Silicon ChipMarket Centre - March 1990 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: UHF translators and environmentalists
  4. Feature: The Evolution of Electric Railways by Bryan Maher
  5. Feature: The UC3906 SLA Battery Charger IC by Darren Yates
  6. Vintage Radio: Wave traps - a useful vintage radio accessory by John Hill
  7. Project: 6/12V Charger For SLA Batteries by Darren Yates
  8. Project: Delay Unit For Automatic Antennas by Greg Swain
  9. Serviceman's Log: A bit of a snag with the sausage rolls by The TV Serviceman
  10. Project: Workout Timer For Aerobics Classes by Steve Calder
  11. Subscriptions
  12. Back Issues
  13. Project: 16-Channel Mixing Desk by John Clarke & Leo Simpson
  14. Feature: Amateur Radio by Garry Cratt, VK2YBX
  15. Feature: Computer Bits by Steve Payor
  16. Feature: Remote Control by Bob Young
  17. Market Centre
  18. Advertising Index
  19. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the March 1990 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 44 of the 104 pages in the full issue, including the advertisments.

For full access, purchase the issue for $10.00 or subscribe for access to the latest issues.

Articles in this series:
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (November 1987)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (November 1987)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (December 1987)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (December 1987)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (January 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (January 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (February 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (February 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (March 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (March 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (April 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (April 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (May 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (May 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (June 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (June 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (July 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (July 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (August 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (August 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (September 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (September 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (October 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (October 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (November 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (November 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (December 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (December 1988)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (January 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (January 1989)
  • The Evolution Of Electric Railways (February 1989)
  • The Evolution Of Electric Railways (February 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (March 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (March 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (April 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (April 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (May 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (May 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (June 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (June 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (July 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (July 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (August 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (August 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (September 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (September 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (October 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (October 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (November 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (November 1989)
  • The Evolution Of Electric Railways (December 1989)
  • The Evolution Of Electric Railways (December 1989)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (January 1990)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (January 1990)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (February 1990)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (February 1990)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (March 1990)
  • The Evolution of Electric Railways (March 1990)
Articles in this series:
  • 16-Channel Mixing Desk (February 1990)
  • 16-Channel Mixing Desk (February 1990)
  • 16-Channel Mixing Desk (March 1990)
  • 16-Channel Mixing Desk (March 1990)
  • 16-Channel Mixing Desk, Pt.3 (April 1990)
  • 16-Channel Mixing Desk, Pt.3 (April 1990)
  • 16-Channel Mixing Desk; Pt.4 (May 1990)
  • 16-Channel Mixing Desk; Pt.4 (May 1990)
  • Modifications To The 16-Channel Mixer (November 1990)
  • Modifications To The 16-Channel Mixer (November 1990)
Articles in this series:
  • Amateur Radio (November 1987)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1987)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1987)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1987)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1990)
  • The "Tube" vs. The Microchip (August 1990)
  • The "Tube" vs. The Microchip (August 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1995)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1995)
  • CB Radio Can Now Transmit Data (March 2001)
  • CB Radio Can Now Transmit Data (March 2001)
  • What's On Offer In "Walkie Talkies" (March 2001)
  • What's On Offer In "Walkie Talkies" (March 2001)
  • Stressless Wireless (October 2004)
  • Stressless Wireless (October 2004)
  • WiNRADiO: Marrying A Radio Receiver To A PC (January 2007)
  • WiNRADiO: Marrying A Radio Receiver To A PC (January 2007)
  • “Degen” Synthesised HF Communications Receiver (January 2007)
  • “Degen” Synthesised HF Communications Receiver (January 2007)
  • PICAXE-08M 433MHz Data Transceiver (October 2008)
  • PICAXE-08M 433MHz Data Transceiver (October 2008)
  • Half-Duplex With HopeRF’s HM-TR UHF Transceivers (April 2009)
  • Half-Duplex With HopeRF’s HM-TR UHF Transceivers (April 2009)
  • Dorji 433MHz Wireless Data Modules (January 2012)
  • Dorji 433MHz Wireless Data Modules (January 2012)
Articles in this series:
  • Computer Bits (February 1990)
  • Computer Bits (February 1990)
  • Computer Bits (March 1990)
  • Computer Bits (March 1990)
  • Waveform Generation Using A PC, Pt.3 (May 1990)
  • Waveform Generation Using A PC, Pt.3 (May 1990)
  • Waveform Generation Using A PC, Pt.4 (July 1990)
  • Waveform Generation Using A PC, Pt.4 (July 1990)
Articles in this series:
  • Remote Control (October 1989)
  • Remote Control (October 1989)
  • Remote Control (November 1989)
  • Remote Control (November 1989)
  • Remote Control (December 1989)
  • Remote Control (December 1989)
  • Remote Control (January 1990)
  • Remote Control (January 1990)
  • Remote Control (February 1990)
  • Remote Control (February 1990)
  • Remote Control (March 1990)
  • Remote Control (March 1990)
  • Remote Control (April 1990)
  • Remote Control (April 1990)
  • Remote Control (May 1990)
  • Remote Control (May 1990)
  • Remote Control (June 1990)
  • Remote Control (June 1990)
  • Remote Control (August 1990)
  • Remote Control (August 1990)
  • Remote Control (September 1990)
  • Remote Control (September 1990)
  • Remote Control (October 1990)
  • Remote Control (October 1990)
  • Remote Control (November 1990)
  • Remote Control (November 1990)
  • Remote Control (December 1990)
  • Remote Control (December 1990)
  • Remote Control (April 1991)
  • Remote Control (April 1991)
  • Remote Control (July 1991)
  • Remote Control (July 1991)
  • Remote Control (August 1991)
  • Remote Control (August 1991)
  • Remote Control (October 1991)
  • Remote Control (October 1991)
  • Remote Control (April 1992)
  • Remote Control (April 1992)
  • Remote Control (April 1993)
  • Remote Control (April 1993)
  • Remote Control (November 1993)
  • Remote Control (November 1993)
  • Remote Control (December 1993)
  • Remote Control (December 1993)
  • Remote Control (January 1994)
  • Remote Control (January 1994)
  • Remote Control (June 1994)
  • Remote Control (June 1994)
  • Remote Control (January 1995)
  • Remote Control (January 1995)
  • Remote Control (April 1995)
  • Remote Control (April 1995)
  • Remote Control (May 1995)
  • Remote Control (May 1995)
  • Remote Control (July 1995)
  • Remote Control (July 1995)
  • Remote Control (November 1995)
  • Remote Control (November 1995)
  • Remote Control (December 1995)
  • Remote Control (December 1995)
CEN'l Cash in your surplus gear. Advertise it here in Silicon Chip. MEMORY CHIPS CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING COUPON Prices at February 1st, 1990 Speed 12Dns Chip type Advertising rates for this page: Classified ads - $7 .00 for up to 15 words plus 40 cents for each additional word; Display ads (casual rate) - $20 per column centimetre (max. 10cm). Closing date: five weeks prior to month of sale. If you use a PO Box number, you must include your permanent address and phone number for our files . We cannot accept ads submitted without this information . To run your own classified ad, put one word on each of the lines below and send this form with your payment to: Silicon Chip Classifieds, PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. SIMMS (MACS) (IBM) SIPPS DIP PLEASE PRINT EACH WORD SEPARATEL V, IN BLOCK LETTERS ZIP 5 4 3 2 9 9 8 9 x x x x 256 1Mb 1 Mb 1 Mb HP PS2 9 x 256 9 x 1Mb 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 ($7.00) 16 ($7.40) 17 ($7 .80) 18 ($820) 19 ($8.60) 20 ($9.00) 40.00 128.00 122.00 165.00 48.00 132.00 130.00 - 44.00 132.00 52.00 136.00 12.70 13.80 4.10 4.25 2.50 13.40 14.60 4.40 4.60 2.70 18.00 5.00 18.00 - 20.00 3.50 414256 (1Mb) 41256 411000 (1Mb) 4400 (4Mb) 4.00 16.00 2.30 Overnight delivery 150.00 Credit cards welcome DISCOUNTS FOR DEALERS Phone for pricing on 70ns, B0ns, PS2, Compaq, and NTX PELHAM Tel (02) 427 0011 - Fax (02) 428 5460 FIX-A-KIT Name .... $15 PER HOUR LABOUR Street Postcode Suburb/Town Enclosed is my cheque or money order for$ .. Bankcard D Visa Card D MasterCard . or please debit my D Card No - 411000 (1Mb) 414256 (1Mb) 41256 41464 (256) 4164 Sales Tax 20% 6 10Dns 8Dns Prices (excluding lax) L I __L____J__L___L..__L_-'---'-____J_-'---'---_L_- ' ---'-- - '- ' - - - ' NO CHARGE FOR KITS THAT CAN ' T BE REPAIRED 3 MONTHS WARRANTY ON REPAIRS CONSTRUCTION AVAILABLE HYCAL INSTRUMENTS DESIGN, MANUFACTURE, REPAIR OF ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT (02) 633 5897 Signature ............. ................... .. ...... ... ... .... .......... Card expiry date ...... ./ ...... ../. .... .. . FOR SALE PROJECT PCBs. Talk to the outside world. ETl-1643 PC 1/0 card, PC 1 6ADC 1 6 -channel 8-bit. Both $39.95 each . Rear bracket & DB25 cable $16 . 6502, 6809, Z-80 miniprocessor with 2 x PIA, RAM, ROM, expansion bus $49.95. Intel 8039/48/49 with wire wrap area B&T $199. Digi-125 125W power amplifier PCB $4 .95. P&P $2.00. PC Computers, 36 Regent St, Kensington, SA 5068 . BELT KITS FOR VCRs. Please supply brand & model number & $12 .00 for each kit required. Prompt dispatch assured. James Cotterill, PO Box 44, Farrer, ACT 2607. PCB ETCHING TANKS. Upright style, glass. Suit PCBs to 125 x 150mm, $29.95 kit, $39 .95 assembled. P&P $6 .00. Other sizes on request. 5V 500mA plugpacks $9.95, p&p $2 .50. Kit repair and build service $1 5 per hour or set rate. Phone (08) 382 8919. Electronic Toy Services, 2/111 Glynville Drive, Hackham West, SA 5163. USED EPROMS, 5 MIXED for $6. 00 plus $2.00 p&p. Used 27MHz remote control crystals $1 .00 each plus $1 .50 p&p any quanity. Many other products available. Send SAE for detailed list. Electronic Toy Services, PO Box 491, Noarlunga Centre, SA, 5168. Phone (08) 382 8919. TOSHIBA LCD SCREEN. Originally to suit T1500 desktop. 240 x 180mm, 640 x 200 pixels. Uses 5V supply & TTL drive signals. Suit experimenter. $150. Import Technologies (07) 372 5138. LEADER AUDIO GENERATOR, Model LAG-120A. 1OkHz to 1 MHz, variable attenuator, sine & square wave. As new $269 . Tech RF signal generator, model TE-20D, 120kHz to 500MHz. Good condition, $75. Phone (02) 969 2160, Mosman, NSW. NEW SERVICE - PARTS location and supply. Want just that part of a kit or just a hard to find part? We will find and supply them for you. No search fees. Send SSAE with requirements to Part Search, PO Box 491, Noarlunga Centre, SA 5168. Phone (08) 382 8919 . SATFAX: NOAA, METEOR & GMS weather satellite picture receiving program for IBM XT/AT. Displays in 64 colours. Needs EGA colour monitor & card and "Weather Fax" PC card. $45 plus $3 postage. RADFAX2: HF WEATHER FAX, Morse & RTTY receiving program for IBM XT/AT. Needs CGA, SSS HF, FSK/tone MARCH 1990 103 r~--------------- - -----, FREEPOST SUBSCRIPTION COUPON To: Freepost 25, Silicon Chip Publications, PO Box 139 Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097, Australia. NO POST AGE ST AMP REQUIRED, IN AUSTRALIA. Start in, _ _ _ _ _ _ __ D Renewal D New subscription Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ __ (PLEASE PRINT) Street _ __ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ Suburb/town _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ Postcode_ _ __ 1 year (12 issues) D $A42 2 years (24 issues) D $A84 NZ & PNG (airmail) D $A65 Overseas surface mail D $A62 D $A 1 20 D $A130 D $A130 D $A240 Australia Overseas airmail Enclosed is my cheque/money order for $ _ __ _ or please debit my D Visa Card CJ Bankcard Card No D MasterCard .I'---~~~ _,I I'------"--_,_-'-- ] I I '-I___,_____,_____,___, Signature _ _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ Card expiry date_ __,_ _ Advertising Index Access Communications ... ...... 3 Allied Capacitors ...... .. ......... . 4 7 Altronics .. .. .. ...... .. .. .... .... 76- 79 Arista .. .. ... ... ...... ... ........ ..... . 27 Board Solutions ..... ..... .... 40 ,41 Dauner Electronics .......... .. .. 73 David Reid Electronics ......... . 33 Dick Smith Electronics ... .. 49-55 Electronic Solutions ........ 18, 19 Elmeasco .. .. .. ...... ... ......... OBC Energy Control ...... .. ........ .. .. 7 3 Force Electronics .............. .. 85 Geoff Wood Electronics ...... .. 29 Harbuch Electronics ...... .. 38,84 Hycal Instruments ............ .. 1 03 Jaycar Electronics .......... 70- 71 Jiloa Pty Ltd .. .. ................. ... 95 Lawson Radio .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 1 7 PC Marketplace .. .. .. .. .......... IFC Pelham .... ..... ............ ... .. .. . 103 RCS Radio ..... .... .. .. ...... .. .. .. . 94 Resurrection Radio .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 1 7 Rod Irving Electronics ..... 92,93 Sheridan Electronics .......... .. 65 Silicon Chip Binders ....... ..... IBC Tandy Electronics .. .. .......... .. 1 3 L _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ _ _ J r~--------------- ---- -- , SILICON CHIP BINDERS Yes 1 Pl ease send me _ _ __ SILICON CHIP binder(s) at $A 11.95 plus $A3 p&p each (NZ p&p $A6). Name _ __ __ _ _ _ _ _ __ __ __ _ __ _ _ __ (PLEASE PRINT ) Street Suburb/town _ _ _ _ _ __ _ _ _ _ _ Postcode _ __ _ __ Enclosed is my cheque/money order for $ _ _ _ _ or please debit my D Bankcard □ Visa Card u MasterCard PC Boards Printed ci rcuit 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 19-189, Avondale, Auckland, NZ. Phone 88 5730. • Electro nic Toy Services, 2/11 1 Glynville Drive, Hackham West, SA 5163. Uses normal or thermal paper. $175. Import Technologies (07) 372 5138. Signature _ _ _ _ __ __ __ __ Card expiry date_ ---''--- L- -------------- --~-----J decoder. Also "RF2HERC" & " RF2EGA" , same as RADFAX2 but suitable for Hercules & EGA cards respectively. $35 plus $3 postage. All programs are on 5.25-inch 360K or 3 .5-inch disc & include full documentation . Only from M. Delahunty, 42 Villiers St, New Farm, Qld 4005 . Phone (07) 358 2785. WOW! DRAM PRICES have dropped . Now is the right time to build your own 104 SILICON CHIP parallel printer buffer. Advertised since January 1985. Featured in AEM in March 1987 and SILICON CHIP in October 1989. Over 2500 units sold . Same kit, just updated. Now 8K-1 M. No obligation . For a free catalog send a 41 c stamp to Don McKenzie, 29 Ellesmere Crescent, Tullamarine 3043 . EPSON P80 PORT ABLE battery rechargeable 80-column printer. Serial interface. Very compact & light. 1.1 kg . TOSHIBA T31 00 CO-PROCESSOR kit. This piggy-back board enables the fitting of a 80287 -8 to the early T3100 . Two types available, solder in & plug in. Solder version $250.00. Plug-in version $375 .00 . Import Technologies (07) 3 7 2 5 138 . LOGIC ANALYSER. Gould Instruments K40 stand alone analyser. Eight nonvolatile memories, 7-inch CRT, 4 x 2K sample memories, 2 x 1 6 -channel , probes up to 100MHz, asynchronous capture . Weighs 7.7kg. $1345.00. Import Technologies (07) 372 5138.