Poptronics back issues from May 2000:
E-Mail -- The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.(Editorial)
May 01, 2000 ... E-mail is a wonderful invention. It makes it possible for all of us to get our written messages into the intended receiver's mailbox in moments. That's good! It makes it possible to send off a message that can easily be delivered to the wrong person. Just one wrong stroke on the ...
LETTERS.
May 01, 2000 ... How About an Article on[ldots] I want to create an FM transmitter/ receiver pair for voice communications. The problem that I am having is that I cannot find any helpful hints or articles about FM receivers in any of your magazines. Any suggestions? Why is that? I ...
Eight-Channel Home-Theater Receiver.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... Want to go a step beyond Dolby Digital's 5.1-channel surround sound? The RX-V1 digital home-theater receiver ($3199 in black, $3299 in amber/champagne finish) from Yamaha is an eight-channel unit that adds two front-effects speakers to the conventional surround array. It delivers 100 watts ...
DVD Lifestyle System.
May 01, 2000 ... Once you become accustomed to DVD, it's hard to go back to VHS. Sony offers a simple solution for adding DVD to a bedroom, vacation home, apartment, or college dorm room. The DAV-S300 DVD Dream System ($600) incorporates a full 5.1- channel amplifier with Dolby Digital and DTS decoding, a ...
Scanning in a Snap.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... While scanners have come down in price to the point where people shop for them almost as they would for a mouse, it's important to remember that you do still get what you pay for. Consider shying away from $30 or $50 units and opting for a feature-rich, high-quality SnapScan Touch ($129, ...
Improve Recognition.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... No matter what voice-recognition software you buy, chances are that you will get poor results if you try using an ordinary microphone. A truly noise-free environment is hard to come by these days, and your software will be picking up more data than it knows how to handle. Eliminate the ...
Diagnostics for All.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... Real techies don't always have to get their hands dirty to find out what's wrong with a PC. American Megatrends AMIDiag 6.0 ($99, MSRP) is a complete, system-level diagnostics package that does it all through software. The easy-to-navigate suite accurately tests hard drives, ...
iPhone the World.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... You're going to love this--trust us. If you're thinking of adding a telephone or replacing one, forget about traditional offerings. With the iPhone 2050 ($399 MSRP) from InfoGear, you can do a whole lot more than just chat it up with friends. This is a complete Internet appliance that ...
HDTV-Ready Direct-View TV.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... The Sharp Vision 34N-WF5H HDTV-ready TV ($4999) from Sharp features a 34-inch (diagonal), 16:9 aspect ratio, "Pure Flat" picture tube. The HDTV-ready set uses a proprietary Digital Double Format Converter (DDFC) that allows standard video to be viewed at 480p or 1080i. DDFC detects 3:2 ...
Progressive Scan DVD Player.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... Every day, most of us are exposed to two different types of electronic images. Traditional NTSC analog television separates the odd- and even-numbered lines of a picture and then creates an image using interlaced scanning in which the two fields are transmitted consecutively and ...
Desktop Stereo.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... What separates an "executive desktop stereo" from a plain-old bookshelf system? Designed for use in the office, desktop stereos generally combine a no-nonsense, visually appealing style with a small footprint and dramatic sound. The FS-SD9 ($450) from the company that arguably created the ...
MP3 and Images to Go?(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... A trend we're happy to see in the world of mobile electronics is that of combining multiple devices into one form factor. Think about it--who wants to carry around ten gizmos at once? But if there's one you'd like to carry, say a portable music player, wouldn't it be great to take ...
PLASTIC TO PLASTIC, THE FINAL CHAPTER.(compact disc label maker)
May 01, 2000; ... In the April issue, I detailed the process of turning vinyl LPs into polycarbonate music CDs, including a few problems I encountered along the way. With more than 100 albums to "burn" as CDs, I haven't made all that much progress here in making the changeover, but I'm still working on it. ...
Which Windows To Do?(operating system)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... The hype is likely still alive as you read these words, as is the confusion. Windows 2000--the sequel to 98, or is it Windows Millennium that holds that spot? And what's Win98 Second Edition? You know, all that confusion. You've sent us your questions about which ...
FINDING MP3s.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... Last month we talked about how far MP3 compressed audio has come and let you in on some ways to greatly improve your enjoyment of the format. Now that you know how to make your own high-quality files and play them back with the best possible results, let's focus on some ways to acquire MP3 ...
Kirlian Photography.
May 01, 2000; ... Kirlian photography is a method of creating contact-print photographs with high voltage. The process is simple: Sheet film is placed on top of a metal plate, and the object to be photographed is placed on top of the film. High voltage is applied to the plate momentarily to make an ...
Pioneer PDV-LV10 Portable DVD Player.(DVD player)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... Whether laid up with the flu, traveling on business, or making a road trip with a cranky child, this portable DVD player makes the time pass much more pleasantly. It's been close to two months since I received the Pioneer PDV-LV10 for testing. (That's twice the time stipulated ...
"Home--Phone for Help!".(home computers for the aged)
May 01, 2000 ... What if your elderly relatives live alone? Dangers lurk in the very homes that give them a sense of security. Yet they worry and you worry about them: about falling, forgetting to take their medications or taking the wrong dosage, or even leaving a burner on under an empty pot. This ...
"Zap It to Me!".(electric motorcycle)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... Two leading manufacturers, Evercel, Inc and Zapworld.com, have agreed to jointly produce a line of premium products using Zapworld's consumer electric vehicles (EVs), combined with Evercel's rechargeable nickel-zinc (Ni-Zn) batteries. Under the agreement, Zapworld.com (ZAP) will ...
Freeze--Don't Move.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... The Dual-Axis Radiographic Hydrodynamic Test facility (DARHT) is a massive X-ray machine located at the Department of Energy's (DOE) Los Alamos National Laboratory. It is built to provide valuable freeze-frame photos of materials imploding at speeds more than 100,000 miles an hour. ...
No Bleeding Needed.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... Brookhaven National Laboratory and CTI, Inc. have agreed to develop a non-invasive blood monitor to be used in medical imaging. Information on metabolic rate, which the new device will help measure is important for diagnosing cancer, epilepsy, and cardiac disorders. The blood ...
Not a Cloud in the Sky.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... Lynx, a fine-resolution, real-time synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) system was recently unveiled by Sandia National Laboratories and General Atomics of San Diego. Designed to be mounted on both manned aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the 115-pound SAR is a sophisticated ...
Sounding Off on Cracks.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... A cracked bolt may not faze a "do-it-yourselfer" doing home improvements, but it can debilitate an industrial or nuclear plant if undetected. A new inspection device developed at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) detects cracks in bolts more, easily and less expensively than ...
Nocturnal Flame.(lighting system)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000; ... Capture the sun's light to use when you need it most--at night! Since the dawn of civilization, man has always looked for ways to push back the darkness of night. Ways to help him see in the dark have progressed from flame torches and oil lamps to the most sophisticated halogen ...
The PIC Replicator.
May 01, 2000; ... Want to program PICs, but you don't have the required hardware? Here's a programmer that doesn't require a programmer to build. What's more, you can update the unit's software to take advantage of future developments in programmable microcontrollers Microchip's PIC ...
Two Simple Zener-Diode Testers.
May 01, 2000; ... Find out for sure if that Zener diode is or is not working correctly with these handy instruments. Zener diodes are used extensively to provide voltage regulation, clipping, and coupling in various electronic circuits. They are easy to use, but tricky to test. While you can ...
NEED 16 VOLTS, 900 mA.
May 01, 2000 ... Q Recently, the power supply on my computer scanner quit working; the transformer was shot. I decided to build my own power supply with an LM3l7T regulator. It worked for a few days, but the voltage started dropping whenever I turned the scanner on (thermal shutdown?). My questions are: ...
MIDI MATERIAL.
May 01, 2000 ... Q I am a practicing musician and electronics buff and would like to learn more about MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface). Where can I get full specifications?--E. J., Tuczon, AZ A MIDI is both a file format and an electronic interface for representing music as musical ...
BROKEN WINDOWS.
May 01, 2000 ... Q My AMD 300-MHz Windows 98 computer has been giving me occasional page faults and general protection faults, about once a week. When the fault window comes up, I click on "Details" and get hex addresses and data. Numerous books on troubleshooting PCs haven't helped me decipher those ...
ONE TERMINAL, THREE COMPUTERS.
May 01, 2000 ... Q With the increasing popularity of Linux, I find myself having three computers networked in my home. Since monitors, keyboards, and mice take up space, I would like to use just one monitor, keyboard, and mouse and switch them between the three computers. I know there are commercial units ...
WAITING FOR CALL WAITING.(answering call waiting while on the internet)
May 01, 2000 ... Q I have Call Waiting, and when I'm on the Internet, I can't hear the beeps that indicate that a call is coming in, so people think I'm not at home. Can you design a circuit that can recognize these beeps and flash a light or sound a buzzer?--F. G., Bogota, Colombia A Until ...
NATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOLS.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... Q Could you help me locate National Technical Schools, which used to be on Figueroa Street in Los Angeles and has existed since 1905? They used to advertise correspondence courses in your magazine.--D. B., Kingston, Jamaica A ...
WANT MODULATORS.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... Q Can you tell me some sources for the little audio/video-to-RF modulators that are used in video games?--S. H., Dallas, TX A These modulators take audio and composite video signals and modulate them onto TV channel 3 or 4 so that the output can be fed to a TV set. As you might ...
MOVING MESSAGE.(on LED display)(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... Q My second question is that I have an old moving-message LED display that damaged. It was made by Dynasty of Carson, CA. I wrote to them but did not receive an answer. Do you know where I can find a circuit diagram and, an EPROM it?--F. G., Bogota, Colombia A Sadly, the answer ...
SCANNER MEETS ITS WATERLOO?
May 01, 2000 ... Q From an American, I obtained Bearcat BC-200 radio scanner that does not work. Where can I get a schematic diagram in order to try to repair it? By the way, Radio-Electronics is no longer available in Belgium.--C. C., Waterloo, Belgium A Bearcat is now owned by Uniden. You ...
DECEMBER TYPO.
May 01, 2000 ... In the "Q & A" colunm that appeared in the December 1999 issue of Electronics Now, the bottom of Fig. 1 on page 26 was chopped off ....
Common VCR Problems.
May 01, 2000; ... Now that we have completed the basics, we can finally begin to tackle actual VCR failures. First, we will look at those that deal with getting the cassette into position or removing it, and then check out fundamental fast-forward and rewind issues. All of these problems are usually caused ...
A Different Type of Tilt Sensor.
May 01, 2000; ... Every school child learns that the human body has five senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. However, another important "sense" is the sense of balance. This sense is made possible by a complex fusion of nerves throughout the body, including those in the inner ear. Balance helps ...
Spectrum Analyzer Adapter.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... DESIGNED WITH ADVANCED DSP technology, the digitally synthesized Spectrum Analyzer Adapter Model 7700 converts any dual-trace oscilloscope into a 1-GHz spectrum analyzer with all the features and functions needed to make precise frequency and power measurements. The Model 7700 can be used ...
CLAMP-ON METER.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... GENERAL-PURPOSE PROFESSIONal AC/DC clamp-on meters, Models 501 and 503 are full autoranging units. The meters provide the user with AC/DC volts, AC/DC amps, resistance, and continuity. Model 501 also adds a frequency function. Features of these meters include ...
SOCKET SETS.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... THE FRACTIONAL IMPACT SOCKET Set (#4051) and the Metric Impact Socket Set (#4053) are ideal for tough automotive and industrial applications. These socket sets include both standard and deep versions of the new tapered nose-down socket, allowing greater access to hard-to-reach fasteners. ...
Weather-Resistant Camera.(Brief Article)
May 01, 2000 ... IDEAL FOR OUTDOOR APPLICAtions, the WR-700 Weather-Resistant Camera provides protection from rain, snow, and sleet. With the special moveable shroud, the camera even reduces glare in direct sunlight. The camera has a 1/3-inch interline CCD image with no audio. It provides a high ...
Plug In, Turn On, and Power Up: Wall-Mounted Power Supplies.
May 01, 2000; ... Well! I m glad to see that you survived last month s foray into the dangerous world of high voltage. This month, I thought I d head to the other end of the voltage spectrum, so get ready for some circuitry fun as we go on an electronic treasure hunt for "wall warts," power adapters, wall ...
Synchros and Selsyns And Accelerometers[ldots]Oh, My!
May 01, 2000; ... I just picked up some interesting 1970's military accelerometers. They consist of a fist-sized magnetically damped pendulum coupled to a syncro transmitter. These do seem to offer sub-g sensitivities. Yeah, solid-state accelerometers from Analog Devices (check out their ADXL05 in ...
FCC Prods Consumer Electronics Industry on Compatibility Issues.(William E. Kennard address)(Transcript)
May 01, 2000 ... The promising future of Interactive TV has been stalled too long by the inaction of vested interests. It's time to move IPTV from the vast wasteland to the vast wonderland. Editor's Note: The following is edited from a speech prepared for delivery by Mr. Kennard to the ...
Digital Technology Fuels Changes for the Next Century.(Gary Shapiro address)(Brief Article)(Transcript)
May 01, 2000 ... From the days of the wireless telegraph, the consumer electronics industry has made some drastic changes in its direction. But which way will technology head in the near future? Editor's Note: The following is edited from a speech prepared for delivery by Mr. Shapiro to the ...
Lower the Risk, Not the Price.(achieving effective sales)
May 01, 2000; ... Your customers make purchases based on value, price and risk. What is risk, and how does it affect the purchasing decisions made by consumers? "How can I sell when I'm not the lowest price?" "How can I keep my service customers when a competitor is promoting lower ...