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PRODUCT SHOWCASE Digital Sound Level Meter from Jaycar Jaycar Electronics new QM-1590 Digital Sound Level Meter has a lot of features for its $169 price tag. Applications range from industrial and workplace sound measurement to determine safety levels, through to the measurement and performance-checking of hifi speakers. Until now, most low-cost sound level meters have been analog devices but this instrument has both digital and analog output. In fact, it features dual digital/quasi analog display and has auto and manual ranging, sound level “hold” function and both dB “A” and dB “C” weighting. It also offers fast and slow time weighting and maximum/ minimum level recording. Accuracy is ±2dB under reference conditions and the measurement frequency range is 300Hz to 18kHz. A detailed instruction manual is included, as is a 9V alkaline battery which will give 30 hours operation. The instrument can be examined at any Jaycar Electronics store throughout Australia or can be ordered direct from Jaycar at 8-10 Leeds St, Rhodes NSW 2138. Phone (02) 9743 5222, fax (02) 9743 2066, email techstore<at> jaycar.com.au You can also view details on Jaycar’s website, www.jaycar.com.au D-day is coming – new TV standards announced One of the main standards required for digital television broadcasting in Australia has just been published by Standards Australia. With D-TV scheduled to commence on January 1 2001, the new standard, AS4599-1999, Digital Television – Terrestrial broadcasting – Characteristics of digital terrestrial television transmissions, defines the specifications for the Australian digital TV system. It will complement the standard currently being developed for digital TV receivers and forms the foundations of the “next generation” of television in this country. The standards are based on the European DVB-T standards with necessary modifications for Australia. Meanwhile, Philips aren’t happy... Philips Australia has called on the Federal Government to carefully consider which definition format it adopts for the introduction of digital TV. Philips believes that the proposal by Australian freeto-air TV stations to adopt high definition TV is premature and will be too expensive for average consumers. Harry Van Dyk, General Manager, Philips Sound and Vision, claims that the current proposal means Australians would be forced to pay up to $15,000 for a high definition TV receiver, display and sound system. Philips is proposing that broadcasters should broadcast standard definition television (SDTV) to give all Australians access to digital TV. Another Safety Recall for Fluke T2 Testers Fluke Australia has found a potential product malfunction in the Fluke T2 Electrical Tester. This notice includes all units manufactured before September 1999, with serial numbers lower than 74165430. The safety notice includes instruments involved in a previous safety notice dated November 1998. The T2’s positive battery contact can corrode over time due to exposure to vibration. In certain situations, the instrument can operate intermittently; sometimes it will turn on and sometimes not. When the malfunction occurs, the tester may not indicate that voltage is present, placing the user in a potentially hazardous situation. T2 owners are directed to stop using their T2 Electrical Testers as soon as possible, even if they have not experienced this problem. Owners of units that have serial numbers between 70521601 and 74165430 have two options: (1) they can request a free Field Repair Kit, containing a new battery contact coil spring, two new AA-size zinc-oxide batteries and installation directions; or (2) they can return their T2 Tester to Fluke Australia for repair. Customers are urged to email david.mayhew<at>fluke.com.au or fax their request for a Field Repair Kit to (02) 8850 3300 as soon as possible. If required, telephone (02) 8850 3333. To return a T2 Electrical Tester, send it with a Safety Notice Return Form (available by faxing Fluke Australia) to Fluke Australia, 26/7 Anella Avenue, Castle Hill, NSW 2154. If the T2 owner’s unit was affected by the November 1998 safety notice, has a serial number lower than 70521601 and it does not have an “R” stamped after the serial number, the T2 was not repaired in the November 1998 recall. This unit now MUST be returned to Fluke for repair. November 1999  53 CTRONICSHOWCASELECT 3990 FULL RANGE $ ELECTROSTATIC Now you can afford the legendary clarity, transparency, depth and precision of an electrostatic speaker. The new Vass ELS-5 is a full range electrostatic speaker, able to faithfully reproduce frequencies from 40Hz-20kHz. • 5 Year Warranty • Wide range of custom finishes. • Individually hand built & tested. MicroZed Computers GENUINE STAMP PRODUCTS FROM Scott Edwards Electronics microEngineering Labs & others Easy to learn, easy to use, sophisticated CPU based controllers & peripherals. PO Box 634, ARMIDALE 2350 (296 Cook’s Rd) Ph (02) 6772 2777 – may time out to Mobile 0409 036 775 Fax (02) 6772 8987 1/42-44 Garden Bvde, Dingley 3172 Pyramid subwoofer Ph 03 9558 0970 Fax 03 9558 0082 separately available email: vass<at>hotkey.net.au http://www.microzed.com.au Most Credit Cards OK PRODUCT SHOWCASE – continued SoundMan X1: quality stereo sound for your PC With high-quality stereo being increasingly available on the Internet, Logitech has released a new generation of speakers specifically intended for this growing market. The SoundMan X1 speakers are housed in attractive, contemporary cases yet require minimal space on the desktop. The system comprises a high- performance subwoofer and a pair of two satellite speakers, rated at 25W RMS. With a recommended retail price of $149, the system is said to bring theatre-quality sound to MP3, DVD, CD music, gaming and other popular multimedia applications. Bundled with the speakers is the MP3 Music Centre CD with more than 100 MP3 songs and internet music software. The SoundMan X1 system will be increasingly available from computer specialist and department stores. Hobby/radio control show for Melbourne A show of special interest to hobbyist readers is being held this month in Melbourne. Featuring virtually every facet of technical hobbies, including electron- s entitlet r e h c n ou This vo 50% discou e t h t u o y try to for en y show. b Hob 54  Silicon Chip ics and amateur radio, radio control cars, boats, planes, model railways, astronomy and many more, the Hobby, Engineering and Radio Control Modelling show is being staged by St Kilda Community Projects at 8 Chapel Street, St Kilda from 10am to 5pm on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th November. Along with plenty of demonstrations, workshops and seminars there are great bargains promised. And while entry is priced at a very reasonable $2 per person, SILICON CHIP readers can get 50% off by presenting the coupon at left (or even a photocopy) on admission. For more information, contact 0411 837 187 or (03) 9523 1037; email isentz <at>labyrinth.net.au NDS Moves Up Namlea Data Systems (NDS) has relocated to a modern new distribution centre in Lane Cove. Located at Unit 4, 11 Orion Road, the new premises offer vastly improved office and warehouse space for the rapidly-expanding company, now one of Australia’s leading data and networking equipment suppliers. Postal address is now Locked Bag 7, Lane Cove NSW 1595, while the phone and fax numbers have changed to (02) 9429 0800 and 9429 0899 respectively. The NDS National Call Number for general customer sales and support remains unchanged on 1300 30 30 69. Intelligent microphone mixing in a half-rack Shure has release a four-channel automatic microphone mixer which puts the performance of its eight-channel (SCM810) system into a half-rack space. The SCM410 mixer is intended for both installed and touring applications and increases the clarity and intelligibility of speech while dramatically reducing feedback, reverberation and the need for comb filtering. The mixer incorporates Shure’s patented “Intellimix” technology which automatically gates microphones on and off to optimise sound quality. It can be used on its own or linked to other mixers. Shure products are distributed by Jands Electronics who can be reached on (02) 9582 0909. TRONICSHOWCASELECTRO • • • • • • • SWITCHMODE POWER SUPPLIES R.T.N Basic Stamps, SX chips and tools. OZ-made boards and development tools Best pricing on temp, a/d, rtc kits New Xilinx PLCC44 development system New OZ made serial LCD module 2*16 Stepper and R/C servo motor chips New super catalog on CD Rom with 40 meg of Stamp related data. Now available via SAE and our cost $4.50, or free with orders over $125 Phone/Fax 03-9338-3306 http://people.enternet.com.au/~nollet Email: nollet<at>mail.enternet.com.au NEW FROM QUESTRONIX DVS5 Video & Audio Distribution Amplifier 25W500W Extensive Range 6 Sarich Court, Technology Park, Bentley WA 6102 Ph: 08 9470 1177 Fax 08 9470 2844 web: www.computronics.com DVS5 Video & Audio Distribution Amplifier VGS2 Graphics Splitter Five identical Video and Stereo outputs plus h/phone & monitor out. S-Video & Composite versions available. Professional quality. VGS2 Graphics Splitter High resolution 1in/2out VGA splitter. Comes with 1.5m HQ cable and 12V supply. Custom-length HQ VGA cables also available. Check our NEW website for latest prices and MONTHLY SPECIALS www.questronix.com.au Email - questav<at>questronix.com.au Video Processors, Colour Correctors, Stabilisers, TBC's, Converters, etc. QUESTRONIX All mail: PO Box 548, Wahroonga NSW 2076 Ph (02) 9477 3596 Fax (02) 9477 3681 Visitors by appointment only UNIVERSAL WIRELESS DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM EMC Technologies' internationally recognised Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) test facilities are fully accredited for emissions, immunity and safety standards. EMC Technologies Melbourne: (03) 9335 3333 Sydney: (02) 9899 4599 Linx RF modules from Clarke & Severn Electronics offer a simple, efficient and cost-effective method of making a product wireless. Want to know more? Contact CLARKE & SEVERN ELECTRONICS PO Box 1, Hornsby NSW 1630 Ph (02) 9482 1944 Fx 9482 1309 email: sales<at>clarke.com.au www.clarke.com.au USB Devices BUSINESS FOR SALE: • • • • • • • • • Escape to the sun in beautiful Coffs Harbour! Stable electronic retail business Easily run by husband and wife team. Agent for GSM carrier Access to large electronics suppliers (niche market). Very strong customer base inc Government depts and schools etc. Five year rental option on current highway premises. Full figures available. Current owners (12 years) are moving to a new business. Price only $55,000 + SAV. Enquiries: phone (02) 6652 5684 or fax (02) 6651 3731 Do you want YOUR product or service showcased to Australasia's most important electronics marketplace? CALL ME: RICK WINKLER on (02) 9979 5644 and let me explain how cost effective the SILICON CHIP ELECTRONICS SHOWCASE can be for YOU! Just PLUG them in! Looking for ways to protect your peripheral investment, while moving to USB-based systems? You can even network two computers via their USB ports & save on the cost of network cards. You're ready to take full advan­tage of USB, but your desktop system does not have USB support? Not a problem, our USB card can add 2 USB ports to any PC with a spare PCI slot. If your motherboard already has USB port pin connectors then you can add 2 USB ports to the backplane. USB type A & B cables also available. Vamtest Pty Ltd trading as Microgram Computers A.C.N. 003 062 100 Web site: Email: www.mgram.com.au info<at>mgram.com.au Hubs, Adapters & Converters, Cables, Scanners, Bar Code Readers, Video Capture & more Check out our web site or Unit 1, 14 Bon Mace Close give us a Berkeley Vale NSW 2261 November 1999  55 Phone: (02) 4389 8444 call Fax: (02) 4389 8388