Silicon ChipWhy is electronics male-dominated? - November 2020 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Why is electronics male-dominated?
  4. Mailbag
  5. Feature: MEMS (Micro-Electromechanical Systems) by Dr David Maddison
  6. Project: Eight Small LED Christmas Ornaments by Tim Blythman
  7. PartShop
  8. Project: Two Large LED Christmas Stars by Barry Cullen & Tim Blythman
  9. Project: Balanced Input Attenuator for the USB SuperCodec by Phil Prosser
  10. Circuit Notebook: Automatic hand sanitiser dispenser by Bera Somnath
  11. Circuit Notebook: Wellbeing monitor by Phillip Webb
  12. Circuit Notebook: Boat Computer modified for 4WDs by Greg Hoyes
  13. Circuit Notebook: More modified Boat Computer software by Ray Saegenschnitter
  14. Serviceman's Log: One repair leads to another by Dave Thompson
  15. Vintage Radio: RCA BP-10 "miniature" valve portable radio by Ian Batty
  16. Feature: A Rundown on New 8-pin PIC Microcontrollers by Tim Blythman
  17. Feature: The Vintage Matrox ALT-512 Graphics Card by Hugo Holden
  18. Project: Flexible Digital Lighting Controller, part 2 by Tim Blythman
  19. Feature: Electronic ‘Wearables’ and the Jaycar Sparkle Stitch by Tim Blythman & Nicholas Vinen
  20. Ask Silicon Chip
  21. Market Centre
  22. Advertising Index
  23. Notes & Errata: USB SuperCodec, August-October 2020; History of the Australian GPO, September 2020; Shirt Pocket Oscillator, September 2020; Frequency Reference Signal Distributor, April 2020; 45V 8A Linear Bench Supply, October-December 2019
  24. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the November 2020 issue of Silicon Chip.

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Items relevant to "Eight Small LED Christmas Ornaments":
  • Tiny LED Cap PCB [16111193] (AUD $3.00)
  • Tiny LED Stocking PCB [16111194] (AUD $3.00)
  • Tiny LED Reindeer PCB [16111195] (AUD $3.00)
  • Tiny LED Bauble PCB [16111196] (AUD $3.00)
  • Tiny LED Sleigh PCB [16111197] (AUD $3.00)
  • Tiny LED Star PCB [16111198] (AUD $3.00)
  • Tiny LED Candy Cane PCB [16111199] (AUD $3.00)
  • PIC12F1572-I/SN programmed for the Tiny LED Christmas Ornaments (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • Tiny LED Christmas Ornament complete kit (Component, AUD $14.00)
  • Firmware for the LED Christmas Ornaments (Software, Free)
  • Eight Tiny LED Xmas Ornament PCB patterns (PDF download) [16111191-16111199] (Free)
Items relevant to "Two Large LED Christmas Stars":
  • Stackable LED Star PCB [16109201] (AUD $12.50)
  • RGB Stackable LED Star PCB [16209202] (AUD $12.50)
  • ATmega328P-AUR programmed for the RGB Stackable LED Star [1620920A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • Kit for the RGB Stackable LED Christmas Star (Component, AUD $38.50)
  • Firmware for the 30 RGB LED Xmas Star (Software, Free)
  • RGB Stackable LED Star PCB pattern (PDF download) [16209202] (Free)
  • Stackable LED Star PCB pattern (PDF download) [16109201] (Free)
Items relevant to "Balanced Input Attenuator for the USB SuperCodec":
  • USB SuperCodec PCB [01106201] (AUD $12.50)
  • USB SuperCodec Balanced Input Attenuator add-on PCB [01106202] (AUD $7.50)
  • Parts source grid for the USB SuperCodec (Software, Free)
  • USB SuperCodec PCB pattern (PDF download) [01106201] (Free)
  • USB SuperCodec Balanced Input Attenuator add-on PCB pattern (PDF download) [01106202] (Free)
  • USB SuperCodec front panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)
  • Drilling and cutting diagrams for the USB SuperCodec Balanced Input Attenuator (PDF download) (Panel Artwork, Free)
Articles in this series:
  • USB SuperCodec (August 2020)
  • USB SuperCodec – part two (September 2020)
  • USB SuperCodec – part three (October 2020)
  • Balanced Input Attenuator for the USB SuperCodec (November 2020)
  • Balanced Input Attenuator for the USB SuperCodec, Part 2 (December 2020)
Items relevant to "Automatic hand sanitiser dispenser":
  • Arduino sketch for the Automatic Hand Sanitiser Dispenser (Software, Free)
Items relevant to "Wellbeing monitor":
  • Arduino sketch for the Welfare Monitor (Software, Free)
Items relevant to "Boat Computer modified for 4WDs":
  • Modified software for the Micromite Boat Computer (Free)
Items relevant to "More modified Boat Computer software":
  • Modified software for the Micromite Boat Computer (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • The Matrox ALT-256 Graphics Card (October 2020)
  • The Vintage Matrox ALT-512 Graphics Card (November 2020)
Items relevant to "Flexible Digital Lighting Controller, part 2":
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller main PCB [16110202] (AUD $20.00)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller front panel PCB [16110203] (AUD $20.00)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller Micromite Master PCB [16110201] (AUD $5.00)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller CP2102 Adaptor [16110204] (PCB, AUD $2.50)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller LED slave PCB [16110205] (AUD $5.00)
  • PIC16F1705-I/P programmed for the Flexible Digital Lighting Controller [1611020A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • PIC32MX170F256B-50I/SP programmed for the Flexible Digital Lighting Controller Micromite master [1611020B.hex] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • Hard-to-get parts for the Flexible Digital Lighting Controller (Component, AUD $100.00)
  • Micromite LCD BackPack V3 complete kit (Component, AUD $75.00)
  • Si8751AB 2.5kV isolated Mosfet driver with integral power supply (Component, AUD $5.00)
  • Firmware and software for the Fiexible Digital Lighting Controller (Free)
  • Firmware and PC software for the Digital Lighting Controller [1611010A.HEX] (Free)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller mains slave PCB patterns (PDF download) [16110202-3] (Free)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller Master PCB patterns (PDF download) [16110201, 16110204] (Free)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller LED slave PCB pattern (PDF download) [16110205] (Free)
  • Drilling and cutting diagrams for the Flexible Digital Lighting Controller Micromite master (PDF download) (Panel Artwork, Free)
  • Cutting diagram for the Flexible Digital Lighting Controller mains slave rear panel (PDF download) (Panel Artwork, Free)
  • Cutting diagrams and front panel artwork for the Flexible Digital Lighting Controller LED slave (PDF download) (Free)
  • Matte/Gloss Black UB3 Lid for Micromite LCD BackPack V3 with 3.5in screen (PCB, AUD $5.00)
Articles in this series:
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller, part 1 (October 2020)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller, part 2 (November 2020)
  • Flexible Digital Lighting Controller, part 3 (December 2020)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $10.00.

SILICON SILIC CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Publisher/Editor Nicholas Vinen Technical Editor John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Technical Staff Jim Rowe, B.A., B.Sc. Bao Smith, B.Sc. Tim Blythman, B.E., B.Sc. Nicolas Hannekum, Dip. Elec. Tech. Technical Contributor Duraid Madina, B.Sc, M.Sc, PhD Art Director & Production Manager Ross Tester Reader Services Ann Morris Advertising Enquiries Glyn Smith Phone (02) 9939 3295 Mobile 0431 792 293 glyn<at>siliconchip.com.au Regular Contributors Dave Thompson David Maddison B.App.Sc. (Hons 1), PhD, Grad.Dip.Entr.Innov. Geoff Graham Associate Professor Graham Parslow Ian Batty Cartoonist Brendan Akhurst Founding Editor (retired) Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD Silicon Chip is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. ACN 626 922 870. ABN 20 880 526 923. All material is copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Subscription rates (12 issues): $105.00 per year, post paid, in Australia. For overseas rates, see our website or email silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au Recommended & maximum price only. Editorial office: Unit 1 (up ramp), 234 Harbord Rd, Brookvale, NSW 2100. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9939 3295. E-mail: silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au ISSN 1030-2662 Printing and Distribution: Editorial Viewpoint Why is electronics male-dominated? One of the things that struck me as odd since I started working for Silicon Chip is just how large a percentage of our readers and customers are male. I don’t have an exact figure, but I would guess that it is well over 90%. Why is that? Perhaps my perspective is a bit skewed because my primary mentor when I started dabbling in electronics is a female friend. And in addition to having a decent knowledge of electronics, she is also a capable computer programmer and operator. So I guess I expected to come across more women in the electronics field than I have done while running the magazine. This imbalance in electronics hobbyists is something which Jaycar’s owner, Gary Johnston, is attempting to address with their Sparkle Stitch kit. We have a review of that kit (and some of their related products) starting on page 104 of this issue. It’s a commendable effort, and the fashion aspect of it may well appeal to many girls. But I had to wonder, as I evaluated the kit, why we have to create specific kits for girls. Shouldn’t they be just as interested in ‘standard’ electronics kits? I think that most of our designs and projects should have a broad appeal. I know that there are some very talented high school students, both male and female, building our kits (and related electronics) for HSC projects. But it seems that after high school, women don’t pick up the hobby all that often (or take up electronics, computing and engineering-related careers, for that matter). We also know that girls do very well in high school subjects like mathematics and physics. These subjects require the same sort of logical thought needed to analyse and design circuits. There’s also an artistic aspect to PCB layout which I find very pleasing, quite apart from the engineering of it. And as electronics is something you can do as a hobby, there’s nothing to stop anyone (short of physical disability) from getting into it, regardless of gender. So I guess what I am saying is that it’s a fascinating field, and there ought to be a lot more females who find themselves attracted to it than we see in reality. I don’t have an explanation for that discrepancy. My daughters are too young to understand electronics just yet, but they sure do seem to be fascinated by it. My one-year-old has already started dismantling any device within her reach, and is clearly fascinated by mains cords, plugs, printers, tablets, phones and anything with flashing lights that is within her reach. Will she retain that fascination when she grows older? I don’t know. I can’t see any reason why she should not. I don’t want to push my kids into doing what I do, but I certainly wouldn’t stop them and will provide them with whatever they need to get into it, should they wish to do so. Perhaps this is a generational thing, and the situation might change over time, but I have a feeling that is not the case. It’s entirely possible that no matter how hard we try to get girls and women into “STEM” type subjects, most of them won’t be interested enough to stick with it. I hope that is not the case, though. If any readers have suggestions on how we can get girls interested in electronics and, importantly, stay interested, I would love to hear them. We publish so many different designs and projects that surely, many of them must appeal. Is it just a matter of getting their attention, or do we have to do more? Nicholas Vinen 24-26 Lilian Fowler Pl, Marrickville 2204 4 Silicon Chip Australia’s electronics magazine siliconchip.com.au