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PRODUCT SHOWCASE USB PIC Programmer with the lot . . . In the April 2003 issue of SILICON CHIP, Jim Rowe looked at several PIC programmers from Kits-R-Us. While his overall impression was ‘very favourable’ he found a few little ‘niggles’ with the kits. Peter Crowcroft of Kits-R-Us took the criticisms on board and has come up with a new PIC programmer which not only corrected any problems but can also program all DIP Flash PIC’s. No external power supply is needed as it gets its power from the USB port. The software interface and design is by Tony Nixon, who readers may remember designed the astoundingly popular Programmable Ignition Sys- USB cable suitable for your computer. The kit is available in Australia from Ozitronics – price is $110.55 including GST and pack and post. tem back in the March 1996 and revised in the June and July 1999 issues. The kit is complete with the 28-pin ZIF socket as shown above right. The only thing you will need to supply is a Altronics’ PortaPAL kit “Power” from Jaycar Altronics will shortly be releasing their long-awaited kit for the “Porta-PAL” Portable PA System described in the February and March 2003 issues of SILICON CHIP. The kit will be short form; that is, it will have all the amplifier electronics including PC boards, components and silk-screened front panel/chassis but will NOT include the speaker box components (timber, carpet, corner protectors, top hat), nor the speaker itself, power supply or battery. (The power supply kit, Cat K1695, is $19.95). Altronics say they have gone down this route to make the kit as versatile as possible. The Altronics PortaPAL kit (K-5360) will sell for $179.95 inc. GST and should be available from Altronics stores or via mail order from the beginning of May. Looking for “free” power from the Sun? Or maybe 240V when you don’t have mains available? These products from Jaycar Electronics might help. First is a solar charger which opens out like a book and can charge a variety of common rechargeable devices such as mobile phones, digital cameras, hifi gear, etc at a charge rate of about 200mA in good sunlight. 3.6, 6, 9 and 12V outlets are provided. It can also house 4 x AAA rechargeable cells (not included) to become a stand-alone power source. This sells for $59.95 (Cat MB3590). Second is a range of 12V DC to 230V AC inverters. In the “Powertech” range are 400W, 600W, 800W, 1000W and 1500W models, with retail prices ranging from $199.50 to $749.50. All have electrically isolated outputs for safety. Outputs are modified sinewave so they Contact: Kits-R-Us Website: www.kitsrus.com Ozitronics Website: www.ozitronics.com will power most appropriately-rated equipment. The solar charger and inverters are available from Jaycar stores and some dealers or via mail/ website order. Contact: Jaycar Electronics PO Box 6424, Silverwater NSW 1811 Ph: (02) 9741 8555 Fax: (02) 9741 8500 Website: www.jaycar.com.au AUDIO MODULES broadcast quality Contact: Altronics Distributors PO Box 8350, Perth Busn. Centre, 6849 Ph: (08) 9428 2188 Fax: (08) 9428 2187 Website: altronics.com.au www.siliconchip.com.au Manufactured in Australia Harbuch Electronics Pty Ltd 9/40 Leighton Pl. HORNSBY 2077 Ph (02) 9476-5854 Fx (02) 9476-3231 May 2003  69 Dedicated automotive multimeter from DSE Dick Smith Electronics have introduced a new multimeter to their already extensive range – this one specifically intended for automotive use. The Digitor Q1585 meter offers a comprehensive range of tests and checks including RPM, duty cycle, dwell, temperature, frequency, continuity and diode check, along with the “expected” AC/DC voltage, AC/DC current and resistance measurements. It can handle any number of cylinders from 2-8; RPM to 12,000 and frequency to 32kHz. DC voltage is auto ranging from 32mV to 1000V, (ACV to 750V) while current measurements are from 320µA to 10A. Along with fully-shrouded “standard” multimeter probes, included are a set of alligator clip probes, a thermocouple probe for temperature sensing and an inductive RPM clamp, eliminating the need to break into high tension leads. The standard probes are housed in the back of the anti-shock outer case. The large-display LCD also includes a bargraph and a “data hold” function is included. The normal price of the meter is $135.00 but for a limited time is available for $99.94, a saving of $35+. It is available through all DSE stores, mail/web order or selected resellers. Contact: Dick Smith Electronics PO Box 500 Regents Park DC NSW 2143 Ph: (02) 9642 9100 Fax: (02) 9642 9111 Website: dse.com.au 70  Silicon Chip TVS for HID lighting This normally wouldn’t get a mention here but we thought it timely given the feature on High Intensity Discharge (HID) lighting in this issue. Vishay has announced several new devices for transient voltage protection in HID and lighting ballast applications, from 220V to 540V depending on package. The single-chip TVS devices are said to have improved surge capacity, lower leakage currents and improved clamping for high-voltage applications. Contact: Vishay Intertechnology Inc Ph: 0011 1 610 644 1300 Website: vishay.com Marantz Golden Jubilee Saul Bernard Marantz founded the Marantz Company in New York in 1953, just five years after CBS introduced the first long-playing (LP) record. As a record collector and amateur musician, he felt that commercial amplifiers were simply not good enough – so he built his own. Strangely enough, Saul Marantz' first commercial product, the Model 1 Mono Preamplifier, included an input for TV audio – thus pre-empting home theatre by half a century! Today Marantz is part of Japanese company D&M Holdings Inc (the “D” part is Denon), which tends to specialise in mainly high-end audio and home theatre equipment. Marantz is distributed in Australia by QualiFi Pty Ltd and is available at leading hifi specialists. Contact: QualiFi Pty Ltd Ph: (03) 9543 1522 Website: qualifi.com.au Sydney public transport to get Smart (card)? A project has been announced for Sydney’s public transport system which will deliver the first major roll-out of Smart Cards to the Australian public. The con-tactless card will ease queues and delays on all public transport methods in the greater Sydney area. The NSW announcement, along with decisions on the Brisbane City Council’s and WA transport projects expected to be made shortly, will expedite the development of interoperability standards currently taking place at Standards Australia. The Standard has included input from all State and Territory governments, and members of Intelligent Transport Systems and Asia Pacific Smart Card Forum. The announcement also flags great opportunities to leverage the system for other applications such as parking, tolling, vending and retail outlets. Contact: Asia Pacific Smart Card Forum Phone: (02) 6247 4655 email: dstanley<at>aeema.asn.au World’s smallest player/referee transmitter Have you noticed the number of players, referees, etc who are now “wired for sound” in the big games shown on TV? Ever wondered where they hide their radio transmitters? A Canadian company, VFGadgets Inc, markets the world’s smallest broadcast-quality transmitter. It can be used by the TV networks to broadcast player’s, athlete’s, or official’s audio at any event. The transmitter has a facility for a microphone to be integral or lavaliere mounted. The transmitter has comp-anding, pre-emphasis and provides high quality broadcast audio. It measures just 52mm x 32mm x 13mm) and weighs only 28g. The QT- 256 has an incredibly small lavaliere microphone only 2mm in diameter. Power output is 100mW, while the frequency is selectable from 690-750Mhz. And yes, they are rather expensive – at about US$1950 each! Contact: VFGadgets Inc 23 Elmer Avenue Toronto, Ontario Canada M4L 3R6 Tel: 0011-1-416-686-1452 Website: vfgadgets.com www.siliconchip.com.au