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Evaluates the mini Lifestyle speaker kit from Jaycar Electronics. Features; Pros and cons; Price. INSETS: Get serious about computer sound;A kit?;The hard facts.

Reviews the computer software Logomanager for designing mobile telephone logos. INSETS: Anatomy of a phone connector;Image fun;On the bus.

Evaluates the Pioneer L+8 mini hi-fidelity audio system. Dimensions; Weight; Power output; Price.

Offers tools and tips for programming a Peripheral Interface Controller (PIC) microprocessor. Background on the development of PIC microprocessor; MPLAB Integrated Development Environment (IDE) from Microchip company; PicNPoke from Bubble Software; PIC trainer module offered by Jaycar Electronics.

Evaluates Mindstorms, a programmable robot construction set developed by Lego company. Microprocessor used in the toy; Features; Price. INSETS: Lego, the institution;Mindstorms Droid Developer Kit.

Evaluates the Pioneer IS-21MD shelf sound system. Cost of the IS-21MD; Presence of a MiniDisc recorder in the IS-21MD; Motorized sliding cover on the CD player of the audio equipment; Performance and capabilities of the IS-21MD. INSETS: What is the IS?;Love it or hate it?;Minidisc: what it's all about.

Provides tips on how to construct a processor circuit for low-bass speaker system. Specifications of the circuit; Circuit details; List of parts needed.

Reports on the design and construction of a mains monitor used to prevent damage to mains appliances. Details on the circuit; Description of the construction; Testing and setting up.

Discusses how to build a clock and pulse generator for developing or analyzing digital circuits. Frequency range offered by the generator; Description of the generator's schematic; Ability of the device to both gate and shut off the unit's output; Factors to be considered when using a four-banded close tolerance resistors; Basic test to determine if the main parts of the circuit are functioning as expected.

Features the Screecher car alarm Mkll. Concept of the car alarm; Improvements made; Circuit details; Construction; Testing; Installation.

Reveals how to make a JC50 speaker system. Benefits offered by the system; System specifications; Basic plans of the cabinet construction.

Focuses on the Signal Power Switch. What it is used for; Information on the switch; Features of the Switch; Details on the sections which the Power Switch's circuit could be divided into; Design of the Power Switch; How the Power Switch is made.

Presents information on a preamp/buffer unit, which can assist persons in measuring soundcard's input capabilities. Benefits of the unit; How the unit is made; Features of the unit.

Presents instructions for the construction of a 48 volt phantom power supply for microphones and direct injection boxes. Description of the phantom-powered device; Principle on which the phantom-powered microphone works; Description of the circuit that is used for the power supply; Listing of parts needed to construct the power supply.

Highlights the design of an electric circuit which is part of a home automatic system based on Line Carrier Transmitter and Receiver units. Addition of expansion modules to the Line Carrier system; Description of the components of the four basic modules included in the circuit; Definition of a dimmer circuit; Information on receiver changes. INSET: Parts list.

Presents information on the improvement in home automation by making additions to already present home automation devices. Details on what can be done; Identification of components used; Information on circuit layouts.

Presents information on instructions for the building of a Line Carrier Receiver and Line Carrier Transmitter. Details on the construction and testing of the system; Description of the transmitter assembly; Information on the receiver assembly; Details on the expanded capabilities. INSET: Parts list..

Discusses how to use DOS-based communications software to the best effect with a Remote Power-up construction project presented in the June, 1997 edition of `Electonics Australia' periodical.

Highlights the advantages of the Remote Power-up software, which facilitates communication between personal computers (PCs). Secure way of leaving an unattended PC and its valuable data; Description of the Power-up's circuit.

Details the steps in building the Courtesy Light Extender, a delay circuit for an automobile's interior lights. Design goals; Use of a small power metal oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) as the switching device; Separate schematic diagrams for two types of delay circuit; High gate-to-source resistance of the MOSFET; Testing and installation of the unit.

Presents instructions on how to construct a low-cost high-performance compact subwoofer. Final cabinet arrangement diagram; Advantages of an enclosure layout; Utilization of 50x100mm PVC downpipes for vent tubes; Assembly of enclosure; Construction and positioning of enclosure's four supporting legs; Dedicated amplifier for power; Subwoofer's signals in the upright position.

Discusses the construction and subsequent testing of the Playmaster Pro Series Four stereo preamplifier unit. Completion of the main PCB assembly; Construction of switch PCB holding the preamp's three selector switches; Arrangement of the input PCB; Cutting of IDC ribbon cable; Case assembly; Testing the main power supply; Optional phono preamp.

Part I. Presents instructions on how to design and construct a high performance playmaster preamplifier. Circuit description; Frequency response; Input and output levels; Channel separation; Power supply; Remote volume control.

Presents instructions on how to design and construct an MLS option board to enhance both the accuracy and speed of audio measurements through its precision noise test signal. Circuit description; Board assembly; Parts list; Testing and operation.

Details the design and development of a compact infrared remote volume control system which can be installed in an existing amplifier or used as an external control unit. Passive and active methods used by remote control systems to alter the signal level in an audio path; Transmitter circuit; Receiver circuit; Transmitter board; Receiver module; Setup and testing.

Looks at the electronic device called the `Versatile Subwoofer Adaptor.' Features and functions of the device; Details of the adaptor's circuitry. INSETS: Table 1.;Table 2.;Parts list..

Part II. Describes an auxiliary battery manager for four-wheel drive vehicles, cars and boats. Circuit description; Mounting holes; Panel artwork and drilling guide; Testing procedure; Problems and changes.

Presents instructions on how to design and construct a smart dual 12V battery controller. Block diagram of the battery manager; Circuit description; Charge state; Internal protection diode connection; Negative feedback; LED indicators.

Focuses on VAF Research's Ultra-DC Series loudspeaker systems. Features; Frequency response; Accuracy and realism; Comparison with other speakers; Listening tests; Phase and impedance characteristics; Contact information.

Part II. Describes the construction of a flexitimer module, and then discusses ways to extend its capabilities even further. Steps in building a flexitimer; Output circuits; Other construction details.

Features the Jaycar JV40 three driver two-way system. Use of a twin high performance 130mm bass drivers and a centrally mounted 25mm dome tweeter in each cabinet; Power rating of 80 watts; Cabinet volume of just 21 liters; Use of a phase and impedance corrected first order filter for the bass drivers and a conventional second order for the tweeter.

Presents a discussion on the construction of a timer circuit dubbed the Flexitimer Mk2. Basic configuration; Production of two independent time periods; Ability to be set to a single or cyclic mode; Inclusion of facilities for programming the delay times via dual inline package switches; Addition of an output `matrix.'

Part II. Discusses how to design and construct a 300W subwoofer amplifier. Cutoff frequencies; Crossover board mounting; Wiring; Power connections; Panel alignment; Component installations.

Evaluates VAF Research's Series II models of its DC range of high-fidelity kit loudspeaker systems. Frequency response; Harmonic and intermodulation distortion; Resolution of sonic detail; Dynamic linearity; Transient response and decay; Impedance plots.

Presents the Playmaster 300W subwoofer amplifier system. Specifications; Crossover circuit; Amplifier circuit; Connections.

Presents a step-by-step procedure on the construction of low cost amplifiers for small high fidelity systems. Use of readily available parts; Range of features; Circuit description; Construction of the amplifier.

Part III. Presents a method of assembling hardware modules of IMP loudspeaker testing systems. Functions of the module; IMP circuitry; IMP module testing; Connection of the IMP module to the personal computer's printer port; Peripheral equipment used during loudspeaker tests.

Describes the use of two-way active crossover in integrating subwoofers with existing speaker systems. Subwoofer crossover design; Design considerations; Circuit description; Selectable crossover frequencies; Amplifier's high-pass outputs; Subwoofer amplifier's low-pass output; Construction.

Discusses the construction of a computer power supply circuit. Description of the circuit of the PC Powerup; Components needed in the project; Construction of the circuit.

Evaluates the Pioneer Happy Tune portable radio/compact disc player. Features of the sound system; Dimensions; Power output; Price.

Evaluates a speaker system kit from Jaycar Electronics company. Features of the speaker system; Advantages and disadvantages; Price of the product.

Evaluates the Basic Stamp microcontroller boards and matching development boards of RTN company. Advantage of Basic Stamp boards; Price range of controller offered by RTN; Features of the development boards; Other products included in RTN's Basic Stamp package.

Focuses on DC power circuits adaptors. Details on the circuits; Use of the circuits; Construction of the voltage adaptor; Things to consider before constructing the adaptor; Information on the different types of adaptors. INSET: Parts list..

Details the process of assembling two-way kit JC30 bookshelf loudspeakers from Jaycar Electronics. Bass frequencies handled by one of Jaycar's own 150mm woofers; Vifa D19 dome tweeter; Nominal rolloff slopes of 12 decibels per octave for each driver; System's transient response during more demanding tracks; Nominal power rating of 80 watts; Cabinet kit available from Jaycar.

Focuses on the `FilterCAD,' which is a dedicated and powerful active filter design package that runs in the Windows environment. Details on how `FilterCAD' allows persons to quickly design both simple and complex audio filters, then display, save or plot the results; Number of operational amplifier-based circuit designs available; Features of the `FilterCAD.'

Features Allmicro's Discovery Card designed to monitor interrupt request (IRQ) and direct memory access (DMA) requests. Discussion of IRQ and DMA; Components of the card; Performance evaluation; Contact information.

Introduces California Instruments' 1251 WP portable power converter unit. Function of operating and testing equipment at voltages or frequencies different to that of local mains supply; Features; Price.

Introduces do-it-yourself kits from Australian-based Jaycar which allows for the self-construction of a speaker system using imported speakers and components and indigenous fully-built enclosures. DK11; DK77; Assembly and testing; Performance.

Evaluates the Video Sonic wireless video and audio transmitter/receiver link system from Jaycar. Price of the Video Sonic; Advantages and disadvantages; Audio and video performance of the Video Sonic.

Evaluates three butane gas-powered soldering irons. Vulkan P100 soldering kit; Weller Portasol P-1K soldering kit; Iroda 120W gas iron; Features and limitations of the gas-soldering irons; Prices.