Radio Magazine

YOUR ONE -STOP SOURCE OF ELECTRONICS INFORMATION
ICD 08559
SEPTEMBER 1986 $1.95

CANADA $2.5C
-17C Y-\\I7
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THE MAGAZINE FOR ELECTRONICS & COMPUTER ENTHUSIASTS
Two-Band Stereo
LED Power Meter
Upgrading Radio Shack's
Color Computer
ooc ca c' comrgq,001 Pl
Electronic Dice
Experimenter's Aviation-Bard Receiver Experiment s Aviation-Band Receiver (p. 44)
Moo
All About Audio Circuits
New Electronic Products Coming Up
Car High,LowFrequency LED Power Meters. 36)
09
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New GPS Series: Tek sets
the pace with SmartCursorsM
and push -button ease.
Work faster, smarter, with two new Features 2246 2245
general purpose scopes from
Bandwidth 100 MHz 100 MHz
Tektronix. The four-channel, 100 MHz
2246 and 2245 set the new, fast pace for No. of Channels 4 4
measurements at the bench or in the Scale Factor Readout Yes Yes
field. They're easy to use and afford, by SmartCursors `" Yes No
design.
On top: the 2246 with exclusive Volts Cursors Yes No
integrated push -button measure- Time Cursors Yes No
ments. Measurements are accessed Voltmeter Yes No
through easy, pop -up menus and imple-
Vertical Sensitivity 2 mV /div 2 mV /div
mented at the touch of a button. Mea-
sure peak volts, peak -to -peak, ± peak, Max. Sweep Speed 2 ns /div 2 ns /div
dc volts and gated volts with new hands - Vert/Hor Accuracy 2% 2%
off convenience and on- screen readout Trigger Modes Auto Level, Auto, Norm, TV Field, TV Line,
of values. Single Sweep
SmartCursors". track voltmeter mea-
Trigger Level Readout Yes No
surements in the 2246 and visually indi-
cate where ground and trigger levels are Weight 6.1 kg 6.1 kg
located. Or use cursors in the manual Warranty 3 -year on parts and labor including CRT
mode for immediate, effortless measure-
ment of waveform parameters. low -level signal capture. Plus trigger responsive controls and simple front -
Both scopes build on performance sensitivity to 0.25 div at 50 MHz, to 0.5 panel design, in extensive on-screen
you haven't seen at the bandwidth or div at 150 MHz. scale factor readouts, and in
prices. Lab grade features include Accuracy is excellent: 2% at vertical, simplified trigger operation that includes
sweep speeds to 2 ns/div. Vertical sen- 2% at horizontal. And four-channel Tek's Auto Level mode for automatic trig-
sitivity of 2 mV/div at full bandwidth for capability includes two channels gering on any signal.
optimized for logic signals. Contact the Tektronix office or
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Featuring four chan-

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CIRCLE 78 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD
Tektronbc© COMNITTED TO EXCELLENCE
Copyright "1986, Tektronix, Inc. All rights reserved. TTA -469

Where's Your ELECTRONICS Career Headed?
The Move You Make Today Can Shape Your Future

Yes it's your move. Whether on a chess board Independent Home Study Can Prepare You
or in your career, you should plan each move
carefully. In electronics, you can move ahead Study materials, carefully written by the Gran-
faster and further with a tham staff for independent study at home, are
supplied by the College, and your technical
questions related to those materials and the
B. S. DEGR EE lesson tests are promptly answered by the Gran-
tham teaching staff.
Put professional knowledge and a COLLEGE
DEGREE in your electronics career. Earn your Recognition and Quality Assurance
degree through independent study at home, Grantham College of Engineering is accredited
with Grantham College of Engineering. No by the Accrediting Commission of the National
commuting to class. Study at your own pace, Home Study Council.
while continuing your present job.
The accredited Grantham non -traditional All lessons and other study materials, as well as com-
degree program is intended for mature, fully munications between the college and students, are in the
employed workers who want to upgrade their English language. However, we have students in many
careers . . and who can successfully study
.
foreign countries; about 80% of our students live in the
electronics and supporting subjects through United States of America.
r- 1
INDEPENDENT STUDY, AT HOME Grantham College of Engineering M -9-86
10570 Humbolt Street, Los Alamitos, CA 90720
Free Details Available from: Please mail me your free catalog which explains your
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Grantham College of Engineering Name Age
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SEPTEMBER 1986
EL ICS
THE MAGAZINE FOR ELECTRONICS & COMPUTER ENTHUSIASTS
VOLUME 3, NUMBER 9
EDITORIAL STAFF
Art Salsberg
Editor -in -Chief
Alexander W. Burawa
Managing Editor
Dorothy Kehrwieder
Production Manager
Elizabeth Ryan
Art Director
FEATURES Barbara Scully
Artist
16 Solid -State Audio Circuits, Part 1
The basic transistor and IC circuits used in audio
Pat Le Blanc
Florence Martin
equipment. By Joseph J. Carr
Phototypographers
24 Upgrading a Radio Shack "Bare Bones" Hal Keith
Color Computer Illustrator
Add 64K RAM, Extended BASIC and 64- column Bruce Morgan
video output to CoCo. By John Richardson Photographer
32 Consumer Electronics Showcase Joseph Desposito, Leonard Feldman,
24 Eric Grevstad, Glenn Hauser,
Latest product offerings to dealers for the second Don Lancaster, Forrest Mims III,
half of 1986 showcased at a major trade show.
Stan Prentiss
By William Sommerwerck
Contributing Editors
36 Two -Band Stereo LED Power Meter
Visually monitor your car stereo system's high- and BUSINESS STAFF
lowfrequency output power. By Ross Ortman Richard A. Ross
44 An Experimenter's Aviation -Band Publisher
Receiver Art Salsberg
Associate Publisher
Tunes in on airport and airborne radio activity.
By Dan Becker Dorothy Kehrwieder
General Manager
48 Using the Operational Transconductance Frank V. Fuzia
32 Amplifier Controller
Discover this often -disregarded op -amp. Arlene Caggiano
By C.R. Fischer Accounting
52 Electronic Dice Cheryl Chomicki
Project makes playing board games more fun. Subscriber Services
By Bill Owen
SALES OFFICES
Modern Electronics
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COLUMNS Hicksville, NY 11801
60 Electronics Notebook (516) 681-2922
Piezoelectric Buzzers. Eastern Advertising Representative
By Forrest M. Mims III Herb Pressman
36
76 North Broadway
66 Hardware Hacker
Hicksville, NY 11801
Author answers readers' questions.
(516) 681-2922
By Don Lancaster
Midwest & West Advertising Representative
72 PC Papers Market /Media Associates
First Impressions: Epson and AMQ Compatibles; 1150 Wilmette Ave.
Personal Publisher. By Eric Grevstad Wilmette, IL 60091
(312) 251-2541
76 Communications Ted Rickard
Report from the Caribbean. By Glenn Hauser Kevin Sullivan
Offices: 76 North Broadway, Hicksville, NY 11801. Tel -

°phone: (516) 681 -2922. Modern Electronics (ISSN 0748-
9889) is published monthly by Modern Electronics, Inc.
DEPARTMENTS Application to mail at second class rates pending at
Hicksville, NY and other points. Subscription prices
4 Editorial (payable in US Dollars only): Domestic - one year $16.97,
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6 Modern Electronics News Entire contents copyright 1986 by Modern Electronics,
Inc. Modern Electronics or Modern Electronics, Inc. as-
sumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts. Al-
12 New Products low six weeks for delivery of first issue and for change of
address. Printed in the United States of America.
84 Books & Literature Postmaster: Please send change of address notice to
Modern Electronics, Inc., 76 North Broadway, Hicks-
52 94 Advertisers Index ville, NY 11801.
2 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / September 1986 Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics

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Please have the make and model # of the equipment used in your area. Thank You
Power to Pill/il//EDITORIAL 11111
the Product! Surging Back

Low cost You can't always count a product out declined by one -third last year on a
B &K PRECISION when it loses favor. For a brief time, ster- world -wide basis. Nevertheless, Com-
eo hi -fi components seemed to have lost modore has introduced an upgraded
DC power supplies their appeal to some extent. In 1984, for model C -64 with a graphics video en-
vironment- icons, mouse, pull -down
with high cost example, factory sales dropped some 28
percent in dollars. We all heard that menus -to stem the tide. Will this lead to
features video was usurping its steady growth po-
sition, that personal computers had cap-
a resurgence? Time will tell.
Household penetration is an indica-
tured everyone's interest in its place, and tion, too, as to how popular a product is
so on. But as soon as the compact disc and how much play there is in sales po-
and player fired consumer interest, sepa- tential. For home computers, 15% pene-
rate audio component sales surged back. tration is the estimate. So it's still a busi-
Some electronic products have ness /professional-oriented world for
"died," resurged, and then lost their ap- computers. Even VCRs, as popular as
peal for one reason or another. CB radio they are and as low as their selling prices
is an example. Others showed enormous have become today, were only in about
promise, such as videodisc players, going 30% of U.S. homes by the end of 1985.
toe to toe with competing systems -in At that juncture, it's interesting to note
this case, videocassette recorders -only that 64.7% of Modern Electronics read-
to lose out in the sales numbers game. ers owned VCRs. Sony tried to bolster
Will it have another day? Then there are Beta-format sales by introducing hi -fi
products that display cyclical appeal, stereo sound, only to be matched by a
such as personal computers. These ma- similar development by VHS makers, so
chines had a relatively bad year in 1985, a resurgence there is unlikely. Now 8 -mm
though the word "relatively" has to be and VHS -C camcorders are jockeying
Model 1630 (3 amp) $225
Model 1610 (1 amp) $150 underscored when talking about unit for position.
sales that exceeded four -million (down Will breadboarding of circuits slide
Now you can have the power you need, about one -million from the previous away due to the rising star, computer-
wherever you need it, at a surprisingly year). aided design (CAD)? More and more
low cost. Cordless telephones were "hot" in professional design engineers now sit in
These new B &K- PRECISION power 1983 and 1984, the latter year peaking at front of a computer workstation to de-
sources each give you control up to
30 volts DC with fully adjustable current
6.3-million units sold to dealers. Sales sign circuits instead of going to the
limiting. Other features include: dipped appreciably to 4- million units in breadboard /solder iron route, so it's
Excellent regulation and low- ripple '85, though better designs that used dual possible. Prototypes will eventually have
characteristics
Dual meters monitor voltage and frequencies and security codes were in- to be breadboarded, though. On second
current simultaneously troduced to spur sales. So far, however, thought, this might be done directly on a
Two current ranges they haven't reached their previous pop- pc board whose foil pattern was gene-
Fine and coarse voltage controls
Isolated output ularity level. rated by computer.
Protected against reverse polarity Audio tape recorders are taking a back It's rare to find a product that lost
external voltages
Two identical supplies can be seat to CD players in the hearts and favor bouncing back unless some special
connected in series or parallel minds of people nowadays. But looming advance calls for this to happen. Ama-
Can be used as a constant voltage or in the background, probably scheduled teur radio, for example, does not exhibit
constant current source
for 1987 introduction, is digital audio growth in this country. But if the Morse
Compare prices, features and perfor-
mance, and you'll agree that the 1610 and tape (DAT), which promises sound qual- Code test requirement was lifted, as it has
1630 power supplies are revolutionary. ity that approaches that of a laser- gener- been in many other countries, burgeon-
Available for immediate delivery at your ated CD disc system, while adding re- ing equipment sales will surely follow.
local B &K- PRECISION distributor. For cording capability. So here's a product Meanwhile, we'll all watch the moves
additional information or the name of
your local distributor contact that could, indeed, surge back. that manufacturers make in enhancing
B &K-PRECISION. Will cheap computers enjoy a resurrec- older technology to capture our imagina-
tion? With low -cost IBM clones in abun- tion as well as new technology that's im-
ip*KPRECISION dance today and a greater awareness on plemented in a way that induces us to up-
the part of the public concerning what in- grade whatever we own.
DYNASCAN expensive computers can -and can-
CORPORATION not-do, it's doubtful. Even Commo-
6460 West Cortland Street dore International, which moved about
Chicago, Illinois 60635.312/889 -9087 21/4 -million computers last year, is facing
W. Cortland St.. Chicago. IL 60635
International Sales. 6460
Canadian Sales: Alias Electronics. Ontario financial troubles. Low-cost computers
South and Central American Sales,
Empire Exporters. Plainview. NY 11603
CIRCLE M ON FREE INFORMATION CARD

JIIIiI LETTERS 1111
Glitches plus the diode drops; thatis, the point at information was reported from Info -
which the charging interval begins, which world. The CD -I system cited is based on
There appears to be a problem in the
is V(MIN). the 68000 version of Microware System
V(MIN) segment of the program for the
In Fig. 3, Vsupply should connect to Corporation's OS -0 operating system.
"AC to DC Conversion" article (May
Q2's drain and QI 's collector, not as OS -9 has been around since 1980 and
1986). Any help you can give me in get-
shown to Q2's source. Also, the end of runs on a considerable variety of 6809
ting this program up and running will be
the fourth line in the box on page 34 and 680xx -based computers, so it isn't
greatly appreciated.
should read "0.6 volt. " -Duane M. quite right to characterize it as "the Tan-
Charles Harter
Perkins. dy Color Computer operating system."
Rock Spring, WY
Several glitches appear in the published OS -9 is a good system for hackers
The author replies: If you've correctly version of the BASIC listing for my arti- (among others); its modular design and
entered the program and routine andfind cle "This is Your Computer Speaking" wide variety of hardware configurations
V(MIN) isn't working correctly, most (June 1986). In line 75, the number 824 it can run on make it possible to develop
likely the arc sin is being entered incor- should be 8243, and line 192 should start software on a large system and then move
rectly. The article notes that the arc must "DATA2 ..." and continue from there the very same executable code to a much
be in radians, not degrees. If you're using as shown. Also, to prevent a carriage re- smaller system. Thus, one can quite easi-
the ARC SIN subroutine starting at line turn after each letter, line 135 should ly have a dedicated multitasking system
2000, it will return the arc sin in radians. read: "135 PRINT A$;" (note the clos- with only the modules one needs to get
Test the subroutine independently of the ing semicolon). the job done. To find out more about
rest of the program to be sure it work- Barry L. Ives OS -9, contact the CompuServe OS -9 SIG
ing correctly. If you call it with Binghamton, NY and the OS -9 Users Group, 9743 Univer-
S0= .7071, it should set A0= .785398. sity Ave., Suite 330, Des Moines, IA
The subroutine iterates until it finds the OS -9 Info 50322.
point at which the secondary voltage In the June 1986 "Hardware Hacker" James Jones
equals the voltage across the capacitor column, some ambiguous and incorrect Norman, OK
* *2C ENTS PLAIN **

That's about all it costs subscribers for each page sue delivered to you every month. It's important read-
of editorial matter in MODERN ELECTRONICS . . . ing you can't afford to miss!
every month. No charge for informative advertisers'
messages. Or for free information requested on our Just fill out the coupon and mail with your check,
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veritable one -stop source of "hard" information for ensure earliest delivery!
thusiasts whose interests spread across the entire
spectrum of electronics and computers for work and
play. The latest technical information and news writ MODERN ELECTRONICS
ten by a galaxy of authoritative writers- Forrest Mims 76 North Broadway, Hicksville, NY 11801
on "Experimenting," Don Lancaster on 'Hardware
Hacking," Stan Prentiss on "Video," Len Feldman on Please send me Modern Electronics for -I 3 Years 2 Years
- 1 Year
"Audio," Glenn Hauser on "Communications," and
I
Eric Grevstad on "Personal Computers," to name a Name

few authors who share their specialized experiences
with readers every month. Street
This neat package keeps everyone abreast of the City
important developments in electronics and comput- State Zip
ers. From new devices and circuits to useful construc-
tion projects to evaluations of the latest products.
Both "how to do" and "how it works" information in- Charge My Order To: Payment Enclosed $
creases your technical competence every page of the

way. Two cents a shot. And hands -on product evalua- 3Years (36 issues) $45.00
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MODERN ELECTRONICS will serve you well. Sub-
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Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics September 1986 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / 5

1111111/MODERN ELECTRONICS NEWS 1111111
ANTI- STATIC SEATING. With electronic devices and computer suscep-

tible to damage by electrostatic discharges, anything that can be
done to minimize this problem is welcome. Uniroyal's recently
introduced anti -static NaugaStat U® upholstery fabric is an interes-
ting step in this direction. The special grade of vinyl- coated
material is said to help control static generated by chair and oper-
ator movement. According to the company, the new material has the
capacity to dissipate a 5,000 -volt charge in less than two seconds
when using a suitable grounding path.
ROBOT SAFETY STANDARD. The first American National Standard for

industrial robots has been approved by ANSI, establishing guide-
lines for construction, installation, and use of robots to safeguard
people who work with them. There have been few robot -related acci-
dents to date, but as the U.S. robot population increases from
about 20,000 to an expected 75,000- 100,000 in the next decade, proper
safety procedures will be essential. Robot shipments in 1985 rose
33 percent to about $443 million.
ELECTRONIC CAR NAVIGATION. An automotive navigation system concept

is not new. There have been a host of developments, all very expensive;
all depending on external assistance schemes such as satellite trans-
missions and road induction loops. Now, however, a European company,
the largest supplier of automobile dashboard instrumentation, might
change all this. The company, VDO Adolph Schindling, has developed
a $400 navigation system that employs the earth's natural magnetic
field as a guidance reference point. Called Citypilot, the system
is said to provide guidance accuracy to within 3 percent of the dis-
tance traveled. A light pen is used by the driver on a bar -coded map
to plot the journey, which is inputted to an onboard microcomputer
that displays distance and location information on a liquid- crystal
display.
THE OLDEST MICROCOMPUTER? In a contest held by the Computer Museum

located in Boston, Mass., the Kenbak -1 8 -bit micro built in 1971 won.
The designer, John Blankenbaker, said that about 40 machines were sold
to schools with 256 bytes of memory, a 1 -MHz clock and a serial memory
organization. It only provided 1000 instructions per second, so was
really an educational machine - -not one that could be used, even if
expanded, for applications programs. The MITS Altair 8800 was really
the landmark computer, though, using a CPU that could address a lot
of memory and a bus structure, the Altair bus, eventually dubbed the
S -100, coupled with BASIC created by Bill Gates who later formed
Microsoft.
VHS /8 -mm COMBO VCR. Samsung Electornics created a storm at the Summer
Consumer Electronics Show when it showed a prototype dual VCR deck that
had VHS and 8 -mm provisions on board, permitting dubbing from one to
the other. The rub, to the Motion Picture Association of America
(MPAA) was unauthorized copying prospects.

SHOCK
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The Power Safe (SK406) bi- directional filter senses,
protects TVs, computers, absorbs, and dissipates
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absorbing transient voltage can reach the equipment.
surges resulting from near- Together, they have the
by lightning strikes, load potential to become powerful
switching and other causes profit builders for you.
before the surge hits the To learn more about this
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1985 AT & T Technologies, Inc.
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Heathkit®_ I c" State
(Continued on page 96) Heath Zip

Company IA subsidiary of Zenith Electronics Corporation CL-787R1
L
Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics
I/Ill!irmasfous September 1986
Solid -State Audio Circuits

Part 1
By Joseph J. Carr V+ v+ V, V,
Audio circuits are among the R2
most interesting of linear

circuits with which to ex-
periment. They are excellent as R1 Rl Rl
weekend and one-evening projects Cl
for electronics hobbyists and experi-
menters. Part of the reason for their
popularity is that they are so useful
R3
to so many people; another is that Cl
they are generally well- behaved and,
thus, can easily be built with low -cost
(A) (B) (c) (D)
components.
In this first installment of our two - Fig. 1. Several of the most common methods for biasing transistors.
part article, we discuss the basic cir-
cuits used in modern audio- amplify-
ing equipment and explore both
fixed base -current biasing yields cir-
discrete transistor and integrated - cuits that can be unstable.
circuit (IC) audio amplifier circuits. Another simple form of self-bias,
The information contained here will shown in Fig. 1B, is called collector
lay the groundwork for the more feedback. Because RI is connected
detailed discussions of circuits, built to the transistor side of load resistor
around actual components, that will R2, any change in collector current
appear in next month's conclusion. will cause a proportional but oppo-
site change in transistor bias. For ex-
Transistor Biasing ample, if collector current increases
One of the most important factors in because of a temperature increase,
understanding solid -state audio cir- the voltage at the collector decreases
cuits is the methods used to achieve (becomes less positive). In turn, this
proper biasing of transistors. Figure reduces the current through the emit-
1 shows several of the most common ter-base junction and Rl circuit. Al-
methods. These circuits, or varia- though this bias system does provide
tions of them, are used in most dis- a degree of stabilization, it also in-
crete and IC audio circuits. troduces deneration caused by feed- Fig. 2. An amplifier biased for dual-
Figure IA shows the simplest
and most practical- biasing scheme.
- back of any ac signal voltage devel-
oped across the load resistor.
polarity power supply operation (A)
and a typical dual-polarity power
Fixed base -current bias is established Collector- feedback with ac bypas- supply (B).
by current flow from the emitter - sing is the same as in Fig. 1B, except
base junction of the transistor that an electrolytic capacitor has ly, the value of R3 is substantially
through RI to he supply voltage. been added to filter out (bypass) less than that of Rl. Resistor R4
The amount of bias is dependent on variations. stabilizes the transistor. For exam-
the value of RI and the supply vol- Combination fixed and self -bias ple, if emitter -to- collector current
tage. The primary disadvantage of (Fig. 1D) provides both good stabili- increases because of an increase of
this bias arrangement is that it pro- zation and minimum degeneration. temperature, the voltage drop across
vides no means of automatically Fixed emitter-base bias is developed R3 also increases. This places a
limiting collector current. Hence, by the RI /R3 voltage divider. Usual- more -positive voltage on the emitter,

Audio
ing used more often in solid -state

audio applications is the Darlington
amplifier -also called the Darling-
ton pair, or the "super- beta" tran-
sistor (when both transistors are in-
side the same package). An example
Output of this configuration is shown in Fig.
3A. Notice that the collectors of the
Input two transistors are tied together.
Also note that the emitter of the in-
put transistor is tied directly to the
Darlington
pair base of the output transistor. This
arrangement produces higher cur-
rent gain and a much higher range of
input impedance than is possible
with single bipolar transistors. Beta
gain is Hfe
la
Hfe(Q1) x Hfe(Q2).
7 6
If the transistors are identical,
overall beta gain is the square of the
beta gain of any one transistor. You
5
can see why this configuration is
called "super- beta" by a simple ex-
ample. Suppose two transistors with
a beta of, say, 100 are connected in a
Darlington configuration as in Fig.
(C) 3A. Overall beta of this combination
is 100 x 100, = 10,000.
Fig. 3. A Darlington amplifier configuration built around two discrete transis- Although discrete transistors can
tors (A). Though the Darlington arrangement contains two separate transistors, be connected in the Darlington cir-
when wired together as shown, the two can be treated as one transistor with cuit, several manufacturers offer
single base, emitter and collector leads (B). Matched dual-Darlington transistor Darlington- configured transistors in
pairs are also available in convenient IC package form (C). one package, or integrated- circuit
Darlington amplifiers. Figure 3A
shows the internal circuit of a Dar-
which reduces the forward bias on ground, usually the chassis or a lington transistor. Most often, the
this transistor. The capacitor printed wiring board ground bus, device is a power amplifier in which
bypasses ac variations around the "floats" at the electrical mid-point QI is a driver transistor and Q2 is an
emitter resistor to prevent degenera- of the two supplies. In most cases, output power transistor. One com-
tion. The value of R4 usually is five the two voltages are equal; in others, mon Darlington pair in hi-fi ampli-
to ten times less than that of R3. V and V + are different. fiers uses a 2N3053 for QI and a
The dual -supply method (Fig. 2A) Increased output voltage swing is 2N3055 for Q2.
is a not so universally recognized one of the advantages of the dual Figure 3C shows an IC dual-Darl-
biasing circuit as some of the others, supply circuit, regardless of whether ington amplifier. This particular
but is being used more and more in discrete transistors or integrated cir- device is the RCA CA3036. There are
modern circuits. It can be identified cuits are used. Another advantage is also operational amplifiers and
by the fact that the ground (or com- improved thermal stability. This can special -purpose ICs on the market
mon) is not returned to the positive mean a lot in an amplifier that has that use a Darlington amplifier as the
or negative side of the dc power sup- marginal heat sinking or that is used input circuit.
ply. (The Fig. 2B circuit represents inside a closed cabinet. A third ad-
the kind of dc power supply used: vantage is that these circuits tend to
two voltages, one positive to ground be less sensitive to hum pick -up Audio Power Amplifiers
and the other negative to ground). caused by power supply ripple. There are several basic designs for
Instead, in most applications, the Another type of circuit that is be- audio power amplifiers. For pur-

poses of discussion let us turn to the
Fig. 4 circuit. This basic audio Input WSpeaker
amplifier chain has been used in a lot
of equipment over the years. There
are three stages shown: preamplifier,
driver and power amplifier. The
Pc power supply
preamplifier builds up the voltage
level of the input signal. The driver (A)
raises the power level of the
amplified signal sufficiently to drive Q1 T
R5
the output power amplifier stage. II
The output power amplifier, of 02

course, develops the power to drive Speaker
8t2
the loudspeaker. 03
In Fig. 4B is shown a simple circuit
-
used in many car and home radios, R7
0.1-0.51-2
though rarely in high fidelity ap- fusistor
plications. This single -ended class -A _ J
amplifier uses a choke or autotrans- R
former for output impedance match-

ing. It has several disadvantages. For (B)
one thing, as a class -A amplifier, the
output collector current flows 100 Fig. 4. A typical audio -amplifier chain contains preamplifier, driver amplifier
percent of the time, even when there and power amplifier stages, all powered by a common power supply. This ar-
is no input signal. As a result, a lot of rangement is shown in block diagram form in (A), while (B) shows the schematic
heat is generated. In some cases, a 3- equivalent sans power supply.
to 5 -watt fuse resistor ( "fusistor ") is
placed in series with the transistor to Two basic kinds of feedback cir- back system, dubbed the "second
protect the circuit if excess heat cuits are normally used in audio cir- emitter- to first base" system. This
causes QI to blow. Another disad- cuits. One is called the "second circuit often employs only one
vantage is that fidelity is not too collector -to -first emitter" system resistor to supply feedback signals.
good unless feedback is provided. (Fig. 5A). With correct values of The push -pull circuit is widely pre-
Though the fusistor provides a small components, this circuit can make a ferred over other types for both
amount of beneficial degenerative relatively mediocre amplifier sound power handling ability and overall fi-
feedback, additional feedback must like a more expensive one. Figure 5B delity. Figure 6 shows the standard
be provided in most cases. shows the second widely used feed- transistor push -pull circuit that has
>Output Output
Q2
Cl
i' .
i t t , r
Input
R1
EEDBACK
Ll
IAl (B)
Fig. 5. The two basic kinds offeedback circuits normally used in audio circuits: second collector to first emitter (A)
and second emitter to first base (B).

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Output
Input Output Input
>
> >
Fig. 8. A transistor phase inverter is

one possible replacement for the in
terstage (input) transformer needed
for the opposite-polarity driving sig-
Fig. 6. A typical push -pull amplifier stage with transformer input and output. nals for the two halves of the push -
Note that this arrangement requires a dualpolarity power supply. pull amplifier circuit.
been used in almost every audio ap- secondary interstage transformer TI stage transformer is replaced by an-
plication, from $5 portable radios to are the two identifying features of other means to split the input signal.
relatively high -priced, medium - this type of circuit. The transistor phase inverter is
grade radios and stereos. It is, how- One thing that all push -pull ampli- one possible replacement for the in-
ever, a lot less cost -efficient when fiers have in common is the necessity terstage transformer. These circuits
compared with other circuits of more of phase -splitting the input signal to (Fig. 8) have one driving signal taken
recent design. provide two new signals 180 degrees from the collector, the other from
Another breed of push -pull ampli- out -of -phase to drive the two halves the emitter of the transistor. Another
fier is shown in Fig. 7. Often called of the push -pull circuit. In older de- method of providing drive signals of
the "split- secondary, totem -pole" signs, this was accomplished with opposite polarity is to use an IC pre-
circuit, this one is used in many do- either a center -tapped transformer amplifier that has both inverted and
mestic and (especially) imported (Fig. 6) or a split- secondary inter - noninverted output terminals. Such
radios. The series connection of the stage transformer (Fig. 7). In many ICs provide wideband, push -pull
output transistors and split- modern circuits, however, the inter- outputs from a common input sig-
nal. An example is shown in Fig. 9.
This particular circuit is based on the
Feedback RCA CA3020 IC preamp.
Designers have other methods of
T1 1C2 accomplishing phase inversion that
.05pF is often more economical than either
of the other methods. These methods
are also used in IC and hybrid audio
Speaker
power amplifiers, and are called
Input "complementary- symmetry" and
"quasicomplementary" amplifiers.
> Complementary- symmetry meth-
ods, shown in simplified form in Fig.
10, take advantage of the fact that
pnp and npn bipolar transistors re-
quire signals of opposite polarity to
perform the same basic function.
Fig. 7. The split- secondary totem -pole amplifier is similar to the conventional Notice that the speaker, minus out-
push -pull amplifier, except that it has no output transformer and can operate put transformer, is connected to the
with a single -polarity power supply. midpoint of the two series -connected

+9 to
pairs of transistors for low- and
IC2
+12V dc medium -power complementary cir-
R2
1K I0.1NF cuits. It is even relatively easy to find
Cl R1
matched pairs for medium -power (a
1µF 10K C5 few watts) applications. But at high-
Input>---) 1µF er power, the problem is greater.
11 .I( >
This has led to an interesting modifi-
R4
R3 75
cation of the complementary-sym -
4.7K Push-Pull metry circuit, called the quasicom-
i-NA/V-4P CA3020 outputs
plementary circuit shown in Fig. 11.
-'F- This circuit uses a "totem- pole" out-
C3 12
+
put in which the same type of npn or
5µF
Dl C4
C6 pnp transistors are in series with each
R5
lpF
75
other, and complementary driver
D2 ISPF stage Q1 /Q2. It is fairly easy to find
the medium -power complementary
drivers and matched (identical) out-
Fig. 9. An IC amplifier that has inverted and noninverted output terminals of- put transistors required for this type
fers another way of obtaining phase-inverted signals for push -pull operation. of circuit.
Coming Next Month
power transistors. Versions of this service at any given output power This concludes our primer on the
circuit that use a single asymmetrical level. As the amplifier's power level general theory of transistor and IC
dc power supply usually employ a ca- increases, the number of available audio amplifiers. In next month's
pacitor to block dc from the speaker types decreases dramatically. The concluding part of this article, we
circuit. (The voltage at point "A" is problem becomes even more acute will discuss the details of audio pre-
usually V + /2). Dual- polarity cir- when selecting service replacements amplifier and tone -control circuits
cuits do not require the capacitor. for these transistors. built around actual commonly avail-
Complementary- symmetry ampli- It is relatively easy to find matched able components. AE
fier circuits have at least one major
disadvantage: It is difficult to locate
matching pnp and npn transistors. +40V dc
9
Manufacturer "spec" sheets reveal OUTPUT
that there are only a few types that
can be paired for complementary
Input
Q1
NPN
Output
B as
net work >
2000pF Output
Q2
PNP
Fig. 10. An economical way of ob-

taining phase inversion is with the so-
called "complementary- symmetry"
circuit that uses npn and pnp transis-
tors. Versions of this circuit that use
a single asymmetrical power supply Fig. 11. The "quasicomplementary" circuit uses the same type of npn and pnp
usually have a capacitor that pre- transistors in a totem -pole arrangement and a complementary driver stage con-
vents dc from getting to the speaker. sisting of Q1 and Q2.

Computers
Upgrading a Radio Shack

"Bare Bones" Color Computer
How to add 64K RAM, Extended BASIC and
64- column video output to CoCo
By John Richardson
One of the hottest selling

-----.---__... ....... r
°-.
, -
holiday- season products
last year was Radio Shack's
"bare bones" Color Computer II,
featuring 16K of memory (RAM)
and Standard BASIC. Priced at only 1111.1111111010110111M11110
$88 they sold like ice pops in July,
but many buyers soon discovered
that its 16K RAM and "standard" 11111111111111111111111111111111110111111
version of BASIC doesn't do very
much. Well, here's how to inexpen-
sively upgrade it to run World Class
word processing and telecommuni-
cations software -stuff that puts to
shame a lot of the mega-buck soft-
ware being sold for even "business
computers."
Basically, all it takes is less than
$50 and an evening's effort to up- use, and which requires frequent re- monochrome or color monitor, and
grade the CoCo II to a high- perfor- ference to the documentation if not sufficient RAM to store many pages
mance computer having both 64K used every day, MikeyTerm operates of the text -preferably 64KB. Also,
RAM and a video monitor ouptut ca- from a single menu. Even more im- if you want to get into sophisticated
pable of displaying 64 columns, rath- portant, it features dynamic buffer programming you'll need Extended
er than the CoCo's normal 32 col- control, which in plain English BASIC -an enhanced version of the
umn TV display. With these one-eve- means the user can instantly select BASIC used in the higher priced ver-
ning retrofits you can then run Mi- and save parts of the incoming text sions of the CoCo II.
keyTerm, a public domain modem because it takes only one key to
program, and Telewriter -64, an un- open /close the receive buffer, which
later dumped to mass storage.
Built For Factory Upgrades
der-$70 word processor that's easier is
to use, much easier to learn, and even Upgrading the 16K CoCo II is a lot From the introduction of the original
more powerful than WordStar (it like making over Cinderella from a CoCo -what enthusiasts call the
can transmit any printer control "Plain Jane" into a princess because CoCo I -Radio Shack intended the
codes), and it can directly save its most of what's needed is already 16K computer to have its RAM and
files in ASCII or binary. there. The only extras required for BASIC upgraded by its own service
Unlike most modern telecommu- high -performance word processing stations, so sockets and jumpers
nications software that requires con- and telecommunications is a video were built into the motherboard for
siderable time and effort to learn to output for a conventional composite just about every integrated circuit

One of six screws that must be loos-
ened to open the cabinet is hidden
under the label that warns against
opening the case. To get at it, push
the tip of a Phillips screwdriver
through the label. With the top off, you have access to CoCo's entire interior.
and the RAM address programming. do the above, one simply removed VDG's pins. Either way, it could re-
In the upgrades we'll shortly de- the existing video display generator sult in damage if the person wasn't
scribe, you will simply utilize the (VDG) IC from its socket, plugged in experienced in miniature assembly.
sockets that Radio Shack provided the retrofit video. adapter, and then But regardless of how hard a man-
for its own use. The only thing Radio installed the VDG in a socket on the ufacturer tries to restrict the user to
Shack would not do was install a video adapter. It was that easy. But his products, aftermarket vendors
composite video output to go along for whatever the reason, Radio will find a way to get around the
with the TV output, so in later ver- Shack eliminated the VDG's socket roadblocks, and that's just what
sions of the CoCo they actually made in later CoCo models, making it nec- happened in the case of the video
it more difficult -almost impossi- essary for the modifier to either un- drive. One of the original vendors of
ble-to retrofit a conventional video solder the 40 -pin VDG or solder the retrofit video monitor adapters sim-
monitor output; but you will easily video adapter's wires directly to the ple equipped their adapter with mini-
get around this mine field.
The Monitor Problem

Since the CoCo was designed to use a
conventional color TV as a monitor,
its output was an rf signal on either
TV channel 3 or 4 (user selected).
Unfortunately, the bandwidth of a
TV set can cleanly resolve only 30 to
40 characters per line. Since "stand-
ard" business correspondence is usu-
ally considered to be 64 characters
per line, the aftermarket word pro-
cessor Telewriter -64 needed a moni-
tor capable of greater than the
CoCo's 32 columns. This required a
conventional video monitor, which
was provided by a $30 aftermarket
retrofit video monitor adapter. To To rernove the keyboard, lift it straight up and gently flip it back to the rear.
Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics September 1986 / MODERN ELECTRONICS 25

clips that the user hooks over the ap- board that secures the ribbon is real-
propriate VDG terminals (and three ly a socket.
motherboard locations). While the With thumb and forefinger, grasp
retrofit might appear at first glance both sides of the ribbon directly
to be a rat's nest of wires, the mini - above the motherboard connector
clips avoid soldering to the VDG's and gently rock the ribbon from edge
pins. Although the clips move, they to edge while applying a slight pull-
are firmly locked in place and, most ing force. The ribbon will work loose
important, the thing works- though and come out of its connecter. Don't
you won't believe it when you first rush the job and pull too hard: gentle
complete the retrofit. Actually, it is persuasion will get the ribbon free
easier and safer to install the new without damage. (Don't bother to
kind of mini -clip video adapter. mark the ribbon because it can go
back only one way.) When the rib-
Do not grip the keyboard's ribbon bon is free, lift the keyboard straight
Making The Retrofits cable as shown to unplug it from the out and set it safely aside, making
The first step in upgrading a 16K motherboard; it might be damaged. certain you don't lose the small black
CoCo II is to open the case and re- Instead, grip it on both sides between rubber washers that fit on the posts
move the keyboard so that you can thumb and forefinger and lift under the keyboard. You now have
get at the RAM and VDG. Just mov- straight out. access to the entire motherboard.
ing the keyboard out of the way isn't
sufficient; it must be removed to it gently on the motherboard. You
More Memory
avoid possible damage. To open the will see that the keyboard connects to Make the memory upgrade first.
cabinet you first loosen the six screws the motherboard through a wide There have been several different
on the underside. You will actually plastic strip having silver -color conversions and configurations of the
see only five screws because the sixth CoCO since its introduction, but
ductors. It will appear that the rib-
is concealed under the small black la-
bon is permanently attached to its whether it has 4K, 16K, 32K or 64K
bel that says the warranty is voided if of RAM it uses eight socketed RAM
motherboard connector, but it's not.
the cabinet is opened. Simply push a chips to provide the rated memory.
The small black block on the mother-
Phillips screwdriver through the
label to get at the screw. Note: (The
factory knows you have opened the
cabinet if the label is broken.) Since
the screws are two different lengths,
mark which holes get the short
screws and which the long ones. Ac-
tually, a better way to handle the
screws is to simply loosen them and
then place a strip of tape over their
holes so they won't fall out.
Holding the cabinet together by
hand, flip the computer right -side
up, then gently lift the top of the cab-
inet straight up and off. The top
comes off very easily: don't pry or
bend the edges if it's stuck. If you
can't get the top off, the problem is
most likely a screw that isn't fully re-
leased, or a missed screw.
111111 111111 ' 111111 111111
Next, remove the keyboard, tak-

ing care not to damage its plastic
connecting cable. Do it this way. Lift
the keyboard clear of its mounting Eight socketed memory ICs are in the lower -right of the motherboard. Remove
posts and flip it backwards, placing thefactory - installed 16K chips and replace them with 64K chips.

Computer they can be used. General-
ly available "IBM substitutes" are
the 4564N-20 and 4164P, which pres-
ently sell for as little as 99 cents
apiece. It makes no sense to spend
more than $30 for a set of eight "of-
ficial" 64K CoCo chips.
Only A Swap
First step in memory upgrade is to
simply swap new chips for the old.
Since the ICs are sensitive to static
electricity, make certain you are
grounded through a ground strap
(attached to the metal clip of your
watchband) or a grounding bracelet.
After you're grounded, remove all
eight original 16K memory chips us-
ing some kind of extraction device.
Use an extracting tool to remove the 16K RAM chips.
Don't try to flip the chips out of their
sockets using a screwdriver unless
In earlier models of the CoCo, it was 64K chips used in the IBM PC -and you have had experience doing it be-
necessary to remove a metal shield short- circuit two solder mini -pads cause a little too much force can
and cut some capacitors fo upgrade from the top of the motherboard. damage the socket, and then you're
RAM to 64K. Neither is necessary in Several variations of the 4164 are in for a lifetime of intermittent
the new version. There is no shield sold for the IBM PC, and they might glitches. Make certain the pins of the
over the memory chips: you simply not even be identified as a 4164. The new ICs are straight-use needlenose
replace the existing memory chips rule is: if the chips are sold as 64K pliers if it's necessary to straighten
with 4164s -the same inexpensive RAMs for the IBM PC or the Color them -and snap the chips into their
sockets, making sure the notch at
one end of the chip corresponds to
the position of the notch of the
original IC (they all face the same
way) and that no pins fold under as
you push the chips home.
Programming for 64K

After all eight memory ICs are in-
stalled, locate the two small solder
pads at the upper -left corner of the
;
_= motherboard labeled "64K RAM."
APIA Simply soldering a jumper across the
UM NM
dtffL9r.7S solder pads programs the CoCo for
64K. Install the jumper from the top
,#
aasssasssssssscssssi
- .a, of the board; don't attempt to re-
move the motherboard from the cab-
inet for this operation.
611ír Using a very small pencil soldering
dIL$934
rib
iron tip, melt the solder in one hole
., w and slip in the end of a short length
of pretinned #20 or #22 solid, bare
Program the CoCo to address 64K of RAM by soldering a wire across the two wire. Form the wire into a small 'A "
"64K" solder pads located at the upper-left of the motherboard. loop, position the free end over the

The display board's mini -clips provide
a secure connection when the spring -
loaded "body" is released.
adapter simply match its clip leads to

the VDG. On the adapter are a set of
Interconnects from the small commercially available video adapter board con-
40 holes corresponding to the VDG's
nect to the CoCo via wires terminated in mini- clips. The two cables terminated
terminals. Seven holes have clip
in phono plugs are the new video and sound outputs.
leads. Just match the seven and con-
nect the remaining clips to the loca-
second solder pad, heat the pad and ease of installation we recommend tions specified in the instructions
force the pretinned free end of the the Universal Video Plus, the one supplied with the adapter.
wire into the hole. That's it! shown in the photographs here. To The adapter is secured to the top
install the Universal Video Plus of a large IC by a piece of double-
Enhanced Basic
If you think you will want Enhanced
BASIC, install the Enhanced BASIC
retrofit ROM now- before the video
adapter is installed- because it's
possible the video adapter will get in
the way if you try to do it later. You
can purchase the Enhanced BASIC
upgrade ROM from Radio Shack or
any of several vendors that sell parts
for the CoCo. (Since the price is the
same, get it the most convenient
way.) Simply snap the Enhanced
BASIC upgrade ROM into the
matching empty socket in the top -
right of the motherboard. You can't
miss it because it's the only empty
socket. Just make certain the notch-
ed end of the ROM faces the rear of
the motherboard.
Installing The Video Adapter

There are several kinds of video The video adapter mounts on top of an IC with double -sided tape (supplied with
monitor adapters floating around kit). Installing the adapter with holes to the right lets you tuck most of excess
from CoCo aftermarket vendors; for wire lengths under the board'sfront edge.

sided tape. It's very sticky and you
get just one shot to secure the adapt-
er. To make certain the adapter does
not interfere with reinstalling the
keyboard, position it so its left edge
is adjacent to the VDG, and as far
to the rear of the motherboard as
possible. In this location the adapter
drops down on an IC and sticks
in place.
The adapter provides separate
audio and video outputs at standard
phone connectors. If you have no
need for the sound output, you can
cut off its shielded cable at the adapt-
er. While you could notch out the Instead of bringing the video cable through the cabinet, you can install a phono
cabinet and let the video (and audio) jack on the CoCo's cabinet to the right of the power switch and connect the ca-
cables simply hang free, the wire is ble to this. If you are using the audio option, do the same for its cable. Label
actually too short to reach a jack(s) for easy identification.
monitor's rear input jack. Thus, it
will require a female -male extension,
which isn't all that easy to locate. Both the video and rf outputs are your checks and adjustments before
Instead, we suggest you install a simultaneously active, meaning you closing the case.
standard phono jack (1/4 " mounting can use both a composite monitor
hole) in the bottom of the cabinet and a TV monitor at the same time; Checkout
about 3/4 "to the right of the power or at the very worst, you can use eith- Connect a composite monitor to
switch (an open area inside the cabi- er without having to connect or dis- CoCo's video output and fire up the
net), cut off the existing video con- connect cables. Of course, if you are computer. Adjust the small trimmer
nector, and connect the video output displaying 60 or 80 charactes on the
potentiometer on the video adapter
cable to the phono jack using the composite monitor, it will barely be for a decent screen display. Check
most direct cable routing (cut off the legible on an ordinary TV monitor. that all the keyboard keys work. If
excess cable). If you also want the not, turn off the power and check the
audio output, there is room in the seating of the keyboard cable. You
same area for a second phono jack. Install the Keyboard might get some strange color box
The video adapter has a small To install the keyboard, rest it on its patterns when the computer is first
trimmer potentiometer, which is the back toward the rear of the mother- turned on, but if the computer seems
output level control that must be ad- board (the same position it was in to work okay just forget them.
justed after the keyboard is installed. when you removed it). Then slide the When you're certain all the retro-
ribbon straight down into its con- fits are working, adjust the video
nector. It will be a tight fit, so don't trimmer for best picture. Write a
More Video push too hard or you might bend or small BASIC program to fill the
The video adapter's output is either damage the plastic. Grab both sides screen with characters and then ad-
color or monochrome, but not both of the ribbon about 'h " back from just the video trimmer for maximum
simultaneously. It is supplied set for the end and, if necessary, rock the screen brightness coincident with
monochrome. If you want to use a ribbon from side to side as you gently minimum blooming of the individual
color monitor, cut the small wire push down. Once the ribbon slides in characters. Also, fiddle with the
jumper on the adapter's printed cir- it's connected, even if it appears to monitor's own brightness and con-
cuit board. If you want to have the be just slightly seated. (The ribbon trast controls, interacting them with
option of color or monochrome, cut does not go very far into the socket, the adapter's trimmer.
the jumper and connect each lead to about % ", so if it seems to be seated it Then reassemble the cabinet when
a miniature slide or toggle-not mo- probably is.) you're satisfied with the video
mentary action pushbutton-switch. Install the rubber washers back on adapter's adjustment. Your new 64K
Install the switch on the cabinet the posts and flip the keyboard for- video -output CoCo is now ready to
wherever you would like to have it. ward onto the posts. Finally, make use as a powerful computer. AE

Consumer
í Electronics
f
Showcase
Latest product offerings to dealers
for the second half of 1986 are
showcased at a major trade show
By William Sommerwerck
elebrating its 20th year in electronics show ing up consumer electronics products could be seen if
biz, the past Summer Consumer Electronics one had the time and energy to pursue it fully. Here
Show was bigger than ever. With more than are some products that were especially interesting be-
1,400 exhibitors spread out over about 725,000 cause they were innovative, high quality or struck my
square feet, the whole spectrum of current and com- fancy as I wended my way around the exhibits.
Acoustic Research, after an ab-

sence of nearly 15 years, again has a
line of electronics, including pre-
amp, tuner, CD player, power
amp, integrated amps and receiv-
ers, most of which sport singie -sys- Atari finally released its 7800 videc
tern remote control. AR is also go- game system and a selection of in-
ing after the Bose "RoomMate" teresting games. The 7800 system is
market, with its "powered pARt- claimed to have the highest resolu-
ner," a portable speaker/amp with tion of any home computer or video
separate woofer and tweeter, and a game, and will also play regular
hefty 15 -watt output. 2600 cartridges. Atari says it'll sup-
port the 7800 with more titles_
Guess the company believes there's
still a spark of life left in this enter-
tainment electronics area.
ems
4- 4(
Casio's new SK -1 keyboard can re-
cord any sound, which is then
"played back, looped, or changed, "* GOTO CASIO
FX-799F .:«
using any of 13 different sound en-
velopes." So what, you say? That's
been available on professional syn-
thesizers for several years. Yes, but
the SK -1 costs only $130. The com-
pany also introduced a $120 scienti-
fic pocket portable computer with
65 sci functions and BASIC and As-
sembly languages.
Cincinnati Microwave claims its new StarCast C -band system minimizes

"sparklies," those bursts of microwave noise in a video display. CMC did ex-
tensive research to characterize the threshold and peak levels of r -f noise, us- Final Technology finally showed a
ing this to distinguish the noise from the signal, lopping off the former. working version of its Laser Turn-
table. This is the long-dreamed -of
machine that plays conventional
:r..:
LP's with a beam of light; nothing
...
0° °®°'..3
s ,A®d
o
eO ®
00
touches the disk. I was one of the
few journalists invited to hear the
unit, and I can verify that it works.
It will not be available for at least
another four months ... at an esti-
mated $2,500.
Commodore introduced a remod-
eled Commodore 64 computer, the
64C. It features a new hard- Future Communications's "Phase -
ware /software system that pro- corn" TVRO antennas are flat. Us-
vides graphics -based operation ing phased -array principles, they
with a "point and click" icon inter- can be mounted on a roof or the
face for under $250. They say that side of a house. Prices range from
the new operating system and ap- $421 to $1200.
plications on disk can be purchased
separately for $59.95 by current
Commodore 64 owners. The new mouse or joystick- controlled machine
uses a 6510A CPU that's said to be compatible with the old C -64 computer
and can, thus, use older software packages.
JVC, among others, has responded to the challenge of 8 -mm camcorders

with an upgrade of VHS camcorders that include 60- minute recording time
Interstate Voice Products displayed (twice as much as previously) and HQ video circuits to improve picture qual-
its module that attaches to a cellular ity. The system uses a VHS -C mini -cassette that's played back on home VHS
phone to provide voice operation videocassette decks with the use of a special adapter.
without having to touch the phone
or take your eyes off the road.
September1986 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / 33

..
Kodak has entered the premium bat-
tery market with its SupraLife alka-
line and UltraLife lithium cells. The
latter appears to be the first consum- Scisys's "Leonardo" chess com-
er 9 -volt lithium battery, said to last puter has an "open system architec-
more than 200% as long in use as al- ture." This permits future upgrade
kaline types do. of memory or CPU without having
to discard the basic machine. There
is also an interface for connection to
other computers.
Mastervoice's "Butler in a Box" re-
cognizes vocal commands and an-
swers in a human -sounding synthe-
sized voice. It controls lights and ap- Sega's "MasterSystem" video game appears to incorporate the same graph-
pliances (via BSR X -10 protocol), ics chips used in its current arcade games. Software comes in two forms: the
answers the phone, and communic- Sega Card (which resembles an electrified credit card, and can hold up to
ates with (or is controlled by) a com- 32K), and the Mega Cartridge (with four times that capacity). I was more im-
puter through an RS-232C port. It pressed with Sega's hardware and game selections than with Nintendo's En-
can query an intruder, and if it tertainment System introduced last year.
doesn't recognize the voice, turn on
lights and sound the alarm. This
barely scratches the surface; you
need a demonstration to appreciate Seiko's LVD -302 LCD pocket color TV has a screen that measures only 2 " di-
this brilliant piece of design. agonally. But with 74,000 picture elements, it produced the least coarse dis-
play of any I've seen. The LC elements now change state quickly, with virtu-
ally no streaking of moving objects. The color picture displayed was clean
and highly saturated.
Polaroid (in cooperation with To-

shiba) has a freezeframe recorder Sony has a water-tight casing for its popular 8 -mm "HandyCam." The por-
that permits any single video frame table video recorder even includes a waterproof microphone!
to be recorded on their new Spectra
film, or most 35 -mm color negative
or transparency films. Special cir- Toshiba's DX-7 is the first VCR with
cuits double the number of scanning a digital frame store. Any selected Video Interface Technology's Video
lines for a more pleasing picture. frame can be converted from analog Vitalizer is a sophisticated digital
to digital and held in 144K of RAM. pattern and effects generator. Up to
This permits stable, noiseless slow 120 effects are possible, depending
motion and freezeframe. The deluxe on how many F.OMs you're willing
VHS deck includes the usual high - to buy. There isn't enough room to
end features, such as Hi -Fi sound list all the features, let alone explain
and HQ video. The company also them. Prices run from $549 to $1031,
demonstrated a digital noninterlaced depending on the number of effects
TV monitor that provides 525 lines in and accessories.
1 /60th second.
Yamaha's new DSP -1 Digital Sound Field Processor is said to be able to re-
create the acoustic "personality" of many music environments. Forty eight
preset acoustic environments are stored digitally to give a user a choice of lis-
tening to music in an intimate jazz club or a 1,000-seat auditorium, according
to the company. Dolby Surround sound field is included in the new unit,
which is the popular sound imaging technique used in many movie theatres.
' ,-' 34 .' MODERNELECTRONICS / September 1986 Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics
'--- -.
...
.
'_
nacho /Melt Part, PlaeeTM
'87 CATALOG AVAILABLE -COME GET YOUR
184 Full -Color Pages Hundreds of New Items and New Low Prices
FREE COPY
Not Sent by Mail
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Project
Two -Band Stereo

LED Power Meter
Lets you visually monitor your car stereo system's
high- and lowfrequency output power
By Ross Ortman
Manymodern car -stereo

amplifiers are so power-
ful that they can put your
I
normally rugged speakers in jeopar-
dy of burning up. A stereo power
meter like the dual -band one de-
scribed here provides an excellent
means for guarding against this type
of hazard.
The Two-Band Stereo Power
Meter offers an unusual bargraph-
like display. Unlike most power me-
ters that provide a single display for
each channel, this project has two
per channel. Input signals are split
into high- and lowfrequency groups
that are separately monitored for
each channel. This allows you to
keep an eye out for dangers to your and right outputs from an amplifier switching transistors that selectively
woofers and mid -range drivers/ into high- and lowfrequency supply power to individual rows of
tweeters separately, making dis- groups, with a crossover frequency LEDs. The LEDs display the
played data much more meaningful. of about 3 kHz. amplitude of the signal delivered to
All power information is dis- Second in the chain is the multi- the Power Meter, as filtered and
played in four attractive horizontal plexing circuit. This circuit's oscilla- switched by the preceding sections,
"bargraphs" made up of discrete tor, operating at about 380 Hz, is in a bargraph-like display format.
LEDs. The LEDs are of different used to clock a 4017 decade count- Now that you have an idea of sys-
colors, with green at the low-power er /divider that supplies 10 decoded tem architecture, refer to the sche-
end, yellow in the medium -power outputs, four of which are used to se- matic diagram in Fig. 2. Power for
middle range and red in the high - quentially pass the filter outputs to the circuit is supplied by the electrical
power "danger" end. Consequently, the display driver and turn on its cor- system of the vehicle in which the
not only is the Power Meter a practi- responding row of light-emitting di- project is used. It is protected against
cal device, it is also a very attractive odes. A 4066 quad bilateral switch transients and incorrect power con-
high -tech addition to your vehicle. selects the filter output dictated by nection by Dl, D2, C/ and C13.
the counter /divider. Inputs to the project are ac coup-
About the Circuit Outputs from the bilateral switch- led through C2 and C3. This allows
As shown in the block diagram in es are sent to the display circuit, the Power Meter to be used with
Fig. 1, the Power Meter consists of which is the third section. This cir- floating ground and high -power car
three main sections. The first is the cuit consists of four rows of LEDs, stereo systems that usually have a dc
input filter, which separates the left an LM3915 bar /dot driver and component in their outputs. Separ-

IMffit
INPUT FILTER MULTIPLEXING DISPLAY
Left channel input
12 volts I 12 volts
Row drivers \I
Ground
V
Right channel input
Fig. 1. Stereo Power Meter consists of an input filter, a multiplexer and a decoder/driver /display system.
ate low- and high -pass filters are pro- IC3 provides a sequential set of four tors that come on whenever dc power
vided for each channel: C4 /R3 for pulses that are used to control the is applied to the circuit from the vehi-
the high- and RI/C6/R5 for the low - multiplexing. The multiplexing circle's electrical system, even if no in-
pass filters in the left channel and cuit is used to scan the four filtered put signal is present.
C5 /R4 for the high- and R2 /C7/R6 voltage levels and display their am- Quad bilateral switch ICI passes
for the low -pass filters in the right plitudes on their respective rows of each filter's output to the input of
channel. LEDs. It does this by selecting each bargraph display driver IC4. This IC
Once the inputs are filtered, D3 filter output in sequence and turning then turns on from one to ten LEDs
through D6 rectify them and store on the transistors for each respective of the selected row. The number of
their relative amplitudes in C8 row of LEDs. Using this scheme, on- LEDs that come on indicate the rela-
through Cll. Individual level adjust- ly one row of LEDs is on at any given tive input power level.
ments for each channel are provided instant in time. However, because of
by R7 through RIO. At the wiper of the high-speed scan rate, all rows ap- Construction
each of these controls is a calibrated pear to be on simultaneously. You can build the Power Meter using
dc voltage that is relative to the level There are separate power -level any wiring technique that suits you.
of the power present at the inputs of bargraph driver /display circuits for However, printed- circuit wiring is
each channel. the high- and lowfrequency bands recommended to provide stability
Since the input power is separated for each channel. These are Q1 with and safety in the harsh automotive
into two separate frequency bands, LED2 through LED11 and Q3 with environment. No matter where you
the amount of high- and low-
frequency power in the left channel
LED24 through LED33 arrange-
ments, respectively, for the left chan-
decide to mount the Power Meter
in an overhead console or under the
-
are the dc voltages at R7 and R9, nel. The right -channel arrangements dashboard -make sure to house it in
respectively. In the right channel, are Q2 with LEDI3 through LED22 some type of enclosure to protect the
the appropriate controls are R8 and and Q4 with LED35 through circuit from accidental shorting to
R9, respectively. LED44. Not part of the actual any exposed metal in the vehicle. An
Sections A and B of IC2, along power- measuring section of the pro- enclosure also provides a more
with RII and C12 make up a 380 -Hz ject are LEDI, LED12, LED23 and readable and attractive display.
oscillator. Decade counter /divider LED34, which serve as power indica- A double -sided printed- circuit

+12V
F1 D1 D2 Cl
}
C2
1A
1N4001 = 1N4001 4.7pF 0.1pF 16
Chassis 5
ground 3 I C3 to
C3 C5 D3 4017
4 8
10pF 0.05pF 1N914
Left
I 2 13
-
input 14
R1
R3 e C9 R7 2
5.6K 2.2pF 50K

5.6K
3 C13
R9 0.1pF
C7 R5 C11
0.02pF 22K 2.2pF- 50K
Cl
I
R11
4066 15K
D5 10
1N914 D6 1C2 12
1N914 4069 1
C8 R6 C12_ R10
0.02pF--- 22K< 2.2pr 50K
2
)8
)C
(
10
R2
R4 R8
)D
5.6K C10
5.6K 2.2µF 50K )E
R ight
{( i H GND
D4
nput
C4 C6
10pF 0.05pF 1N914
R16 R18
100K 1K
IC4
v+> LM3915
R12
10K 16 15 14 13 12 11 10
2N4403
1 I I
)Q1
R13
10K Q2
LEDI LED2 LED11
)2N4403
R14
10K LED12 LED13 LED22
2N4403
)Q3
R15
10K LED23 LED24 LED33
2N4403
)Q4
R17 LED34 LED35 LED44

680
GND>-a.

Fig. 2. Separate high- and low-fre- chase a ready -to -wire pc board with aligned and of uniform height to
quency "bar" displays consist of 10 plated- through holes from the provide a balanced display. Keep
LEDs in each channel bar, plus one source given in the Note at the end of firmly in mind that the cathodes in
LED in each bar that comes on when the Parts List. all cases go into the holes nearer the
dc power is applied. Only four LEDs Bear in mind that with a home- bottom edge when the board is or-
are shown for each channel. made double -sided board, all com- iented as shown in Fig. 4. There are
ponent leads and pins that contact two ways to identify the cathode
the foil pattern on top and bottom lead: the lead near the slight flat in
PARTS LIST must be soldered to the pads on both the case lip and the widened lead near
Semiconductors sides of the board. This means that if the bottom of the case.
Dl,D2- 1N4001 rectifier diode you wish to use sockets for the ICs, A good way to assure uniform
D3 thru D6- 1N4148 signal diode some of whose pins contact pads on LED height is to push the LED leads
ICI -4066 quad bilateral switch both the top and bottom, you will down until the widened portion of
IC2 -4069 hex inverter
have to use all -metal Molex Solder - the cathode leads just touch the top
IC3 -4017 decade counter /divider
cons instead of the usual sockets. If of the board. Solder only the cathode
IC4- LM3915 bar /dot driver
LED1 thru 44- 0.2 "light- you use the plated- through commer- leads of all 44 LEDs to the pads.
emitting diode (20 green; 12 yellow; cial board, however, you can use Each horizontal "bar" in the display
12 red -see text) standard IC sockets. Capillary ac- consists of green, yellow and red
Q1 thru Q4- 2N4403 transistor tion will assure that all junctions on LEDs. The first five LEDs in each
Capacitors top and bottom of the board will be bar (e.g. LED1 through LEDS in the
C1-4.7-AF, 16-volt electrolytic securely soldered if you solder on on- topmost bar) are green, the next
C2,C13- 0.1 -µF disc ly the bottom of the board. three are yelow and the final three
C3,C4- 10-µF, 35-volt electrolytic Referring to Fig. 4, begin wiring are red.
C5,C6- 0.05 -µF disc the board by installing and soldering If you prepare an alignment tem-
C7,C8- 0.02 -µF disc into place the resistors. Follow with plate for the LED matrix, a lot of
C9 thru C12-2.2 -µF, 25 -volt the diodes, making sure to properly time can be saved in positioning the
electrolytic
orient them. Then proceed to the LEDs to make a symmetrical dis-
Resistors (1/4-watt, 5% tolerance) transistors. Bend the center base play. The template is made from
R1 thru R4 -5,600 ohms
leads of the transistors slightly to- heavy cardboard stock like Bain-
R5,R6- 22,000 ohms
R11- 15,000 ohms ward the flat of the case. Holding the bridge board or thin but rigid plastic
R12 thru R15- 10,000 ohms board in the orientation shown in like % " -thick Plexiglass cut to 5 " long
R16- 100,000 ohms Fig. 4, install each transistor with the by 2 " wide. Cut out and paste the ac-
R17 -680 ohms flat facing the top of the board. The tual -size template shown in Fig. 5 to
R18 -1,000 ohms bent -forward base lead in each case the cardboard or plastic template
R7 thru R10- 50,000-ohm vertical- plugs into the offset hole in the sol- blank. If you prefer not to cut up the
mount trimmer potentiometer der -pad pattern. Adjust the height of page, place the blank behind Fig. 5,
Miscellaneous the transistors to about '/a " from the centering it in the outline, and pierce
FI -1-ampere fast -blow fuse surface of the board and solder the with a pin or needle at the center of
Printed -circuit board; suitable enclo- leads to the pads. Use heat judicious- each circle. Then remove the blank.
sure (see text); power cable with in- ly to avoid damaging the transistors. Drill an "A,"" or M, " hole through
line fuse holder; two-conductor zip Now install and solder into place the center of each hole outline (or
cord; 1/2" spacers (4); machine hard-
the capacitors, making sure that the through each marked point). You
ware; hookup wire; solder, etc.
Note: A double -sided pc board with plated -
polarized electrolytics are properly should have a total of 44 holes ar-
through holes is available for $17.95 plus oriented. You have the option of in- ranged in a symmetrically balanced
$1.50 P &H from: Dakota Digital, R.R. 1, stalling the ICs directly on the board, matrix. Place the template over the
Box 83, Canisota, SD 57012. with their pins soldered to the foil LEDs. Adjust the positioning of the
patterns (on both sides if your board LEDs so that their domes fit into all
is homemade) or via sockets or 44 holes. With the LEDs in place, po-
board was used for wiring the Power Soldercons. sition the template so that it is paral-
Meter's circuit in the prototype The most difficult step in assembly lel with the top edge of the board.
shown in the lead photo. You can is installation of the LEDs because of Check to make sure that all LEDs are
fabricate this board, using the Fig. 3 the repetitive nature of the operation at a uniform height. If any are not,
actual -size etching-and -drilling art- and the fact that all LEDs in each reflow the solder and adjust as neces-
work. Alternatively, you can pur- row and column must be carefully sary. Then solder the cathode leads

ro 0
0008
004000040
000000000
0
0
0
0 0
0
CO
0
0
0 0
CO
0
0 0
0 ó 0 OD O 0-1
0 0 \ O O °0 o° ó p
0 0
O 0 p0
00
O
:
0 °/ a
o a.
0 ó ó 0
TOP
ó ó
gig..45e/o0O
Y il
0000
oY
410
0000
O
p0 0400 0
0
IOW Y Y
o ° o oan O00
0 00
8
L°
an O
°
ó 00000000
OOÒOOÒ
O
o 0
p p 0j
L p
Fig. 3. Actual -size etching- and-drilling guides for top and bottom of double -sided printed- circuit board.
of first the top row of LEDs to the If you plan to make more Power the entire operation by eye. Needless
solder pads. Repeat for the second, Meters, store the template away for to say, this can be a very time -con-
third and fourth rows. Use heat spar- later use. suming operation.
ingly to prevent damaging the LEDs. You can, of course, arrange the Referring back to Fig. 4, install the
Remove the template and discard LEDs without the aid of a template. R7 through R10 trimmer controls on
it if you have no further need for it. In this case, you will have to perform (Continued on page 90)
-Right input
Left input
,m
x \ \\` ED1 t LEDT 4t*
6 c
i
Q
\\
c
*-R11-0 ,. ..\. ... :c

\ \\
.
\\. \1D12LED
\C:2..
.
\\ \\\\ \- 4
R15
`_,,;...,...N
\ND
V 12V
74-, \\ \\ ED23 u LED ` ' : :. v;` \

\
:'`\,.. K
.... ::::::: :::::::: ° °' I
t
.............. ::...............................................................
.....,....\\".,...... ..,
*R17.ìi
\\ ü D ,.......
.., ...,,.. ...., ...
Vary:
\`
\
D 34 LE
p:
NOTE:
Mount R7 through R 10 on bottom of board
Fig. 4. Placement /orientation wiring diagram.

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Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics September 1986 / MODERN ELECTRONICS i 43
Communications Project
An Experimenter's
Aviation -Band Receiver
Low-cost project lets you tune in on airport
and airborne radio activity
By Dan Becker
f you live within 20 miles of a

busy airport, you have an op-
portunity to tune in on some ex-
citing radio activity. With the Exper-
imenter's Aviation Band Receiver to
be described, you can listen to air-
craft and tower communications in
the 118 -to- 135.95 -MHz band as-
signed to aviation activities, includ-
ing the 121.5 -MHz world -wide emer-
gency channel.
Channels are divided into incre-
ments of 50 kHz each, with each as-
signed to a different type of service.
Some channels are used by air traffic
controllers who continuously give
course and altitude instructions to
pilots aloft. Other channels are used
while an airplane is on the ground.
These service channels carry main-
tenance, fuel status, weather (includ- ternal audio amplifier via a coaxial in which the approximately 120 -
ing wind speed and direction and (shielded) audio cable. Almost any MHz operating signal frequency is
temperature aloft) and personal re- epitaxial transistor rated for vhf ser- governed by Ti , C2 and C3. This
quests by pilots enroute. Much of vice will work in this circuit. greatly amplifies the microvolt -level
what you can hear is routine, but in Because aviation communication signals that appear at the antenna
times of emergency, you can get is via amplitude-modulated (AM) and feeds them back to the base of
first -hand information before the signals, the value of the dc collector QI with an amplitude greater than
news media report it. current of QI can be made to vary in the 10 -mV minimum level needed by
direct proportion to these signals. the circuit for proper operation.
About the Circuit This requires an input signal ampli- In the second function, any varia-
I
Shown in Fig. 1 is the complete sche- tude of greater than 10 millivolts. In tion in the dc collector current will
matic diagram of the Experimenter's addition, any variation in the dc col- appear as a variation in the emitter -
Aviation Band Receiver. It is built lector current must be extracted and collector voltage, measured at the
around a single transistor, identified amplified. collector side of R4. It is here that the
as Q1, which operates as both and r -f Two functions are performed by audio information is extracted and
amplifier and a detector. The output the Aviation Band Receiver. One is sent off to the audio amplifier.
of this transistor is coupled to an ex- its operation as a Hartley oscillator Capacitors Cl, C4, C6 and C7 by-

-
Ant-nna
w
9V
CI
R4
200pF
3.3K
Ti
C2 01
1C3 IIC5
5pF 2N918
3.5 -20pF 10,000 pF
Coax to
external
R1 amplifier
5K Cl C4 CS
82
T li3 2000 F 1000 pF
5000pF 10K
4/ i
PARTS LIST
Semiconductors R3-47 ohms closure; T -25 -0 powdered -iron tor-
Q1 -2N918 npn transistor R4-3,300 ohms oid core and 30 -gauge enameled wire
Capacitors R1 -5,000 -ohm trimmer potenti- for Ti; 1 -meter length of hookup
C1- 5,000 -pF ceramic disc ometer wire for antenna; connector for B1;
C2 -5 -pF, high -Q ceramic disc coaxial audio cable; machine hard-
C3- 3.5- to -20 -pF trimmer Miscellaneous ware; hookup wire; solder; etc.
C4,C7- 2,000 -pF ceramic disc BI -9
-volt battery
Note: A kit of all parts including pc board,
C5- 10,000-pF Mylar FB1, FB2 -Vhf ferrite bead
all components and audio cable (but not
C6- 1,000 -pF disc S1 -Spst slide or toggle switch
enclosure) is available for $8.95 plus
Resistors (% -watt, 5% tolerance) T1- Hand -wound transformer $1.00 S&H from: Dan Becker, 101
R2- 10,000 ohms Printed-circuit board; suitable en- Highland Dr., Chapel Hill, NC 27514.
Fig. 1. Complete schematic diagram of Experimenter's Aviation Band Receiver.
pass radio frequencies. Potenti- If you elect pc construction, wire Jthe board, be sure to keep all lead
ometer RI and resistors R2, R3 and the board exactly as shown in the 1 lengths as short as possible.
R4 establish a quiescent dc collector components -placement and orienta- All components for this project,
current of approximately 1 mA. In tion diagram given in Fig. 3. (You except TI, are readily available from
addition, regenerative control RI can also use Fig. 3 as a rough guide to parts suppliers ready for installation.
permits the gain to be adjusted to es- component layout if you use perf- The only component you are not
tablish oscillation and C3 permits board construction.) When wiring+ likely to find is the transformer,
fine tuning of the operating frequen- menter's Aviation Bank Receiver is which you must wind yourself. This
cy. Ferrite beads FB1 and FB2 in ser- readily assembled on a 2" x 2 "piece is not difficult. All you need are a
ies with the audio output help isolate of perforated board, using appropri- powdered -iron toroid core (see Parts
the audio cable from r -f signals. The ate soldering hardware. Alternative- List) and some 30 -gauge enameled
antenna is made from a 1 -meter or ly, you can fabricate a printed- circuit wire. Begin by winding four turns of
shorter length of hookup wire. board using the actual -size etching - the wire onto the core to make the
Power for the circuit is supplied by and- drilling guide shown in Fig. 2. A primary. Without cutting the wire,
ordinary 9 -volt battery BI. It is ap- third alternative is to assemble the form a 2 " loop and continue winding
plied to the circuit via spst switch Si. circuit on a ready -to -wire pc board eight more turns to make the second-
supplied in the kit of parts from the ary winding. Wind all turns in the
Construction source given in the Note following same direction.
The very simple circuit of the Experi- the Parts List. When all turns have been wound

on the toroid core, cut the loop and access holes for Rl and C3, and drill
the ends of the wire so that there are small holes through which the anten-
four equal-length leads. Carefully na lead and audio cable are to exit the
scrape away the enamel from all four box. Make sure the hole for the an-
leads for a distance of about 'h ". tenna wire is exactly in line with the
Then lightly tin with solder the ex- antenna hole on the pc board. Line
posed metal of each lead. Inspect the the antenna and audio cable holes
solder. If there are any gaps or the with rubber grommets to protect the
solder has blobbed instead of evenly wire and cable from chafing and
coating the leads, you missed some shorting out against the metal box.
of the enamel while scraping. Re- Mount the board in place with
scrape any lead that appears to be spacers and 6 -32 machine hardware.
suspicious and retin. You can mount 131 either with a stan-
Install and solder into place first dard metal battery clip fastened to
S1 and then the transformer as the box with machine hardware or Fig. 3. Components-placement/ori-
shown in Fig. 3. Then install the re- with double-sided foam tape to any entation diagram.
sistors and capacitors. When you in- wall where it will not interfere with
stall transistor Ql, adjust its height the circuit board.
above the board's surface to '/,6 ". amplifier's volume control about
Then wire the battery connector to Adjustment and Use half-way up and the tone controls for
the appropriate pads. Keep the bat- Set trimmer control Rl to about minimum treble to reduce the hiss
tery connector's leads to just a few three -quarters of its travel clockwise from the oscillator.
inches in length and arrange them as and trimmer capacitor C3 to approx- Adjust the setting of Rl until you
far away from the rest of the circuit imately minimum capacitance. Place hear a distinct hissing sound coming
as possible. the circuit board on a table near an from the amplifier's speaker(s). This
If your coaxial audio cable has audio amplifier and plug the Avia- hiss indicates that the circuit is oscil-
phono plugs at both ends, snip off tion Band Receiver's audio cable in- lating. In addition, you can vary the
one from either end. Then remove 1 " to the amplifier's auxiliary (AUX) or settings of both RI and C3 to tune in
of outer insulation from the cut end. microphone (Mic) input jack. Posi- different segments of the Aviation
Be careful to avoid cutting through tion the project's antenna up and Band.
the shield conductors as you do this. away from the circuit board. Use a
Depending on whether the shield is thumb tack to hold it against a wall. In closing
braided or spirally wound, separate Plug a 9 -volt transistor battery in-
the fine conductors so that they can If you are an avid listener, you will
to the battery connector and turn on
be twisted into a tight bundle. Then likely want to keep your Experiment-
the project and the amplifier. Set the
strip 1/a "of insulation from the inner er's Aviation Band Receiver on at all
conductor. Very lightly tin with sold- times. Therefore, you might con-
er the inner conductor and tightly sider building a dedicated audio
twisted shield wires. Exercise care amplifier and separate ac- operated
soldering to avoid melting the insula- power supply to use instead of the
tion and causing a short circuit. battery for continuous monitoring.
Slip a ferrite bead over the cable's You can find projects for these op-
shield wires and the inner conductor. tions in past issues of Modern Elec-
iii),....ii,..as}p,.....,,,,....\> tronics. You can also use an ampli-
Then install and solder into place the
two conductors in the appropriate fier module with its own battery
holes in the board.
Prepare a suitably sized metal en-
closure to accommodate the circuit
board by drilling three mounting
holes for 6 -32 machine hardware.
'I, a,
power supply and speaker for port-
able operation. In this case, you will
undoubtedly want to equip your re-
ceiver with a transfer jack that will
switch back in th BI battery supply
Use the board itself as a template for Fig. 2. Actual -size etching-and-drill- when ac power is removed when
determining where to drill the holes. ing guide for receiver's printed-cir- operating in the portable mode.
Then cut a slot for SI's toggle, drill cuit board. Happy listening. AE

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BUY WITH CONFIDENCE
Bands: 30 -50, 118 -136, 144-174, 440 -512 MHz. To get the fastest delivery from CE of any scanner,
Be sure to order batteries and battery charger from send or phone your order directly to our Scanner
The Regency Z45 is very similar to the Z60 model accessory list in this ad.
listed above however it does not have the commer- Distribution Center" Michigan residents please add 4%
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cial FM broadcast band. The Z45, now at a
special price from Communications Electronics.
Bearcat® 100XL-GP
List price $349.95/CE price $203.95 /SPECIAL
chase orders are accepted from approved government
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10 Channel 25 Watt Transceiver Priority The world's first no-crystal handheld scanner now has change without notice. All prices are in U.S. dollars. Out
The Regency RH25OB isa ten -channel VHF land a LCD channel display with backlight for low light use of stock items will be placed on backorder automatically
mobile transceiver designed to cover any fre- and aircraft band coverage at the same low price. Size is unless CE is instructed differently. A $5.00 additional
1%" x 71/2" x 2/e.' The Bearcat 100XL has wide frequency handling fee will be charged for all orders with a
quency between 150 to 162 MHz. Since this coverage that includes all public service bands (Low, merchandise total under$50.00. Shipments are F.O.B.
radio is synthesized, no expensive crystals are High, UHF and "T' bands), the AM aircraft band, the 2- Ann Arbor, Michigan. No COD's. Most products that we
needed to store up to ten frequencies without meter and 70 cm. amateur bands, plus military and sell have a manufacturer's warranty. Free copies of
battery backup. All radios come with CTCSS tone federal government frequencies. Wow...what a scanner! warranties on these products are available prior to
and scanning capabilities. A monitor and Included in our low CE price is asturdy carrying case, purchase by writing to CE. Non- certified checks require
night /day switch is also standard. This trans- earphone, battery charger/AC adapter, six AA ni -cad bank clearance. Not responsible for typographical errors.
ceiver even has a priority function. The RH250 batteries and flexible antenna. Order your scanner now. Mail orders to: Communications Electron-
ics° Box 1045, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106
makes an ideal radio for any police or fire
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MHz. version called the RH600B is available U.S.A. For Canada, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Alaska,
Automatic Weather Search/Scan AC /DC or APO/FPO delivery, shipping charges are
for$454.95. A UHF 15 watt version of this radio Frequency range: 30-50, 136 -174, 406-512 MHz.
called the RU150B is also available and covers The new Bearcat 210XW is an advanced third generation three times continental U.S. rates. If you have a
450 -482 MHz. but the cost is $449.95. scanner with great performance at a low CE price. Discover, Visa or MasterCard, you maycall and
place a credit card order. Order toll-free in the
NEW! Bearcat° 50XL -GP NEW! Bearcat® 145XL-GP U.S. Dial800- USA -SCAN. In Canada, order toll-
List price $199.95/CE price $114.95/SPECIAL List price $179.95/CE price $102.95 /SPECIAL free by calling 800 -221 -3475. WUI Telex any-
10-Band, 10 Channe/ Handheld scanner 10 Band, 16 channel AC/DC Instant Weather time, dial 671 -0155. If you are outside the U.S.
Bands: 29.7-54, 136 -174, 406-512 MHz. Frequency range: 29-54, 136 -174, 420 -512 MHz or in Michigan dial 313-973-8888. Order today.
The Bearcat 145XL makes a great first scanner. Its low
The Uniden Bearcat 50XL is an economical, cost and high performance lets you hearall the action with Scanner Distribution Center" and CE logos are trade-
hand -held scanner with 10 channels covering the touch of a key. Order your scanner from CE today. marks of Communications Electronics Inc.
ten frequency bands. It features a keyboard lock t Bearcat is a registered trademark of Uniden Corporation.
switch to prevent accidental entry and more. TEST ANY SCANNER
purchased from Communications
Test any scanner
t Regency is a registered trademark of Regency
Inc.
Electronics
AD *070286 -GP
Also order part # BP50 which is a rechargeable
i battery pack for $14.95, a plug -in wall charger, Electronics" for 31 days before you decide to keep it. If for
any reason you are not completely satisfied, return it in
Copyright© 1986 Communications Electronics Inc.
part # AD1 00 for$14.95, a carrying case part#
VC001 for $14.95 and also order optional
original condition with all parts in 31 days, for a prompt
refund (less shipping /handling charges and rebate credits).
For credit card orders call
cigarette lighter cable part# PS001 for$14.95.
Regency Regency Regency
HX1500
1-800-USA-SCAN
RH250 MX 7000
MCOMMUNICATIONS
ELECTRONICS INC.
Consumer Products Division
P.O. Box 1045 Ann Arbor, Michigan 48106-1045 U.S.A.
Call 800- USA-SCAN or outside U.S.A. 313- 973.8888
CIRCLE 82 ON FREE INFORMATION CARn

Feature
Usin g the Operational

Transconductance Amplifier
Discover the advantages of working with this
often- disregarded member of the op -amp family
By C.R. Fischer
Offset
nu ll
- 1 741 8 - NC
+V
NC --- 1
z
.
CA3080 8
7
-- NC
+V
-
Hundreds of uses for the Inputs Inputs
common operational am-
plifier have been paraded
through pages of books and maga-
l
V- 4
(A)
5 - Out
Offset
null
l
-V a
I B)
5
Out
-Amp bias
input
zine articles during the past 20 years.

Strangely, though, several other de- Fig. 1. Pinouts of the ordinary 741 op amp (left) and CA3080 operational trans -
vices in the op -amp family have been conductance amplifier (right). Though both appear to be identical, note that the
virtually ignored during the same pe- 741 has offset null, while the CA3080 has a bias input.
riod. One of the lesser -known close
cousins of the op amp is the opera- 741 op amp and the CA3080 opera- must be limited to less than 2 mA to
tional conductance amplifier, or tional transconductance amplifier. avoid damaging the IC. Note also
OTA. This nifty little device has at- The two devices appear to be identi- that the CA3080 requires a dual-po-
tributes that are difficult to duplicate cal at first glance, but if you look larity power supply that delivers no
by other means. closely, you will notice that the more than + 18 and - 18 volts. To
Among the OTA's functions is a CA3080 has an amplifier bias input remain on the safe side, you should
unique biasing input that allows the at pin 5. This input provides a means limit power supply potential to + 15
device to be used as a voltage- or cur- for varying the conductance (reci- and - 15 volts.
rent- controlled resistor or switch. procal of resistance) of the CA3080 Two other idiosyncracies of the
This feature makes it invaluable for OTA by varying the current flowing OTA are the input and output struc-
varying parameters in such analog into this pin. With no current, there tures. The inputs are capable of han-
circuits as waveform generators, am- is no output whatsoever, while an in- dling only very -low-level signals,
plitude and frequency modulators, put current of about 1.5 mA pro- ranging from 10 to 40 mV in the case
electronic musial instruments, etc. duces maximum gain. of the CA3080. Applying a higher -
While the operational transconduc- Pin 5 is 0.7 volt above the negative level input causes severe distortion in
tance amplifier resembles a typical supply potential, and input current the output signal, though some new-
operational amplifier at first glance,
there are some essential differences
that cannot be ignored if you expect Fig. 2. A simple single-chip voltage controlled amplifier, or vca.
it to operate properly. In this article,
+V
we will cover these differences, show R3
you some basic circuits to get you 27 K 1R5
started experimenting, and talk
yb 100K
LEVEL
about some of the OTAs currently

)Output
on the market. Input
0.65V ac R4
22K
Defining the OTA
For purposes of comparison, Fig. 1
shows the pinouts of the ordinary
48 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / September 1986

22K
IC1 is impractical or impossible. Remote
Signal in
0.65V ac 22K controls, amplitude modulators and
>Signal out
1K
computer control of analog circuits
IC28 (use a D/A converter) are a few rep-
1K
resentative examples.
22K
Though the Fig. 2 circuit can be
D2 used as is, performance can be im-
100K
1N914 o proved by using the circuit shown in
OFFSET U
Fig. 3 (adapted from a similar vca in
Control in wA_ -
22K TRIM
Walter Jung's IC Op Amp Cook-

0 -12V dc
IC2A +V
4458 '
D1 book). Directly driving the ICI
1N914
CA3080 OTA is the IC2A voltage -
controlled current source. This de-
sign eliminates the need for a cur-
rent- limiting resistor and references
Fig. 3. Improved voltage -controlled amplifier uses ordinary operational ampli- the control voltage to ground instead
fiers as a voltage- controlled circuit source and an output buffer. of to -14.3 volts.
Serving as a buffer for ICI, IC2B
gives the improved vca a reasonably
er chips have been designed to safely first two would be fixed and only the low output impedance whose output
handle higher -level inputs. control current would be varied. level is set by Rf. The OFFSET TRIM
Another way the OTA differs from control in the CA3080's input circuit
conventional op amps is that it has a OTA Applications is used to null any undesired offset
current output with an impedance in A very simple voltage -controlled am- voltage that can cause an audible
the tens of megohms. If this is a dis- plifier, or vca, is shown in Fig. 2. The "pop" when the control voltage is
advantage in a given application, R1 /R2 input attenuator has been set rapidly changed. In some cases, con-
you can simply follow the OTA with for a 0.6-volt ac input signal. Cur- trol may not be necessary if pin 2 is
an ordinary op amp, which then rent to the bias output of the OTA is grounded.
serves as an output buffer. limited by R3, R4 is the output load, A vca is usually modulated with a
A load resistor to ground can con- and RS provides a variable control changing voltage, but there is no rea-
vert the output current back to a voltage. With the value shown for son why it cannot be gated so that it
voltage. Since the value of this resis- RS, the circuit's gain range is from 0 functions as an analog switch. This
tance controls the voltage gain, the to 1 (unity). opens a whole new range of applica-
OTA gives control of this parameter If an envelope generator is used tions that allow you to remotely turn
with a single component. with the Fig. 2 circuit, this vca can be on and off signals. Chips like the
In essence, there are three ways to used to reproduce the attack and de- 4016 and 4066 are inexpensive and
control the output level of the OTA. cay feature of a musical instrument. easy to find. However, since they are
You can vary the input signal voltage In fact, this type of circuit will work limited to a 15 -volt signal range and
level, the load resistance, and the in any application where resistance require a switching signal that equals
control current. In most cases, the must be changed and manual control the supply voltage in amplitude, you
might find it more convenient to use
Fig. 4. Using an operational transconductance amplifier as an analog switch to an OTA instead of these devices.
gate high-level signals from digital logic. Figure 4 shows an OTA config-
ured as an analog switch. Transistor
QI switches the input on and off with
a low -level signal. In selecting Rl,
scale its value at a rate of 2,000 ohms
per volt on the control line. With the
correct value, you can control the
switch with 5 -volt TTL or higher-
voltage CMOS logic.
Figure 5 shows a very common use
for the analog switch. This sample/
hold circuit "samples" a voltage at
September 1986 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / 49

its input when triggered and con-
tinues to "hold" that level until an-
other command is issued. When the Output
control line goes high, the ICl OTA
acts as a closed switch and charges T047
CI until the input and output
voltages are equal. With the line low, Trigger I I I
the "switch" opens so that the volt- I I
age is stored in Cl. To prevent leak- Output
age currents from introducing er-
rors, use a low input bias operational Fig. S. A typical OTA sample/hold circuit.
amplifier like the CA3140 or LM351
for IC2 and polyester or polystyrene
capacitor for Cl. CA3080 because this OTA is readily that reduce signal distortion and an
There are quite a few uses for the available and inexpensive to pur- internal buffer for each OTA. Be-
sample/hold circuit in electronics. chase. It costs about $1.00 from cause the buffers are not internally
For example, it can be used to create mail -order suppliers. RCA (Solid wired, you can substitute an external
a random music box, as shown in State Div., P.O. Box 3200, Sommer- buffer if desired. National's applica-
Fig. 6. Here IC3 is a simple volt- ville, NJ 08876) has been marketing tions booklet for the LM13600 has a
age-controlled oscillator (vco) that the CA3080 since 1971. It is still used variety of circuits for the experi-
acts as a tone source and serves as an in new designs today. It may suffer menter, including a stereo volume
input for the Fig. 5 sample /hold cir- from a severely limited input level control, voltage- controlled filters
cuit. Trigger generator IC4 can be that compromises its signal -to -noise (vcfs), and a two -chip sine -wave vco
varied from 0.5 Hz to beyond 10 ratio, but the CA3080 is still useful with a range of 5 Hz to 50 kHz, the
kHz. The sample/hold circuit picks where this is not an important con- last at less than 1% distortion.
voltages off the triangle-wave output sideration. Note, too, that RCA also Since audio signal processing and
of IC3 and feeds them back to the manufactures the CA3280, a dual electronic music make up a signifi-
vco to give the familiar Hollywood version of the CA3080. cant portion of the OTA market, it
"computer language" sound used in National Semiconductor's (2900 should come as no surprise that man-
motion pictures and TV shows. You Semiconductor Dr., Santa Clara, ufacturers have designed ICs espe-
are likely to find this neat little toy CA 95051) very interesting and ver- cially for audio applications .While
quickly appropriated by your chil- satile LM13600 dual OTA has sever- these devices are much more expen-
dren, however. al features not found elsewhere. sive than the CA3080, their im-
You may have noticed that the cir- Among these are linearizing diodes (Continued on page 83) O
cuits in Figs. 4 and 5 lack the input
attenuators that were necessary in Fig. 6. Adding these two IC circuits and a few other parts to the sample/hold cir-
the vca circuits. This is possible be- cuit in Fig. 5 produces an entertaining random music machine.
cause here the 10- to-40 -mV level ap-
plies the difference between the - +v
and + inputs. Since one of the vca's 10K 10K

1K
inputs in Figs. 2 and 3 was grounded, .1pF _.0013F 1K
10K
the other input had to be near ground
potential. In a switching circuit,
however, when the switch is open, no 2 2K From
signal can get through. Also, distor- output of
Fig. 5
tion is meaningless. When the switch
is closed, the output buffer sends the
input signal back to the remaining in-
put. With both inputs at the same 1p F
NOTE: _
To
level, distortion is not a problem. To audio input of D = 1N914
amplifier Fig. 5
To
100K
Some Available OTAs 2pF
I trigger of
Fig. 5
In this article, we showed representa- AI IBI
tive circuits built around RCA's
50 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / September 1986

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Visible circuit with LEDs makes playing board games more fun
than with traditional cubes and assures players of true "rolls"
odes flicker until they stop rolling to The projects costs only about five
By Bill Owen
present the numbers of the roll. times what you would pay for ordi-
The fascination goes beyond just nary dice cubes. And it is convenient
flickering of some LEDs. Unlike to use because it runs on a standard
Almost everyone likes play- most projects that are hidden inside 9 -volt battery.
ing board games in which utility boxes, you sandwich Electra
the action turns on the roll Dice between two layers of clear
of dice. The old way of playing such Plexiglass so that players can view
About the Circuit
games with actual dice cubes may not the circuitry as well as the "roll" of Shown in Fig. is the overall sche-
1
be unexciting, but "Electra Dice" the electronic dice. Moreover, hav- matic diagram of Electra Dice. It
described here can make the playing ing the numbers generated electroni- consists of two identical halves that
more fascinating as players press a cally gives one a sense of confidence form the two "dice." Each die con-
button and watch light- emitting di- in the trueness of a roll. sists of seven LEDs that randomly

Project
. PARTS LIST
HI'
N
m Semiconductors
JO CRI thru CR18 -1N914 switching
diode
M
.v
ON
LED1 thru LED14-3 -mm red light -
N D
U ó emitting diode
IHi' . -
Q1 ,Q3,Q4,Q5 ,Q6,Q8-2N2222
npn transistor
m I. Q2,Q7- 2N2907 pnp transistor
S
Ln
U1,U2-555 timer
gi
m
> -> E
U3 -4520 dual decade counter
U U Capacitors
C1,C2- 0.001 -µF disc
U
(pu (DY
¢8 ¡ Y Mu
V
(-0'
m V Z
V
C3,C4,C5- 0.1 -µF disc
C6,C7- 68 -µF, 16-volt tantalum
Resistors ('/ -watt, 5010 tolerance)
o
M Y
cc c.-
N
Rl,R3,R10,R12,R16- 100,000 ohms
4-
R2,R4,R5,R8,R9,R11,R17- 220,000
bi
n N V ohms
cc
U
2 Z
U - R6,R7 -47 ohms
'nEó
Q cc N
R13,R14-470,000 ohms
- -N R15,R18 -1,000 ohms
.-o
T R19,R20 -100 ohms
.crmo
Miscellaneous
V
2 2
-NN B1 -9
-volt transistor battery
SW1-Spst pushbutton switch
a
V O Ú U Z
SW2 -Spst slide switch
¢ v
N
Printed -circuit board; " -thick Plex-
Y,,
L, N
N
iglass panels (2); 4-40 x 21/4 "
= r Y W c y Ñ 0 machine hardware; IC sockets or
0 N
II'
CO
U<O C¿ V O
Fs'-
CC°_¡
V Molex Soldercons (optional -see
.-7. U ¢ Z
V= text); battery clip for B1; double -
H,
7
N
M
'\/1 o
U
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U Z
O
sided foam tape; hookup wire;
solder; etc.
Note: The following items are available
EN from NRG Electronics, P.O. Box 24138,
-N
O N
M Z
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33307: Pc board and
0 N M ÔY Ma- O all electronic components for $14.95;
ó á rc¢e ¢rn_
o drilled Plexiglass panels with hardware
O 0
w óa
w J
^p O
w
U
and label for $4.95. Add $2.00 S &H per
JJ
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/,
-14-il'
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p
order. Florida residents, please add 5%
sales tax.
R. r.
vw
_ -N
N Ñ Y
p
¡ 2 Ñ
O
VVV
0.1.
Jy °'°8
--- light to form the usual 1 through 6
/, dots that appear on conventional
dice. Though traditional dice cubes
-
have a maximum of six dots on the
a
V
Lu
J J
0-3
J
?
J
O
J
N
J d
N
N
¢ ÑY
8
R----
Ú U Z
highest number face, the Electra
Dice has seven LEDs. This gives the
/,
U
//
N
/,
In
O N
Z same effect that you would have if
you were playing with conventional
¢ m
U ¢ Z dice when you roll a 1, 3 or 5. It
U
makes the display appear balanced,
with the odd dot in the center, rather
Fig. 1. Though project has two dice display circuits, only one die's driver /LED than off to one side.
system is shown. Remaining circuitry is mirror-image of LEDI- LED7 /Q1 -Q4 After closing power switch SW2,
circuitry. Completing circuitry is indicated by numbers in parentheses. the action begins when ROLL push-

LLD3 LED4 LEDI, I IE'J2 6 4250 Counter gic Table are the highs and lows pres-
Output Logic ent at the outputs of the 4520 counter
Counter output Pulse IC (U3 in the project) as pulses are
Q1 02 Q3 04 C B A No. fed into the clock input. In this cir-
cuit, a pulse is a transition from high
Off On Off Off to low and back to high. The 4520 is a
dual binary counter. Its four outputs
0 0 1 1 are capable of counting from zero to
2 On Off Oft Off
15 (for a total count of 16). Because
0 1 0 2
the 4520 is a dual binary counter, it is
3 Off On On Off a natural as the sequencing device for
a project in which two dies are re-
ó 4 On Off On Off
0 1 1 3
quired, as is the case with the Electra
Dice because all we need is the one in-
o
1 0 0 4 tegrated circuit.
On On On Off
5
To display the six die counts with
seven LEDs, the four transistors
1 0 1 5
6 On Off On On must receive six unique input corn -
binations. To achieve this, the count-
Reset 6 er is rigged to reset back to zero after
Off On Off Off
the sixth pulse is counted. Only three
counter outputs are required to pro-
Fig. 2. Conditions for each driver transistor vide the six unique inputs required.
for specific die counts. These are the A, B and C outputs
from the 4520, which are added to-
button switch SW1 is momentarily fore, LEDI/LED7, LED2 /LED6 gether using diodes or connected di-
pressed and released. Separate 555 and LED3/LED5 are connected in rectly, as in the case of Q2, to the
timer ICs Ul and U2 then begin series pairs so that both LEDs in each bases of the driver transistors.
counting down. During the count- pair light simultaneously when the Digital circuit design is usually the
down periods, which are different circuitry decodes their specific se- result of logical expressions written
for the two timer circuits, counter U3 quences. Transistors Q1 through Q4 to satisfy specific requirements. The
continuously rolls the LED "dice." electronically switch on and off the designer works from the desired out-
When the two timer stages reach the LED pairs. (This same action occurs puts -such as the die patterns in
end of their countdown cycles, the in the second half of the circuit, with Electra Dice -back to the available
dice stop rolling and the LED dice Q5 through Q8 controlling LED8 outputs from the counter IC. Tran-
displays "freeze." At this point, the through LED14.) sistors and diodes permit logical ex-
left and right dies will separately Figure 2 shows the manner in pressions to be carried out electron-
display a number between the usual i which these four driver transistors ically. A logical expression can be
and 6. can be switched on to derive the six formulated for each desired result.
Light- emitting diodes LEDI die counts. Note that Q2, a pnp tran- Because the seven LEDs can be con-
through LED7 make up the left die. sistor, is different from the other trolled by four transistors, a logical
LED8 through LED14 the right die. three driver transistors in that a high expression is needed for each transis-
Because the project consists of mir- at its base input turns off and a low tor in terms of the A, B and C count-
ror -image circuitry, only the portion turns on the transistor. The other er outputs. The expressions with
for the left die is shown in Fig. 1. The transistors are all npn devices. their electronic equivalents are
portions that make up the right die Unfortunately, there does not ex- shown in Fig. 3.
are indicated by the numbers in ist a ready -made electronic circuit or Using a pnp transistor for Q2 sat-
parentheses. IC that will produce the high and low isfies the requirement for a low at
During a roll, the LEDs are con- inputs to the transistors to properly output A of counter U3 for LED4 to
tinuously and repeatedly sequenced sequence them. However, a standard light when a 1, 3 or 5 is rolled. The
from 1 through 6. Examining the six digital counter IC's outputs can be OR expression as in "A OR B" finds
different die counts in Fig. 2 makes it used either directly or in combina- its electronic equivalent in two di-
clear that only four different combi- tion to do the job. odes that connect together at the
nations of LEDs are required. There- Shown in the Counter Output Lo- base, allowing a transistor to turn on

Q2 = A Q2 is on when A is not high but low.
LED4
02
1 = A OR C Q1 is on when either A or C is high.

V;
LED3, 5
03 = B OR C Q3 is on when B or C is high.
LEDI, 7
Q4 = A AND B Q4 is on when A and B are high.

V+
R4
LED2, 6
Fig. 3. The logic expressions and

electronic equivalents for each driver
transistor.
from either input. The AND expres-

sion follows from the fact that Q4
will be turned on by R4 only if A
AND C are high simultaneously.
As mentioned above, U3 must be Fig. 4. Actual-size etching-and-drilling guides for both sides of printed-
reset after the sixth pulse. Otherwise, circuit board.
it would count right on up to 16 and
cause problems with counts coming convenience, though, printed- circuit to solder short lengths of solid hook-
out of turn. The sixth pulse causes board construction is recommended. up wire or component lealds in the
the B and C outputs to both go high. You can fabricate this double -sided holes that bridge conductors on both
This condition is detected and used pc board, using the actual -size etch- sides of the board.
to reset the counter. If either the B or ing- and -drilling guides in Fig. 4. If If you prefer not to etch and drill
the C output is low, the reset input is you do, make sure that both guides your own board, you can purchase a
also low. However, when both B and kit of parts that contains a ready -to-
are properly registered on the pc
C are high, the counter automatical- wire pc board from the source given
blank during exposure. When in-
Iy resets to zero. in the Note at the end of the Parts
stalling components on a home-
made double -sided pc board, solder List. The board in this kit has plated -
Construction all leads that contact the top and bot- through holes that eliminate the need
There is nothing particularly critical tom traces on both sides of the for having to solder on both sides.
with regard to circuit layout. For board. Additionally, it is necessary Referring to Fig. 5, begin wiring

RI5RI6
C6
RI7RI8 U2
r- 80 012
other to provide insulation to pre-
vent the LED leads from shorting to
each other.
0
4 11
20060 C31 C7 C4
90 013 SW2
Bear in mind that light-emitting
diodes are heat sensitive and are easi-
ly damaged by excessive soldering
1
30 70 100 014 heat. Therefore, it is a good idea to

R19 R 2d
NRG RI3 R14 DICE use small heat sinks or the jaws of
U3
02 03 Q4 Q5 06 071 08 longnose pliers to absorb the heat as
you solder each lead to its copper pad
ow R6 R7 on the board. When all LEDs have
R1 R2 R3 J1 R 4 CI C
T J2 RIO RII 0 been soldered into place, arrange
R5 2I RI2 C5I 9V them in symmetrical patterns.
Solder the leads of the battery clip
to the labeled 9V pads on the right
.7.à9
óSW1101II
I? I14 I16 17 18 side of the board. The red clip lead
goes to the hole labeled with the +
sign, the black lead to the hole la-
Fig. S. Components placement /orientation diagram for pc board. beled with the sign.
Prepare two 2" lengths of hookup
wire by stripping 'A " of insulation
the board by installing and soldering only thing that touches it once it is re- from both ends. If you use stranded
into place the diodes at the locations moved from its protective carrier wire, tightly twist together all fine
indicated by numbers only along the and that you hold the board in your strands of wire at each end and spar-
bottom of the board when held in the other hand as you plug it into the ingly tin with solder. Solder one end
orientation shown. Make sure you holes in the board, the socket or the of each wire to the pads labeled SWI.
properly orient these and all other Molex Soldercons. Then install slide switch SW2 direct-
polarized and indexed compo- Install the transistors, making sure ly on the board.
nents- tantalum capacitors, LEDs, their emitter, base and collector Cut two sheets of % "-thick Plexi-
transistors and ICs -before solder- leads plug into the appropriate holes glass to 6 " x 5 3/ ". Drill four % "
ing their leads or pins to the board's and that they stand approximately holes through both sheets for mount-
copper pads. 'A " above the surface of the board. ing the circuit -board assembly cen-
After installing the diodes, pro- Install the 2N2907 transistors in the tered in the area. Drill a fifth hole for
ceed with the resistors, insulated Q2 and Q7 locations and the 2N2222 pushbutton switch SWI in the top
jumper wires (in the locations indica- transistors in all other locations. panel. Place a 'h " x 3/ " strip of
ted by J1 and J2) and capacitors. Note that the tabs pointing to the double-sided foam tape exactly in
Next, install the ICs. You can install transistors' emitters point upward the center of the bottom panel for
these directly on the board or via op- and slightly to the left for QI mounting the 9 -volt battery.
tional sockets that make it easier to through Q4 and downward and Mount SWI in its hole in the top
troubleshoot the circuit and replace a slightly to the right for Q5 through panel. Solder the free ends of the two
defective IC if this should become Q8 as shown in Fig. 5. hookup wires to the lugs of SWI.
necessary. Use sockets only if the Now install the LEDs in the loca- Then use 1 " spacers and 4 -40 x 3/ "
plated- through board is used. You tions indicated by numbers only in machine hardware to sandwich to-
can not use sockets with a home- the upper -left and upper- right. Make gether the circuit board and Plexi-
made board because they do not pro- sure that the cathode leads plug into glass panels. When you are finished,
vide access to solder the pins to the the holes indicated by the flats in the there should be eight spacers, two at
required pads on the top of the case outlines. Let the LEDs stand a each corner, separating the circuit
board. Instead, use Molex Solder - uniform 3/ " above the surface of the board from each Plexiglass panel.
cons that do give soldering access. board. You might want to slip 3A " Press the battery into the foam
Practice safe handling procedures lengths of small -diameter plastic tape and clip the connector onto its
for the 4520 CMOS decade counter tubing over each anode lead before terminals. Reach under the top Plex-
plugging the LEDs into the board. iglass panel and flip SW2 to on. The
IC. One way to ensure against dam-
aging this IC with static electricity is The tubing serves two purposes
one is to give a uniform height, the
- LEDs should immediately begin
flashing and eventually stop at a roll
to make sure that your hand is the

pattern. Press and release ROLL Whenever Electra Dice is not be- panel makes it almost impossible for
switch SW/; the LEDs should again ing used for playing games, always SW2 to be toggled on by accident.
flash until they stop at a roll pattern. turn off its power. Though the cir- To play with Electra Dice, all you
Press and release SW/ several more cuit itself does not draw much cur- do is turn on the power and press and
times to assure that the circuit is op- rent, the LEDs do. Note, too, that release the ROLL switch. Then sit
erating properly. If everything ap- mounting power switch SW2 directly back and watch the flickering of the
pears to be okay, Electra Dice is on the board instead of on the top LEDs gradually come to a halt.
ready to be put into service.
If the project is not working prop-
erly, turn off the power and remove
the clip from the battery. Before sus- Free Product Information
pecting a bad component, carefully How do I get Readers can obtain free information on
more data?
check all connections to determine if products advertised by certain companies,
as well as for some editorially mentioned
you missed soldering one. Also
products. Simply circle the appropriate
check for cold -soldered joints, re- number printed below an advertisement
soldering any that are suspicious. If onto the Modern Electronics "Free Infor-
this does not clear up the problem, mation Service" card bound into this is-
carefully check the polarization and sue. After filling in your name and ad-
orientation of all diodes, transistors, dress, just mail the postpaid card. Your re-
quest will be forwarded directly to the ad-
LEDs, ICs and the two tantalum vertiser with a mailing label prepared by
capacitors. our reader-service department to ensure
speedy response.
You
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Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics 59
llIiI/ ELECTRONICS NOTEBOOK 11111111111111
Piezoelectric Buzzers
By Forrest M. Mims III METAL DISC
Piezoelectric sound sources have been P ELECTILIC CERAMIC

available for more than 20 years. In the CompvcTIVE FILM
mid- 1960's, Mallory introduced the Son -
alert', a piezoelectric sound source in-
stalled in a plastic housing with a built -in TY Pl C AL COLOR CODE
driver circuit. Today numerous kinds of 1 - BLACK
self-contained piezoelectric buzzers, as 2.- RED
they are often called, are readily avail-
able from many sources. Radio Shack's 3 - BLuE
catalog, for example, describes piezo- 2
electric buzzers that produce continuous,
pulsing, dual, and chime sounds. sTaIJDARD W iTN FEEDBACK TAß
Consumer and industrial applications
for piezoelectric buzzers abound. They
are used in wrist and pendant watches, al- Fig. 1. Details of typical piezoelectric buzzer elements.
arm clocks, calculators, microwave
ovens, telephones, smoke alarms, geiger
Figure 1 shows two typical piezoelec-
counters, automobiles, and in many
tric sound generator elements. Most such
other consumer appliances and industrial
elements have a diameter ranging from
equipment. Because piezoelectric buz-
25 to 40 mm and a preferred or resonant
zers and elements are inexpensive, easy to
frequency of from 2 kHz to 7 kHz. The
use, and highly reliable, they are particu-
elements are formed by bonding a disc of
larly popular with experimenters.
piezoelectric ceramic to a larger disc of
flexible metal. Electrical contact to the
Piezoelectric Buzzer Design disc is provided through the metal disc
Piezoelectricity literally means pressure and a conductive film applied to the op-
electricity. It is the phenomenon wherein posite side of the ceramic disc. When a
a voltage is produced when pressure is voltage is applied across the two electri-
applied to certain crystals. Conversely, cal contacts, the diameter of the ceramic Fig. 2. Nodal pattern of an oscillating
piezoelectric crystals change their shape disc expands. This motion is transformed piezoelectric buzzer element.
in response to an applied voltage. into a movement perpendicular to the
Crystals of quartz, tourmaline, and plane of the disc by the spring -like action
Rochelle salt exhibit piezoelectric pro- of the metal disc. The direction of mo- merciai unit or one of the circuits that
perties. Though its piezoelectric effect is tion of the disc is dependent on the polar- follows. The element is then placed with
weak, quartz is the most important of ity of the applied signal. its metal side up on a soft surface (a few
these crystals. It is used to make highly Note that one of the discs in Fig. 1 is layers of tissue paper works well), and
reliable and reproducible mechanical os- equipped with a third terminal called the some light, dry powder such as sugar or
cillators whose frequency varies only feedback tab. This tab is a separated por- an artificial sweetener is then poured on
slightly with changes in temperature. tion of the metalized coating on the sur- the center of the metal disc. A signal is
Such crystals provide frequency stand- face of the ceramic material. When an os- then applied, and its frequency is swept
ards and highly stable oscillators for digi- cillating signal is applied across the other across the audio spectrum.
tal clocks and watches, television receiv- two terminals, a voltage appears at this The powder may vibrate slightly when
ers, radio transmitters, and so forth. tab that can be used to stabilize the fre- the signal is applied. At a particular fre-
Rochelle salt crystals have long been quency of the oscillator circuit. More quency, the powder will become consid-
used to make high- impedance crystal ear- about this later. erably more agitated. Much of the pow-
phones and microphones. Development A circular disc will tend to vibrate at a der will vibrate off the surface of the disc,
of high-intensity piezoelectric buzzers preferred frequency called the mechani- leaving behind a nearly circular pattern
and related devices awaited the develop- cally- resonant frequency. A dramatic il- outlining the disc's nodal region, the po-
ment of a family of manmade ferroelec- lustration of the resonance of a piezoel- sition of minimum vibration. Figure 2
tric ceramics having excellent piezoelec- ectric buzzer element can be arranged by shows a typical powder pattern that re-
tric properties. Among the best deve- connecting the element to a variable fre- sults when a resonant signal is applied to
loped of these is zirconate titanate. quency signal generator, either a corn- a real disc.

Knowing the nodal pattern of a piezo-
electric element is important, for mech-
anical attachment to the disc can be made c1`
V
'
- -57
p--t
',
in the nodal region without impairing the
sound producing abilities of the disc. Fig- EDGE MOUNT NODAL MOUNT
ure 3 shows the nodal mount configura-
tion along with other methods of mount-
ing a piezoelectric disc. Though the
mounting method can greatly affect both . .
the mechanical resonance of the disc and
its sound amplitude, the mounting proce-
dure need not be so precise as suggested
'0 ,
by Fig. 3. For instance, a disc can be ce- CENTER MOUNTS
mented to a rigid surface with a flexible
sealant such as silicone adhesive. If the Fig. 3. Mounting arrangements for Fig. 4. Controlling the volume ofa piezo-
surface to which the disc is cemented is it- piezoelectric buzzer elements. electric buzzer.
self acoustically resonant, the sound level
may be further amplified. This effect oc-
curs when piezoelectric discs are cement- ear protectors when working with piezo-
ed to the inside of musical greeting cards electric buzzers at close range. I used +3 ro +12 V
since the paper from which the cards are COM -FITTM multi -purpose earplugs
made adds to the resonant area of the (North Consumer Products, P.O. Box
disc along. 7500, Cerritos, CA 90701) while experi-
Si
menting with the circuits described be-
low. These earplugs have an attenuation
Operating Precautions of around 35 to 40 dB over the frequency
range at which most piezoelectric buzzers P2
Recall that the operation of piezoelectric
devices is reversible. A dramatic demon- operate (2 to 4 kHz). Before I purchased
stration of this can be made by connect- these earplugs, I stuffed wads of cotton C
ing a neon glow lamp to the terminals of a or facial tissue in my ears. While this 1-f.7A4F
piezoelectric sound generator element. helped, the professional earplugs work
When the element is struck by a hard ob- much better.
ject, the resulting piezoelectric voltage If other people are present in or near
will be high enough to flash the lamp. the area in which you plan to experiment
Fig. 5. Achieving a bell -like sound from a
Several hundred volts or more can be with a piezoelectric buzzer, you can muf-
piezoelectric buzzer.
produced in this manner. Therefore, to fle the sound of the buzzer somewhat by
protect the driver circuitry, it may be placing some modeling clay over the
necessary to connect a blocking diode sound output aperture. Of course this
such buzzers, this simple arrangement
across a piezoelectric element that might method will not work if you are experi-
can become very handy.
be subjected to mechanical shock or menting with piezoelectric elements and
Piezoelectric buzzers that produce
vibration. do -it- yourself driver circuits such as
chime and bell -like sounds are available
It is important to avoid connecting a dc those described below.
from Radio Shack and other sources. Al-
source across a piezoelectric buzzer ele- ternatively, you can simulate such
ment. Apparently this may depolarize Buzzer Drivers sounds by connecting a capacitor across
the ceramic material, thereby greatly re- a buzzer as shown in Fig. 5. When push-
ducing or even eliminating its piezoelec- A piezoelectric buzzer consists of a self- button SI is briefly pressed , the buzzer
tric properties. contained piezoelectric disc element and emits a tone and Cl is instantly charged
Finally, when experimenting with pie- a miniaturized oscillator- driver circuit. to the supply voltage. When SI is re-
zoelectric buzzers, remember that these Many different kinds of buzzers are leased, Cl continues to power the buzzer
devices can produce exceptionally loud, available, most of which can be operated for a brief time. During this interval, the
shrill sounds. Sound pressure levels in ex- by connection to a suitable power supply. volume of the tone from the buzzer drops
cess of 100 dB are easily possible. Sound Figure 4 shows how to vary the volume of markedly, thereby simulating the sound
levels this high can be very uncomfort- a piezoelectric buzzer by means of a ser- of a bell or chime. The resultant effect
able and can produce long -lasting head- ies- connected potentiometer. Consider- can be modified by trying different capa-
aches. Therefore, it is important to use ing the very loud sound emitted by many citor values.

ELECTRONICS NOTEBOOK .. .
+3 TO +15V
+5 To t 12 V TO f 12 V
R2 R1 R2
iK 220 K 470
Qt Q1 BLuE P2 RED
2N 2_222 2N _1_
R3 J
INJ
IrJ 1oK
BLACK
R1 Rti
1K 1K
I Ni TOrJE P2 TON E
C.o oFF LO ON
Hl ON HI OFF
Fig. 7. Single- transistor piezoelectric
buzzer element driver.
Fig. 6. Piezoelectric buzzer logic interfaces. +o.s To tisv

Ri
Corporation of America (1148 Franklin 5oK
Piezoelectric buzzers can be easily ac-
tuated by logic circuits. Figure 6 shows Rd., SE, Marietta, GA 30067), operated
two simple interfaces. One circuit pre- at a frequency of 6772 Hz. A similar ele-
serves the logical status of the input sig- ment is also available from Radio Shack
nal; the other inverts the logical status of (Catalog No. 273 -064). Since oscillation PZ BLACK
the input. Many different npn switching frequency of this circuit is controlled by
Ql RED
transistors can be used for Ql. Resistor the dimensions of the element's feedback 2N2222.
Rl can range in value from 1k to 10k or tab, the circuit is remarkably stable. For
more. Supply voltage should not exceed instance, adding or subtracting 100k to CL
.1,u F
the maximum allowable for the piezo- or from Rl changed only the shape of the
electric buzzer. circuit's waveform, without affecting its 1111111111
frequency. Moreover, the frequency of AuDio OUTPUT TRANSFORMER
oscillation is relatively independent of WtTf1 CEt4TER- TAPPED PRImARN
Element Drivers the supply voltage.
Fig. 8. Hartley oscillator piezoelectric
Piezoelectric buzzer elements are consid- buzzer element driver.
erably smaller than factory-assembled Variable-Frequency Drivers
buzzers that include driver circuits. For Variable- frequency piezoelectric element
this reason it's often advantageous to use drivers may or may not use a three-ele- ferrite core, an easier solution is to em-
unmounted buzzer elements when space ment piezo device with a feedback tab. In ploy the primary side of a center -tapped
is at a premium. Fortunately, buzzer ele- either case, though the element emits audio -output transformer such as Radio
ment driver circuits can be very simple, sound across the audio spectrum, it will Shack's Catalog No. 273 -1380. This in-
particularly since the elements can also produce the loudest sound when driven expensive transformer has 1,000 -ohm
function as capacitors and feedback at its acoustically resonant frequency. center -tapped primary and 8 -ohm sec-
elements. Figure 8 shows a single- transistor buz- ondary windings.
zer element driver designed for variable - Oscillation frequency of the circuit in
Fixed- Frequency Driver frequency operation. The circuit is a Fig. 8 can be altered by means of RI (CI
Figure 7 shows a single- transistor oscilla- modified Hartley oscillator, a single - also controls the frequency). The most
tor designed to drive a three -terminal stage amplifier with positive feedback unique aspect of the circuit is the fact it
buzzer element at a fixed frequency. The provided by a center -tapped inductor. can be powered by a 0.5 -volt supply.
element I used in a test version of this cir- Though he inductor can be made by Therefore, a single high- efficiency sili-
cuit, a No. PKM11 -6A from muRata wrapping magnet wire around an air or con solar cell will power the circuit. Of

+l TO +.Sv Figure 11 shows a single -chip CMOS feedback tab of the buzzer element (in
variable- frequency buzzer element driver the event one is included). Therefore, the
R4 adapted from one published in a Gulton frequency of oscillation is continuously
SK Industries' application note. Notice how variable by means of Rl. By increasing
a ue RED
Pz the three pairs of gates in the 4049 are the value of Cl to 0.47 µF, the circuit will
R1
1K
connected in parallel to permit higher produce a metronome -like pock ... pock
drive current. Though the frequency of ... pock sequence.
Q. this circuit can be altered by means of R2,
2 N29O7 because of the feedback tab connection, Experimenting with
the circuit will lock onto the buzzer ele-
Qz ment's resonant frequency when that
Piezoelectric Buzzers
2r.1222Z
point is reached in R2's adjustment. For Though piezoelectric buzzers are intend-
R3 example, the breadboard version of the ed for use as miniature speakers and war-
220K
circuit I built operated over a range from ning devices, they can also be used to per-
about 200 Hz to 7 kHz. When R2 was ad- form a number of interesting experi-
justed, the frequency changed in abrupt ments. Figure 13 shows how to demon-
Fig. 9. Adjustablefrequency piezoelec- steps rather than gradually. When the re- strate the ability of a three-terminal buz-
tric buzzer element driver. sonant frequency of the buzzer element zer element to function as an audio -fre-
was reached (about 7 kHz in the test cir- quency filter. A signal generator inputs a
cuit), the circuit no longer responded to variable- frequency waveform to the red
course, sound level will not be as high as changes in R2's value. Instead, it oscilla- lead of a buzzer element. An oscilloscope
at higher supply voltages. Both Ql and ted at the buzzer element's natural connected to the blue feedback lead will
the buzzer element require more than 0.5 resonant frequency. display the signal that propagates
volt for proper operation, which is sup- Figure 12 shows a simple variable -fre- through the piezoelectric ceramic.
plied by the autotransformer action of quency driver designed around a 555 I used a No. PKM11 -6A0 element in
T1. When current through the timer chip. This circuit doesn't use the the arrangement shown in Fig. 13. This
transformer is interrupted during each element has a resonance peak at about 7
cycle of oscillation, a voltgage is kHz. The arrangement in Fig. 13 indicat-
generated in the transformer's winding ed peaks at 2.3, 7.0, 18, 27 and 45 kHz.
by the collapsing magnetic field. This Keep in mind that there is no electronic
voltage supplies the boost necessary to connection between the signal generator
operate the circuit. and the scope. The signal applied to the
Figure 9 shows a simple two -transistor buzzer element generates an acoustical
driver in which a buzzer element does pressure wave that travels through the ce-
double duty as a capacitor. Oscillation ramic to the feedback electrode where an
frequency of the circuit is controlled by output voltage then appears. This is the
R2. As long as polarity is preserved, principle behind ceramic filters, surface -
many different transistors can be substi- acoustic wave devices and piezoelectric
tuted for Ql and Q2. Note that this cir- transformers and isolators.
cuit will operate, albeit at a reduced If you don't have access to a signal
sound level, when the supply voltage is as generator and scope, you can demon-
little as 1 volt. strate these principles with the help of the
Figure 10 shows a simple variable -fre- driver circuit in Fig. 12. Simply connect
quency unijunction transistor driver. As the anode lead of a LED to the buzzer ele-
in the Fig. 9 circuit, the Fig. 10 circuit's ment's feedback tab. Connect the cath-
buzzer element does double duty as a tim- ode lead of the LED to ground. When
ing capacitor. In operation, the buzzer power is applied to the circuit, the volt-
element's terminals are charged through age appearing at the feedback tab will be
R , which controls oscillation frequency, adequate to forward bias the LED and
and R2. When the charge on the element cause it to glow dimly. For best results,
reaches the switching threshold, the UJT use a high- efficiency red LED and try dif-
switches on and discharges the voltage on ferent oscillation frequencies.
the element through R4. The alternating Piezoelectric buzzers can be used in
charge/discharge cycle causes the buzzer Fig. 10. Unijunction transistorpiezoelec- many experiments that demonstrate the
element to emit an audible tone. tric buzzer element driver. principles of sound. For example, place a

ELECTRONICS NOTEBOOK ..
Fig. 12. Piezoelectric buzzer element driver built around 555

timer.
Fig. 11. Hex-inverter piezoelectric buzzer element driver.
buzzer somewhere in a room and then ceeded 20 dB when the meter was moved the rocket club I then sponsored did just
walk through different portions of the a small fraction of an inch. With the help that for a science fair project. Incidental-
room. You will notice that the sound of of the calibrated meter, it was easy to de- ly, a piezoelectric buzzer forms a handy
the buzzer will be dramatically different tect sound being reflected from flat sur- tracking beacon for a model rocket that
in various parts of the room. Merely faces like filing cabinets and a wall. parachutes into tall grass.
moving your head an inch or so may Still another experiment I have tried is Finally, it seems prudent to again re-
make a major difference in the volume of to launch a piezoelectric buzzer in a mod- mind you that the sound from piezoelec-
the sound level. This phenomenon occurs el rocket. The buzzer was activated just tric buzzers can sometimes be excrutiat-
because of stable standing waves set up prior to launch and its sound recorded ingly uncomfortable. Persons working
by the fixed - frequency tone from the with a small recorder. The recording was with operating buzzers may be exposed
buzzer. Highly localized areas of con- later connected to a frequency meter and to potentially harmful levels in excess of
structive and destructive interference the frequency of the tone measured at in- 100 dB. Therefore, it is very important to
cause the sharp variations in sound level. tervals. The frequency of a sound source wear ear protectors when working with
This experiment works best in small is shifted with respect to an observer if these miniature but potent sound sourc-
rooms with little or no sound -absorbing there is relative motion between the two. es. I did just that while preparing this col-
matter such as curtains, carpets and up- This is the well known Doppler shift. umn and am happy to report my head is
holstered furniture. Knowing the shift in frequency, it was clear. Some previous unprotected ses-
The preceding experiment can be made then possible to calculate the velocity of sions with piezoelectric buzzers gave me
much more interesting if you have access the rocket. Indeed, a teenage member of headaches and left me feeling dizzy. AE
to a sound level meter. I used a Realistic
sound level meter from Radio Shack to
o
measure the sound pressure level from a RED BLUE rgin o
o
fixed -frequency buzzer placed in a corner
of my office. You can also use the simple 00 o
(and uncalibrated) do- it- yourself sound - SIGNAL BLACK o sctt-coSCoPE
level meter described in the October 1985 6ENERAToR
installment of this column. The fluctua-
tions in the sound level sometimes ex- Fig. 13. Using a piezoelectric buzzer element as an audio signal filter.
/ September 1986 Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics

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Using Double -Layer Capacitors; Computer Power Interface,
Underground Radio Technology
a porous, insulating separator between
By Don Lancaster the two. The separator allows ions in the
electrolyte to move back and forth as
How Big is a one -Farad capacitor? charge is accumulated, but prevents any
Would you believe less than a cubic inch? direct short- circuit between plates.
Conventional wisdom and poorly done The solid plates used for today's dou-
cartoons notwithstanding, a new capaci- ble -layer capacitors are made from acti-
tor technology is now available that vated charcoal which has an incredible
crams incredible capacitance values into surface area, since it is made up of count-
very small volumes. As Fig. 1 shows, SuPERCAP less tiny particles. A gram of activiated
these are called double -layer capacitors. charcoal may have a surface area equal to
They are both reasonably priced and
1.0 Farads one-quarter of a football field! And
available from distributor stock. For in- therein lies the secret to extreme capaci-
stance, a 1.0- Farad, 5 -volt NEC # tance values in a very small package.
FZOH 105Z is available from Mouser In exchange for the extreme capacity in
Electronics for $4.59 each (part a very small space, there are some defin-
551- 1.0Z05). Fig. 1. A 1.0 -Farad capacitor! ite tradeoffs. The breakdown voltage of
Being a brand new and "hacker friend- the electrolyte used in today's double -
ly" part, there's lots of exciting new pos- layer capacitors is only 1.2 volts. To get a
sibilities here. But there are also some de- useful + 5 -volt dc working voltage, six
finite use limits and restrictions. For instance, if you hold two finger- capacitors are placed in series inside the
One major use for double -layer capa- nails one fingernail apart, you will have package.
citors is as power backup for CMOS created the equivalent of a 1 -pF capaci- Instead of directly building a 1 -F capa-
memory chips. The capacitor can fake tor. Among other difficulties, there are citor, there are really 36 farads of capaci-
memory nonvolatility during a short not nearly enough people in the world to tance in the package, since six series con-
power outage. Unlike most batteries, build a 1 -F capacitor by this method. nected capacitors each yield a 1 -F series
these devices can be cycled indefinitely, Some ways to get more capacitance are equivalent capacitance.
have at least a 10 -year life, can easily be to increase the plate area, to decrease the So, you must be careful to never ex-
soldered in place, are not polarized, usu- spacing between the plates, and to raise ceed the recommended working voltage
ally cannot leak or explode, and readily the dielectric constant. All of these tech- of a double -layer capacitor.
indicate their charge. niques have been used in combination to In addition, these are not precision
Back to the basics. A traditional capa- create the various capacitor families components, since activated charcoal it-
citor consists of two conductors separat- available today. self is not a very precise material. Toler-
ed by an insulator. When a current is For example, ceramic capacitors use -
ances are in the 20% to + 80% range.
routed through a capacitor, a charge will special insulators with a dielectric con- Also, charge is inherently an "undense"
build up and will be stored. The amount stant of 8000 or more. Electrolytic capa- way of storing energy, compared to
of the charge depends on the current and citors build up an extremely thin insulat- chemical conversions. Large single -layer
how long the current is applied. ing oxide film. They also increase the capacitors are simply not in the same en-
The charge also depends on the surface conductor surface area by etching. ergy storage league as batteries, and I
area of the conductors, the spacing be- Sometimes a double etch is used where don't thing you will ever see the day when
tween conductors, and a property of the big pits are first added to the original sur- you start a lawnmower with a double -lay-
insulator material known as the dielectric face, and when this is done, small pits are er capacitor.
constant. added to the big pits. So, while double-layer capacitors are
Capacitors have many electronic uses, But the double -layer capacitor goes far incredibly better than regular capacitors
ranging from storing dc in power sup- beyond what traditional capacitors are for storing bunches of charge in a small
plies; coupling /bypassing ac signals; re- able to do. It uses a fundamentally differ- volume, they are not nearly as good as a
sonating coils for frequency selection; ent principle, first discovered by Helm- battery when mucho dense energy stor-
and for integrating precision waveforms. holtz over a century ago. It turns out that age is required.
The storage size of a capacitor is mea- if you have a boundary between a solid Finally, charcoal is not a very good
sured in Farads. A 1 -Farad charge will and a liquid , a double layer of charge conductor, and conductive elastomers
supply a current of 1 ampere for 1 sec- builds up at the surface between the two. are also used in the construction that are
ond. Most capacitors have traditionally To build a useful double -layer capacitor, only moderately conductive. Thus, a
been much smaller than this, and are you use a solid plate, a liquid electrolyte double -layer capacitor is not a low -im-
measured in microfarads (µF) or picofar- and a second solid plate. To prevent the pedance device and can not be rapidly
ads (pF) instead of Farads. two solid plates from touching, you place charged or discharged.

One interesting side effect here is that
the inherently limited charge and dis- 100 watt
charge rates of a double -layer capacitor light bulb
give automatic short -circuit protection. 220Q
Some batteries, especially Ni -Cds, in-
stead tend to get downright violent when 110 VAC
you short them.
Several manufacturing options are
available that trade off maximum possi- MOC 3010 2N6154
ble charge and discharge currents against phototriac TRIAC
cost and size. The smallest and cheapest optocoupler
versions are intended for long -time, low -
current memory backup uses. 3305
Let me know what interesting uses you +5V
can come up with for this exciting, yet
imperfect, new hacker component. WARNING: Extreme shock hazard on
PORT
right half of this circuit!
OK. How did you do it?
If there's one thing I can't resist, it's a Fig. 2. A 110-volt ac power control interface for a personal computer.
good hack, especially if it lies well be-
yond the far side of "disgustingly ele-
gant." Check the capacitor lettering in
The triac optoisolator consists of a 220-volt ac operation. Note that the
Fig. 1. Note that we not only have isome-
light-emitting diode that drives a photo- other types of optocouplers will instantly
tric lettering, but the lettering is also cor-
sensitive ac power control device called a self- destruct if you try to use them for ac
rectly wrapped around a cylinder! This
phototriac. When the LED lights, the power control. The Motorola MOC 3010
was quickly and easily "drawn" with the
phototriac turns and activates the main is often a good choice and costs slightly
stock and standard Apple Writer word
high-power triac to switch the load. over a dollar.
processor, as were all parts of all figures
Because only a light beam connects the I have also shown the inputs to this cir-
in this column. Oh, yes, I did add a short
little custom text routing of my own that
input to the output, you get total safety cuit connected "backwards" from some
isolation. The "amplification" you need other circuits you may have seen. There is
I'll be happy to share with you. The same
comes from both the internal phototriac a very important reason for this. Most
routine also lets you set text in a helix or
and the main power triac. parallel ports on microprocessor systems
an inwardly closing spirial.
There are some important details you are much better at sinking current to
Write or call for you free copy.
have to be aware of when you use this cir- ground than they are at sourcing current
How can I Control AC Power cuit. First and foremost, note that there from a positive voltage.
is a deadly shock hazard anywhere to the With this circuit, the output port either
With a Personal Computer?
right of the triac optoisolator; so use ex- sinks current to ground, activiating the
There are two problems involved in con- treme caution when working on any cir- phototriac optoisolator and powering
trolling high -power ac loads with a per- cuit of this type. the load, or doing nothing and not deliv-
sonal computer or microprocessor paral- The power triac will switch on or off ering power to the load. Connected
lel port. The first is that the weak port most any ac load, such as lamps, motors, "backwards," the optoisolator is much
signals must somehow be amplified to heaters, or whatever. A minimum load better matched to the parallel computer
make them "strong enough" to control a must always be provided for proper oper- port and will work much more reliably.
high power load. The second hassle is ation, say 7 watts or so. The maximum One little gotcha with this "back-
that there is a very deadly shock hazard load depends on the triac and the size of wards" connection: Your port will now
involved with ac power control, which the heat sink you use. be active low, so a zero at the port will ac-
means that some sort of safety isolation One .classic handbook for triac power tivate the load. Your software must, of
is an absolute must. control is the SCR Manual from General course, recognize this fact, and write
While you could use a relay driver IC Electric. My issue is sort of dated, so it zeros to the port locations when you want
and a relay, the usual way to handle may have a new name and a new price by to power the load.
110-volt ac high -power interface today is now. Cost should be around $5. Note that a machine -language com-
to connect a phototriac optoisolator to a You also must use a phototriac optois- mand of FOR #$FF will automatically
triac power control device. Figure 2 olator, rated at least 200 volts for convert all of the ones in a word to zeros
shows details. 110 -volt ac operation, or 400 volts for and vice versa. From BASIC, an XX =

HARDWARE HACKER...
(255 -
XX) will also convert all ones in a
word to zeros or vice versa. Details vary 100 watt
with the application, of course. light bulb
Typical cost of one channel of power
control should be under $3, unless you CRYDOM
are using a very large triac. D2W202F 110 VAC
solid state relay
More info on microcomputer power
interface appears in my Micro Cook-
book, Volume II (SAMS #21829).
+ !
Is There an Easier Way? PORT 1
Well, if you want to pay a little more, you

can cut the parts count to one. Figure 3 +5V--
shows how to use a Crydom D2W202F
solid-state relay by International Recti- WARNING: Extreme shock hazard on
fier and do all of your power control with right half of this circuit!
a single part. Newark Electronics sells
them for $7.95 in singles as stock
#81F4904. Fig. 3. A simpler but more costly power interface option.
The circuit is still the same as before,
since the resistors, triac and optocoupler voltage, but the more common ac induc- If turn -on occurs very early in each ac
are all inside the package. Also as before, tion motor can destroy itself if you try half -cycle, nearly all the power will ap-
the + input goes to the microcomputer's voltage control. Even when you control pear across the load. If turn -on takes
+ 5 -volt supply line, and the- pin goes the speed of a universal motor by varying place in mid -cycle, around half of the
to the port output. A zero turns on the its voltage, you may get very limited power gets to the load. Shoud the turn -on
load, a one turns it off. torque. There are fancier techniques occur very late in the cycle, only a small
The device is good for 2 amperes and involving feedback that can be used to amount of power gets to the load. Final-
might be pushed a little further with some get around this problem. ly, with no turn-on pulse at all, the load
sort of clip -on heat sink. Around 220 So, your initial experiments at propor- gets no power and stays off.
watts of light bulbs, or possibly a quar- tional power control are best done with Your computer must somehow sense
ter- horsepower motor can be controlled. incandescent lamps, heaters, etc. the beginning of each half line cycle. This
Note that a severe shock hazard exists on The trick to proportional power con- can be done with a line- derived interrupt
the power side of this circuit. trol is to deliver a turn -on pulse that is signal or by routing something similar to
precisely delayed from each ac -line half an input port. The software inside the
What About Proportional cycle. Figure 4 shows details. computer or microcontroller then will
Control?
If you have a proportional control inter-
face, you not only can turn on /off mo-
tors, heaters, and lamps, but you can l
= Proportional power
control their brightness, temperature, or applied to load
speed as well.
It turns out that the Fig. 2 and 3 cir-
cuits can also be used for proportional
control, but the software gets more com- LOAD:
plicated. And you have to be aware of ex-
actly what you are up to.
First, the load you use must respond to
voltage in a proportional manner. Incan-
descent lamps will, but fluorescent lamps
will not. Most heaters or soldering irons
will respond proportionally and present PORT: <
no problems.
Universal type motors (those with
brushes) will alter speed with changing Fig. 4. Proportional power control requires precise timing.

It's called Speleonics and is published
NAMES AND NUMBERS quarterly (four times a year).
Included in each issue are a dozen how -
General Electric Motorola Semiconductor Newark Electronics to articles and a subscriber list of others
interested in similar underground tools,
Electronics Park Bldg. 7
Syracuse, NY 13221
(800) 626-2001
Box 20912
Phoenix, AZ 85036
(602) 244-6900
228 East Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60640
(312) 941 -7200
concepts, and techniques. Price is bet-
ter sit down for this one -a
dollar per is-
-
sue or $4 per year!
International Rectifier Mouser Electronics Howard W. SAMS Should you want information on cav-
1521 E. Grand Avenue Box 9003 4300 West 62 Street ing and speleology in general, you can in-
El Segundo, CA 90245 Lakeside, CA 92040 Indianapolis, IN 46206 stead contact the National Speleological
(213) 322-4987 (619) 449-2222 (800) 428 -SAMS Society and they can put you in touch
with individual local cavers and an NSS
Natl. Speleological Society NEC Electronics Speleonics grotto or two in your area. AE
Cave Avenue 401 Ellis Street Box 5283
Huntsville, AL 35810 Mountain View, CA 94043 Bloomington, IN 47402 NEED HELP?
(205) 852 -1300 (415) 960-6000 (812) 335-7305
Phone or write your Hardware Hacker ques-
tions directly to:
Don Lancaster
Synergetics
automatically convert a speed, bright- Box 809
even automatic spare -lamp switchers. All
Thatcher, AZ 85552
ness, or temperature value to the proper hands -on and real -world with full sche-
(602) 428-4073
turn -on delay. matics, parts lists, the whole bit.
The timing is such that machine -lan-
guage code must be used, particularly if
you are controlling more than a few loads Get into
with the same computer. The precision SAVE MONEY! Telecommunications
and linearity of your outputs can be BE AN INSTALLATION
greatly improved by using some sort of
feedback. This, of course, ups your sys-
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others. These are fairly easy to interface
CRYSTAL HOME -STUDY COURSE SHOWS YOU WHAT TO
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Is There any more Informa- CB Standard & Special doing with the tools in your
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Technology? GET YOUR FREE
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I've found another most interesting pub- 1986 CATALOG facts. No salesman will
you. Mall Coupon Today.
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This beauty covers such things as under-
Call or write: r School of Telecommunications
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RINK PC PAPERS i(lt
First Impressions: Epson and AMQ Compatibles,
Personal Publisher
By Eric Grevstad
I don't think I've reviewed a plain, un-

abashed PC clone since the NCR PC4 in
1984, back when IBM compatibility was
still uncommon and the reviewer's tool -
kit consisted of 1 -2-3 and Flight Simula-
tor. Nowadays that acid -test twosome
doesn't scare anyone. You can buy PC-
compatible BIOS (basic input/output
system) chips on any street corner in New
York -well, maybe not in the low-tech
neighborhoods on the West Side, but you
know what I mean -and the industry's
moved on to 80286 processors, micro-
floppy drives, and Enhanced Graphics
Adapters.
But it's good to get back to basics, to
see the old 8088 CPU percolating along
at its old 4.77-MHz clock rate. This
month's micros are from two companies
(a global titan and a near unknown) in
two categories (desktop and transport-
able), but they have one thing in com-
mon. Each costs a third as much as the
IBM and Compaq machines I would have
compared them to in 1984.
On the other hand, the old clock can
seem kind of slow for today's newest ap-
plications. Did someone say "desktop
Epson's Equity I: compact, compatible, nothing to write home about.
publishing "? Read on, and let's get on
with the reviews ... .
Epson's Compact Cube three full -length expansion slots (they're which lit constellations of pixels behind
Setting aside the mail -order specials, on a small platform plugged into a moth- Microsoft Word just as it does in my
there are three brand -name entries in the erboard bus, in an example of the Ep- Tandy 1200.
low -cost desktop race: the Tandy 1000 son's modular architecture). There are several convenient touches,
(U.S.), Leading Edge D (Korea), and Ep- You'll have only two slots free after in- from a power socket for your monitor to
son's Equity I (Japan). The Epson is the stalling a video card, but a piggyback DIP switches mounted up front instead
most conventional clone of the three. It's RAM card ($169) lets you upgrade to of under the hood -little doors conceal
the only one that makes novices buy and 512K without using one. (Going to 640K the switches, reset button, power switch,
install a video board -but has some ap- requires a slot, but at least parallel and and keyboard connector. The keyboard
pealing features. For one thing, it's only serial ports are standard.) Epson's is first-class, once PC owners adapt to its
$995 with 256K and one disk drive monochrome text card ($129) looks AT -style layout (giant shift, Ctrl, and
($1,295 with two drives, $1,895 with one homely even by text-card standards, bris- Enter keys, but the backslash where
floppy and a 20- megabyte hard disk). tling with capacitors by way of meeting backspace should be and no separate En-
The Equity system unit is a trim 15 radio interference rules and producing ter key for the keypad).
inches square by six inches high; there are faintly wobbly characters on the 12 -inch While the Epson ran all the software I
too many ugly lines and cosmetic plastic green monitor ($149), but the Equity ac- tried, it's worth checking out the sup-
latches for my taste, but at least it doesn't cepted all my non-Epson boards: my plied GW -BASIC and MS-DOS 2.11
hog your desk. Its space efficiency is even Quadboard to reach 640K, my Tecmar disks. Beginners will appreciate several
more impressive when you pop the top: graphics adapter for video games, and menu routines that make tricky FOR-
the motherboard fits under the drives, my All Sales Final Mail -Order Mostly MAT or MODE syntax or Epson printer
with nothing but blank metal beneath the Hercules-Compatible Graphics Card, setup as easy as pressing the arrow and

Enter keys; experts will like Executive The AMQ line is built around an 8088 - above the regular keys, but wished AMQ
Systems' XTREE, a helpful directory based luggable with 9-inch monochrome hadn't left the backslash between the
sorter for running programs or flagging display, parallel and serial ports, a key- shift and Z keys (the Alt key was a trifle
groups of files for DOS operations. board that latches (with some twiddling) sticky, too).
Once you add memory, a monitor, and onto the system to form the bottom of The keyboard was balky about re-
a video card, the Equity I isn't the the suitcase, and sliding doors to conceal treating into its lair when I packed up.
cheapest compatible around; once the cooling fan and power switch. The standard text /graphics display isn't
you've grappled off its top cover and That's nothing you won't find in the too sharp (AMQ promises Hercules-
sprung loose its flimsy back panel, you'll original 1983 Compaq, but check the ex- compatible monochrome graphics as a
think it's not the sturdiest, either. It tras-a cubbyhole to stash the power factory-installed option). It's a bad
works well, but I'd say the Tandy 1000 cord, an RGB port for an external moni- choice for first -time buyers -no DOS is
offers superior economy and the Leading tor, and 704K on the motherboard (Lo- supplied, and the manual is dreadful.
Edge better standard equipment. tus 1 -2 -3 Release lA can use the extra Still, the affordable AMQ impressed
64K, though I don't know what else can). me enough to outshine the top- of -the-
Then check the size -15 by 18 by 8.5 line AT 286: the same machine, with one
Watch Out, Compaq
inches, like the new Compaq Portable II of its four expansion slots taken by a 20
Compaq could get away with high prices instead of the bulkier Compaq Portable. MB hard-disk controller and another
when both IBM compatibility and suit- Then check the price -$1,395 with two (really two) stuffed with Phoenix Com-
case transportability were scarce, but 360K floppy disks, $1,995 with a 10 MB puter Products' Pfaster286 board. This
they'd better stop congratulating them- hard disk, $2,195 with 20 MB. mighty kludge packs an 8 -MHz 80286
selves on making the Fortune 500 and The 24- pound, two -disk AMQ I tested chip, two megabytes of RAM (for a 2.7-
have a sale. The papers are full of stories was noticeably easier to haul around than MB system total), and its own AT -com-
about business buyers' new willingness to a standard Compaq, ran all the software patible BIOS. Like the turbo boards I
try bargain brands, and AMQ Computer I gave it, and even carried four or five tested last February (p. 84), it gives you,
Corp. is gunning for Compaq with a disks in its little slot beside the screen. in effect, two computers controlled by a
"Made in U.S.A." flag in one hand and There were minor complaints: I didn't keyboard toggle -type PFAST to acti-
a one -year warranty in the other. mind the function keys horizontally vate the 80286, PSLOW to return to the
PC side.
At $3,995, the AT 286 definitely un-
dercuts Compaq's 80286 Portable II, and
its colossal memory allows great gim-
micks like a one -megabyte RAM drive
with caching to cut down on disk access.
But for all its speed it didn't strike me as a
fully integrated AT compatible (there's a
lot of rigamarole with different startup
batch files for each processor; Word 3.0
wouldn't run on the 80286, the the Nor-
ton Utilities rated the slow side at 0.8
times PC performance).
Besides I doubt that many people need
both hotel -room computing and blazing
performance. Given a traveling job and
enough cash to buy an 80286 Compaq,
I'd buy an AMQ -but I'd buy one of the
8088 models, and use the money left over
to buy a desktop AT clone for the office.
Creeping Into Journalism

Desktop publishing may be the current
catch phrase, but it's not the next Visi-
Calc. For many users, it can actually de-
crease productivity-you'll spend hours
AMQ goes head to head with Compaq. lining up columns and rotating graphics,

PC PAPERS .. .
Names and Addresses

AMQ Computer The PC Papers Paper
1901 So. Bascomb Ave.
Suite 340 Mayor Battles linens
Campbell, CA 95008
CITY HALL -- Mayor Jeanne McKay's
408 -559-0781
first weeks in office were preoccupied
with the invasion of large lizard
;,/.,ii. í,
Epson America Inc.
creatures from space, but the strategies parents can use to make the
2780 Lomita Blvd. Democratic party end of summer
Torrance, CA 90505 regular told reporters vacation less of a
213 -539 -9140 she anticipates e traumatic time or
return to debate on experience for
T /Maker Graphics town water and your youngsters as
2115 Landings Dr. zoning issues as soon this term begins.
Mountain View, CA 94043 as the aliens agree to
vacate the Andrews "Children are more
415- 962 -0195
property vest of willing to leave for
Route 116. classes when they
know a warm,
when a quick, simple memo might suf- "Basically, the Council supportive home
fice. But if you truly need to put out an- and I agree that the environment will
nouncements or newsletters, there's now attack of the Sauroid storm be waiting when they return," Kelly
a reasonably priced package for the PC troopers takes precedence over points out. "Selling the house and
the Middle School bond issue and moving to a different neighborhood
that's a fine illustration of the concept's during school hours is an extremely
other matters raised in my
pros and cons. T /Maker's ClickArt Per- campaign," the mayor said at a negative activity and an unpleasant
sonal Publisher ($185) mixes text and clip press conference yesterday. "The surprise when the child comes home.
art so nicely you'll play with it for days. governor and United Nations have If you must suddenly leave town in the
It's also such a strain on the 8088-de- been very attentive to our reports middle of a school day, at least leave a
spite requiring 512K and preferably a on the lizard situation, and we're note or forwarding address."
hard disk -that you'll miss your deadline still optimistic that a peaceful
while waiting for word wrap. seulement can be reached while Sample Printout Scandal
the majority of the city's
Personal Publisher can't handle a long population remains." KEENE, NH -- Eric Grevstad,
document or annual report, but for one- contributing editor for Modern
or two -page productions it's a terrific im- Back to School .leci onlcs magazine, confessed today
plementation of Macintosh concepts (in- to using graphic images having no
cluding working without a mouse better Is your son or relation to his text in the preparation
than any other Mac imitation I've seen.) daughter ready to hit of a sample ClickArt Personal
Each page is composed of layered
"transparencies" for text and graphics, It's not the New York Times, but ClickArt Personal Publisher brings newsletter layout to
respectively, each with a cut -and -paste the dot - matrix owner.
clipboard; you'll have to save your text to
disk while loading and picking clip art,
but MacPaint-style icons make choosing,
moving, and erasing art and drawing It also makes Microsoft's sluggish market and the laser driver options, $150
lines and boxes easy. Windows look like a rocket ship. On each for HP's LaserJet and Apple's Las-
Text comes in one to three columns 8088 systems, Personal Publisher's word erWriter, didn't come in time for review;
and a number of familiar Macintosh processor can take half a minute to close there'll also be various font and picture
fonts, though type size choices are limit- up a line of text after deleting a few disks for $49.95.)
ed. Putting ingredients together, with words; changing type size or column lay- Personal Publisher needs a bit more
"PictureWrap" to arrange text around out, you'll stare at the "please wait" development and an AT or faster ma-
graphics and zoom -out previews to offset wristwatch icon for so long it should be a chine before it challenges Mac publishing
the IBM color card's quarter -page screen sundial. After giving the print command, products, but it has gorgeous potential
display (the sharper Hercules card shows go see a movie; printing a "final -qual- for the future. Usually I argue that the
half a page), is remarkable "Gee, it really ity" page on an Epson LQ -1000 took half 8088 is just fine, but I may join the crowd
works" fun. an hour. (The product was late coming to awaiting the 80386 after all. ÁE

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WI COMMUNICATIONS I/il/il111
Report from the Caribbean
By Glenn Hauser of America relay is near the northern tip

of the island near the airport and next to
We're on the move again, visiting six is- a US Naval base; a three -tower array
lands during one week this summer. Our broadcasts on 1580 kHz only four hours
objective was not only to monitor and a night, in English at 0000 -0400 UTC (al-
record, but also to visit almost every though the carrier goes on an hour earlier
broadcasting facility on the islands. We for warmup and troubleshooting, if nec-
came away with a vivid set of visual im- essary). The transmitter is an old army
pressions, preserved in scores of color portable unit, which has previously seen
slides, several hours of recordings, and a duty in other parts of the world. There
notebook full of loggings and notes from are rumors that VOA will be upgrading
interviewing station personnel. this facility as part of its worldwide ex-
Antigua, home of the BBC and pansion program.
Deutsche Welle Caribbean Relay Sta- ZDK, "Magic Radio" is the private
tion, was our first stop. North American commercial outlet, which on 1100 kHz is
listeners of the BBC owe a great debt to frequently heard along the east coast of
this facility, which provides clearer and North America as far as Newfoundland,
more reliable signals than are possible di- especially around sunset. Its regular au-
rect from Britain. If you've heard BBC Many satellite dish owners would like dience extends over much of the Carib-
on 11775 in the morning, 6175 in the eve- to know how to tune in the BBC that bean, with a pop music format. Present
ning, or 9510 late at night, this is the way, avoiding the pitfalls of shortwave studios are in a bright blue building near
source of those transmissions. reception, but Mr. Clemens said this the outdoor market in St. Johns, the
The site is roughly in the center of the would be impractical without specially- country's capital. Within a year, a new
island, just north of a settlement called designed equipment, since the audio building of its own will be ready further
Sea View Farm. Five large red and white from London is split into two separate east. The transmitter is north of the city,
towers arranged in an arc support a net- parts, and then recombined for a higher- linked by low -power FM on 99.0 MHz.
work of curtain antennas, the interior fidelity signal. Deutsche Welle opted for Caribbean Radio Lighthouse operates
towers holding up different curtains on a different system to accomplish the on 1165 kHz from the southwestern part
each side. Power demands of the four same end, which on paper was superior of the Island, near Jolly Beach. This con-
250 -kW transmitters exceed what the to the BBC design, but in practice pro- servative Baptist evangelical station also
public utility can supply, so each depends duces inferior audio. penetrates into North America, thanks to
on its own diesel generator, as big as a lo- We also visited the high- frequency re- its split frequency. It's deeply involved in
comotive. They're across the lawn from ceiving site, about 5 miles east. Much of indoctrinating the children of this and
the transmitter building, where the four the equipment had been torn out, and neighboring islands, through a bible
senders (each made up of three units) are more was to follow, as there is no longer study course by radio. Among all the
arranged in a row in a long hall open to any need for it with the advent of satel- preachers, who are carefully selected and
the outside. During our visit, in the mid- lite- feeding. It was sad to see large holes required not to overdo the solicitation,
dle of the afternoon, all were off the air, in the racks, a bank of twelve profession- there is also a classical music program
as is normal during the daytime until 4 al playback recorders going unused, but Mon. -Fri. at 9:30 -9:55 pm. The organi-
pm AST (2000 UTC), so we stuck our at least some shortwave receivers were zation is also resuming plans to put on
head inside one of them and marveled at still tuned to 15070 as backup. Barring another station in Grenada, now that the
the size of the huge copper coils, which total failure of the satellite, the only time Marxist government is gone.
must be removed by hand when band HF feeds are needed is twice a year for a Montserrat. We hopped over to this
changes are required. Our cordial host few days, during a few minutes after sun- "emerald isle" for a day -it's much
was the engineer in charge, Chris Cle- rise, when there is a solar transit outage. more mountainous and scenic than Anti-
mens, who also showed us inside the 65 ° The receiving site has a "pipeline" to gua, and the roads are much better. The
air-conditioned hut next to the recently Europe, thanks to its rhombic arrays; but major outlet here is Radio Antilles, "The
installed satellite dish. Not only could we it will be mothballed. It occurred to us Big RA," broadcasting from a seaside
listen in on the feed from London to An- that with a bit of modification, it could site at the southern end of the island.
tigua, but also a different circuit for As- be turned into a relay transmitter site for Though publicized as 200,000 watts on
cension, where we had previously served. some other broadcaster ... . 930 kHz, the transmitter actually runs
Ascension is a much more isolated is- Antigua is also the home of four medi- 135 kW, but the exaggeration comes
land, in the South Atlantic, but the fish- umwave stations, three of which are of- from a directional pattern toward the
ing is great! ten heard in North America. The Voice south with a two-tower antenna. Its news

coverage is highly regarded, and the main with dark peach colored trim, certainly sees, behind glass, upon walking in. If
program during the daytime is "Carib- the nicest facility of all the AM & FM sta- anything goes wrong, it can usually stay
bean Togetherness." tions we visited. A new modular 50 -kW on the air by bypassing the problem
Since last September, RA has been re- transmitter is the first thing the visitor through a backup module. It and the old
laying the Voice of America at 8 pm -mid-
night. Manager Kristian Knaack, who
was kind enough to talk with us for over
an hour when we dropped in, is very
pleased with this arrangement, since it
makes for an increase in quality of listen - Two things a
ership to compensate for a decline in technician shouldn't
quantity during those hours. He also
feels that Radio Canada International's be without ...
audience in the Caribbean has increased
1000% since it began relays on RA,
nightly at 7 -7:30 pm. He was surprised to #1 . The
hear that this visitor out of nowhere was
a regular broadcaster on his station, each Telephone
Sunday on the RCI relay. VOA, RCI
(and Deutsche Welle for relays on short-
wave) were picked up from a high-fre-
quency receiving site at St. George's, not
far from the studios in the capital, Ply-
mouth -and the audio quality shows on
930. But by now, a line feed should be in
operation for VOA, and also for RCI,
which first feeds its audio to Washing- 2. The NEW
ton. Herr Knaack has also produced and MCM Electronics
written a 25- program series for Carib-
bean listeners, "The Long War on the Catalog
Short Waves."
He has a new competitor in Montserrat Your telephone is a very important part of your business. It saves you
in the form of "Gem Radio," a partly - time ... it helps you run your business smoothly and efficiently ... it's
dependable ... and it's convenient.
American-owned FM station which
started in May, 1985. Like RA, it wants Like your telephone, the new MCM Catalog offers you many of the same
to reach as many other islands as possi- advantages.
ble, either through its 177 kW ERP sta- With our wide selection of product lines, you'll save time looking for
tion near Plymouth on 94.4 MHz, or a parts. Our fast, friendly and dependable service will help you operate
smoothly, and you'll like our low prices.
network of FM translators it plans, the
Convenient too! Our nationwide toll free numbers make us as close as
first of which is already operating from
the other side of Montserrat, and thus -
that other important business tool your telephone!
receivable in Antigua. The 100 -watt Call today for your FREE copy of the latest MCM Catalog. No obligation
stereo signal on 93.8 MHz reaches there to buy!
surprisingly well. ZGM relies on music Catalog #12 Now Available
and news programming from the Satellite
Music Network and Satellite News Net-
Call TOLL-FREE 1-800 -543 -4330
(In Ohio call 1- 800 -762 -4315)
work; U.S. offices are in Milwaukee. (In Alaska or Hawaii 1- 800 -858 -1849)
Anguilla. Our next stop was St. Maar-
ten, but day trips out to other islands,
starting with nearby Anguilla, are of MCM ELECTRONICS
more radio interest. The Caribbean A PREMIER Company
Beacon, another U.S. -owned evangelical 858 E. Congress Park Drive
station, is found in the southeastern part Centerville, OH 45459
of the island, in a gleaming white building
Source No. ME -15

COMMUNICATIONS . ..
UTC. It doesn't have to sign off at sun-

down, but prefers to, unless a demand
Montserrat arises for evening broadcasts. If this

schedule remains, the only remote
chance for North Americans to hear it
will be at sign -on and sign -off when the
sun is lowest; although sunrise and sunset
dlrí times vary little in the tropics, keep in

mind that during December there'll be
ZGM FM 94
more darkness to the north.
ffik:"` Saba was our final, and most enjoy-

able stop. This smallest of the Nether-
lands Antilles is also the most vertical-a
volcanic peak jutting out of the ocean.
Practically every home on the island
(pop. 1000) has a terrific panoramic view
15 -kW transmitter feed a single tower on of the sea, as they are perched on the
Order two separate frequencies, 1610 and 690 slope. An "impossible" road connects
Back Issues of kHz, respectively. They were programm-
ed in parallel at the time, but by now 690
the airport on one side of the island to
The Bottom on the other side, home of
MODEM should have been turned over to Family the Voice of Saba, PJF1, 1410 kHz. This
small station began more than a decade
ELECTRONICS Radio (well -known on shortwave as
WYFR), fed by satellite. ago on 1445 and 1435 kHz, but after it
Thanks to the clear frequency of 1610, moved to 1410 it disappeared from the
World Radio TV Handbook and from
Be an FCC The Caribbean Beacon is heard nightly in
North America, and frequently all over
the world. The engineer said he had even
the consciousness of DX listeners.
Its affable owner, Max Nicholson, is
LICE N SED
ELECTRONIC TECHNICIAN!
been able to pull in 1610 during the
daytime in Miami. The other 15 -kW
transmitter, no longer used, will be turn-
also acting governor of the island when
the governor is away. PJF1 also has a
studio in the more populous St. Maarten,
ed over to the Anguillan government's on Front Street in Philipsburg. Not only
station, Radio Anguilla. That should is it a remote studio, but it serves as the
Earn up to greatly increase its coverage, except it relay point (by FM) from the studio on
$30 an hour may abandon the "split" channel of 1505 Saba to the transmitter on the other side
and more! for an "even" one. That's the likely fate of Saba! The carrier stays on all night,
00, of the few remaining Caribbean splits, though programming is limited to 1000-
e:un m home in spare ume.
I
N,' pre, umi eaperìence needed! thanks to digital receivers which skip past 2330 UTC (Sundays from 1700). We sug-
IIdifl -
frequencies ending in 5. gested that it would be helpful to distant
No costly school. No commuting to class. We suggest you not delay in DXing listeners if a continuous ID tape could be
The Original Home -Study course pre- these stations, if you haven't already. played during the "off" period; and
pares you for the "FCC Commercial Radio- since Mr. Nicholson showed us the pairs
telephone License ". This valuable license With a good selective receiver, sensitive
is your "ticket" to thousands of exciting antenna, and a little help from the aurora of crystals he still has for 1445 and 1435,
jobs in Communications, Radio-TV, Micro- over a darkness path, the following can how about a special DX test on one of the
wave. Computers, Radar. Avonics and be heard in North America: 535 Grena- old frequencies? However, time was run-
more! You don't need a college degree to ning out, since a brand -new 5 -kW trans-
qualify, but you do need an FCC License. da, 555 St. Kitts, 595 Dominica, 705 St.
No Need to Quit Your Job or Go To School Vincent, 825 St. Kitts, 885 Montserrat, mitter was to be installed by the end of
This proven course is easy. fast and low 1165 Antigua, 1505 Anguilla. June, and it could not accept the old crys-
cost! GUARANTEED PASS - You get your St. Eustatius, one of the Netherlands tals. Perhaps the old transmitter will re-
FCC License or money refunded. Send for main as a standby.
FREE facts now. MAIL COUPON TODAY! Antilles, has had a radio station since
May 1985, but due to a daytime -only One sure way to hear the Voice of Saba
COMMAI1D PRODUCTIOIIS schedule, no DX listeners had heard it. is to visit the island; our half-day visit
FCC LICENSE TRAINING, Dept. 220 was all too short. Saba is beautiful, un-
P.O. Box 2223, San Francisco, CA 94126
Radio Statia (the common name of the is-
land, pronounced STAY -shuh), PJE3, spoiled, and away from it all, though eas-
Please rush FREE details immediately!
NAME operates 1 kW on 1120 kHz at 1000 -2230 ily accessible through St. Maarten. AE
ADDRESS
CITY STATE ZIP J
/ Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics

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and you can too!
Andy is a Ham Radio operator and he's having with, Amateur Radio is the hobby for you. The
the time of his life talking to new and old friends world is waiting for you.
in this country and around the world.
You can do it too! Join Andy as he communi- If you'd like to be part of the fun... if you'd like to
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to talk to anywhere you wish. Only Amateur Ra- home. Who are we? We're the American Radio
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And if it's friends you're looking to meet and talk ization of Amateur Radio operators.
For information on becoming a Ham operator

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This space donated by this publication in cooperation with the American Radio Relay League.
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Apple Assembly Cookbook 21.50 I Digital Storage Oscilloscope
Incredible Secret Money Machine Digital Voltmeter
7.50 N Digital Speech & Sound (Record /Playback)
UNLOCKED I SOFTWARE F
A /D -D /A Conversion
D.C. Motor Control (Var. Speed)
Infrared Control
Absolute Reset Ile & Ilc
Applewriter Toolkit (Dos 3.3e)
19.50
39.50
O VOL TMETER
Motors, Gears, Generators
Motorized Mechanical Robotics
Applewriter Toolkit (ProDOS) 39.50 R Cars, Cranes, Toys, Etc.
Both Applewriter Toolkits 59.50 M
Applewriter /Laserwriter Utilities 49.50 The heart of the M8230 Workshop is the B100 Interface Unit which
Laserwriter Demo Pack FREE

A connects to all types of sensors and is able to control lights, motors,
relays and other external devices. The MB230 manual contains
Apple Ram Card Disassembly Script 24.50 T suggestions and instructions for many advanced projects such as
antenna positioning and relay control.
Enhance vol I Companion Disk 19.50
I
Enhance vol II Companion Disk 19.50 Available for the following computers:
Assembly CB Companion Disk 19.50 O Commodore 64 ($129.95), Apple 2 +, 2E ($159.95),
Atari 800 ($139.95).
Applewriter CB Companion Disk 24.50 N Coming soon for IBM, Amiga, Atari 520ST.
Classic Cell Animation Demo 12.50
To order or for more information call toll free 1- 800 -824 -2549.
Cashier's check, Money order, VISA, or Mastercard orders accepted.
FREE VOICE HELPLINE VISA /MC C Order now to avoid delay!
SYNERGETICS A ALL ORDERS SHIPPED UPS BLUE
AT NO EXTRA CHARGE
Box 809 -ME R
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CIRCLE 56 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD CIRCLE 26 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD
83
ATTENTI. IIIII//BOOIcS 111111111
iC s
ELECTRO!, The New Sound of Stereo, By Ivan Berg- dudes just about everyone), this infor-
mation- packed book reveals most of
CHNL er & Hans Fantel. (New American Libra-
ry, Soft cover. 265 pages. $12.95.) what you could ever wish to know about
1
EARN YOUR
Gma Though this book is meant to serve as a batteries. It describes in full technical de-
tail the entire line of Radio Shack's "En-
guide to buying and using the latest in hi-
ercell" batteries, including common car-
B.S.E.E. \ fi equipment, you will not find page after
page of information about current makes bon -zinc, all types of "high- energy," al-
kaline, mercury- and silver- oxide, lith-
DEGREE and models. This would limit the book's
usefulness, since the models would be ium and rechargeable nickel -cadmium
THROUGH HOME STUDY quickly obsolete. Rather, the authors, cells and batteries. Though the informa-
Our New and Highly Effective Advanced- Place-
both of whom are long -time experts in tion is specifically for Radio Shack's En-
ment Program for experienced Electronic Tech- ercell line, almost all of it is also appli-
nicians grants credit for previous Schooling and the hi -fi/stereo field, wisely concentrated
Professional Experience, and can greatly re- cable to other manufacturers products.
on the relatively unchanging principles
duce the time required to complete Program and Opening chapters deal with definitions
reach graduation. No residence schooling re- right through to digital audio gear.
quired for qualified Electronic Technicians. Following a brief background on of the various types of cells available,
Through this Special Program you can pull all of
audio, the book introduces the "system" factors that influence battery perfor-
the loose ends of your electronics background
mance, selecting the right cell or battery
together and earn your B.S.E.E. Degree. Up- concept and how to build a component
grade your status and pay to the Engineering for a given application, recharging cells,
Level. Advance Rapidly! Many finish in 12 system suitable to one's needs. Actual
etc. Then more than 100 pages is devoted
months or less. Students and graduates in all 50 listening to sound -which is the reason
States and throughout the World. Established to technical listings. Contained in each
Over 40 Years! Write for free Descriptive Lit-
why one buys a hi -fi system in the first
listing are a dimensioned drawing of the
erature. place -is emphasized. Much of the book
cell or battery, a table of technical speci-
also focuses on the various elements that
fications, and in many cases one or more
COOK'S INSTITUTE make up a system: speakers, turntables,
tuners, tape decks, etc. To provide maxi- graphed characteristics curves. Provided
OF ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING
mum detail coverage, the majority of
information includes cell or battery type,
347 RAYMOND ROAD
cZÉ P.O. BOX 20345
JACKSON. MISSISSIPPI 39209
these topics are discussed in more than
suggested current range, terminal voltage
at full charge, rated capacity, average
one chapter, such as "A Sense of Power"
weight and volume, etc. A shortcoming is
CIRCLE 42 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD and "A Sense of Control" under ampli-
fiers, and the turntable, cartridge and omitting listing of competitive brand
r' numbers -Duracell et al-but the price
Qta oaa4 5 tonearm under "Phonographs." Right
paid for this is made up for by the very
SvNG Pó up to date, the book covers compact -disc
low cost of the book.
I
O
*, °°
ode` s95
`
and digital technology, sound-enhance-
ment devices, and portable and car stereo
equipment.
Lots of how -it -works information is
Maintenance and Repair of Video Cas-
sette Recorders by Matthew Mandl.
0 OJt
HOV
M°deS\tm\ttte,
Soptc
given, along with pros and cons, helpful
advice, drawings and photos. Technical
(Prentice -Hall, Inc. Hard cover. 245
1a . apaoapG pages. $24.95.)
M9dáea\s\p deo, Qoä\1b1 information, consisting mainly of curves
that depict power, frequency response, This book describes how to maintain
oot
o ho K
sensitivity, etc., is also given. the mechanical and repair the electronic
\ta p\aYe0e tot a
portions of VCRs. Initial chapters, writ-
tecot
51d p1ot 4 Ctoktgt\k t0 An Appendix, titled "When Things
Go Wrong," provides a nice touch. It ten to be understood by even readers with
eacol RtOde\ tce no background in electronics, lay the
dpeds900 et9ta\,ß gives sage advice on keeping a system op-
erating and determining when ailing gear groundwork that leads up to electronic
\ealUte
\ co
ttlt0\
t0OG pPt needs a repair shop. troubleshooting procedures. Included
oe<
Gassene
Ftt;tsred
New Sound of Stereo is highly recom- here are sections on routine maintenance
E ßEGca\\ \ S° mended for anyone interested in under- of the mechanical portions of VCR trans-
t
e
m
p ° standing the underlying workings of hi -fi ports, as well as information on the basic
aq y°0e\eP`
Slacks components and what additional func- VCR signals and systems and the most
ca\\s
tecotÒe
(t ec0 a o°ec\So 010. Pfg N
tions featured in top -of- the -line, costlier common problems found in both VHS
lack
aoa
teC°tdwho VP
aB
o. G00 h\5 0nPv`
models actually do. Coupled with the and Beta VCRs.
Comprehensive descriptions of the
*he text's lucid writing, the book will make
Slops d10
you a more judicious buyer. VHS and Beta systems are handled in
bO00,10 ohet
C0100 < separate chapters. Then comes a run-
'a00
gOX lótce5 down on the various test instruments
t
aa\\Y Sc\ale
Soa SQaSe Enercell Battery Guidebook (Radio needed to conduct a troubleshooting ses-
t °y Shack. Soft cover. 156 pages. $1.99.) sion. The remainder of the book is devot-
s°10o í e00 °le
cp°\t otem
a0:::::1:1 cDsS© a
5
If you use or specify batteries for elec- ed to repair procedures and includes in-
cotaet 5hP ea Moeyges °tteC 3e C tronic products and projects (and that instructions on tuning and aligning cir-
'Pec
PCoe%s
NdCG, a.
p
s0a\nQS apgWhoPe
:M Sl.,
I
8169.ßS /
CIRCLE 49 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics
84
cuits, isolating and replacing defective Parts & Equipment Catalog. Listed in specifications, applications and pricing
parts, pinpointing common VCR trou- Fordham Radio's new 164-page Summer information. For a free copy, write to:
bles, and miscellaneous VCR -related fac- '86 catalog are almost 2000 brand -name Fordham Radio 260ME Motor Pkway.,
tors. A chapter on Test Equipment cov- products ranging from test instruments Hauppauge, NY 11788.
ers the use of pattern generators, oscillo- to tools to video and audio equipment.
scope use with display examples and the Other categories include CCTV monitors Terrestrial Interference Filter Catalog.
vectorscope for adjusting color. and equipment; PA equipment; audio Filters designed to cure terrestrial inter-
Many schematics and other illustra- accessories; car stereos; CB transceivers; ference (TI) in TVRO Earth stations are
tions support the text, which serve as a telephones; and more. All items listed are described in the Filters For Suppressing
strong foundation in understanding how fully described, illustrated and include Microwave Terrestrial Interference cata-
VCRs work, as well as servicing them.
Apple IIc, an Intelligent Guide by Fred

Blechman. (CBS Computer Books. Soft ELENCO PRODUCTS AT DISCOUNT PRICES!
cover. 270 pages. $17.95.)
The marketing thrust of the Apple IIc
computer is toward users who run and
use commercial software. Accordingly,
if you want to program, the supplied doc-
umentation is woefully inadequate.
Moreover, even if the Apple IIc user is fa-
miliar with BASIC programming, some
Apple IIc peculiarities present an obsta-
cle. This book fills the information hole 20 MHz DUAL TRACE OSCILLOSCOPE 35 MHz DUAL TRACE OSCILLOSCOPE
for programming applications. $336
The guide starts at square one and suc-
MO-1251 $545 MO-1252
Top quality scopes at a very reasonable price. Contains all the desirable features. Elenco's 2 year guarantee
cessively builds from there, showing you assures you of continuous service. Two lx, 10x probes, diagrams and manual included. Write for specifications.
how to create and customize programs
on the IIc. Most of the text is given over
MULTI METER with TRUE RMS 41
to fairly in -depth discussions of BASIC CAPACITANCE and DIGIT MULTIMETER
31/2 DIGIT
MULTIMETER
programming techniques, with particu- transistor tester
$/1,5 Model
lar emphasis on Apple IIc color and
'65 Model
CM -1500
8135 M 7000 LL M -1600
graphics programming. .05% DC Accuracy 1% DC Accuracy

Reads Volts, Ohms, .1 % Resistance 1% Resistance
There are a couple of bonuses, too. Current, Capacitors with Freq. Counter Reads 10A DC
r ice- Transistors & Diodes & Deluxe Case
One is the helpful information given on
printers, modems, disk drives and other
GF -8016 Function Generator
non -Apple peripherals that can be added vith Freq. Counter
to the IIc relatively easily and inexpen- POWER BLOX
sively. The other is an entire chapter con- $219 The Power Supply For Breadboarding
Sine, Square, Triangle,
taining reviews of 24 commercial soft- Pulse, Ramp, .2 to 2 MHz
ware packages that run on Apple II series Frequency .1 thru 10 MHz
computers, including the IIc. GF 8015 without Freq. Meter `169
Triple Power Supply XP -660

NEW LITERATURE '1495 $995
'14950 Now a Power Supply for your Bread Blocks. Snaps in-
to existing units. Fully regulated and short circuit pro-
0-20V r, 1A
0-20V «r 1A tected.
Video Products Catalog. Nearly 200 5V << 5A 12V @ .3A, 5V ® 1A, -5V ® .5A
video accessories and installation hard- Fully Regulated, Short Circuit Protected with 2
'22.95 for Both, Power Biox & Breadboard
ware are listed and described in RCA's Limit Cont. 3 Separate Supplies.
new 42 -page, color catalog. New in this

edition is a section on camcorder acces- 3 Amp Power Supply XP -650
DIGITAL LCR METER
sories. Other product lines described in- Model LC -1800
clude cases for VCRs and cameras, tri-
pods and camera mounts, blank video- .IN.
Measures: Inductors
Capacitors, Resistors $148
0-40V @ 1.5A Inductors 1. H to 200 H
INV
cassette tapes, and more. For a copy of 0-20V g 3A Capacitor. 1P to200pf
Resistor .014 to 20M 4
the 1986 RCA Video Accessories catalog, Fully regulated, short circut protected current Ranges 6 Ind, 7 cap, 7 res
limit control
write to: RCA Sales Promotion Services,
Deptford, NJ 08096. C &S SALES, 8744 W. North Ter. Niles, IL 60648 a\r, tame
15 DAY MONEY
800 -292 -7711 (312) 459 -9040 ,,II
BACK GUARANTEE
++
ASK FOR CATALOG
2 Year Limited Guarantee! Add 5% for Postage ($10 max.), IL Res., 7% Tax
log from Microwave Filter Co. Included Catalog No. ST -2, write to: Bodine Elec-
are filters designed to cure destructive tric Co., 2500 W. Bradley Pl., Chicago,
and nondestructive interference and dia- IL 60618.
grams tell you where to place the filters in R-f Instruments Catalog. Bird's new
a TVRO system. Among the items de- 60 -page R -f Instruments catalog lists and
scribed in full detail are an Installer's Kit describes the company's Thruline and di-
for diagnosing and curing nondestructive rectional wattmeters, coaxial load resistors
TI in 70 -MHz i -f receivers and a Sky Doc and attenuators, calorimeters and r-f com-
Kit that deals with both destructive and ponents. A Tech -Data section is provided.
176 PAGE) nondestructive TI. For a free copy of For a free copy of Catalog No. GC-85,
catalog TVRO /85, write to: Linda write to: Bird Electronic Corp., 30303 Au-
DeCoursey, Microwave Filter Co., Inc., rora Rd., Cleveland (Solon), OH 44139.
6743 Kinne St., East Syracuse, NY 13057.
Manufacturers of Quality Ceramic Capacitors Catalog. A 24 -page
Electronic Components Instrument & Accessories Catalog. A catalog from Cera-Mite Corp. provides
Sa ry n9 the Nailon Iron Ta. and C1,1 orma
full-color short-form catalog that lists a comprehensive information about selec-
BATTERY HOLDERS d CLIPS COILS
complete range of bench test instruments tion and use of a wide variety of ceramic
CAPACITORS CONNECTORS FUSES
JACKS KNOBS LAMPS PLUGS is now available from O.K. Industries. capacitors. Included are sectional draw-
MICROPHONES POTENTIOMETERS The 22 -page catalog contains complete ings that illustrate construction features
RELAYS RESISTORS SWITCHES descriptions, specifications and photos and curves that illustrate capacitance
TRANSFORMERSSPEAKERS LEDS of: function /pulse /sweep generators, change versus frequency and temperature
SEMICONDUCTORS RF COILS
frequency and universal counters, digital and capacitance decrease versus dc volt-
OVER 16.000 DIFFERENT ITEMS IN STOCK'
CST SLOGS MAILED OUTSIDE USA SESO 32.00 multimeters, a mini-oscilloscope, ther- age bias. Described and defined are ce-
mometers, probes and pulsers, plus such ramic -disc, heavy -duty and feed -through
MOUSER ELECTRONICS accessories as thermocouples, test-lead capacitors. The catalog provides such
2401 HWY 287 NORTH MANSFIELD, TR 76063
PHONE 817.483.4422 kits, carrying cases, a bench rack, test data as marking information, lead style
clips, etc. For a free copy of the "Bench specifications, packaging, performance,
CIRCLE 43 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD Test Instrument" catalog write to: O.K. general application notes, military and
Industries, Inc., Electronics Division, aerospace qualifications and diagrams of
3455 Conner St., Bronx, NY 10475. typical applications. For a free copy,
write to: Cera -Mite Corp., 123 6 Ave.,
Darlington Transistor Catalog. A 48-
Grafton, WI 53024.
page catalog that describes single- and
Test & Measurement Peripherals Catalog.
iv
dual -Darlington power transistor mod-
ules is available from Semikron Inc. It Rapid Systems' new newspaper- format
contains electrical, mechanical and ther- catalog contains specifications on that
mal specifications and data and includes company's digital and enhanced digital
DESCRAMBLER PARTS circuit diagrams, dimension drawings oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, data log-
We stock the exact parts, PC Board and A.C. and performance curves. For a copy of ger and data acquisition peripherals for
Adaptor for an article published in Radio Elec- the Transipack catalog, write to: Martha Apple, Commodore and IBM personal
tronics Magazine (Feb., 1984) on building your
own CABLE TV DESCRAMBLER. T. Varney, The Gurrier Co., One Park computers. Also included are a complete
#701 PARTS PACKAGE $29.95 Ave., P.O. Box 788, Hampton, NH description of the company' s Digital Sig-
Includes all the original resistors, capacitors, 03842. nal Processing Lab Course, applications
diodes, transistors, integrated circuits, coils and
and comparison charts and a distributor
IF transformers. Stepper Motor Catalog. Comprehensive list. For a free copy, write to: Rapid Sys-
#702 PC BOARD $12.95 performance specifications for its step-
Original etched & drilled silk -screened PC Board tems Inc., 755 N. Northlake Way, Seattle,
used in the article. per motors and controls are contained in WA 98103.
#704 AC ADAPTOR $12.95 the new full -size, looseleaf-binder-
(14 volts DC @ 285MA) punched 40 -page catalog just released by IC /Transistor Selector Guide. A quick -
Both #701 & #702 $39.00 Bodine Electric Co. Test data on the reference selection guide that describes
#701, 702 & 704 $49.00 configurable gate arrays, linear ICs, bi-
company's high- accuracy 1.8 stepper
FREE!! Reprint of Radio Electronics motors and companion line of applica- polar LSI memory devices, digital ICs
Article on Building Your Own Cable TV tion matched L/R modular controls are and small-signal transistors is available
Oescrambler with any purchase.
given. Included is information on Bo- from Raytheon. The 96 -page guide gives
Add $2.50 Shipping & Handling dine's new encased translator and index- product descriptions and specifications
$4.50 for Canadian Orders
er controls with resonance compensation and cross -reference charts. For a copy of
ORDER TOLL FREE that minimize mid -frequency resonances the Product Selection Guide, write on
1- 800 -227 -8529 and extend usable speed /torque motor company letterhead to: Marketing Com-
Visa, MasterCard or C.O.D. range. Also included are a new 8- ampere munications Dept., Raytheon Semicon-
open chassis translator and inexpensive ductor, 350 Ellis St., Mountain View,
& W ELECTROLIICS,ILIC damping modules. For a free copy of CA 94039.
P.O. Box 800Z
Mansfield, MA 02048 1-71

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The fast, easy and low cost way to
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electronic experiments. Indexed Series is designed for anyone from Continuing Education Center
binders preserve backup material, hobbyist to professional. It's for you IA 3939 Wisconsin Ave.
notes, and tapes for convenient if you're looking for new fields of 11 Washington, D.C. 20016
referral. interest...if you're a teacher who
Two Band Stereo LED Power Meter (from page 42)
Audio
to give your project a more profes-
generator sional appearance, you can apply
12V legends to the outside surface of the
power supply
I] faceplate. Typical legends include
Fuse Power meter LEFT LOW FREQUENCY, RIGHT LOW
POWER
LINES
FREQUENCY, LEFT HIGH FREQUENCY
and RIGHT HIGH FREQUENCY to the
Fig. 6. Test setup for calibration.
left of the individual bargraphs in the
blanked -out areas. Under the bot-
tom bargraph, you can bracket each
when the ignition is off. The color grouping and letter LOW
+ 12 -volt wire should have an in -line POWER, MEDIUM POWER and HIGH
fuse holder in it. Install a 1-ampere POWER legends in the appropriate
fast-blow fuse in the holder. areas and then run vertical lines to
Any enclosure large enough to ac- separate the color groups.
commodate the circuit board and All lettering should be done with a
that has one panel that can be re- white dry-transfer lettering kit ap-
placed with a clear or tinted panel plied directly to the front surface of
can be used to house the project. An the faceplate. Since this type of let-
ideal size would have internal dimen- tering is very fragile, you should
sions of 7 VI " x 2'/ " x 111 ". You place an additional % " thickness of
can make such an enclosure from clear Plexiglass over the entire face-
" -thick Plexiglass or '/a " -thick ply- plate to protect the lettering. In this
wood, or you can modify an existing event, use 1 " -long screws for mount-
plastic or metal chassis to suit your ing the board.
needs. Just be sure to make one 7'/a "
x 2'/ " panel from bronze or neu-
tral -gray tinted transparent plastic to
Checkout and Calibration
provide good contrast in relatively Referring to Fig. 6, connect the
bright light for easy viewing of the Power Meter's dc power leads to a
F' g. S. Actual-size alignment template display. Whichever material you use, 12 -volt dc source. The first column
for LED installation. paint all inside surfaces of the enclo- of LEDs at the left (farthest from the
sure, except the faceplate, flat black transistors) should immediately
the bottom of the board. Then pre- to cut down on reflections. light, indicating that power has been
pare a two -conductor zip cord by re- Mask from view the left and right applied to the project. All other
moving 'A " of insulation from the portions of the circuit board not in LEDs in the display should be off.
conductors at both ends. Tightly the LED matrix area. This can easily Apply an input signal from an
twist together the wires in each con- be done by applying black electrical audio signal generator or other audio
ductor and tin with solder. Make tape or black paint to the appro- source between the LEFT INPUT chan-
these cords as long as needed to route priate areas on the inside surface of nel lead and the negative power -sup-
between your amplifier and the the faceplate. ply lead. Turn up the sound until the
Power Meter after final installation Mount the circuit board inside the LEDs in the top and /or third row of
in your vehicle. Solder one end of enclosure with four sets of '1 " the display begin to light. The row(s)
this cable to the pads labeled LEFT IN- spacers and 4 -40 x 3/4 " machine of LEDs that turn on will depend on
PUT and RIGHT INPUT from the bot- screws, nuts and lockwashers to the the frequency or frequencies deliv-
tom side of the board. faceplate. The lockwashers between ered to the Power Meter's input.
Next, connect the red + 12 -volt the nuts and circuit board are impor- If you are using an audio signal
and black ground power leads to the tant because they prevent the hard- generator, sweep the frequency con-
pads labeled + 12V and GND on the ware from working loose due to vi- trol from the low to the high end of
bottom right side of the board. Make bration from the road. the audio spectrum while observing
these leads long enough to reach the Because the display consists of the LED display. The LEDs in the
vehicle electrical system's ground LEDs whose different colors are self - top and third rows come on at fre-
and any point that is at + 12 volts explanatory, there is no need to label quencies above and below about 3
when the ignition is on and is off the faceplate. However, if you wish kHz, respectively.

Left QLeft
Car stereo speaker Car stereo 1 speaker
Right ni Right
speaker speaker
Fuse Fuse
os_o----0 +12V Pow( r
\HLD
12v
meter 'BLACK
AI IRI 1
Fig. 7. Power Meter can be connected into conventional grounded (A) and floating ground (B) systems.
Disconnect the signal generator each bargraph display comes on with During final installation, mount
from the LEFT INPUT and connect it average signal levels. Do not set the the Power Meter in a location where
to the RIGHT INPUT. Repeat the controls so that all red LEDs come the display will be easy to view but
above test, this time observing that on with average signal levels. If you not where it will interfere with the
the second and bottom rows of LEDs do, there will be no way you can tell driver or passengers or will pose a
light when the signal is swept from from looking at the display when hazard in an emergency situation.
the high to the low frequencies, dangerous power levels and transient After you install the Power Meter in
respectively. high -power peaks are being delivered its final location, route all wiring to
If everything checks out okay con- to your speakers.) and from it so that it is not visible
nect the Power Meter to the audio For the second, much more accu- and will not be damaged. 17E
amplifier and electrical system in rate calibration procedure, make a
your vehicle. Refer to Fig. 7 for de- calibration tape on a home cassette
tails. Determine whether your sys- recorder. Record a minute or two
tem has a conventional chassis
ground or has a floating ground and
use the hookup arrangement that ap-
each of 400 -Hz and 5 -kHz tones on
both stereo tracks simultaneously. -01 0501
plies to your installation. Do not per-
Play the tape back on your car stereo
system while monitoring the output I Of
form final installation until calibra-
tion is done.
of your amplifier with an oscillo-
scope. If you have a 2- or more chan- 109 5
You can calibrate the Power Meter
in either of two ways. One way is to
nel scope, you can observe both am-
plifier channels simultaneously.
POPIA
tune to an FM station and turn up the Otherwise, you must work on each
volume control until the sound just channel separately. Turn up the vol-
begins to distort and then back off ume to the point just before clipping
until the distortion just disappears. of the signal appears on the scope's
Then adjust the R7 through R10 More pages. more products-and it's
screen and adjust the trimmer con- not off the press' Get the new 1986/7
trimmers until just the first red LED trols so that the first red LED in each DICK SMITH ELECTRONICS Catalog
(third from the right) in each column row (again the third from the right) and find anything for the electronics
enthusiast The data section clone
___
comes on. If you are using a mono in each of the respective bands comes is worth the price of admission Send
signal source, perform these adjust- for your copy toda
on. Keep these tests as short as possi-
ments separately for each channel. ble to avoid damaging your speak-
To make calibration as accurate as ers, your amplifier and your ears! r _RI
possible, set all tone and equalizer If you want to use the Power IPlease reserve my copy of the 1986 Dick Smith
Catalog. enclose S1 to cover shipping.
I
controls for a flat frequency re- Meter only as a visual display, accu- I
sponse before you adjust the trim- rate calibration is not necessary. I Name
I
mer controls. Simply adjust the controls so that the
(Note: Always set the trimmer first of red LEDs come on at your I Address.
I
LP9 H
controls so that the first red LED in ICity
normal highest listening level. I
I Zip
DICK S AM ELECTRONICS INC.
I
I P O. Boa nePedwootl City CA 94063
EVI RV RING FOR 154E ELECTRONICS ENTHUSIAST'
MODERN ELECTRONICS MART
Advanced Surge Protector /Filter Classified Commercial Rates: 90(C per word, 15 -word minimum ($13.50) prepaid. (Word
11 SURGE PROTECTION !! count includes name and address, ZIP code and abbreviation each count as one word;
Do you want the best protection available at the best price
with a lifetime warranty? The U.S. NAVY, AT &T, U.S. AR-
P.O. Box number and telephone number count as two words each.) Indicate free cate-
MY, NASA, and the Colorado state school system did so gory heading. A special heading is available for a $6 surcharge. First word only is set
THEY CALLED US!
boldface caps at no charge. Add 20% for additional boldface words.
Mart Display Rates: 1 " x 1 col., $120; 2" x 1 col., $230; 3" x 1 col., $330. Prepayment
discount 5% for 6 issues; 10% for 12 issues prepaid at once.
(All advertisers with PO Box addresses must supply permanent address and telephone
number. Copy is subject to publisher approval.)
ZAPSTAR S -6 SURGE PROTECTOR /FILTER Mailing Information: Copy must be received by the publisher by the 20th of the third
$ 59.95
month preceding the cover date. Send Advertising material with check or money order
' Six Grounded Outlets to: Modern Electronics, Classified Department, 76 N. Broadway, Hicksville, NY 11801.
Light to Indicate Protection is In Effect
Dual Stage EMI /RF1 Filtering
' On /Off Power Control Rocker Switch
' 15 Amp Circuit Breaker VIDEO UNIVERSAL CRT Adapter. Guaranteed to
Full Three Mode Surge Protection work with All CRT Testers. Test /Clean/Re-
SATELLITE DESCRAMBLING. Latest store All B /W, Color /Scope /Projection
ZAPSTAR S -6 - SPECIFICATIONS methods of digital scrambling of the audio in CRT's. Chargecards, COD's. $59.95 1 -800-
RESPONSE TIME: Under 1 Nanosecond satellite television transmissions. Covers sam- 331 -9658. Dandy Electronics, 2323 Gibson,
CLAMPING VOLTAGE: 151 Volts
pling rates, pseudo- random data generation, Muskogee, OK 74403.
DISSIPATION CAPABILITY: 100 Joules (1,000,000 Watt
100 Microsecond) and decoding. $10.95; Design manual for con- ELECTRONICS
FILTER ATTENUATION: -55 DB (1 -1000 MHZ) structing PARABOLIC SATELLITE DISH
Soit's no wonder that the people with the ANTENNAS. $9.95. CABLETRONICS, Box FM TRANSMITTER KIT, matchbox size,
most to protect call us for protection. 30502, Bethesda, MD 20814. super sound sensitivity, adjustable frequency/
Call Toll Free gain. Board, parts, educational instructions,
PROJECTION TV ... Convert your TV to $19.95. Pershing Technical, P.O. Box 1951,
project 7 Foot picture ... Results comparable Fort Worth, Texas 76101.
1- 800 -624 -8189 ... Total cost less than
In Florida, call (305) 722 -7770.
Why settle for less?
Manufactured by:
SEVERTS-ZORMAN ENGINEERING, INC.
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
l to $2,500 projectors
$30.00... Plans and 8 " Lens $21.95 ... Illus-
trated information FREE. Macrocoma -MA
Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania 18977.
Creditcard orders 24 hours (215) 736 -3979.
PICTURE Flyer lists quality electronic sur-
plus at low prices. Since 1970. Send for the last
3 issues. Star -Tronics, Box 683, McMinnville,
OR 97128.
Dealer Inquiries, (215) 736 -2880. TEKTRONIX Clearance Sale on 530- 540 -550-
a.m. SPEAKER
1001 bargains in
CATALOG/0E
electronics. Save
DISCOUNT CATV Converters /Decorders
and Video Accessories. Free information.
Easy View, P.O. Box 221C, Arlington
580 series lab scopes. Prices start at $100: Tek
547 dual -trace 50 MHz delayed-sweep incl.
plug -in $320 plus $20 U.P.S. Free list. Sheldon
up to 50% call toll free 1- 800 -346- Heights, Illinois 60006. (312) 952 -8504. Ask M. Rubin, 117 W. Ridge St., Rye Brook, NY
2433 for ordering only. Order by for Rudy Valentine. 10573 (914) 937-2535.
VISA/MC /AMX. No COD's. Missouri, CABLE TV DESCRAMBLERS. All brands TOROID cores. Iron Powder and Ferrite. Fer-
Alaska, Hawaii call 1 -816- 842 -5092, available. "WE WON'T BE UNDER- rite beads. Ferrite rods. Free catalog and
or write McGee Radio, 1901 McGee SOLD." Dealer inquiries welcome. We ship winding chart. Palomar Engineers, Box 455,
St., K.C., MO 64108. Postage for s C.O.D.'S. For catalog send $3.00 to Consum- Escondido, CA 92025. (619) 747-3343.
catalog $1.00.
itlellomm lmm er Video Corp., P.O. Box 913, Clifton Park,
NY 12065. (518) 783 -5636 M -F 9am -5pm EST.
SATELLITE systems. Catalog of 600 + dis-
count name brand components $2.00 (refund-
SPECTRUM Analyzer/Receiver Kits $60. Send
SASE for details. Science Workshop, Box
393ME, Bethpage, N.Y. 11714.
TRIACS- Prime RCA 10007o tested. T4700D
able) MICROTRONICS, Box 2517, Covina, (400V 15A) .... 10/$7.50. T2700D (400V 6A)
CA 91722. .... 10 /$5.00. Shipping $1.00. Use MC/
VISA & Order Toll Free 800 -821 -5226 Exten-
UNSCRAMBLE satellite signals the easy way.
PICKS UP A WHISPER 50 FEET AWAY! Parts available from Radio Shack. Send sion 426. JIM RHODES, Inc.
The model WAT -50 miniature FM tranmitter uses a $19.95 for plans & catalog, board & plans SPECTACULAR STROBE LIGHT CHAS-
4-stage circuit NOT to be confused with a simple wire- $39.95, Kits from $99.95. Vidio Research, PO
less microphone. Simply snap the unit on top of a 9V
ERS, Stroboscopic Devices, High Voltage
battery and you can hear every sound In an entire house Box 2, Kingsport, TN 37662. Supplies, Rare Scientific Items, Plans, Kits.
up to 1 mile away! Use with any FM radio. Tunes to any Free Catalog. ALLEGRO ELECTRONIC
frequency from 70mhz - 130mhz. Easy to assemble kit CABLE TV Secrets - the outlaw publication the
Cable Companies tried to Ban. HBO, Movie SYSTEMS, #3 Mine Mountain, Cornwall
includes all parts and instructions. Only 29.98 tax Incl.
Channel, Showtime, Descramblers, Converters, Bridge, CT 06754.
etc. Suppliers list included. $8.95. Cable Facts, LOWEST POSSIBLE PRICES ANYWHERE!
Box 711 -ME, Pataskala, OH 43062. FULL WARRANTY - Most Audio Brands!!
WORLDS best channel 3 notch filter. $19.95. C.D.'s - Car Products - Computers (Hardware
The WIRELESS TELEPHONE TRANSMITTER model - Software) - Most Video Brands! ! ELECTRI-
WTT -20 is only about the size of a dime, yet transmits (Dealer inquiries invited). Crosley(G), Box 840,
both sides of a telephone conversation to any FM radio Champlain, N.Y. 12919. FIED DISCOUNTERS, 996 Orange Ave., P.O.
with crystal clarity. Completely automatic. Uses power Box 151, West Haven, CT 06516, MC /VISA
from the telephone line itself - never needs a battery! CABLE and SUBSCRIPTION TV secret (203)937 -0106.
Up to '/e mile range. Tunes from 70mhz - 130mhz. Easy manual. Build your own DESCRAMBLERS,
to assemble kit Includes all parts and Instructions. On-
converters. Instructions, schematics for sine S$$$$ Super Savings on electronic parts, com-
ly $29.98 tax Incl.
wave inband /outband gated sync SSAVI ponents, supplies and computer accessories.
Call or send MO, VISA, MC for immediate delivery.
Single kit orders include $1.50 S &H. FREE SHIPPING (HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, UHF, etc.). Send Free 40 -page catalog for SASE. Get on our mail-
on orders of 2 or more. All orders shipped by U.S. Mail. $8.95 to CABLETRONICS, Box 30502ME, ing list. BCD ELECTRO, P.O. Box 830119,
COD add $4.00. Personal checks allow 21 days. Richardson, TX 75083 or call 214 -690 -1102.
Bethesda, MD 20814.
DECO INDUSTRIES
BOX 607, BEDFORD HILLS, NY 10507
914.232.2827
/ September 1986 Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics
92 / MODERN ELECTRONICS
ELE CTRONIC SUR PLUS C OMPONENTS & GOOD STUFF
MACHINE PIN CIRCUIT BOARD CRYSTALS VOLTAGE ELECTRONIC MEZO
SOCKET BONANZA
SURPLUS eV
Fhb
REGULATORS
7805 5V 1.5elap
VOLKES
MODEM
IN
nr
BEEP BUZZER
Zß1.00
Onneter efemeat
COMMODORE'
BUI D YOUR OWl
EPROM ERASER
LASERS 7812 12e 1.5amp 300 PRINTER/ ' °L OUT)

22 PIN GOLD
ls`
$1.25 7124 24v 1.5amp
BAUD
oa pinkng mounting.
OEigiaelly oled In Radio
PLATED SOCKET
$79.00 OMHZ 1ík18 ..$1.25
OMHZ HC18 ..$1.2SÁ
7905 5. 1.5amp
$24.95 Slack Telephone as the PLOTTER 115 volt ultra valet liprìwith !amp.
Sound generator boards 5v 1.5 amp
7905
5 Pa. 01" LASER-R 10 7MHZ HC18 s.7sv ringer. cowl swalái,wtbNlb
Stk. 111CS-2211
removed from electronic
pin ball games. Contains 14 318MHZ HC185115
7912 12v 1.5 aale
AT CRYSTAL Stk. P20-78 ....5.75 FITS ALL enclosure to
oscillators. control co
wits 6 2 watt audio IC BARGAINS
5.43 EACH
18 MEG
ÛLTRAVIOLET TUBES MODELS; $12.54
5.75
ROCKER SWITCH
16 Amp OnIOf1
Used in Xerox
amp
dream!!!
$2 15
Experimenter's
- 1015 12.50
1s48...113 UIm..L12 L5241..1.
1501
15m
... L E
...LIS
...LIS
UM
L5125
ISM ..118
.51.48
..121
15241
13242
..148
8237 ..$4.95
8237-5.55.49
8250 ..$6.95 HEAT -SHRINK
$3.50 ((:%6000 FOR EPROM
ERASERS
110 VAC
morrow
$49.95 c i
SINGLE FLOPPY ORNE CABLE
LSm WO $215 n. -
820 Computers insebemancs L301 ...III LSI32 ..L48 IS248 ..l.se 8251 ..$1.69 TUBING 10015.00 Cable is 15" bag eMt 34 Rin card edge
548 12V REGULATOR
L]m ...115 Ulä ..58 We 8251-A.51.89 100' POWER SUPPLY 8 34 pm header Com1.
LS48...s15 UIM..uf IS151..1.45 CFSIS i2M a m 101514
BOARD Lsm ...IIS toma ..5.48
8253 ..51.89 = $15.00 General purpose com-
Fit wave ua...11s W57..1.0 518"
Regulator board contain- pact power supply. 3 VITES CARLE DUAL FLOPPY CABLE
Bridge UII ...115 1sE1..f31 8263-5.á1.95 318"-$10.00
ing 5V 6 12V to -220 outputs: +5V @ I Amp, CONVERTER Cable is 34" long K3 34 pin edge
LS12...sE L52301 .11.111
6AMP -3001
regulators. fuses. LS13...331 WN..$.48 8255 ..51.69 +12V e Amp. 8 1
Model No. TC 1 M Con- coaaectoa.
2151' L514 ...5.25 Lam ..$.a 8255-5.51.89 +24V @I Aim. Power CFS30 04.00 n or 101525
bridges. caps 8 I/O con-
LSIS...I70 L5273 ..L25 COMPUTER verter. Beth Mid -Bald 8
nectors. Size 2"x4" LUIS _LIS 8259 ..á1.95 Transistors mounted on VHF frequencies. Has
wlhe tsinks.
UM ...LIS
...LM U}1..LAe
RUBBER
a heat sink. 714" built in powr suppy.
FOwER urns
1521
1127 ..5.21
ISMf ..IE 8259-5.52.29 FEET
wltransformer. Stk.
Mff n 61311EMIl MS/1.
RIGHT REG-512 53.50 IfE1..i.m Units are new 8 m met-
1370...LU
Läm ..1.n 8272 ..á4.95 4152.00 IFS-3P $4.49 Input IIOVAC
ANGLE RECTIFIER BOARD nt cond.
T06611 'Contains 14) 10 Amp
WU ..1.15 8279 ..52.49
RIBBON CABLE Ale. I1C -148.... $9.95
Output +5VDC SAmps e
U.11 ..5.38
1.139 .31 +I2VDC 2.5Amps
SPOT 10153." bridges, (3) large filter Iä72.1270 8279-5 .$2.95 NEC 3500 -1150C 3Amps
L571...1ß lsm.sus
caps. 8 110 cony. Size 8282 . $3.95
. 40 CPS 1080 PIECE P5-121 S11ß
SNAP ACTION 4.8'88 USI ...1.20 LS1111 .11.81 UNA ..1..0 8284 ..á2.95 SERIAL RESISTOR ASST b01 Y seam C4mmaw0
L351 ...5.E Wa..S..O
i
SWITCH BRIG -4 $250ea U171..3.75 comp.
LS175..135 L3358 ..1.30 8286 ..á3.95 PRINTER All SIZES 8 VALUES
or 101512.50 ua...La 9 conductor Spectrasbip Stk. ORES-1000 . $3.00
L.5111 .51.25 L1373 ..1511 toWALL PLUG
LINEAR 6 CMOS
L.174... LE ..L81
1.5181 15171..L.75 8288 ..$4.95 "REBUILT" with red marker strip_
Las ...115 ADAPTERS
u152..3.10 L5375 ..1.16 6845 PRINTER 250' per roll. 28ga
MICRO -SWITCH BONANZA ISM ...LM u1I7..L74 6VDC 300raa
13371 -.1.1111 stranded wire. NIB
ASST OF 10 Circuit board removed U181 _Lill U371 LIN VIDEO $550 $1.75 er 10151250
13107 528 ISIS _LSOWM ..5.111 . $10hoII $6.95
from SINGER electronic
52.50
sH. 3500101/
COMPUTER
calculators. has 20 Mmar
8 cmos IC's 8 a wealth
Ulm ..1a1
U112..$30
tun ..S.35
IsU6..iM US* ..515
U117 ..5.E
13221..IS1
ltël.51.11
LW, .1124.
CHIP
$4.50
COMPUTER
20 conducta spectra
strip with red marker
stripe 100' per roll.
-
Jill ISOLATION
TRANSFORMER
EPROM OUTDOOR SPEAKER -
(00 O
of other parts
POWER CORDS Bä20 GRADE 28ga stranded wire 117VAC
$2.50 ea 2716 $2.00 HORN Stk. #Spkr -60
IBEw! CAPACITORS 0RIB -20 5.30111 or 117VAC 125VAC
el 1($12.50 2532 $2.75
SIRT011 $251x16 XEROX 1810 /At by Signal Trans
12600
BRADLEY XFMR.
2732
2764
$2.25
$275
Asst of IO
CPM BOOT
$3.00ná1 - 10/62080
$1.75 EA
TOY Stk. 3CCG -10 ..5250
MOTOR 27128 $4.50
- 101512.50 Sá. 3480-12 _2151.00
CPM DISK
Far V20 CHIP
DISK 53.75
ebèff
Input 120VAC
WE
GIANT CAPACITOR
ASSORTMENT
Output I2VAC
UL
CT
Approved
I.7AMP
COMPUTER CHESS GAME
DISKETTE
$3.75
Nifj $1.75
MIR AEU
40 pn
34 pin
$ 40
$50
500 PCS. $9.95 Stk. ITN4243 -33 $4.95
10 $25
LOOSE LEAF PLASTIC ENCLOSURE
HOLDER 2 "x3 "x4"
ELECTRONIC COMPONENT BONANZA MILTON BRADLEY CHESS GAME
Electronic circuit board removed from
Vinyl Diskette Holder i
STOCK# DESCRIPTION PRICE Holds 2-5'/6" diskettes. STANDARD 6'
famous toy maker's game. Board has
Has 3 hole punch to 3 PRONG LINE CORD TRANSFORMERS
Rä20 Power res asst. 2Opcs $229 6502 processor. 7415 series IC's, buzzer m
mount in standard loose 5.40#CRD6 STIL/ Secondary Pria
Res100 Precision res. assort. 1% 5 2% types. 100 pas. $259 b many other useful components. Boards
leaf folder. Stk BIN 5 Il MCI pAq
Res1000 Res assort. I000pcs. All sizes 8 values
Re100p 100 miniature trimpots. pc mount
$3.25
$4.79
are complete and undamaged. MB part
37924243001.
104250 DIABLO TYPE 30 TN-63 111 6.3 e 3004m
1.125
Re25p 25 N and radio pots. Good selection $2.79 BD-792 $3.95 ea. 10/124
For standard Moll POWER SUPPLIES 1M-12 117 12 e 40015
Re25g 25 ganged pots. Hard to find types 53.25 I15VE 8amps $135
Ch35 Miniature choke coils. 35pcs many values $2.79 SPECIAL TRANSISTOR $15.00 124-2111 117 24 e 200m4
Ch15 Slug lured it coils. 15 pcs. $2.29 L125
Ch20 Open wound tuning coils. 20pcs $2.29
SALE STK. #T -500 ALTOS 8000 COMP. T11 246 117 21at. e 36
500 PC 2N2222 Amp $150
Ch10
Cp100
Transfmr style choke. 60mh. 10 pcs
100pc. electrolytic assort. Great values
$2.29
$3.37 Un- Marked $3.50 - $250
100 PC HEAT SINK
Cp100d Ceramic disc caps. 100pcs.. great values $2.59
EDGE CONNECTORS ASSORTMENT Tai
Cp25hv High outage disc-caps, 1Kv min. 25 pcs. $2.79
ALL ARE 1.56
SPACING. &PIN HEADER 5.25
Cp25p 25pcs. polystyrene caps. high stability $1.79 RF COILS
Cp685 Nichicon 6800mí @50v. 12 pcs. $2.75 22144 EDGE CONNECTOR STRIP
'Cp316 Mepco 3000m1.@16v. low est. 12 pcs $3.75
.....,,....._..,. r 5200
Stk./MDR-8
$3.50
LOAR RESISTOR FOR
f
Cp11s Mallory low esr switching caps. lOpcs $3.75 IBM POWER SUP.
áv15 EACH COILED BONANZA
CpIOOnu 100 mylar bypass 8 coupling caps. Axial $3.75 31/62 Connector for 11311 PC Board 1'
tei=d Ohm
100 mylar bypass b coupling caps. Radix COO 525 Watts
CpI00mr $4.25 spacing $2.50
Cp25t Tantalum assortment. 25pcs. $3.55 HOOK-UP B $1.79
25pc. dipped mica cap. assortment Sä.6RIBM -5
Cp25dm $2.79 4" COOLING FAN WIRE ASST 1 conductor coiled cad.
Cp13cg Mallory computer grade caps. 13pcs. $4.79 Black vinyl packet. Extends
120 VAC 6 SPOOLS OF
Di100g 100 germanium diodes. ín34 etc $2.25 to 6 It No connectors on 12 VAC @ 2 5 0mä
NEW
Di100s
Di15p
100 silicon diodes, in4148 types. etc
15pcs. power diodes. 2 amps 8 above
$2.25
$275 Stk. # FN4 -$6.50 50' - $3.00
either end.
Sur. KC-000 ....3001.00
4 Conductor coiled cord.
TRAI
0112*
25 R
Q500 50 Magnavox tv replacement transistors $3.79 #WIR-30H 21$1.50

Blade vinyl 'ache. Extends
Q100a 100 small signal transistors. Pnp 8 npn $4.79
150 rf transistors Metal can. unmarked
MAGNETS POWER
to 6 0. Phone connector on
Q150r $1.79 SMALL COMPUTER
QlOp TO 220 power transistors. IOpcs. pnp I
npn $2.29 T=) SUPPLY V QUALITY CAPS
one end and no connector
on the 0á7n
WIRE
TEST PROBE WIRE
F3 6 inline fuse holder wl3amp fuse. 3 pcs $99 2' Bar Magnet with
5V @35 AMP lEINIC IgDLnTNlc S!. KC-020 -...241.00
Tape On One Side
CAPS. 18 Guarage rubber
Cb10 10 airpax circuit breakers. 3 to 25amps $4.49 FOR ALL TYPES Of CONFUTER 4 Conductor cored cord
$45.00 coaled. Red. black. while
Ca30m 30pc molex connector 8 socket assortment $3.49 2151.00 APPLICATIONS. OLTRA PULE. Grey enyl picket blends to
PARI 1 MI. WS or 17hie. .100'1513
Bs25 25pc. barrier strop assort. 2 to 20 connects $2.55 COST 6 II Used as keyboard
cable Phone pact to 5 on
Wr100 100' connecting Si hook -up wire. All guages $2.25 003 -105 -01 10 -ti'
12 VOLT MINIATURE- 50 do connector NOOK WIRE
Xo3
5p2
3 pas. speaker crossover networks
Pair of 6x9 car speakers
51.59
54.79 6VAC CT
PC BOARD RELAY
110- 173 .047
1D-1ä I 50
50
.11
.12
$IL ACC-100 $4.00 24 Guar stitched rwnd-
22 Pale solid tondue
Relit lope. relay assortment. Ac 8 de types $3.79 @1.7 AMPS tor. your choice 100"52
1125 25pc. audio jack 8 connector assort- $2.59 10152.00
TN -1500 WIRE WRAP WIRE
5.25 Slide switch assortment. many sizes. 25 pcs $259 SPOT Stk./INK-10 30 Guage said cond.
SL16 100pcs. 16 pin IC sock. Staggered pins $2.25
$4.95
#REL -12Y Heal sink ass'E RADIO SHACK Choice at colors. Wír 30
Sk14 100 pcs 14 pin IC sock. Staggered' pins $2.25 $1.25 Al Types Yd. BROKEN 100752.50
BOARDS
LO LI R LE CT RON I CS 214- 234-5032 TERMS: Check or Money Order. COD's TVGAME
SWITCH
TRS-80
MOD III
Qie
aMw S Unefiu
6% Tax.
13933 NO. CENTRAL #212 214-234-8091 ß.iTX
R
$.65 EACH 51510.00
Mrreml - $710 ..... Law
OR 1044.25
TX 15243 214 234 -9105 Pleaseitems wit] be refunded.
stock P4. mp
CompDesTM LASERS and Nightvision surplus components. ATTENTION CB'ERS HAMS SWL'S SEND
FREE catalog, M.J. NEAL COMPANY, 6672 FOR FREE DISCOUNT CATALOG. AMA-
Computer-Aided Circuit Design
Mallard Ct., Orient, OH 43146. TEUR COMMUNICATIONS, 2317 VANCE
for IBM -PC & compatibles JACKSON, SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS 78213
A easy, to use menu driven electronic FAST A/D CONVERTERS. Five bit 90 nsec
(512) 733 -0334.
design software tool for students, A/D converter module offers 5 MHz effective
technicians, and engineers. bandwidth for $25 (DA0175) - build video AUDIO
$49.95 Includes design manual. frame grabber. Eight bit 160 nsec sampling
LIGHTING and PA Equipment. Mobile DJ
M/C & Visa (614) 491 -0832 A/D converter for $40 (DA 0188) - add mem-
systems, permanent installations. Free catalog.
ory and trigger to make digital storage scope
Esoft Software TC Sound, Box 402, Austin, TX 55912.
peripheral for PC for less than $100. Send
P.O. Box072134 SASE for product specifications. DIPAC INVF.\TORS
Columbus, Ohio 43207 ASSOCIATES, 645 Executive Center Dr. INVENTORS! Have idea for product or in-
#204, West Palm Beach, FL 33401. vention, don't know what to do? Call AIM we
RECONDITIONED Test Equipment. $1.25 for present idea's to manufacturers - Toll Free
TSST ISST TSST TSST ISST ISST ISST catalog Walter's, 2697 Nickel, San Pablo, CA 1 -800- 225 -5800.
94806, (415) 724-0587. INVENTORS
TSSTINSTANT*'
CIRCUIT REPAIR NEW! FIBER OPTIC VOICE LINK. SEND INVENTORS! Can you profit from your
YOUR VOICE OVER A BEAM OF LIGHT idea? Call AMERICAN INVENTORS COR-
o- TSST IS A ONE PART, HIGHLY CONDUCTIVE :, VIA AN OPTICAL FIBER. COMPLETE PORATION for free information. Over a de-
RESIN FOR REPAIRING DAMAGED CIRCUITS KIT INCLUDES MICROPHONE, SPEAK- cade of service, 1- 800 -338-5656. In Massachu-
ON PC BOARDS AND IN FINE WIRE CIRCUITS. tn
vt
APPLY IT RIGHT FROM THE BOTTLE AND IT on ER, FIBER, PCB'S AND ALL PARTS. setts or Canada call (413) 568 -3753.
EASILY ASSEMBLED. INTRODUCTORY
'
SETS UP IMMEDIATELY, RE- ESTABLISHING
CIRCUIT CONTINUITY. THERE'S NO MIX - CABLE TV
t INC, NO MESS, AND NO HEAT REQUIRED. OFFER - SEND $34.95 TO: FIBER SCI-
F TSST IS NON STRUCTURAL BUT HAS EXCEL-
cn
y ENCES, KIT -73C, P.O. BOX 5355, CHATS - CABLE TV converters and descramblers.
LENT ADHESIVE QUALITIES. REPAIRED
ITEM IS READY FOR SERVICE IMMEDIATELY. WORTH, CA 91313 -5355. CA RESIDENTS Low prices, quality merchandise, we ship
C.O.D. Send $2.00 for catalog. Cabletronics
,-
on
an ORDER YOURS NOW FOR ONLY $9.95 PLUS ADD 6.5 %.
- $1.50 POSTAGE AND HANDLING FROM,
ISST CO.
-.
Unlimited, P.O. Box 266-M, S. Weymouth,
P.O. BOX 1451 SEE IN COMPLETE DARKNESS with Mass. 02190 (617) 871 -6500.
SO. GLENS FALLS, N.Y. 12803
amazing new infra -red night viewers. Kit
ISSI ISSI OSSI 1591 OSSI OSSI ISSI $189. Factory assembled $295. Super long MISC'E. L L A,V ED U.S
range model $750. (Dealers Wanted) Catalog
ELECTRONIC REPRESENTATIVES
$1. Crosley (G), Box 840, Champlain, NY
12919(514- 739 -9328). NEEDED!' Unlimited profit potential! Lowest
BUILD THIS ELECTRONIC DIGITAL LOCK possible prices!! Over 100 brands! Audio -
only $12.50
Assembled only St 8.50
COMPUTERS Video - Car Stereo - Computers & Peripherals!
Ten thousands ofcombinations TI-99/4A Software /Hardware bargains. ELECTRONIC EXPERTS, 1000 Orange Ave.,
Use 618VDC Led indicator
Hard to find items. Huge selection. Fast Ser- West Haven, CT 06516.
Control up to 200W
Good for home and auto security vice. Free Catalog. TYNAMIC, Box 690, ASIAN LADIES want correspondence for
Satisfaction guaranteed
Hicksville, NY 11801 friendship, marriage. SUNSHINE INTERNA-
every order please add $2.00 for shipping
TIONAL, Dept. TW, Box 260, North Holly-
M.T.F., Box 810391, Houston, TX 77281 SATELLITE system ten foot complete $795.00.
wood, CA 91603.
Buy direct from distributor. Complete do it
yourself instructions $4.50. Free with purchase.
7 MILLION TUBES
Also salespeople needed, U.P.S. shippable ADVERTISERS' INDEX
Includes all current, ob- 800-446 -4633. Page #
solete, antique, hard -to -find RS#
receiving, transmitting, indus- BASIC COMPUTERS, 10 lesson correspon- 49 AMC Sales Co 84
trial, radio/TV types. LOWEST dence course, $39.50. Certificate. Details free. 94 ARRL
B & K Precision
59
4
PRICES. Major brands in stock, 84
AMERICAN TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, Box 4 Bodes Corp 81
Unity Electronics Dept. M
P.O. Box 213, Elizabeth, N.J. 07206
201, Cedar Mountain, NC 28718. C.O M B 96
41 C & S Sales 85
LINEAR PARTS, TUBES, TRANSISTORS 171 Cleveland Institute of Elec 21
Command Productions 80
PORTASOLTM MAIL OFFER -MRF454 $16, MRF455 $12, MRF477 $11, 82 Communications Electronics 47
MRF492 $18. Catalog, RFPC, Box 700, San Computer Direct 43, 65
Marcos, CA 92069. (619) 744-0728.
HOT 42
80
Cook's Institute
Deco Industries
84
92
OKIDATA 93 160 cps Wide Carriage, 40 cps Dick Smith Electronics 91
NEW Truly R Correspondence Mode, BRAND NEW - FULL 25 Digi -Key Corp
Esoft Software
95
94
WARRANTY. List $900.00 YOUR COST Floppy Disk Services, Inc 75
Portable Butane $379.00 Quantity Pricing Available MC /VISA
29
63 Fordham Coy. IV
Soldering Iron. Electrified Discounters, 996 Orange Ave., P.O.
85
Grantham
Heath Co
College of Engrg 1
15
Box 151, West Haven, CT 06516, 203-937 -0106.
Order your 10 J &W Electronics
Jan Crystals
86
71
CLONE Kits, Modems, Hard Drive Kits, Disk 81
PortasolTM now! Drives, Diskettes, Printers, Memory, ICs. Dis-
65 Lolir 93
28 MCM Electronics 79
94
Only $29.95 tributor Pricing To End Users and Dealers. Free MTF
- McGee Radio 92
Shipping. For Catalog Call 800- 833 -2600 in - McGraw -Hill 89
Safe butane -powered
Ohio 513 -531 -8866. 43 Mouser Electronics 86
no open flame 26 Multibotics, Inc. 83
Adjustable from 10-60W power COMMUNICA TIONS -
-
NR1 Schools
Pacific Cable Co., Inc
8, 11
3
Compact only 7" long COMMUNICATIONS PLANS, BOOKS, 59
30 Popular Communications
Each unit comes with 2.4mm tip KITS! AM /FM broadcasting (licensed/unli- - Portasol Mail Engrg 94
Extra tips available at $7.50 each censed), 1750 Meter transceivers, ham /CB 80 RCA 7
Radio Shack 35
Choose 1.2, 2.4, 3.2, or 4.8mm amplifiers, surveillance bugs, more! FREE
27
71
- School of Telecommunications
Send check or money order for $29.95 plus catalog. PAN -COM, Box 130-ME9, Paradise, 85 Severts-Zorman Engrg 92
$2.00 shipping and handling (VA res. add 4e/e CA 95969. 56 Synergetics 83
tax) to: Portasol Mail Offer - TSST 94
Coy. Il
RADIO, free power, modern day crystal set. 78 Tektronics
flier 4358 Harvester Farm Lane Detailed plans $4. MERIDIAN SYSTEMS, Box 5 Underwater Vehicles Training
Unity Electronics
81
94
Fairfax, VA 22032 116, Eliot, ME 03903. 39, 40 Wholesale Outlet Con. III
Phone Orders Call (703) 323-8000
Quantity Discounts Available
Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics
94
C O R P O R A T I O N
1- 800 -344 -4539
AK, Pwr10 Rico - 218681 -8874 Telex - 87827911 FAX - 218481 -3980 TWX - 8103608182 131511 KEY CORP
-
OKMÁCÑÌÑE@WC IÑC!OÑTESFÌISÁD 256K(262,144 x 1) DRAM 15ONS $5.7011; $39.9519 ËCWINDUS°rRIÉS EKGGpE.
EAC, INC. J. W. MILLER AAVID ENG NEE
V/SA E.F. JOHNSON *ATLANTIC SEMICONDUC' _..... -_ .. .. ...._... ...
FactoryFirsts
.... ... ..
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3C
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ND following Me part numbs. Aha writing your onle.1010121101 the discountable items and apply the epwoniale dacounl. To the subtotal,
Arge.Wepay01l5nipping and
add tne norpfiscountable ItemO. Then add me 9rvice SERVICE CHARGES VOLUME DISCOUNT
insurancetoadlressesin the U.S.A.. Canada and Mexico when chalormdwyor0er accompanies order .D.gl-Key only ships Bofors within the COntirontalU.S..Alaska, 5 0.00.59.99 Add 42 0.00-599.99
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S NET
s 10.00-425.00 Add 40.75 4 100.00-4219.99 Less 10
VINE ORDERING BY PHONE, CALL 1.800.3444538 PIK MII 218881$8711. BY MAIL SEND YOUR ORDER 70: DIOFREY, P.O. Bos 617. Tidal River Falls, MN 56701. 4 25.00-549.99 Add 40,50 4 22550.00-4499.99 Less 15.,
You may pay b check, money onktr, Mader Charge. VISA or C.0.0. 041X4CEY GUARANTEE: Any pans or products purchased from CligvlSey Mat prove to be defective
will be replaced or ref fl,.,
450.00-499.99 Add 40.25 4500.00-S999.99 Less20"/o
ed if returned. thin 90 days horn receipt with a copy of your imam. WICES SURIECT 1, .. . . WPM . SION 8UP No Char e 410008U. . .

NEW OD5 (from page 15)
Four basic lessons are included in

the educational material. These in-
clude basic atomic theory and elec-
FLOPPY DISKS tron flow; how to use the solderless
breadboarding socket; component
identification and schematic sym-
bols; and how to read the resistor
color code.
High- Resolution VDM

Goldstar's new Model MBH -2003
12 " amber -screen video display mon-
itor is said to provide a 1100 -line res- which makes it compatible with any
olution at screen center, displaying computer that has a composite out-
100% certified error free! 25 lines of up to 132 text characters put. Additional features include
51/4" double sided, double density.
per line. The high -resolution monitor power, brightness and contrast con-
Meets ANSI Standards!
As low as 59C each! features an anti -glare screen and a trols. The MBH -2003 measures
Manufacturer's Limited Lifetime cabinet to match the IBM PC. Input 13.8 "W x 12.6 "H x 10.9 "D. $185.
Warranty. to the VDM is composite video, CIRCLE 9 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD
We are able to offer these top quality disks
at BELOW dealer cost because of a big
savings on a huge quantity purchase from
the maker. These disks are compatible
with most IBM, Apple ®, Commodore, and
many other personal computers.
Includes protective jackets, write protect
tabs, adhesive use labels. Stock up NOW!
20 DISK PACKAGE
Mfr. List$71.98 $ 19
Liquidation Price
Item H -1493-3475 -001 Ship, handling: $3.00
100 DISK PACKAGE
Mfr. List x359.90
Liquidation Price $59
Item H- 1493- 3475 -019 Ship, handling: $7.00
Credit card customers can order by phone

[MMI
24 hours a day,
Mmr«cae,
7 days a week.
=MO
Toll -Free: 1- 800 -328-0609
Your check is welcome!
2111 No delays in orders paid by check. FAX Converter /Printer To use the M -800, one simply.,
Sales outside the 48 contiguous states are subject to
special conditions. Please call or write to inquire. tunes the receiver for maximum
New from Universal Electronics Inc.
C.O.M.B. Direct Marketing Corp. Item H -1493
(Columbus, OH) is the Model DES FAX signal level on the product's
1405 N. Xenium Lane /Minneapolis, MN 55441 -4494
Send the following items. (Minnesota residents add 6% M -800 facsimile converter that "tune" indicator and then selects the
sales tax. Sorry, no C.O.D. orders.)
Send _20 Disk Package(s) hem H -1493- 3475 -001 at $19 allows the user to capture quality appropriate speed. The M -800 then
each plus $3 each for shipping, handling per package.
Send _100 Disk Package(s) Item H- 1493 -3475 -019
at photos and graphics using a dot -ma- automatically synchronizes and
$59 each plus $7 each for shipping, handling per package.
trix printer. The microprocessor - starts printing the picture with a re-
My check or money order is enclosed. (No delays in
processing orders paid by check, thanks to TeleCheck.) controlled converter connects to the solution up to 120 dpi, 180 to 220 line
American Express"
Charge VISAn MasterCardn
Exp audio output of any good AM or FM pitch. Printing can be left to right or
Acct No
PLEASE PRINT CLEARLY communications or satellite receiver. right to left at the user's option, in
Name
The audio is then converted into negative or positive format. An FM
Address
City graphics data that is printed out on mode allows printing of all satellite
State
Phone
ZIP
most Epson parallel dot -matrix transmitted weather facsimile, mar-
ine facsimile and worldwide news
( )
Sign Here printers. Print size is 8 " wide by as

long as needed with a 1:1 aspect ra- photo services. $599.
Direct Marketing Corp. tio. Photos are reproduced in 16
Authorized Liquidator levels of gray. CIRCLE 48 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD
1405 N. Xenium Lane
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55441 -4494
96 / MODERN ELECTRONICS I September 1986

COMPUTERS A T WHOLESALE
SMARTEAM MODEM KEYBOARDS
BASIC TURBO
COMPARE OUR BASIC SYSTEM TO OTHERS & SAVE.
SYSTEM K 150M -AT-look-alike
keyboard, made exclusively
1031212A- Operates at 300
ti for XT's, with enlarged
BAUD and 1200 BAUD
BELL 103 and 212A OURS THEIRS -" -. return key, cap lock & num
compatible HAYES .8mhz "super" Mother Slower 4.77mhz .1 lock. FCC Approved.
Board Mother Board
compatible Auto answer, dial and redial External
256K of memory No memory
No. 99020 $5900
speaker for monitoring calls AC adapter supplied K-134- features separate numerical & cursor pads/
Uses RS 232 -C Connector. installed included
function keys along top, LED cap lock & num lock.
Mother Board Only 256K capacity FCC Approved.
No.91990 $1650° expandable to 1024K

150 -watt power
supply
Mother Board
Less powerful 135
watt power supply
- No.51515
$7600
\ Deluxe keyboard with Standard keyboard
MAGNAVOX COLOR
\ large return key with inconvenient
COLOR GRAPHICS small return key
?' ?? MONITOR
Full warranty on all
BOARD products
Not
RGB High resolution 13 ' dia-
Built -in clock & game included gonal 640 dots/H -240
RGB and Composite Port, Light Pen interface, I/O port IinesN -2000 characters 80 col-
Graphics 320 x 200 (color), 640 x 200 (BW), Text MS -DOS and GW- Not included umn
25 x 80. FCC Approved. Basic, fully licensed FCC Approved.
$6900 INCLUDES:
No. 92280
- Super -fast 8mhz Mother Board, Expandable to
1024K with 256K Installed
No. 97890 $29800
- Built -in Clock and Game I/O Port
MULTI I/O CARD - 150-Watt Power Supply POWER OUTLET STRIP

- IBM® AT- Lookalike Case with Key Lock 6 outlets with 15 amp surge
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- MS -DOS and GW Basic your computer investment!
Built -in Floppy Controller that can drive 2 floppy
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438 0 0
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nail driver includes 4 sockets
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wrench and nail puller in a snap -up wallet for use on
Nationally Advertised at '4.99. the road!
Suggested Retail $12.99.

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, PORTABLE Hi-energy 3 -way speaker pair with Slim- design car stereo equalizers with built -in power booster,
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ONLY 15 MINUTES SET-UP TIME' Suggested Retail $70.00
INCLUDES:
Suggested Retail $50.00Ipr.
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Brand -name receiver Telko EXPENSE e sANYa SOLAR
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Battery Test
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Measures approx.
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YOUR ONE -STOP SOURCE OF ELECTRONICS INFORMATION

SEPTEMBER 1986 $1.95

THE MAGAZINE FOR ELECTRONICS & COMPUTER ENTHUSIASTS

Car High,LowFrequency LED Power Meters. 36)

Featuring four chan-

CIRCLE 78 ON FREE INFORMATION CARD

Tektronbc© COMNITTED TO EXCELLENCE

Copyright "1986, Tektronix, Inc. All rights reserved. TTA -469

The Move You Make Today Can Shape Your Future

Grantham College of Engineering Name Age

10570 Humbolt Street Address

Offices: 76 North Broadway, Hicksville, NY 11801. Tel -

2 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / September 1986 Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics

California Penal Code #593-D forb ds us SUBTOTAL

Cashier's Check El Money Order [1 COD E Visa E Mastercard

Pacific Cable Company, Inc.

the Product! Surging Back

CIRCLE M ON FREE INFORMATION CARD

4 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / September 1986 Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics

* *2C ENTS PLAIN **

Eric Grevstad on "Personal Computers," to name a Name

creases your technical competence every page of the

Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics September 1986 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / 5

ANTI- STATIC SEATING. With electronic devices and computer suscep-

ROBOT SAFETY STANDARD. The first American National Standard for

ELECTRONIC CAR NAVIGATION. An automotive navigation system concept

THE OLDEST MICROCOMPUTER? In a contest held by the Computer Museum

6 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / September 1986 Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics

RCAs Power Safe surge suppressors

GET THE KNOW-HOW

IBM is a Registered Trademark of International Business Machines Corporation.

McGraw -Hill Continuing Education Center

numeric format that requires inter-

12 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / September 1986 Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics

Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics September 1986 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / 13

hazardous areas, merchandise cases,

memory. An LCD window displays Electrical noise is handled by Im-

GPIB Tool Kit formed and follow the instructions

14 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / September 1986 Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics

HERO ' 2000 Educational

IBM -PC Compatible

ects, except a 9 -volt transistor bat- IAddress

(Continued on page 96) Heath Zip

Solid -State Audio Circuits

Audio circuits are among the R2

most interesting of linear

16 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / September 1986 Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics

ing used more often in solid -state

Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics September 1986 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / 17

The output power amplifier, of 02

former for output impedance match-

18 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / September 1986 Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics

We offer flexible training to meet your needs. Print Name

Fig. 8. A transistor phase inverter is

22 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / September 1986 Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics

Fig. 10. An economical way of ob-

Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics September 1986 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / 23

Upgrading a Radio Shack

One of the hottest selling

24 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / September 1986 Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics

The Monitor Problem

Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics September 1986 / MODERN ELECTRONICS 25

Next, remove the keyboard, tak-

26 / MODERN ELECTRONICS / September 1986 Say You Saw It In Modern Electronics