Silicon ChipIgnorance & hysteria often carry the day - September 1995 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Ignorance & hysteria often carry the day
  4. Feature: Automotive Ignition Timing; Pt.1 by Julian Edgar
  5. Review: Philips Brilliance 21A Autoscan Computer Monitor by Bob Flynn
  6. Project: Build A Keypad Combination Lock by Jeff Monegal
  7. Project: The Incredible Vader Voice by John Clarke
  8. Serviceman's Log: What's happened to service backup? by The TV Serviceman
  9. Project: Railpower MkII: A Walk-Around Throttle For Model Railways; Pt.1 by Rick Walters
  10. Feature: Computer Bits by Greg Swain
  11. Project: Notes On The Train Detector For Model Railways by Leo Simpson
  12. Order Form
  13. Project: Build A Jacob's Ladder Display by John Clarke
  14. Project: Audio Lab: A PC-Controlled Audio Test Instrument; Pt.2 by Roger Kent
  15. Vintage Radio: An interesting grid bias problem by John Hill
  16. Review: Bookshelf by Silicon Chip
  17. Product Showcase
  18. Back Issues
  19. Notes & Errata: Fuel Injector Monitor, August 1995
  20. Book Store
  21. Market Centre
  22. Advertising Index
  23. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the September 1995 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 34 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:
  • Automotive Ignition Timing; Pt.1 (September 1995)
  • Automotive Ignition Timing; Pt.1 (September 1995)
  • Automotive Ignition Timing; Pt.2 (October 1995)
  • Automotive Ignition Timing; Pt.2 (October 1995)
Articles in this series:
  • Railpower MkII: A Walk-Around Throttle For Model Railways; Pt.1 (September 1995)
  • Railpower MkII: A Walk-Around Throttle For Model Railways; Pt.1 (September 1995)
  • Railpower MkII: A Walk-Around Throttle For Model Railways; Pt.2 (October 1995)
  • Railpower MkII: A Walk-Around Throttle For Model Railways; Pt.2 (October 1995)
  • IR Remote Control For The Railpower Mk.2 (January 1996)
  • IR Remote Control For The Railpower Mk.2 (January 1996)
Articles in this series:
  • Computer Bits (July 1989)
  • Computer Bits (July 1989)
  • Computer Bits (August 1989)
  • Computer Bits (August 1989)
  • Computer Bits (September 1989)
  • Computer Bits (September 1989)
  • Computer Bits (October 1989)
  • Computer Bits (October 1989)
  • Computer Bits (November 1989)
  • Computer Bits (November 1989)
  • Computer Bits (January 1990)
  • Computer Bits (January 1990)
  • Computer Bits (April 1990)
  • Computer Bits (April 1990)
  • Computer Bits (October 1990)
  • Computer Bits (October 1990)
  • Computer Bits (November 1990)
  • Computer Bits (November 1990)
  • Computer Bits (December 1990)
  • Computer Bits (December 1990)
  • Computer Bits (January 1991)
  • Computer Bits (January 1991)
  • Computer Bits (February 1991)
  • Computer Bits (February 1991)
  • Computer Bits (March 1991)
  • Computer Bits (March 1991)
  • Computer Bits (April 1991)
  • Computer Bits (April 1991)
  • Computer Bits (May 1991)
  • Computer Bits (May 1991)
  • Computer Bits (June 1991)
  • Computer Bits (June 1991)
  • Computer Bits (July 1991)
  • Computer Bits (July 1991)
  • Computer Bits (August 1991)
  • Computer Bits (August 1991)
  • Computer Bits (September 1991)
  • Computer Bits (September 1991)
  • Computer Bits (October 1991)
  • Computer Bits (October 1991)
  • Computer Bits (November 1991)
  • Computer Bits (November 1991)
  • Computer Bits (December 1991)
  • Computer Bits (December 1991)
  • Computer Bits (January 1992)
  • Computer Bits (January 1992)
  • Computer Bits (February 1992)
  • Computer Bits (February 1992)
  • Computer Bits (March 1992)
  • Computer Bits (March 1992)
  • Computer Bits (May 1992)
  • Computer Bits (May 1992)
  • Computer Bits (June 1992)
  • Computer Bits (June 1992)
  • Computer Bits (July 1992)
  • Computer Bits (July 1992)
  • Computer Bits (September 1992)
  • Computer Bits (September 1992)
  • Computer Bits (October 1992)
  • Computer Bits (October 1992)
  • Computer Bits (November 1992)
  • Computer Bits (November 1992)
  • Computer Bits (December 1992)
  • Computer Bits (December 1992)
  • Computer Bits (February 1993)
  • Computer Bits (February 1993)
  • Computer Bits (April 1993)
  • Computer Bits (April 1993)
  • Computer Bits (May 1993)
  • Computer Bits (May 1993)
  • Computer Bits (June 1993)
  • Computer Bits (June 1993)
  • Computer Bits (October 1993)
  • Computer Bits (October 1993)
  • Computer Bits (March 1994)
  • Computer Bits (March 1994)
  • Computer Bits (May 1994)
  • Computer Bits (May 1994)
  • Computer Bits (June 1994)
  • Computer Bits (June 1994)
  • Computer Bits (July 1994)
  • Computer Bits (July 1994)
  • Computer Bits (October 1994)
  • Computer Bits (October 1994)
  • Computer Bits (November 1994)
  • Computer Bits (November 1994)
  • Computer Bits (December 1994)
  • Computer Bits (December 1994)
  • Computer Bits (January 1995)
  • Computer Bits (January 1995)
  • Computer Bits (February 1995)
  • Computer Bits (February 1995)
  • Computer Bits (March 1995)
  • Computer Bits (March 1995)
  • Computer Bits (April 1995)
  • Computer Bits (April 1995)
  • CMOS Memory Settings - What To Do When The Battery Goes Flat (May 1995)
  • CMOS Memory Settings - What To Do When The Battery Goes Flat (May 1995)
  • Computer Bits (July 1995)
  • Computer Bits (July 1995)
  • Computer Bits (September 1995)
  • Computer Bits (September 1995)
  • Computer Bits: Connecting To The Internet With WIndows 95 (October 1995)
  • Computer Bits: Connecting To The Internet With WIndows 95 (October 1995)
  • Computer Bits (December 1995)
  • Computer Bits (December 1995)
  • Computer Bits (January 1996)
  • Computer Bits (January 1996)
  • Computer Bits (February 1996)
  • Computer Bits (February 1996)
  • Computer Bits (March 1996)
  • Computer Bits (March 1996)
  • Computer Bits (May 1996)
  • Computer Bits (May 1996)
  • Computer Bits (June 1996)
  • Computer Bits (June 1996)
  • Computer Bits (July 1996)
  • Computer Bits (July 1996)
  • Computer Bits (August 1996)
  • Computer Bits (August 1996)
  • Computer Bits (January 1997)
  • Computer Bits (January 1997)
  • Computer Bits (April 1997)
  • Computer Bits (April 1997)
  • Windows 95: The Hardware That's Required (May 1997)
  • Windows 95: The Hardware That's Required (May 1997)
  • Turning Up Your Hard Disc Drive (June 1997)
  • Turning Up Your Hard Disc Drive (June 1997)
  • Computer Bits (July 1997)
  • Computer Bits (July 1997)
  • Computer Bits: The Ins & Outs Of Sound Cards (August 1997)
  • Computer Bits: The Ins & Outs Of Sound Cards (August 1997)
  • Computer Bits (September 1997)
  • Computer Bits (September 1997)
  • Computer Bits (October 1997)
  • Computer Bits (October 1997)
  • Computer Bits (November 1997)
  • Computer Bits (November 1997)
  • Computer Bits (April 1998)
  • Computer Bits (April 1998)
  • Computer Bits (June 1998)
  • Computer Bits (June 1998)
  • Computer Bits (July 1998)
  • Computer Bits (July 1998)
  • Computer Bits (November 1998)
  • Computer Bits (November 1998)
  • Computer Bits (December 1998)
  • Computer Bits (December 1998)
  • Control Your World Using Linux (July 2011)
  • Control Your World Using Linux (July 2011)
Items relevant to "Build A Jacob's Ladder Display":
  • Low Power Electric Fence / Jacob's Ladder PCB pattern (PDF download) [11306951] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Audio Lab: A PC-Controlled Audio Test Instrument; Pt.1 (August 1995)
  • Audio Lab: A PC-Controlled Audio Test Instrument; Pt.1 (August 1995)
  • Audio Lab: A PC-Controlled Audio Test Instrument; Pt.2 (September 1995)
  • Audio Lab: A PC-Controlled Audio Test Instrument; Pt.2 (September 1995)
Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Leo Simpson, B.Bus. Editor Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Robert Flynn Rick Walters Reader Services Ann Jenkinson Advertising Enquiries Leo Simpson Phone (02) 9979 5644 Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst Garry Cratt, VK2YBX Marque Crozman, VK2ZLZ Julian Edgar, Dip.T.(Sec.), B.Ed John Hill Jim Lawler, MTETIA 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: $49 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 34, 1-3 Jubilee Avenue, Warrie­ wood, NSW 2102. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9979 5644. Fax (02) 9979 6503. PUBLISHER'S LETTER Ignorance & hysteria often carry the day Anyone who follows the news and people’s reactions must often wonder whether Australians really are as keen on new tech­nology as we are made out to be. Often, the reaction is one of fear and loathing, or more precisely, hysteria and ignorance. These comments have been prompted by the recent action by parents with children at a preschool centre in Harbord, a Sydney beach-side suburb. The parents are reacting against the installa­tion of a cellular phone transmitter tower some 50 metres away from the centre. Predictably, all the local politicians have jumped on the bandwagon and are saying how bad all the “unknown” health risks are and so it goes on. In the middle of all this, Telstra is in a no-win situation. It has legally installed the transmitter site and complied with all the regulations. Now really, it is about time that such whingeing wimps ceased to get any publicity for their irrational fears and state­ments. And as for the pollies, they are being hypocritical as usual. You can bet that all politicians and council officials who have made supporting noises for this band of parents will have mobile phones and use them constantly. By doing so, they are subjecting themselves and all around them to much higher RF fields than would be present in the preschool yard. Do they really think there is a risk? I’ll bet they have never thought about it at all. Furthermore, you can bet that some or most of the parents who are so concerned about their little darlings’ health risks will have mobile phones as well. Do they refuse to use them in their car when their little darlings are strapped into the back seat? I think not. I’ll bet they use them while driving too, a more immediate risk to health. If any of these people really has a concern about the health risks of mobile phones, why do they continue to use them? The truth of the matter is that no-one likes these cellular phone transmitters because they are ugly. Telstra and the other mobile phone operators would be wise to do some design work to disguise them but apparently that has not occurred to them yet. So in the meantime, we get people whingeing about the health risks. It has to stop. If they honestly thought about the health risks, they would realise that their children are exposed to a far greater risk from running around in the Sun than from any exposure to a cellular phone transmitter. But I doubt that honest thought comes into the process at all. What we are dealing with is ignorance and hysteria and sadly, they often carry the day. 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