Wants high quality
recording system
I am still very green with
modern electronics but I am learning fast. I wish to build a quality
sound system/recording facility
from kits but am having trouble
deciding what kits to use. How
does this sound to you: 8 channel
stereo mixer (to mix inputs from
phono, tape, CD and tuner) to the
Studio Series Half Octave
20-Band Stereo Equaliser to the
Studio Series 200 Stereo Power
Amplifier to high quality loudspeakers?
If this is OK to listen to will I
be able to record from it? (K.G.,
Port Augusta, SA).
The TDA7000 would not be
suitable because it is a mono
receiver. Also, as we point out in
the motorcycle intercom project
published last month, because it
is a narrowband receiver, it uses a
cunning technique to limit the FM
deviation fed to its detector circuitry. This effectively compresses
the recovered audio signal. This is
an ideal solution when you are
listening to an FM station while
riding a bike at 110km/h down the
freeway but it does limit the
dynamic range of the music.
Really, if you just want to listen in
a casual way in a bedroom or out at
the barbecue, the solution is to use
the FM . stereo transmitter as
originally described and use a standard "ghetto blaster" portable
receiver to pick up the signal. It
won't be real hifi but the sound will
be acceptable.
Wants advice on
soldering stations
I am writing to you for some advice on buying a soldering station. I
have been interested in electronics
for some time and have decided
that it is about time to get myself a
decent soldering set-up. After examining all the available information in catalogs, I have come up
with a few questions.
The most important question I
• Yes. If such a set up sounds
good, and we have every reason
to believe that it will sound excellent, then it will be equally
good as far as recording goes
although ultimately the standard
of reproduction will depend on
your tape recorder.
Incidentally, if you are contemplating building an 8-channel
mixer (from Jaycar we presume?)
watch out for our new 16 channel mixer which will be published soon. This will be a very comprehensive high performance
unit with everything that opens
and shuts and much cheaper
than equivalent commercial
units costing many thousands of
dollars.
have concerns tip life. All the sales
pitches seem to say that their iron
tips last at least x times as long as
the competition. Do you know of any
irons whose tips do not last? I have
had quite enough experience of trying to solder with an iron that needs
to be filed every half an hour and do
not wish to spend $200 on a new
one with the same problem.
Secondly, there is the matter of
temperature adjustment. Most of
the stations seem to have a
temperature infinitely variable between about 200° and 400°. The
station that I think is the best value
- the Micron T2440 from Altronics
- has only 5 switched temperature
positions. Additionally, the minimum temperature is a relatively
high 320°.
Finally, if you have any general
suggestions about a soldering station that is particularly good, I
would be keen to hear them. I am
prepared to spend up to about the
$200 mark. (W.K., Macquarie,
ACT).
• We have mixed feelings about
soldering stations as far as many
hobbyists are concerned. For the
technician who has a soldering iron
going all day, a temperature controlled soldering station is undoubtedly a good idea but we would
hesitate to recommend a particular
model. Soldering stations are like
cars and people have strong personal preferences.
Advertising Index
Allied Capacitors . . . . . . . . 1 03
Altronics . .
. . . . .. 72-75
Arista Electronics . .
. . . 11
Board Solutions . .
. . IBC
Dauner Electronics. .
. .. 49
David Reid Electronics . . .. IFC
Dick Smith Electronics . .. 26-31
Electronic Solutions.
. . 38,39
Elmeasco .
. OBC
Energy Control. . . . . . . . . 106
Geoff Wood Electronics .... 45
Harbuch Electronics .... 37 ,85
Hycal Instruments .. . .... . 49
Jaycar Electronics . . . . . . 53-60
Pacific Microelectronics . ... 37
PC Marketplace . . . . . 1 2, 1 3
Pelham.
. .... 107
RCS Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Rod Irving Electronics . 104,105
WIA . ....... . ... . ..... 98
PC Boards
Printed circuit boards for SILICON
CHIP projects are made by:
• RCS Radio Pty Ltd, 651
Forest Rd, Bexley, NSW 2207.
Phone (02) 587 3491 .
• Jemal Products, 5 Forge St,
Welshpool, WA 6106 . Phone
(09) 350 5555.
• Marday Services, PO Box
Avondale, Auckland,
NZ. Phone 88 5730.
19-189,
For the person who does not frequently use a soldering iron though,
we are inclined to think that the
temperature adjustable 240V AC
soldering iron is a much better proposition as it represents quite a saving over a soldering station.
Strictly speaking though, you
then need a soldering stand to keep
the iron safely anchored while it is
not in use. A hot soldering iron just
resting on your workbench is a
dangerous implement; it can burn
you badly if it is dragged off the
bench onto your lap.
Chrome plated iron clad tips are
very worthwhile as they do last
much longer but there is a catch.
Many of the iron clad tips are a bit
useless because their shape is unsuitable; you need a chisel shape tip
for most work. Remember that you
can't file an iron clad tip to shape.
NOVEMBER 1989
111
