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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 Advertising Enquiries Leo Simpson Phone (02) 979 5644 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: $49 per year in Australia. For overseas rates, see the subscription page in this issue. Editorial & advertising offices: Unit 34, 1-3 Jubilee Avenue, Warrie­ wood, NSW 2102. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 979 5644. Fax (02) 979 6503. PUBLISHER'S LETTER Tiny electronic components can be hard to see Do you enjoy electronics as a hobby? I know I do. For my part, there is a constant stream of new devices and circuits to think about and many of these end up being presented in the magazine. I suppose I am fortunate in being able to work at one of my hobbies. This is not to say that I have a lot of opportuni­ties to work on electronic projects personally. And until recent­ly, it was just as well, because I have trouble seeing those teensy components. Yes, I have to admit it: I need to wear glasses. Years ago my close-up vision was as good as anybody’s but the passage of time has caught up with me and a couple of years ago I had to start wearing glasses for reading. But while this relieved the problem of having to hold books or magazines at arm’s length to read them, it did not help when work on circuit boards was re­quired. In particular, I found great difficulty reading the labelling on some small plastic transistors – no matter how good the light, the silver printing on the grey plastic bodies was unreadable as far as I was concerned. And those tiny resistors with their colour codes were also a big problem, particularly some brands sourced from Asia. The solution was suddenly presented to me when I happened to be in a hardware store recently. They were selling magnifying spectacles branded “Extra Eyes”. I selected a pair with a mag­nification of 2.5 and found that they suited me. The range in which I can use them is quite restricted but that is OK because I only use them at close range. It has made an enormous difference because I can now work at my hobbies in the evenings where pre­viously I could not. Now these magnifying spectacles, available from many hard­ware stores and newsagents, will not suit everyone but give them a try. They are cheap at $19.95. And if they don’t suit you, think seriously about getting prescription glasses especially for close-up work. After all, everyone needs some sort of a hobby to make their leisure time satisfying and if you can’t work at your chosen hobby, it can be pretty frustrating. As a final point, some of the keenest enthusiasts reading this magazine are retired people in their 70s and 80s. Virtual­ly all of them need glasses to pursue their hobby. So don’t be backward; if you have trouble seeing today’s teensy electronic components, don’t get frustrated, get a pair of specs. 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