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Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Leo Simpson, B.Bus. Editor Greg Swain, B.Sc.(Hons.) Technical Staff John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Robert Flynn Darren Yates, B.Sc. Reader Services Ann Jenkinson Sharon Macdonald Marketing Manager Sharon Lightner Phone (02) 979 5644 Mobile phone (018) 28 5532 Regular Contributors Brendan Akhurst Garry Cratt, VK2YBX Marque Crozman, VK2ZLZ John Hill Jim Lawler, MTETIA Bryan Maher, M.E., B.Sc. Philip Watson, MIREE, VK2ZPW Jim Yalden, VK2YGY Bob Young Photography Stuart Bryce SILICON CHIP is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. A.C.N. 003 205 490. All material copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Printing: Macquarie Print, Dubbo, NSW. Distribution: Network Distribution Company. Subscription rates: $42 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 1a/77-79 Bassett Street, Mona Vale, NSW 2103. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 979 5644. Fax (02) 979 6503. PUBLISHER'S LETTER Old textbooks & data books are valuable Do you have old electronics data books and reference books that you are considering throwing out? Possibly they are taking up space and you haven’t referred to them for awhile, so you now think you should throw them out. Think again, we say. At SILICON CHIP we have a policy of not throwing out any semiconductor data book even though we have later editions which ostensibly render them obsolete. The reason for not throwing the books out is that they are the only source of data on components which are no longer made. The new data books from manufacturers only feature devices which are currently being manufactured at the time the book was sent to the printer. If you routinely throw data books out, there is a strong chance you will regret it in the future when you need to refer to data which is no longer in print. This problem is bigger than you might think. Currently, there are about one million semiconductors which are presently available and about half a million which are obsolete and this latter number is probably growing faster than the number of new devices being released. Even the most comprehensive data services tend to keep only short form data on obsolete semiconductors so once you throw a data book out, that’s it; it’s gone. This tendency to throw out seemingly useless books extends to many TAFE, university and state libraries – they are running out of space and so they tend to throw out the older books which are now being referred to less often. We are appalled at this policy. We think that such libraries should regard older books as a valuable archive of technology as it was - the very foundations on which present day technology is based. If we throw out the older stuff, how are future generations going to know how much of our technology came about? More important, how can new and inno­vative technology be developed without a broad knowledge base, a base which is ultimately stored in the reference libraries across the country? What can be done about it? First, think twice about throw­ing out old reference and data books – you might need them in future. Second, keep an eye out at your local reference library for books which may be on sale for a song. And third, indicate to your librarian that you think their policy of throwing technical books out is ill-advised and short-sighted. Leo Simpson ISSN 1030-2662 WARNING! SILICON CHIP magazine regularly describes projects which employ a mains power supply or produce high voltage. All such projects should be considered dangerous or even lethal if not used safely. Readers are warned that high voltage wiring should be carried out according to the instructions in the articles. When working on these projects use extreme care to ensure that you do not accidentally come into contact with mains AC voltages or high voltage DC. If you are not confident about working with projects employing mains voltages or other high voltages, you are advised not to attempt work on them. Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd disclaims any liability for damages should anyone be killed or injured while working on a project or circuit described in any issue of SILICON CHIP magazine. Devices or circuits described in SILICON CHIP may be covered by patents. SILICON CHIP disclaims any liability for the infringement of such patents by the manufacturing or selling of any such equipment. SILICON CHIP also disclaims any liability for projects which are used in such a way as to infringe relevant government regulations and by-laws. Advertisers are warned that they are responsible for the content of all advertisements and that they must conform to the Trade Practices Act 1974 or as subsequently amended and to any governmental regulations which are applicable. 2  Silicon Chip