side -band) which utilize a range of opto devices, from a fil- vocational programs, trade signals will tune in at least half of the ament bulb to modern infrared sensors and emit- schools, and college labs. Not only pirates broadcasting in North America. ters -all are easy to build. can the BreadBlox be used to SSB reception is important because teach soldering skills to beginning most pirates from this continent broadcast in the USB mode. Some of the portables Eisetraoic BP363- students, they can then be used that do well for receiving pirates include PRACTICAL while the students begin learning the Sony 7600 and 2010, Grundig YB- w ELECTRONIC simple circuits. 400, MUSIC PROJECTS Sangean ATS -909, and the Drake Note that we've just -8. $6.99 scratched SW Also, any tabletop model should do The text contains a good- the surface in this article. Every quite well for receiving pirates. ly number of practical builder has favorite circuit sub- You don't need a massive log -periodic music projects most often assemblies that he or she uses or rhombic antenna on a few acres to requested by musicians. hear pirates, but an external antenna cer- All the projects are rela- repeatedly. There is no reason that tainly will help. On tabletop receivers, the tively low -in -cost to build any of them can't be successfully antenna should be at least 20 feet long and all use standa d, readily available compo- implemented as a BreadBlox mod- nents that you can buy. The project categories (although a longer antenna or a dipole will are guitar, general music and MIDI. ule. Please feel free to send any help). Anywhere from 10 to 40 feet of wire ideas that you might have for future stretched out, with one end stripped and wrapped around the Mail to: modules to the author; the most whip antenna of popular ideas portables, will considerably raise the sig- Electronic Technology Today, Inc. might be translated into a next nal levels. Be aware that long antennas P.O. Box 240 -generation could cause damage BreadBlox. Send to portable Massapequa Park, NY 11762 -0240 your ideas to receivers, such as the Sony 2010. melton @startext.net. Shipping Charges in USA & Canada n Finally, a cassette recorder is helpful so $0.01 to $5.00 $2.00 $30.01 to $40.00 $6.00 that you can record programs for posteri- $5.01 to $10.00 $3.00 $40.01 to $50.00 $7.00 PIRATE RADIO ty. A notebook will help you to log all of the $10.01 to $20.00 $4.00 $50.01 and above $8.50 stations that you hear. $20.01 to $30.00 $5.00 (continued from page 30)

Sorry, no orders accepted outside of USA and Canada. All payments must be in U.S. funds only. Number of books ordered. However, because of the recent radio (both public and commer- Total price of books FCC raids, one European pirate, cial) has become more homoge- Shipping (see chart) SWRS (Shortwave Relay Service) is nized. As more people are com- Subtotal currently heard in Sales Tax (NYS only) North America pelled to support the pirates, the Total enclosed more than most of the stations from FCC is stepping up its enforcement. Name this continent. SWRS relays pro- Unless the FCC begins to imple- Address grams from many different pirates ment unlicensed broadcasting City State ZIP on 21,450, 11,470, and 7,490 kHz on bands, the pirate radio conflict will Please allow 6 -8 weeks for delivery. ET03 most weekends. In the East, 21,450 continue to make headlines across 44 L J kHz often fades in for a little while the country. Stay tuned. O

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These popular little signal generators, plus many foreign hook it up to your scanner local ham, Easily configured for any use: mike, line level receivers are the nuts for catching all the action on the users employ the LPA -1 to boost the business. output/inputs are provided. Also communicate aircraft, standard FM broadcast radio, shortwave or WWV Nation- power of their FM transmitters, providing and speaker telephone or radio, full duplex opera- al Time Standard radio bands. Pick the receiver of your choice, radio service through an entire town. Runs on 12 VDC. For in total privacy over - and unscramble at the same time. Easy to each easy to build, sensitive receiver has plenty of crystal clear a neat finished look. add the nice matching case set. tion scramble audio to drive any speaker or earphone. Easy one evening build, all complex ci-cuitry contained in new custom ASIC LPA -1. 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Configuration changes are supported by menu driven, on-board software. Open Hone n.,,,.',.,, Commonly used Terminal CAlasnudon Skndatd iderioce Connedor Degaussing Coi included . Sartrien Emulation software and transfer protocols can be used for configuring modules and transferring data between computers. ProxLinks require only 6-9 VDC (350 mA), RS 9" COLOR SVGA MONITOR $179." Fully Enclosed - Tilt and swivel type. -232 (9 pin sub - D) interface, and small (- 4 ") whip antenna for operation. Unit size is 4.0" x 6.5" x 0.75 ". Installation schematics Pas a 13ÁR, CODE and application details available. These are 100 Mw power. MAGNETIC CARD READER $-Za." COLOR CCD CAMERA $89 Includes: 20 drorader dot matrix di ay wills fug alpha -numeric capability tek nel ,..irk full Small fully enclosed color CCD camera ideally suited for video conference and mobile operations. 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System builder who Overall dimensions: 8 -1/2" W x 12" L x 3 -1/2" D includes removable steel mesh gri.Is, buili-in mounting demands higher *Hole size: 7 -1/4' x 10 -3/4" Fits into standard 2" x bracket, hardware, and installation instructions. performance than usual of a standard iron, but with- 4' wall Net weight: 12 lbs. per pair. Specifications: Impedance: 8 ohms Frequency out the high cost of an industrial unit. Power is ad- response: 60- 20,000 Hz Power nandling capability: justable from 5 :o 40 watts. Includes 40 watt pencil #300 -036 $89.90,,.3 $79.50(4 PRs-UP) max. 89 dB vas) 30 watts RMS/45 watts *Sensitivity: iron UL approved. Net weight: 1 -3/4 lbs. Replace- 1W/1m Dimensions: 9" round x 2 -7/8' deep. Net ment sponge #.372 -119. weight: 5 lbs. per pair. Satellite Speaker #372 -120 $39.95EAC Stands #300 -408 569.95.3 ,Rs, $62.75(4PRS.UP These quality speaker stands are 3 Amp Power Supp!+. "44" Solder perfect for mini or rear surround Koster "44" rosin speakers. The heavy die cast base This fully regulated power sup - core solder is de- provides stability. Textured black satin ply is perfect for powering signed for electronic radios, and other finish blends in well with any decor. CBs, car and electrical work. 12 VDC devices that draw The height is adjustable from 26 -1/2' It uses a fast acting, instant wet- to 47 -1/2" and the speaker wire can up to 3 amps. Heavy duty ting, non -corrosive, and non -con- with front be run inside the pole for a better steel housing ductive flux for faster soldering mounted switch and binding appearance. The top base is anc a strong, long lasting bond. posts. Short circuit and adjustable from 4 -1/8" to 7 -1/2" to Alloy Price Price accommodate most mini speakers. overload protection! Part # Lead/Tin Spool Dia. (1 -3) (4 -UP) Includes foam pads to prevent marring Specifications: Output Voltage: 13.8 VDC (fixed) of speaker cabinet. Sold in pairs. 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Voltage: Less than 3mV at rated output *Input Volt- 370-090 60/40 1 lb. .050 8.50 age: 120 VAC, 60Hz Dimensions: 5 -1'2' x 3 -1/2" x 370-098 60/40 4 lb. .031" 33.90 31.80 #240 -762 $39.8011-3 PRs) $35.50(4 PRS_UP 6 -1/2" Weight: 5 lbs. 370-088 60/40 1/2 lb. .020' 6.95 5.75 #120 -530 $19.950. 518.50(4-uP) 370-072 63/37 1 lb. .020" 14.90 13.50 5 Function Remote 370-086 63/37 1/2 lb. .031" 9.95 8.50 370-074 63/C 7 1 lb. .031' 12.50 11.50 Operates five devices (TV,, VCR, DMM LCR Meter 370-087 36/37 1/2 lb. .031' 7.95 6.75 Cable, Satellite, A/V Receiver) and Lighted component keys which In addition to functions found indicate what device is currently being in regular DMM's, this meter used Preprogrammed, 621 codes that can also measure inductance Pro Wick work over 6,400 models New in 5 ranges (4mH, 40mH, ergonomic design features a contoured 400mH, 4H, 40H), capacitance case, index finger grooves, and keys in 5 ranges (4nF, 40nF, 400nF, Pro Wicks advanced grouped in clusters for easy operation 4uF, 400uF), frequency in 4 fine braid design cursor control is tailored for use ranges (4KHz, 40KHz, 400KHz, provides wicking action Satellite none. with a Home Theatre system, keypad 4MHz), TTL logic test, diode test that is second to design allows movement through menus and transistor hFE test. 5 AC/ Price Price with ease Retains codes when replacing batteries DC ranges up to 1000V (AC750V), Part 8 TS # Size Length (1.9) (10 -UP) flat back design for easy operation *Money 3 AC /DC current ranges up to 20A and New -415 1802 -5 .06" 5' 51.40 51.25 customer satisfaction Toll 7 resistance ranges up to 4000 M ohms. 341 back guarantee ensures 1803-5 .08" 5' 1.45 1.30 free customer service number provides the customer Includes test leads, battery, spare fuse, 341416 341-417 1804 -5 10" 5' 1.60 1.45 with friendly, knowledgeable assistance Requires 2 and manual. 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8mm, f1.3, 40° FOV .$49 8mm, 40° FOV . $24 aluminum housing with dual mounting sockets. Specs: 1/3' CCD, 420 lines 4mm, f1.4, 78° FOV $49 12mm, 28° FOV 324 resolution, 0.1 Lux sens., AGC, Auto shutter. 12VDC 6V#12AH SEALED, RECHARGEABLE, BATTERY 0120mA. Take full advantage of camera sensitivity FOV Auto Iris lens New Panasonic, LCR6V12PI. Tough to get at a discount. Very with the super, 4mm, f1.4, 78° X 65mm compact. Two top mounted 1/4' faston connectors. Perfect included. Video out on BNC. Size: 50mm sq. for high drain projects. Size: 5.9-L x 3.7 -H x 1.9-D long. Pwr. adpt. incl. Ready to go! SUPER SPECIAL 2 for $20, or 10 for $89 GM- 510- A /I...$199ea. or 2 for...$369 10V # 2.5 AH SEALED, LEAD ACID, PACK Each pack consists of five, 2 Volt cells. Each cell the size of a std. 'D' battery. Please fax us your list of t ?" 1 i 1. M Arrainged as 1X5 cells. Enclosed in an ABS outer shell Z E unique surplus material. (removed for photo) Mint condition. Perfect for high CAMERA drain and robotics applications. Make custom packs ULTRA MINI and WEATHERPROOF, 'LIPSTICK' O -Ring sealed & of any rating. Size: 7.51x 2.8 -H x 1.5'D 5 -five packs ....$20, 30 for $99 Sleek black anodized, alum. housing, RAINPROOF. Adj. tilting mount. 1/3" CCD, 380 Lines, 0.3 4mm, f1.8, 78° 350MHz,TEK 485, ... Lux, AGC, Auto Shutter. 9 -12VDC 0100mA, NTSC video.

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www.americanradiohistory.com Measure the Sun's Intensity with a Solar Dosimeter

You can achieve suprisingly accurate results with this simplest of circuits.

PAUL NEHER

mr here are many times where you would want to know how much sunlight a particular location receives- though some of them are not so obvious. Many of us are aware of the health risks that are associated with ultraviolet radiation; recent studies have linked cancer and premature aging of the skin to ultraviolet radiation exposure. Even older people can be at risk of developing cataracts and should be wearing ultraviolet - absorbing sunglasses whenever they are outdoors. If you are looking into setting up photovoltaic or solar- heating panels, the choice of whether to install a tracking mech- most accurate instrument in the at the lens' focal point. The intense anism, with its increased cost, world, can't be beat for cost. In heat from the focused spot of light depends on the site location and fact, you probably have the com- burns the paper. As the sun moves how many hours of direct sunlight ponents needed in your "junk across the sky, a black trace is left the panels will receive. Vegetable drawer ". If, on the other hand, you on the paper showing how long and flower gardens are another purchase all of the items needed, the sun was unobstructed. It can area of concern -do they receive you would be hard -pressed to record the sun's movement from too little or too much sunlight? spend much over a dollar. horizon to horizon if it is properly Whether planning a solar instal- aligned, and it can reveal fixed lation, measuring how much sun- Sunshine Recorders. Meteorologi- obstructions, such as buildings and shine a potential garden spot gets, cal instruments designed to record trees, as well as variable amounts or just curious about how many the duration of sunshine have been of cloud cover if several days worth hours per day you are exposed to used since the mid -nineteenth of readings are taken and corn- the sun, an instrument that can Century. One particularly clever pared. Although there is a certain measure the total number of hours recorder is the Campbell- Stokes aesthetic quality to a recording of sunlight per day would be a device, dating from about 1880. It instrument that is self -powered, that handy tool to have. Of course, such uses c glass sphere to focus sunlight style of recorder lacks portability. "solar-site analyzers" exist and can onto a strip of paper. Like a magni- be purchased for a couple of hun- fying glass, the strip of paper is held Electronic Dosimeters. While dred dollars, but there is a less - many different types of electronic expensive alternative. dosimeter circuits are available, In this article, we'll take a look at i Cl LEDI most of them are based on active how solar- radiation monitors, or 2200/16 components to record the collect- dosimeters, have worked in the ed data; the elegant simplicity of a Fig. 1. Don't he fooled h\ the simplicw. of the past, and how to build a modern solar dosimeter's circuit-it is sui risingly self -powered device is not taken 74 version that, while not exactly the accurate for such a low -cost device. into account.

www.americanradiohistory.com Consider the electrical characteristics of a light- emitting diode. 'gin its usual method of connection, an LED has a constant voltage drcp across it, producing light when I-II-tI-I about 10 mA of current flows ITI1_tl_1 is through it. When the voltage 200mV reversed, the LED doesn't produce light and the current flowing 10K through it is very small -on the order of nanoamps. On the manufacturer's data sheets, that current is referred to as leakage current. 11111111IIIIIII IIN' However, that is not entirely correct when it comes to LEDs. B1 Although an LED is designed as a 12 -18 VOLTS light- producing device, it is also a II is iI small -area photovoltaic diode that and a battery Fig. 2. Measuring the voltage drop across a resistor in series between the capacitor of passing a current when capable is an easy way to measure the capacitor's leakage current. it is exposed to light. Under normal room lighting, the conductivity of an is measure the amount of sunlight LED is only in the nanoamp range, across its terminals at a rate that For that falls on a given area over a but in bright sunlight the photocur- proportional to the current. period of time. rent is about one microamp. example; a l -µF capacitor being If you charge up Cl in a dark Most low -cost LEDs that are used charged with a constant one - room, very little current will flow as panel indicators are only tested microamp current will increase its LED1; Cl will stay charged for forward operation. The reverse - voltage by one volt per second. through is up for a long time. Place the unit in breakdown voltage is typically The capacitor's voltage also and a larger constant specified at five volts. That doesn't proportional to the amount of cur- bright sunlight flow through LED1, dis- mean that the device can't with- rent that has been accumulated current wil at a rate that is propor- stand higher reverse voltages; it's over a period of time; that function charging Cl to the intensity of the light. For just the maximum voltage that the is a near-perfect integrator. The tional if Cl discharges at a rate manufacturer tests the LED for. Al of same one microamp current in the example, 100 of 1.25 volts per hour in bright sun- the LEDs that the author has tested above example, applied for should change by have shown actual reverse- break- seconds, will change the voltage light, the voltage is exposed to the same down voltages of at least 50 volts; on the capacitor by 100 volts. 5 volts if it of light for 4 hours. most units are greater than 100 volts. Based on that knowledge, let's intensity Typically, you would charge up C l In the region of the LED's reverse - put an LED in parallel with a voltage and voltage characteristic between capacitor. There are few electronic to about 5 volts; that will let the solar the breakdown voltage and zero circuits that can match the simplic- the values shown be used for over a day volts, the device acts like a con- ity of Fig. 1, but that's all that it takes dosimeter needing a recharge. In bright stant- current element, with the cur- to build a simple, self -powered solar before the southwestern rent depending only on the intensi- dosimeter that can be used to sunlight, such as ty of the light. Now that we have a light- depen- dent constant -current source, we need some way to record the overall amount of current that passes through the LED. A capacitor stores an electric charge in proportion to the voltage across its terminals. The formula for that relationship is

Q=CV

where the total charge (Q), in coulombs, is a product of the capacitance (C), in farads and the cur- as quick- voltage (V), in volts. A constant Fig. 3. When measuring how much voltage the capacitor has los', make your measurement some of the capacitor's flowing into (or out of) a ly as the most sophisticated digital voltmeter consumes rent possible-even 75 capacitor will change the voltage charge when taking a reading.

www.americanradiohistory.com REMOVE the capacitor's terminals. That leak- Alternatively, you can charge the age increases with temperature. capacitor from a pair of nine -volt You should always charge the batteries and leave it connected unit from a 12- to 18 -volt source in for a day inside your home, per- series with a 10,000 -ohm resistor. The haps on a sunny windowsill. resistor prevents the components Once a capacitor is "aged ", its from being destroyed if you con- internal leakage needs to be test- nect the battery backward by ed; there is always the possibility accident; it also protects you if the that a particular unit might not be source happens to be a car bat- suitable. After charging the capac- tery and you accidentally connect itor for several minutes, connect a the charging leads together. digital voltmeter across the resistor. However, the charging voltage Do not use an older style "moving - should never be higher than the needle" meter. Those instruments A a capacitor's working voltage. If you draw a bit of current from the cir- Fig. 4. A standard LED has a lens molded into are going to be using an 18 -volt cuit being measured and will intro- its case to concentrate the light. By flattening source, such as two 9 -volt batteries duce errors in your readings. The the lens, the solar dosimeter will he able to in sense sunlight from almost any angle. series, you should use a capaci- voltage drop across the resistor will tor that is rated higher than the 16- show the capacitor's leakage cur- volt rating that is specified here -25 rent; a reading of 10 mV indicates US, the capacitor discharges at a or 35 volts would be better. a leakage of 1 microamp. At first rate of about one volt per hour. That being said, let's see what the leakage might be quite large, Another advantage of the solar we need to do to build our solar perhaps a few microamps. After dosimeter is that it directly simulates dosimeter. several hours, the meter should the performance of a solar panel read zero mV, indicating an internal or photovoltaic array -the change LED1 leakage of less than ' /,o microamp. in capacitor voltage is directly pro- That is a good indication that the portional to the amount of FLAT SIDE capacitor is forming well. The gen- ampere -hours that the array would eral arrangement for that test is produce for that day. If you would ANODE shown in Fig. 2 like to investigate whether a track- CATHODE Next, disconnect the capacitor ing array would be worth the extra from the charging source and volt- money, simply compare the results NEGATIVE LEAD meter, and let it sit for an hour in its LEAD from first leaving the solar dosime- charged condition. Measure its volt- ter pointed in one direction, and age by connecting the meter only from pointing it at the sun by long enough to get a reading as changing its position about once shown in Fig. 3, and again at least 12 every hour. Many locations, such as hours later. If the capacitor is a 01 southern California, have morning "good one ", it will have lost only a fog and hazy skies until mid -morn- few tenths of a volt between reading. Mountains and other obstruc- ings. A capacitor that loses more tions can reduce the amount of than about one volt will be marginal Fig. 5. To build the solar dosimeter, simply sol- direct sun that your location for use in der an LED onto a capacitor. the solar dosimeter receives. With little Be careful of a data collec- polarities or the unit won't work. because of the error it introduces. tion and analysis, the solar dosimeter can help you find the best ori- Construction. The first step in build- entation for a solar array. "Seasoning" the Capacitor. To ing the solar dosimeter is to modify Of course, a circuit that is this sim- reduce leakage, a new capacitor 0.15 -INCH ple is not a perfect one. There are has to be "seasoned" for a day or DIA. several restrictions that must be fol- so before it can be used in the solar lowed to get the most out of it. The dosimeter. Interestingly, a capacitor first is to understand that the solar pulled out of a junk car radio or old dosimeter has a probable error of piece of audio equipment would about 10% due to the nonlinearity of be perfect for our needs because it the LED current and the leakage has had many hours of voltage characteristics of the capacitor. applied to it. A new electrolytic Unfortunately, electrolytic capaci- capacitor must have its dielectric tors have an internal leakage layers formed by applying a volt- 3- INCHES mechanism that allows a small age for several hours. An ideal Fig. 6. To increase accuracy of the solar amount of current to flow between place to do that is inside a warm dosimeter, the capacitor must he kept cool. This its "insulated" plates. You can think parked using 12 car the -volt lighter disc, cut from an index card, will act as an 76 of that leakage as a resistor across jack as the voltage source. umbrella, shielding the capacitor from the sun.

www.americanradiohistory.com act as a sunshade to keep Cl from of clear tape, a thin layer of white becoming too warm. Remember, nail polish, or placing the dosimeter the capacitor's leakage current will into a white plastic film canister. rise with temperature. If you've used a capacitor with a Mount the dosimeter on a stick higher voltage rating, you can such as a 3/4-inch wood dowel that charge the capacitor up to a high- is about a foot long, using white er voltage to start off with. If you've masking tape to hold the capaci- been using a 12 -volt source, try sea- tor in place. That way, the dosime- soning the capacitor at 18 volts. SUN SHADE ter can be "planted" in the ground If the capacitor has too much and away from the heat of the soil. leakage, that is, it self- discharges by The sunshade is placed over LED1 more than a volt in twelve hours, try so that C1 is always shaded. The charging it to a lower voltage ini- final assembly is shown in Fig. 7. tially, or season it longer at about 100 degrees F. DOSIMETER Calibration. Pick a bright, sunny Do not let moisture get between day to calibrate the dosimeter, the capacitor terminals. Dew or rain preferably at noon when the sun is directly overhead; intense sunlight PARTS LIST FOR THE is needed. Charge the dosimeter SOLAR DOSIMETER for at least an hour before measur- LEDI- Light -emitting diode, green, TAPE ing its voltage. Charging the T -13/4 size, diffused lens, (Mouser dosimeter is done in the same way 351 -5023, RadioShack 276-022 or that the capacitor was tested for similar) 16 -WVDC, electrolytic resistor in C1-2200- leakage: a 10,000 -ohm capacitor, low -leakage, radial leads series with a 12- to 18 -volt battery. R1- 10,000 -ohm, 'A-watt, 5% carbon Place the dosimeter in the sun with resistor 1/4-INCH the flat surface (cathode) of LED1 B 1 -12 -volt battery DOWEL facing the sun's direction of travel Wooden dowel, tape, etc. and note the time. After one hour or more, measure the voltage will cause the capacitor to dis- across C1, recording that along charge rapidly. Place the dosimeter

Fig. 7. With the solar dosimeter mounted on a with the time. The difference in volt- in a watertight enclosure, such as the dowel and wearing its "hat ", it's ready to mea- age divided by the difference in 35-mm film canister mentioned earli- anywhere that you sure the amount of sunlight time will tell you how many volts per er, if that is a problem. want it to. hour the dosimeter registers in bright sunlight. We'll call that ratio Sample Applications. Suppose you the LED by filing or sanding off its the exposure constant. To measure have a southeast -facing sloped roof top. Most LEDs have a rounded lens the number of hours of sunlight that on your house, and you are wonder- as shown in Fig. 4A. By removing the a spot receives in a day, measure ing how well a photovoltaic array lens, you will have an angular sensi- the change in voltage and dividing would work, mounted in that same tivity of almost 180 degrees. The LED it by the exposure constant. orientation. Simply orient the solar should look like Fig. 4B. dosimeter with its flat surface paral- The two components are sol- Troubleshooting. The solar dosime- lel to the roof and expose it for a full dered together as shown in Fig. 5. ter is based on commonly- avail- day. Measure the change in voltage Obviously, there is a right way and a able parts and some basic physics. and you have a number equivalent wrong way to connect the two What if it doesn't work as adver- to the amount of ampere -hours a polarized components together. The tised? The green LED is inexpensive; photovoltaic array will put out. positive lead of Cl should be con- if one doesn't work satisfactorily, try Compare that with how much the nected to the cathode of LED1: the another one. Some LEDs might be dosimeter registers with different ori- cathode lead of LEDs is usually phys- more efficient photodiodes than entations and angles, and you'll ically longer in length and a flat spot others, causing the capacitor to know if odd -angle mounting or is molded into the case. If you get run out of charge before the day is tracking mechanisms are worth the the connections backwards, the over. Some capacitors have less extra complexity and expense. LED will glow when you try to charge actual capacitance than marked An unusual location to mount the unit and you won't be able to on the can, causing the same the solar dosimeter is inside a hat. go above about two volts. problem. In either case, you can The LED could be mounted on a Cut a 3- inch -diameter disc out of reduce the rate at which the volt- small hole punched in the brim with a piece of index card. Punch a hole age drops by either using two Cl taped underneath with the in the center of the disc the same capacitors in parallel or putting a leads bent at a right angle. diameter as LED1. Dimensions for the neutral filter over the LED. Such a fil- A final note on sun exposure: disc are shown in Fig. 6. The disc will ter can be made from a few layers (Continued on page 83) 77

www.americanradiohistory.com BY DON LANCASTER

Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Lights, and More

LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOMETHING SO OLD AND SO SIMPLE tinctive orange light. When conduction starts, the NE -2 THAT IT BE JUST MIGHT NEW FOR YOU. AT ANY RATE, THIS becomes a negative resistance. This happens as more current ionizes more gas in IDEA MAKES A STILL SELDOM -SEEN AND A REALLY FINE LITTLE the plasma and lowers the drop across the terminals to (typically) 45 volts or so. HOMEBREW PROJECT... That destructive behavior requires external current limiting, usually with a Twinkle Lights The NE -2 is just a small glass tube high -value resistor of 100K or more. In my opinion, the NE -2 neon lamp with a tiny amount of low -pressure neon Conduction continues as long as a cur- is by far the number -one electronic gas in it. Two simple pins act as termi- rent source remains. When and if the component of all time. Yes, the device is nals. At voltages below 55 volts or so, current drops down to zero, the neon more or less way into retirement due to the neon lamp is more or less an open lamp turns off. the high voltages needed and its restrict- circuit. Above that value, the tube "turns A standard NE -2 pilot light circuit is ed light output. But you can still get on" and starts to conduct, emitting a dis- shown in Fig. 1A. Connect that circuit them for a dime or so each at Radio - t o Shack and elsewhere, and nothing else even comes remotely close to its versatil- ity or its elegant simplicity. In its prime, that good old NE -2 served as everything from... 220K

panel lamps NE-2 electronic organs H surge protectors voltage regulators polarity finders 110 vac AC -DC voltmeters display decorations (A) Panel lamp or tester. proximity devices AND -OR logic flash triggers strobe lights +120 vdc computer memories flame monitors lamp dimmers 2.2 Meg touch sensors signal sources //AA flip -flop latches frequency dividers N E-2 H 0.047pF "hot chassis" checkers audio oscillators vacuum tube testers (B) Neon relaxation oscillator. radiation detectors

FIG. 1 -TWO NEON LAMP CIRCUITS: The one in A is a simple lamp tester; the one in B ...and an awful lot more. is a relaxation oscillator. 78

www.americanradiohistory.com In Fig. 2, a pair of neon lamps is used new from +120 vde DOM LfÎIYCASTER as an alternating flasher. This was once ACTIVE FILTER COOKBOOK known as an astable multivibrator. The The sixteenth (I) printing of Doris bible on analog opp-amp lowpass, bandpass, and hlghpass active capacitor first charges right -to -left and filters. De-mystified instant designs. 528.50 2.2 2.2 Megohm then left -to -right as the alternate lamps Megohm RESEARCH INFOPACKS conduct. The secret to startup involves Don's instant cash -and -carry flat rate consulting service. Ask any reasonable technical question for a detailed analysis and complete report. See the small stray capacitances that are www.tinaja.com /infoOl for specifics. $79.00 NE -2 NE-2 inherently around each bulb. neon neon CMOS AND TTL COOKBOOKS lamp lamp Figure 3 gives you a cute neon twin- Millions of copies in print worldwide. THE two books for digital Integrated circuit fundamentals. kle light effect. Long ago and far away, I About as hands -on as you can get. $28.50 each. used this many times for dance decora- INCREDIBLE SECRET FIG. 2 -A NE -2 SEQUENTIAL FLASHER, tions. MONEY MACHINE II Updated 2nd edition of Don's classic on setting otherwise known as an astable multivibrator. Due to the differences in lamp up your own technical or craft venture. $18.50 thresholds, the sequence ends up pretty LANCASTER CLASSICS LIBRARY much random -hence your twinkle Don's best early stuff at a bargain price. Includes the CMOS Cookbook, The TTL Cookbook. Active Filter Cookbook. PostScript video. Case Against 110 -volts AC and both pins will light up lights or "little stars." At any given time, Patents, Incredible Secret Money Machine II. and to that characteristic neon orange. Once one (or rarely two) lamps are lit and pro- Hardware Hacker II reprints. $118.50 again, external current limiting must be vide capacitor charging paths. As the LOTS OF OTHER GOODIES Tech Musings V or VI $24.50 provided, or a NE -2 will self-destruct. A capacitors charge, the threshold for Ask the Guru I or II or Ill $24.50 Hardware Hacker Il. Ill or IV $24.50 Micro Cookbook I $19.50 variation on the circuit is the standard another lamp is exceeded and it fires. PostScript Beginner Stuff $29.50 PostScript Show and Tell $29.50 hardware store "circuit tester." Both Because of a commutation effect, any PostScript Video & secrets $29.50 PostScript Reference II $34.50 PostScript Tutorial/Cookbook $22.50 lamp pins light on AC, but only the pos- other lamp turning on should turn off PostScript by Example $32.50 Understanding PS Programming $29.50 itive one does on DC. Thus, you have a any already lit ones. PostScript A Visual Approach $22.50 PostScript Program Design 524.50 Thinking in PostScript $22.50 simple AC -DC and polarity detector. For relaxation oscillators to work, the LaserWriter Reference $19.50 Type 1 Font Format $16.50 Another long -forgotten trick with resistors and supply voltage must all be Acrobat Reference $24.50 Whole works (all PostScript) 5380.00 the circuit checker is to use it as a hot - chosen to lie on the negative resistance Technical Insider Secrets FREE chassis detector. In some consumer- portion of the NE -2 curve. This usually BOOK -ON- DEMAND PUB KIT Ongoing details on Book- ondemand publishing, electronics equipment, one side of the happens over a rather wide value range. a new method of producing books only when and as ordered. Reprints. sources, samples. $39.50 line cord is connected to an internal Some cut -and -try may be needed for fancy. Resistors in the one to THE CASE AGAINST PATENTS chassis. Supposedly, the polarized anything For most individuals, patents are virtually certain to result in a net loss of sanity. energy. time. and prongs of the power cord prevent the four megohm range are usually a good money. This reprint set shows you Don's tested point. and proven real -world alternatives. 28.50 wrong side from being connected, but starting the CMOS Cookbook. The TTL Cookbook. Active Filter Cookbook, PostScript video, Case Against mistakes do happen. What is really mind -blowing is that I Patents, Incredible Secret Money Machine Il, and reprints. A severe shock hazard can exist when still know of no way to do the same thing Hardware Hacker II $119.50 you try to service hot -chassis gear. To using LEDs that can end up being LOTS OF OTHER GOODIES Tech Musings V or VI $24.50 find if what you are working on is of remotely as simple, as cheap, or as low in Ask the Guru I or II or Ill $24.50 out Hardware Hacker II, Ill or IV 524.50 Micro Cookbook I $19.50 that type just hold one terminal of a power. Much more on elegant simplicity PostScript Beginner Stuff $29.50 PostScript Show and Tell $29.50 neon tester in your hand and then touch appears in ELESIMP.PDF on my PostScript Video & secrets $29.50 PostScript Reference II $34.50 PostScript Tutorial /Cookbook $22.50 the other to the chassis. If the lamp www.tinaja.com Web site. PostScript by Example $32.50 Understanding PS Programming $29.50 weakly lights, reverse the power cord or PostScript A Visual Approach $22.50 PostScript Program Design $24.50 Thinking in PostScript $22.50 take other suitable precautions. No Tachometer Fundamentals LaserWriter Reference $19.50 Type 1 Font Format $16.50 shock should be felt. A tachometer is an instrument to Acrobat Reference $24.50 Whole works (all PostScript) $380.00 A simple neon -lamp relaxation oscil- measure the speed of a rotating shaft. Technical Insider Secrets FREE lator is shown in Fig. 1 B. That two The results are often shown in rpm, BOOK -ON- DEMAND PUB KIT Ongoing details on Book -ondemand publishing. megohm resistor by itself cannot pro- short for Revolutions per Minute. a new method of producing books only when and as ordered. Reprints. sources. samples. $39.50 vide enough current to light the neon Tachometers, or tachs, could be digi- analog. Generally, digital ones are THE CASE AGAINST PATENTS lamp in this circuit. So, the lamp tal or For most individuals. patents are virtually certain to result in a net loss of sanity. energy, time. and remains off, and the capacitor starts more accurate but can be much harder money. This reprint set shows you Don's tested and proven real -world alternatives. 28.50 charging. When the capacitor charges to read and interpret, especially during lamp on changes. Since there are lots of subtle BLATANT OPPORTUNIST I up to 55 volts, the neon turns The reprints from all Don's Midnight Engineering columns. Includes a broad range of real world and flashes brightly. proven coverage on small scale technical startup ventures. Stuffyou can use right now. $24.50 The capacitor is then discharged to and the cycle NEED HELP? RESOURCE BIN I the lamp's turnoff point, A complete collection of all Don's Nuts & Volts columns to date, including a new index and his repeats. The lamp flashes at a frequency Phone or write all your US Tech master names and numbers list. $24.50 determined by the RC time constant and Musings questions to: FREE SAMPLES involved. A -like Check Don's Guru's Lair at http://www.ttnaja.com the thresholds sawtooth Don Lancaster for interactive catalogs and online samples of Don's unique products. Searchable reprints and exponential wave will appear across the Synergetics reference resouces, too. Tech help, hot links to Box. 809 -EN cool sites, consultants. email: donOnineje.com capacitor; it can be sensed and used as an , FREE US VOICE HE LPLINE SA /MC Thatcher AZ, 85552 audio or other signal source. SYNERGETICS Tel: 520 -428 -4073 í$Ox 809 -EN Neon circuits are also micropower Thatcher, Fit 85552 @tinaja.com (520) 428 -4073 because only a very few microamps are US email: don Web page: http: / /www.tinaja.com FREE catalog: http: //www.tineja.com needed from your DC supply. 79

www.americanradiohistory.com NAMES & NUMBERS Hitachi 2000 Sierra Point Pkwy. Brisbane, CA 94005 (415) 589 -8300

Home Automation Systems 17171 Daimler Street Irvine, CA 92614 (800) 367-9836

Home Automator 2258 Sandy Lane Mebane, NC 27302 (910) 578 -9519

Live Wire Enterprises PO Box 670081 Flushing, NY 11367 (718) 544-4400

Maxim 120 San Gabriel Dr. Connect +120 Sunnyvale, CA 94086 vdc to center. (800) 998 -8800 Use 2.2 Megohm resistors, 0.5 p.F bipolar capacitors, P -O -P & Sign Design and NE -2 neon lamps. 7400 Skokie Blvd. Skokie, IL 60077 FIG.3- "TWINKLE LIGHTS" for a dance, show, or display. (708) 675 -7400

Point of Purchase 6225 Barfield Rd. #200 ing one or more pulses per revolution. position could be found by adding up or Atlanta, GA 30328 In "sensorless" sensing, speed signals are integrating all your speed pulses. (404) 252-8831 extracted and conditioned directly from Honeywell and Allegro Electronics the motor's back emf. This has to be are major suppliers for low cost Hall Sign Business tightly integrated into the exact motor sensors. Optoelectronic providers 1008 Depot Hill Office Pk. and controller in use. include Hewlett- Packard, Texas Broomfield, CO 80020 In "sensored" sensing, a device is Instruments, Toshiba, Siemens, and QT (303) 469-0424 placed on or near the motor shaft to Optoelectronics. SignCraft generate one or more electric pulses per Conditioning-This just consists of PO Box 06031 shaft revolution. Sensored sensing most making sure that each sensed pulse ends Ft. Myers, FL 33906 often is done magnetically or optically. up as a single clean event. It can be done (813) 939 -4644 Magnetic sensing is usually done using hardware, software, or a mixture with magnets and Hall Effect devices, or of both. Synergetics alternately by using ferrous gear teeth Algorithmic conversion-This step Box 809 and variable reluctance coils. With usually has to solve several interface Thatcher, AZ 85552 infrared optics, a bladed vane could problems. It might include numeric (520) 428 -4073 interrupt a LED /photodetector pair, or translations and reaching acceptable IR light could be bounced off reflective measurement speeds. Technical Works shaft At 600 rpm with a PO Box 3692 portions. single pulse per rev- Albany, GA 31706 A third route of very questionable olution, you'll have 10 pulses per second. (912) 787 -3000 reliability is to use direct mechanical The "10" result from a direct one second contacts in a commutator setup or a measurement must be multiplied by "60" Texas Instruments physical gear or roller. to provide a "600" display. Other scaling PO Box 655303 Note that speed can be determined factors need to be considered when more Dallas, TX 75380 using a single sensor. But when both than one pulse per revolution is involved, (800) 336-5236 speed and direction are needed, then a or in automotive applications where each pair of quadrature sensors must be used. cylinder fires only once for every two rev- "gotchas" to tach design, I thought we These are arranged so that one is in the olutions. Note that certain newer cars might go over some fundamentals. middle of its sensing activity while the may fire their cylinders twice to eliminate Digital tach design can often be split other is at its edge. A dual flip -flop or a a distributor -once for real and once at a into sensing, conditioning, algorithmic computer -logic circuit can extract both uselessly wrong time, so watch that detail. conversion, and display: speed and direction, as could a some- Scaling can be done with hardware or 80 Sensing- Sensing involves generat- what trivial software algorithm. Actual software. These days, software scaling

www.americanradiohistory.com TACHOMETER RESOURCES phase -locked loop (such as a CMOS Abbeon Cal Omega Engineering 4046) to "multiply" the input -pulse rep- 123 Gray Ave. One Omega Dr. etition rates by a reasonable selected Santa Barbara, CA 93101 Stamford, CT 06907 numeric value. Such a multiplication (805) 966 -0810 (800)826 -6342 might also perform the required scaling as well. However, there is an inherent Allegro Microsystems Parallax lag in any PLL circuit, which might 15036 3805 Atherton Rd. #102 Box cause the display to unacceptably fall Worcester, MA 01605 Rocklin, CA 95765 behind real -time speed changes. (508) 853-5000 (916) 624-8333 An often optimum workaround is to Asian Sources QT Optoelectronics measure the time period between the 1020 Church St. 610 N Mary Ave. sensed pulses instead of counting their Evanston, IL 60201 Sunnyvale, CA 94086 frequency. This is known as the EPUT (847) 475-1900 (408) 720 -1440 method, as in Events Per Unit Time. The once -horrendous nasty involved Barbara Arnold Sales Red Lion Controls here is that a 1/x calculation is required. 3704 Carlisle Ct. 20 Willow Springs Circle If your chosen micro has no division Modesto, CA 95356 York, PA 17402 instructions, alternates such as a table (800) 335 -4852 (717) 767 -6511 lookup or a repeated subtraction can be be inter- Circuit Cellar Ink Reddington Counters used. Scaling can also provided 4 Park St. #20 130 Addison Rd. nal to your 1/x calculation process. Vernon, CT 06066 Windsor. CT 06095 Another algorithmic consideration is (203) 875 -2751 (860) 688 -6205 the update time as continuous updates tend to jump around and can be incred- Scott Edwards Sensors ibly difficult to interpret or follow. 964 Cactus Wren Lane 174 Concord St. Something near two to four updates per Peterborough, NH 03458 Sierra Vista, AZ 85635 second is often a good choice that opti- (520) 459-4802 (603) 924-9631 mizes human factors. It's also a very good idea to take the average of as many Electromatic Equipment Siemens Components as dis- 600 Oakland Avenue 2191 Laurelwood Rd. measurements practical before Cedarhurst, NY 11516 Santa Clara, CA 95054 playing them. It is sometimes optimum (800) 645 -4330 (408) 980 -4500 to round all the display values off to the nearest 100 revolutions per minute. Hewlett- Packard Sunshine Instruments In certain circumstances, it is best to PO Box 10301 1810 Grant Avenue provide for both an analog and a digital Palo Alto, CA 94303 Philadelphia, PA 19115 speed display. Use digital for accuracy and (415) 857 -1501 (800) 343 -1199 analog to interpret any sudden changes. Display -A PIC or other micro can Honeywell Microswitch TES Electronics be used for input conditioning, scaling, 3660 Technology Dr. 57 Jen -Ai Road SEc 2 will Minneapolis, MN 55418 Taipei, TAIWAN and algorithmic conversion. This (800) 345-6770 886 -2- 2393 -9142 often drive an LCD or LED display. An LCD display might typically carry its Measurement & Control Texas Instruments own very specialized controller chip 2994 W Liberty Ave. PO Box 655303 strapped onto its back. Pittsburgh, PA 15216 Dallas, TX 75380 (412) 343-9666 (800) 336-5236 Some Resources I've gathered together some Toshiba Microchip Technology tachometer information for you as this 1220 Midas Way 2355 W Chandler Blvd. month's resource sidebar. Your best Chandler, AZ 85224 Sunnyvale, CA 94086 usually the Sensors or (602) 786 -7200 (800) 321-1718 starting points are Measurements 6. Control trade journals. Frank Murphy Mfg. Veeder Root Lab tachs are resold by Omega PO Box 470248 125 Powder Forest Dr. Engineering, Abbeon Cal, and others. Tulsa, OK 74147 Simsbury, CT 06070 Three examples of handheld tachs (918) 627 -3550 (860) 651 -2700 include the TouchTach by Barbara Arnold Sales, the Shimpo DT-105 from using a PIC or other micro is the pre- rate measurement. Much longer times Sunshine Instruments, and the RM- ferred choice. would be required for higher accuracy, 1500 from TES Electronics. Again, at 600 rpm using a single especially at lower speeds. Ready -to -use digital -tach panel pulse per revolution, you'll have 10 puls- One obvious solution to response instruments are widely available. A pair es per second. Six seconds would be times is to have more sensed pulses per of useful sources includes Red Lion and required to achieve a ten percent accu- revolution. A second solution is to use a Reddington. Check out the latter's Eagle 81

www.americanradiohistory.com LEO LED O O o O i F O TD-11111,7ó o o o Icl cl U 1 O O U SWITCH N SWITCH Ó O O O o G o o Tó VIN+ o o VIN+ o o C o O T 0 o o o o REG o o O O o o U O O o o RESET lcI o o ci a o o 0 RESET .o o o Cl o o o o o o o o o o o o O 000000000000 0000000000000 O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 PicPro 18 PicPro 28

RST RAI RA3 ne RB1 RB3 RB5 R87 nc ne ne ne VIN RST RA 1 RA3 RA5 R81 R83 R85 RB7 RC1 RC3 RC5 RC7 VIN 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

ONO RAO RA2 RA4 RBO RB2 R84 R86 ne ne nc nc +5V GND RAO RA2 RA4 RBO RB2 RB4 RBe RCO RC2 RC4 RCB +5V

FIG. 4-THESE PICPRO BREADBOARDS from Technical Works simplify PIC design and interface.

Model 53. devices are shown in Fig. 4. Lots more Lots of references and a detailed and One obvious starting point for any PIC information can be downloaded at annotated bibliography are nicely custom tachometer is to use the Basic www.tinaja.com/picupOl.html. included. Stamp from Parallax combined with an More on these titles can be found at LCD display module from Scott New Tech Lit www.tinaja.com/amlik0l.html. A very Edwards Electronics. Later these can be From Texas Instruments there's useful database for astronomy teaching replaced with a custom PIC or a baby Radio Frequency Solutions and Video materials can be obtained from PIC design and cheaper display. Solutions for PC Platforms mailers. www.aas.org/-education/indexl.html. Microchip Technology is your main PIC From Maxim comes the latest release of An intriguing "Knotty Neon" light- supplier. Alternate solutions are offered a Data Catalog CD. The new reference ing and display material is now available. by Circuit Cellar, as well as in most of library CD from Hitachi is about their These are basically knottable "ropes" of the "hobby projects" kit- product lines. SuperH RISC Engines electroluminescent light. There's ten But unless you are up to something spe- There is a new freebie catalog out colors with lengths up to 600 feet. The cial, the commercial high volume mod- from Home Automation Systems. And colors are somewhat adjustable by ules are likely to be a better and cheaper Home Automator magazine remains your changing the applied frequency from a solution than homebrew. first choice for useful help in this field. A 12 -volt AC control unit driven by a wall home -automation tutorial is at wart supply. The supplier is Live Wire PIC Development Boards www.tinaja.com/resbn01.htrnl. Enterprises. I was unable to locate their Speaking of PICs, Brad Mock of I came across two interesting new Web site (if one exists). They are men- Technical Works has just come up with books this month. First, be sure to check tioned at www.led.com and at something that has long been needed- out When Things Start to Think by Neil www.lightsearch. corn. Trade journals some small printed circuit breadboards Gershenfeld. This text is mostly on that target this sort of neat stuff include that hold your choice of popular PIC ongoing projects by the MIT Media Signrraft, Sign Business, POP and Sign chips, along with all the necessary regu- Lab. Neil makes heavy predictions for Design, and Point of Purchase. lator, oscillator, reset circuitry, and relat- the widespread use of low-cost distrib- There sure is a bunch of interest in ed goodies. Unlike the Basic Stamp from uted intelligence: everything from boat anchors -pieces of ancient military Parallax, these conveniently let you erasable digital paper to smart shoes. surplus communications or test gear that work directly in ultra fast PIC machine This title meshes nicely with The Age of are outrageously huge and heavy-these language. Two current models are for Intelligent Machines, which we looked at days. They sure don't make them like the 18- and 28 -pin PIC chips; other last month. this any more. I will try to do an in- sizes are in the works. There is also a superb Planetary depth survey sometime, but for now, The list prices will be $17.95. His Astronomy text by a Ronald Schorn. This check into the link farm at special introductory price of $14.95 is appears to be a highly readable and a nashville.net/- badger /millist. Or to find available for readers of this column. definitive history of our solar system dis- "straight from the horse's whatever" 82 Several more details on these PicPro coveries as written by a NASA insider. information, try out FM 24 -24 at

www.americanradiohistory.com www.gordon.army.mil /doctrine/2424, REPRINT plus, of course, good old Surplus Al at Electronics mh105.infi.net/-surplsal/. NOW BOOKSTORE Speaking of boat anchors, I just happen to have a stunning buy on a neat 60- 229 Popular Electronics (1999 back issues) $5.00 218 Electronics Now (1998 back issues) ..$5.00 kilowatt load bank. AC or DC, single or Write in Issues desired _ __ _ _ Write in Issues desired three phase, 12 to 440 volts. You use this 228 Popular Electronics (1998 back issues) $5.00 217 Electronics Now (1997 back issues) ..$5.00 one for generator testing, student Write in Issues desired Write in Issues desired Now back issues) ..$5.00 power -lab loads, or wind energy 0 227 Popular Electronics (1997 back issues) $5.00 216 Electronics (1996 Write in Issues desired Write in Issues desired And, no, research. It also makes toast. 226 Popular Electronics (1996 back issues) $5.00 215 Electronics Now (1995 back issues) $5.00 there is no way you can call this one a Write in Issues desired Write in Issues desired white elephant-it is a perfectly normal 225 Popular Electronics (1995 back issues) $5.00 gray elephant in color and size. Contact Write in Issues desired REPRINTS REPRINTS EH96 Experimenters Handbook (1996) . $5.00 me via e-mail at don @tinaja.com or see 174 Electronics Cartoons (The Best of) ...$1.99 EH95S Experimenters Handbook www.tinaj a.com/bargte01.html. Summer Edition (1995) ... 55.00 173 From Not- Working to Networking Troubleshooting Local -Area Networks .$2.99 For all the fundamentals of digital EH94S Experimenters Handbook 172 33 Bench -Tested Circuits $1.99 integrated circuits, be sure to check into Summer Edition (1994) ...... $5.00 El 171 36 Time Tested Circuits $1.99 my 7TL and CMOS Cookbooks, either by EH94W Experimenters Handbook Winter Edition (1994) $5.00 El 170 High -Voltage Project for Fun and themselves or as part of my bargain EH94 Experimenters Handbook (1994) 55.00 Science Book 1 $2.99 priced Lancaster Classics Library. See my 170A High -Voltage Projects for Fun and EH93 Experimenters Handbook (1993) . 55.00 Science Book 2 $2.99 nearby Synergetics ad for full details. HH95S Hobbyists Handbook And for all your other book needs, see Spring Edition (1995) $5.00 169 Think Tank (133 Circuits) $1.99 www.tinaja.com/amlink01.html. HH95F Hobbyists Handbook 169A Think Tank Vol. 2 $1.99 $5.00 99 The latest Web -site additions to my Fall Edition (1995) 168 Fact Cards (#34-66) $1 HH94S Hobbyists Handbook 168C Fact Cards (#67 -99) $1.99 Lair found at www.tinaja.com Guru's Spring Edition (1994) $5.00 168D Fact Cards (#100-132) $1.99 include a tutorial on Supraluminal HH94F Hobbyists Handbook 167 Designing With IC's $2.99 Fall Edition (1994) $5.00 Dowsing for Brown's Gas in Roswell. 166 Collected Works of Mohammed Ullyses Your key secret, of course, is to be sure HH93 Hobbyists Handbook (1993) . .$5.00 Fips (62 pages, April Fools Collection) .$6.99 History, Fundamentals to use an overunity water -fueled black HISTORY Crystal Radio 165 How to Repair CD Disc Players $2.99 & Design $10.95 164 Modern Electrics (April 1908) $1.99 helicopter. XTAL Crystal Set Handbook $10.95 160 New Ideas 42 Circuits $1.99 Our Consultant's Network is newly XTALPRO Crystal Set Projects $14.95 159 Low Frequency Receiving Techniques expanded and greatly improved at XTALBLD Crystal Set Building ...... $15.95 Building and Using VLF Antennas $2.99 www.tinaja.com /consul01.html. And POP96 POPtronix Hobbyist Handbook (1996)$5.00 158 Electra Importing Co. Catalog lots of surplus bargains are found at POP97 POPtronix Exper Handbook (1997) .$5.00 (Circa 1918) $2.99 www.tinaja.com/bargOl.html. Radlocratt 1993 Projects for Hobbyists ...$5.00 157 All About Kits $1.99 (1999 back issues) ..$5.00 To PC As usual, most of these mentioned 219 Electronics Now 156 How Make Boards $1.99 Write in Issues desired 154 How To Repair VCR's $t99 items should show up in our Names & Numbers or Tachometer Resources sidebars. Check here before calling our To order any of the items indicated above, check off the Please allow 4 -6 weeks for delivery. No COD's! ones you want. Complete the order form below, include no- charge US technical helpline shown To place a cred t card by phone, Visa Mastercard or payment, check or money order (DO NOT SEND your Discover only. You can also order and pay by e-mail. in the nearby box. to and mail to Claggk Inc., Reprint CASH), payable Contact [email protected] for details. Let's hear from you. Department, P.O. Box 4099, Farmingdale, NY 11735. CALL: 516-293-3751.

To use your Visa, Mastercard or Discover, complete the following: SOLAR DOSIMETER Bill my Visa Mastercard Discover (continued from page 77) Card No. Exp. Date Note that the solar dosimeter Signature responds only to the blue -green MAIL TO: Claggk Inc. in funds portion of the visible spectrum; it Reprint Bookstore, P.O. Box 4099, Farmingdale, NY 11735 All payments must be U.S. IN USA & CANADA does not directly measure ultravio- SHIPPING CHARGES Up to $5.00 $2.00 $30.01 to 40.00 ... S6.00 Overseas Orders must contact it, let radiation. You can use howev- $5.01 to $10.00 $3.00 $40.01 to 50.00 ....57.00 CLAGGK for shipping charges. er, to estimate your UV exposure in $10.01 to 20.00 $4.00 $50.01 and above ...S8.50 the six hours around noon when UV $20.01 to 30.00... $5.00 merchandise S intensity is proportional to visible Total price of Shipping Charge (see chart) S radiation. Also note that due to the Subtotal S nature of the Earth's atmosphere, Sales Tax (New York State Residents only) S the amount of visible light is not Name Total Enclosed S necessarily an accurate indicator Address S2 of the amount of UV radiation. City State Zip CLO1 83

www.americanradiohistory.com NEW PRODUCTS standards, the unit provides thermal fus- the user with isolation and protection ing, which protects against fire in case of from the voltage being measured. A continued from page 16 extended overvoltage. The unit includes heavy -duty grounding clip offers a surge protection circuitry with an secure connection to earth ground. The enhanced power line filter design. gence and mobility to new and existing It uses both common and normal network video cameras by providing mode coils, adding suppression of noise pan /tilt/zoom position control and viewing access from anywhere in the world. Easy to use and set up, the Transit RCM is connected into the camera with a tripod mount and then plugged into a PC serial port. Control of that camera can then be accessed from any PC connected to the digital network CIRCLE 24 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD being used. a 80K -15 probe has a suggested retail price of $149. e FLUKE CORP. GROUND OK P.O. Box 9090 Everett, WA 98206 Tel: 800-44FLUKE I Fax: 800 -FLUKE -FAX I e -mail: fluke- [email protected] Web: www.fluke.com /handheld/access

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CIRCLE 23 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD Interconnect Device USEFUL FOR SERIOUS RECORD CIRCLE 22 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD from connected equipment and provides collectors, sound restorers, and home noise filtration and increased noise and studios, the SuperConnector is an easy - The camera mount provides accurate spike attenuation. The COPYMAX 20 to -use, audiophile -quality device. It per- remote positioning control for new or AMP has two 20 -amp outlets and plugs mits connection of up to five audio existing CCD/CMOS video camera sys- directly into the AC wall outlet. recorders and various equalizers to your tems connected via digital networks. This Diagnostic lights continuously monitor main audio system. It can also connect controller increases the field -of-view of the status of the power being supplied, existing stationary video cameras (analog as well as the operation of the circuitry. or digital) up to 270 degrees, depending The COPYMAX 20 AMP has a suggest- on the camera used, and eliminates the ed list price of $99. need for low resolution "fisheye" lenses. PANAMAX The compact Transit RCM features con- 150 Mitchell Blvd.

trol for motorized zoom, focus, and iris, San Rafael, CA 94903 CIRCLE 25 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD and self -calibration upon reset. The Tel: 800 -472 -5555 or 415- 499 -3900 Transit RCM has a suggested retail price Fax: 415- 472 -5540 between your recorders for dubbing of $295. Web: www.panamax.com onto any or all of them. SURVEYOR CORP. The unit adds a mono mode control to 4501 Orcutt Road facilitate recording mono sources, or to San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Air Cleaner Test Probe accommodate mono equalizers, or single Tel: 805- 784 -9000 THE FLUKE 80K-15 ELECTRONIC channels of a source. External recorders Fax: 805- 784 -0925 Air Cleaner Test Probe is an accessory can be conveniently connected via front- e- mail: mf @surveyorcorp.com that extends the voltage measurement panel 1/4-inch stereo plugs. Made of high - Web: www.surveyorcorp.com capability of most digital multimeters up quality, double-sided, fiber glass epoxy to 15kV. It is intended for measuring the PCB, the equalizer features 34 gold -plat- output voltage in low energy environ- ed RCA connectors and is rack mount- Power Filter ments such as electronic air cleaners. able. The SuperConnector sells for $299. DESIGNED TO PROTECT DIGI- The 80K -15 probe provides high accu- ESOTERIC SOUND tal multi -functional equipment, the racy (± 2 %) when used with a voltmeter 4813 Wallbank Ave. COPYMAX 20 AMP power filter having an input impedance of 10 Downers Grove, IL 60515 ensures a much greater degree of prod - megohms. Tel: 630 -960-9137 84 uct safety. As well as meeting UL 1449 Plastic body construction provides e -mail: [email protected] ca

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Gilroy, CA 95020 tains many new products including the Steal This Computer Book: What Tel: 800 -848 -5594 or recently introduced line of Jensen brand They Won't Tell You About the 408 -848 -5296 handheld meters. Among other new Fax: 800-437 -3299 or 408- 848 -5784 products are the TX Series DMMs from Internet Web: www.books.mfi.com Tektronix, Fluke's i2000flex current by Wallace Wang $24.95 probes, and Leatherman's Wave multi- No Starch Press This book tells the story of the electric purpose tool. 555 De Haro Street, Suite 250 guitar devices that rendered some of the San Francisco, CA 94107 most famous music of the 60s and Tel: 415- 863 -9900 beyond, such as the Stones' "(I Can't Fax: 415- 863 -9950 Get No) Satisfaction." Thousands of We don't Copy tool kit.... Wa Cnahr the Web: www.nostarch.com songs owe a huge debt to the small unit $19.95 that distorts and sculpts guitar sound, Computer viruses, hacking, phone creating outrageous effects. phreaking, e-mail bombs-how do they work, who are the perpetrators, and how can you protect yourself from them? These issues, among others, are explored in this book. The author provides objective information that enables readers to become active, involved, educated Net- heads as opposed to passive victims. CIRCLE 340 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD

Irk' In addition to 50 pages of Jensen original tool kits, the new catalog fea- STE tures products from all major manufac- TN turers, including test equipment, power and specialty tools, wire and cable, MPUT equipment for soldering, telecommuni- by Art Thompsón cations, and much more. A complete BO CIRCLE 339 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD alphabetical index is provided, listing The author portrays the stompbox in products by manufacturer and type. all its incarnations: fuzz boxes, wah -wah pedals, reverb and tremolo bars, talk boxes, echo units, and other guitar add - Caller ID & ANI Security ons- mostly with crazy names like Fuzz by John J. Williams CIRCLE 338 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD Wah Diddy and Orange Squeezer -and Consumertronics accompanies the text with over 200 pho- P.O. Box 23097 In exposing the dangers of computer tos. He traces its roots back to the tran- Albuquerque, NM 87192 technology, this book reminds us that sistor and discusses how many of the old Tel: 505- 237 -2073 sometimes the best defense is a good units have become very popular with Fax: 505 -292 -4078 offense. To help you protect yourself today's guitarists. Web: www.tsc- global.com. and your computer, the author takes a $29 tour of the Internet and explains the Want to keep your ID secret when call- secrets necessary for survival. ing? This manual details how Caller ID 1999 Master Catalog works and discusses the vulnerability of from Jensen Tools, Inc. 7815 S. 46th Street To order books Stompbox: A History of Guitar Phoenix, AZ 85044 -5399 JkidisEINTow in this maga- Please call Tel: 800-426 -1194 or 602- 968 -6231 zine or, any book in print. hues, Flangers, Phasers, Echoes or night: (800) BOOKS - Fax: 600 -366-9662 or 602- 438 -1690 anytime day NOW (266 -5766) or (801) 261 -1187 ask & Wahs e -mail: jensen @stanleyworks.com for ext. 1454 or visit on the web at by Art Thompson Web: www jensentools.com http://www.BooksNow.com/electron- Miller Freeman Books Free icsnow.htm. Free catalogs are not available. 85 6600 Silacci Way This 308 -page, full -color catalog con-

www.americanradiohistory.com Caller ID, ANI, *69, *57, *67, and Call grams help explain complex concepts, updated and expanded to keep up with Blocking. Other topics covered are including the fundamentals of radio the latest deveolopments in data com- Class Per -Call Services, Advantages and communications, frequency allocations, munications technology. Among the Disadvantages of Caller ID, Phone and "reframing the spectrum." topics covered are data compression, the Privacy, and Technical Details. Internet and the Web, and HyperText Mark -up Language (HTML). DTV: The Revolution in Regulation of Wireless Electronic Imaging Communication Systems by Jerry Whitaker by Frederic J. Day and Huong N. Tram McGraw -Hill Government Institutes 1221 Avenue of the Americas Data 4 Research Place, Suite 200 New York, NY 10020 i.oniniuiiic"ations Rockville, MD 20850 Tel: 800- 2MCGRAW Tel: 301 -921 -2355 Web: www.ee.mcgraw- hill.com Fax: 301 -925 -0373 $55 e -mail: [email protected] DTV combines the best available digital Web: www.govinst.com technologies for video and harnesses $89 them for new uses in broadcast commu- A valuable reference tool for researching nications. This book provides complete FCC policies and regulations, this book background for every important innova- provides an in -depth understanding of the tion in this field. regulations of wireless systems. Readers will get a critical analysis of the history and current status of FCC regulations, including the Telecommunications Act of 1996-an understanding of which is essential to successfully navigating your wireless communications business. CIRCLE 343 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD

Despite the complexity of the mater- REGULATION ial, this information is presented clearly and concisely. Tables and diagrams help °' Wireless readers locate information quickly and Communications Systems easily. CIRCLE 342 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD

Using explicit examples, schematics, 1999 Catalog and mathematics, the author creates a primer of DTV standardization -a from CAIG Laboratories, Inc. blending of telecommunications, broad- 12200 Thatcher Court casting, and computer technologies into Poway, CA 92064 -6876 one tool. The book also reports on video Tel: 800 -CAIG -123 ór 619- 486 -8388 transmission issues and interchange for- Fax; 619- 486 -8398 mats. Other topics covered include video e -mail: caig123 @aol.com CIRCLE 341 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD compression, convergence issues, and Web: www.caig.com transmission and reception hardware. Free Easy -to -read, this sourcebook takes CIRCLE 344 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD a comprehensive look at FCC regula- This catalog features a variety of envi- tions affecting wireless communications, Newnes Data Communication ronmentally safe products to improve such as private land mobile and conductivity and maintain optimum sig- microwave communication systems, and Pocket Book, 3" Edition nal quality on connectors, probes, common carrier communication sys- by Mike 7òoley switches, and other electrical contacts tems. Numerous charts, tables, and dia- Newnes, Butterworth Heinemann and connectors. CAIG offers a complete 225 Wildwood Avenue line of non -aerosol applicators for Woburn, MA 01801 -2041 aerosol -sensitive customers. To order books in Tel: 800-366 -2665 or 781- 904 -2500 0»W this magazine or, Products include lubricants, deoxi- any book in print. Please call anytime day or Fax: 800 -446-6250 dizers, solvents, pastes, anti-static and night: (800) BOOKS -NOW (266-5766) or (801) e -mail: [email protected] shielding compounds, lint -free acces- 261 -1187 ask for ext. 1454 or visit on the web at http:/ /www.BooksNow.com /electronic- Web: WWW.bh.com/nezvnes sories, solder pots, plastic cutting and snow.htm. $28.95 welding tools, heat -shrink ovens, Free catalogs are not available. 86 This edition has been substantially process conveyor ovens, and more. EM

www.americanradiohistory.com Data Display Ltd, Canadian sub of cable at first glance, but what you should SERVICE CLINIC CCS, Tel: 800 -561 -9903 know is that you'll get this speed on a continued from page 25 Global Semiconductors (Toronto, regular basis and don't have to worry Canada), Tel: 800 -668 -8776, Web: about bandwidth being used up by oth- hard to say if cable either -it is external. www.globalsemi.com ers someday (it's of As stated early in this article, the fer- Generic replacements -ECG, companies will keep their promise rite core of a flyback transformer is con- NTE, ASTI, HR Diemen, for example, speed and bandwidth control). structed with a precision gap usually offer lines of replacement flybacks. formed by some plastic spacers or pieces These companies have sites on the VENDOR INFORMATION that include a cross reference to of tape -don't lose them if you need to Internet Compaq on mon- disassemble the core. The ferrite core is their replacement based TV or 20555 State 249 also relatively fragile, so take care. itor model and/or the part or house Houston, TX 77070 The focus and screen divider net- number on the flyback: Tel: 800 -345 -1518 work uses potentiometers and resistors NTE Electronics: www.nteinc.com Web: www.compaq.com (not shown) with values in the tens to ECG Philips: www.ecgproducts.com hundreds of megohms, so they may not HR Diemen: www.hrdiemen.es Hughes Network Systems (DirecPC) Lane register at all on your multimeter. The ASTI Magnetics: 11717 Exploration Germantown, MD 20876 high voltage rectifiers (D1 to D3 on this www.astimagnetics.com Tel: 800 -DirecPC are composed of many silicon Flybacktransformer: diagram) Web: www.direcpc.com diodes in series and will read open on a www.flybacktransformer.com Corp.: typical VOM or DMM. Cactus Technology DSL Communications Note that there is no standardization www.flyback -transformer.com. 4675 Stevens Creek Blvd. to the color code. However, the fat wire Note, however, that generic replace- Suite 241 to the CRT is most often red, though it ments might be of lower quality or be Santa Clara, CA 95051 could also be black. Of course, you cannot quite compatible with your original. Tel: 408 - 249 -6400 not miss it with the suction cup-like In an effort to minimize the number of Web: www.dsl -com.com insulator at the CRT-anode end. The distinct flyback models, some corners focus and/or screen connections may may be cut and one -size -fits -many may As only a few areas are currently also be to pins rather than flying leads. be the rule resulting in all sorts of prob- operating with the technology, xDSL's lems that could even further complicate pricing is difficult to determine right Replacement Flyback your troubleshooting. In short, turn to now. From what we've seen, at its cheap- Transformers these only if availability or economics est it's about $60 a month- almost dou- Unfortunately, you cannot walk into leave you with no other choice. ble the cost of cable. Keep a look out for area in RadioShack and expect to locate a fly- xDSL announcements in your back for your TV or monitor. However, Wrap Up the coming months. Computer vendors there are other options: That's it for now. Next time we will like Compaq are already shipping Original manufacturer -most reli- continue our discussion of monitor trou- machines with modems that can handle able source but most expensive. Older bleshooting and repair. Until then, check both xDSL and standard analog lines models may not be available. This may out my Web site, www.repairfaq.org. I (check out their Presario 5600 line), and be the only option for many TVs and welcome comments (via e-mail only companies like DSL Communications monitors-particularly expensive or please at sam @stdavids.picker.com) of all are already shipping add -on modems for less -popular models. types and will reply promptly to requests use with any computer. Electronics distributors -a number for information. See you next time! CM That's all for now. Until next time, of distributors sell replacement flybacks. here's hoping you have a viable high- However, there may be no way of know speed way to get on the Net. If you'd CONNECTIONS ing if what you are getting is an original COMPUTER like to get in touch, you can send e-mail or replacement or a generic equivalent, and continued from page 13 to [email protected], you could end up with something that snail -mail to Computer Connections, isn't quite compatible (see below). Thus, Electronics Now, 500 Bi -County unless the catalog listing says "original work with your standard phone lines. Blvd., Farmingdale, NY 11735. part," these may be no better than ones To take advantage of XDSL, you'll from the generic sources we'll detail need to equip your computer with an shortly. appropriate modem-usually ADSL or Get your copy of the In your search for flybacks, here are SDSL. The difference between these CRYSTAL SET HANDBOOK some places to try: two is that ADSL is designed to have Go back to antiquity and build the radios that your grandfather built. Component Technologies, Tel: 888 - more bandwidth for downloads, making Build the "Quaker Oats' type rig, e-mail: it perfect for Web use, while SDSL has wind coils that work and make it FLYBACK or 800 -878 -0540; look like the 1920's! Only $10.95 [email protected] synchronized speeds in both directions, plus $4.00 for shipping and han- making it a great solution for videocon- dling. Claggk Inc., P.O. Box 4099, CRC Components, Tel: 800 -822- Farmingdale, NY 11735. USA 1272 ferencing and file uploads. Maximum Funds ONLY! USA and Canada - be no foreign orders. Allow 6-8 weeks EDI (Electro Dynamics, Inc.) NY, speeds for xDSL are expected to MA01 for delivery. 87 Tel: 800 -426 -6423 about 2 Mbps; this seems slower than

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Amazon Electronics 66 327 MCM Electronics 47 Ken Coren Vice- President (ext. 267) 270 American Eagle Publications 46 306 Merrimack Valley Systems 62 Christina Estrada Andromeda Research 60 133 MicroCode Engineering CV2 Assistant to the Publisher (ext. 209)

Arrow Technologies 52 microEngineering Labs 67 Marie Falcon Advertising Director (ext. 206) Basic Electrical Supply 53 Modern Electronics 64 Adria Coren Brand Electronics 69 318 Mouser Electronics 52 Credit Manager (ext. 208) Bsoft Software, Inc 62 MSC Electronics 66 For Advertising ONLY 322 C &S Sales, Inc. 50 - NESDA 21 EAST /SOUTHEAST Megan Mitchell Cable USA 68 - - Netcom 53 9072 Lawton Pine Avenue Las Vegas, NV 89129 -7044 Circuit Specialists 53 262 Parts Express Inc 55 Tel. 702 -240 -0184 CLAGGK, Inc 11, 83 Pioneer Hill Software 60 Fax: 702-838-6924 email: [email protected] Cleveland Inst. of Electronics 33 222 Polaris Industries 45 MIDWEST /Texas /Arkansas/Okla. Command Productions 46 315 Prairie Digital 46 Ralph Bergen One Northfield Plaza, Suite 300 Decade Engineering 67 264 Print (Pace) 63 Northfield, IL 60093 -1214 Tel. 847 -559 -0555 EDE - Spy Outlet 68 266 Ramsey Electronics 49 Fax: 847-559-0562 323 Electronix Express 54 283 Resources Unlimited 57 email: bergenrj @aol.com

Electronic Tech. Today 26,44 Securetek 67 PACIFIC COAST - Anita Bartman Emac - Inc 58 - Sil Walker 58 Hutch Looney & Associates, Inc. 6310 San Vicente Blvd., Suite 360 Engineering Express 66 - - Square 1 Electronics 56 Los Angeles, CA 90048 -5426 Tel. 323 -931 -3444 (ext. 227) 335 Foley -Belsaw 59 - Super Circuits 52 Fax: 323-931-7309 - General Device Instruments 60 - Tech -Specialties 66 email: anita @hlooney.com Electronic Grantham Col. of Engineering 6 Techniks 66 Shopper - Joe Shere - Home Automation 60 - Technological Arts 66 National Representative P.O. Box 169 Howard Electronics - 72 312 Telulex 56 Idyllwild, CA 92549 -0169 Tel. 909 -659 -9743 331 Howard Electronics 65 333 Test Equipment Depot 48 Fax: 909-659-2469 - ICS 64 217 Test Equipment Sales 70 email: [email protected] Megan - Information Unlimited 48 275 Timeline 54 Mitchell National Representative - Intec Automation 66 - Unbound 56 9072 Lawton Pine Avenue Las Vegas, NV 89129 -7044 138 Interactive Image Technologies CV4 - U.S. Cyberlab 68 Tel. 702 -240 -0184 Fax: 702 -838 -6924 319 IVEX Design 61 132 Windjammer Barefoot Cruises 6 email: mmitchell @gernsback.com - J &M Microtek, Inc 67 - World Star Technologies 67 Customer Service J-Tron Inc 66 - - Worldwyde 66, 67 1- 800 -999 -7139 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM M -F MST 142 Jameco CV3 - Zagros Robotics 58 88

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