Silicon ChipFaith & hope are no substitute for measurements - August 1999 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Faith & hope are no substitute for measurements
  4. Feature: Cleaning The Smokestacks by Sammy Isreb
  5. Feature: Internet Access - Reduced Prices by SILICON CHIP
  6. Project: Remote Modem Controller by Leon Williams
  7. Project: Daytime Runnings Lights For Cars by John Clarke
  8. Project: Build A PC Monitor Checker by C. Roher
  9. Vintage Radio: A killer; the set from hell by Rodney Champness
  10. Order Form
  11. Project: Switching Temperature Controller by Branco Justic & Ross Tester
  12. Project: An XYZ Table With Stepper Motor Control; Pt.4 by Rick Walters
  13. Book Store
  14. Serviceman's Log: Not every write-off is written off by The TV Serviceman
  15. Feature: Making Negatives From Positives by Herman Nacinovich
  16. Product Showcase
  17. Feature: Electric Lighting, Pt.14 by Julian Edgar
  18. Product Showcase
  19. Back Issues
  20. Notes & Errata
  21. Market Centre
  22. Advertising Index
  23. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the August 1999 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 38 of the 96 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.

Items relevant to "Remote Modem Controller":
  • Remote Modem Controller PCB pattern (PDF download) [07408991] (Free)
  • Remote Modem Controller panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)
Items relevant to "Daytime Runnings Lights For Cars":
  • Daytime Running Lights PCB pattern (PDF download) [05408991] (Free)
Items relevant to "Build A PC Monitor Checker":
  • PC Monitor Checker PCB pattern (PDF download) [04108991] (Free)
  • PC Monitor Checker panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)
Items relevant to "An XYZ Table With Stepper Motor Control; Pt.4":
  • DOS software and sample files for the XYZ Table with Stepper Motor Control (Free)
  • XYZ Table PCB patterns (PDF download) [07208991-2, 08409993] (Free)
  • XYZ Table panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • An X-Y Table With Stepper Motor Control; Pt.1 (May 1999)
  • An X-Y Table With Stepper Motor Control; Pt.1 (May 1999)
  • An X-Y Table With Stepper Motor Control; Pt.2 (June 1999)
  • An X-Y Table With Stepper Motor Control; Pt.2 (June 1999)
  • An X-Y Table With Stepper Motor Control; Pt.3 (July 1999)
  • An X-Y Table With Stepper Motor Control; Pt.3 (July 1999)
  • An XYZ Table With Stepper Motor Control; Pt.4 (August 1999)
  • An XYZ Table With Stepper Motor Control; Pt.4 (August 1999)
  • An XYZ Table With Stepper Motor Control; Pt.5 (September 1999)
  • An XYZ Table With Stepper Motor Control; Pt.5 (September 1999)
  • An XYZ Table With Stepper Motor Control; Pt.6 (October 1999)
  • An XYZ Table With Stepper Motor Control; Pt.6 (October 1999)
Items relevant to "Making Negatives From Positives":
  • DOS and Windows 3.x software for making PCB negatives from positives (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Understanding Electric Lighting; Pt.1 (November 1997)
  • Understanding Electric Lighting; Pt.1 (November 1997)
  • Understanding Electric Lighting; Pt.2 (December 1997)
  • Understanding Electric Lighting; Pt.2 (December 1997)
  • Understanding Electric Lighting; Pt.3 (January 1998)
  • Understanding Electric Lighting; Pt.3 (January 1998)
  • Understanding Electric Lighting; Pt.4 (February 1998)
  • Understanding Electric Lighting; Pt.4 (February 1998)
  • Understanding Electric Lighting; Pt.5 (March 1998)
  • Understanding Electric Lighting; Pt.5 (March 1998)
  • Understanding Electric Lighting; Pt.6 (April 1998)
  • Understanding Electric Lighting; Pt.6 (April 1998)
  • Understanding Electric Lighting; Pt.7 (June 1998)
  • Understanding Electric Lighting; Pt.7 (June 1998)
  • Understanding Electric Lighting; Pt.8 (July 1998)
  • Understanding Electric Lighting; Pt.8 (July 1998)
  • Electric Lighting; Pt.9 (November 1998)
  • Electric Lighting; Pt.9 (November 1998)
  • Electric Lighting; Pt.10 (January 1999)
  • Electric Lighting; Pt.10 (January 1999)
  • Electric Lighting; Pt.11 (February 1999)
  • Electric Lighting; Pt.11 (February 1999)
  • Electric Lighting; Pt.12 (March 1999)
  • Electric Lighting; Pt.12 (March 1999)
  • Electric Lighting; Pt.13 (April 1999)
  • Electric Lighting; Pt.13 (April 1999)
  • Electric Lighting, Pt.14 (August 1999)
  • Electric Lighting, Pt.14 (August 1999)
  • Electric Lighting; Pt.15 (November 1999)
  • Electric Lighting; Pt.15 (November 1999)
  • Electric Lighting; Pt.16 (December 1999)
  • Electric Lighting; Pt.16 (December 1999)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $10.00.

PUBLISHER’S LETTER www.siliconchip.com.au Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD Production Manager Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Robert Flynn Ross Tester Rick Walters Reader Services Ann Jenkinson Advertising Enquiries Rick Winkler Phone (02) 9979 5644 Fax (02) 9979 6503 Mobile: 0414 34 6669 Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst Rodney Champness Garry Cratt, VK2YBX Julian Edgar, Dip.T.(Sec.), B.Ed Mike Sheriff, B.Sc, VK2YFK Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW Bob Young 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: $59 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 8, 101 Darley St, Mona Vale, NSW 2103. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9979 5644. Fax (02) 9979 6503. E-mail: silchip<at>siliconchip.com.au ISSN 1030-2662 * Recommended and maximum price only. 2  Silicon Chip Faith & hope are no substitute for measurements As time goes on and new technology presents consumers with ever more gee-whiz choices, it is surprising just how many people still have an abiding interest in hifi amplifiers and speakers. In one aspect this is not surprising though, because it really is only in the area of amplifiers and speakers that hifi enthusiasts have an opportunity to have an input in producing their “ultimate system”. Designing and building your own hifi equipment is very satisfying, for all sorts of reasons. That said, I am quite often button-holed by people who want me to consider their latest amplifier creation which sounds, to them, truly wonderful. Typically, this amplifier will be a compilation of the design features of notable designers and reviewers from around the world. It may have low feedback or no feedback, to give really “natural” sound, or it may have lots of feedback and have a very fast slew rate (maybe 300V/µs) to give a really “fast” sound. According to the person’s beliefs, the amplifier may use Mosfets because of their indestructibility or bipolars because they sound “cleaner” and so on. Whatever the particular person’s design philosophy, he will always be adamant that it is the best system he has ever heard (perhaps it is) and that it is probably the best available in the world (highly unlikely). But when I ask about distortion measurements, the conversation always gets bogged down. In fact, it often turns out that no measurements have been made at all, not even for power output and frequency response. Now while these people may genuinely believe that they have produced a masterpiece, the odds of them doing so, without having made exhaustive measurements to confirm their beliefs, are extremely long. In fact, it’s just not possible. We have found on any number of occasions, the number of variables effecting an amplifier’s performance is very large and even the position of a single supply or signal wire can have a major effect on the distortion and therefore, the sound quality. Moreover, if you randomly vary something, you usually get a worse result! So if you make any alteration to a design, you must then do exhaustive measurements to see if the results are better. But try and tell this to anyone who is convinced of the beauty of his own design and you will usually not get a good reception. In fact, it is better to just nod sagely and say something vague and complimentary. So if you are in the same situation and someone tells you that he has produced a wonderful new amplifier or speaker design, by all means have a listen to it. It will probably be very enjoyable. But if measurements haven’t been made somewhere along the line, there could be a large proportion of delusion in the enjoyment. Leo Simpson