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Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Leo Simpson, B.Bus. Editor Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Robert Flynn Darren Yates, B.Sc. Reader Services Ann Jenkinson Sharon Macdonald Marketing Manager Sharon Lightner Phone (02) 979 5644 Mobile phone (018) 28 5532 Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst Garry Cratt, VK2YBX Marque Crozman, VK2ZLZ John Hill Jim Lawler, MTETIA Bryan Maher, M.E., B.Sc. Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW Jim Yalden, VK2YGY Bob Young Photography Stuart Bryce SILICON CHIP is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. A.C.N. 003 205 490. All material copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Printing: Macquarie Print, Dubbo, NSW. Distribution: Network Distribution Company. Subscription rates: $42 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 1a/77-79 Bassett Street, Mona Vale, NSW 2103. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 979 5644. Fax (02) 979 6503. PUBLISHER'S LETTER Pay TV will boost optical fibre technology Since I wrote about the "Pay TV Farce" back in the August 1992 issue, the story has had more twists and turns than any fiction writer could have dreamed up. The big players missed out on getting a satellite TV licence while two unknowns, Ucom and Hi-Vision, got the prizes. Now that the Australian Broadcasting Authority has approved the licences, there remains the matter of about $400 million to be paid. However, the satellite TV licences may yet turn out to be the "booby prizes" if the Packer/Murdoch/Telecom pay TV consortium looks seriously at the other way open to it – optical fibre transmission and what it terms "Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Lines". While we don't know exactly what Telecom is planning, it is an obvious move. Having lost its monopoly on telephone traffic and having been told by the Federal Government to go out and behave like a commercial corporation, it is starting to do just that, to the consternation of some politicians within the Government. Not only has it aligned itself Packer and News Corporation in the Pay TV consortium, it has also taken the unprecedented step of taking a shareholding in the Seven TV network. This last step is of particular significance because of the Seven Networks' experiment in interactive television in Adelaide. Let's just crystal-ball on how the Packer/Murdoch/Telecom Pay TV system might work and remember it will probably be interactive. Therefore, the subscriber could use his set to dial up the exchange and select whatever program he wants or switch between any of dozens of programs. This would be no problem for the optical fibre system, especially since only one video program would need to be sent from the exchange to the subscriber at any one time. Think about it? A choice of maybe dozens of programs, always with high signal quality and with no need for a dish on the roof. Satellite pay TV is unlikely to be able to offer the same range of choice. So really, at some stage in the next decade, a satellite TV licence could just be a millstone around a company's neck. Remember also that the optical fibre system will probably also support video telephones and data services of all sorts – education, banking, shopping, TAB, you-name-it. When you think of the huge potential of an optical fibre network, it could well be that Telecom is quite happily contemplating its prosperous future. And why shouldn't it? After all, it was told to go out and play with the big boys and that's what it is doing. Leo Simpson ISSN 1030-2662 WARNING! SILICON CHIP magazine regularly describes projects which employ a mains power supply or produce high voltage. All such projects should be considered dangerous or even lethal if not used safely. Readers are warned that high voltage wiring should be carried out according to the instructions in the articles. When working on these projects use extreme care to ensure that you do not accidentally come into contact with mains AC voltages or high voltage DC. If you are not confident about working with projects employing mains voltages or other high voltages, you are advised not to attempt work on them. Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd disclaims any liability for damages should anyone be killed or injured while working on a project or circuit described in any issue of SILICON CHIP magazine. Devices or circuits described in SILICON CHIP may be covered by patents. SILICON CHIP disclaims any liability for the infringement of such patents by the manufacturing or selling of any such equipment. SILICON CHIP also disclaims any liability for projects which are used in such a way as to infringe relevant government regulations and by-laws. Advertisers are warned that they are responsible for the content of all advertisements and that they must conform to the Trade Practices Act 1974 or as subsequently amended and to any governmental regulations which are applicable. 2  Silicon Chip