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PRODUCT SHOWCASE Another Av-Comm enthusiast satellite receiver bargain! SILICON CHIP readers will recall the last time Av-Comm’s Garry Cratt got his hands on a disposals shipment of analog satellite receivers and dishes (July 2000) – and sold them out in just a few days (much to many people’s angst!). Well, he’s done it again. This time, there are no dishes – it’s strictly receivers only – but the receivers are in either brand new or as-new condition. He has several hundred, 19-inch rack mount analog satellite receivers, suitable for analog satellite and amateur TV applications. These receivers were made in Japan by DX Antenna and feature pushbutton PLL synthesised tuning, with transponder /audio subcarrier frequency display. They have a signal strength meter, video and audio line level adjustments, IF bandwidth and frequency programming controls (including lock) accessible from the front panel. Frequency increments are in 100, 10 and 1 MHz steps, in the range 950-1450MHz. The rear panel has composite video, baseband and balanced audio outputs, as well as LNB power ON/OFF, and video de-emphasis switching. National Instruments moves Aust. HQ to Sydney National Instruments plans to relocate their Australian headquarters from its present location in Melbourne to new offices in Sydney. The move, scheduled for completion by February 2003, helps NI Australia meet the needs of its growing customer base in the New South Wales region. The move to Sydney reflects National Instruments continued growth and long-term investment in their operations in Australia, New Zealand, and around the world. NI Australia will continue to op- erate a sales office in Melbourne but the new Sydney headquarters will include a convenient technical support and repair center and the largest NI training center in Australia. In addition to the move, the Australian office has appointed a new branch manager, Jeremy Carter, an eight-year veteran of NI Australia. Contact: National Instruments Australia PO Box 466, Ringwood Vic 3143 Ph (03) 9879 5166 Fax (03) 9879 6277 Website: www.ni.com/australia NEW! HC-5 hi-res Vid eo Distribution Amplifier DVS5 Video & Audio Distribution Amplifier Five identical Video and Stereo outputs plus h/phone & monitor out. S-Video & Composite versions available. Professional quality. For broadcast, audiovisual and film industries. Wide bandwidth, high output and unconditional stability with hum-cancelling circuitry, front-panel video gain and cable eq adjustments. 240V AC, 120V AC or 24V DC. VGS2 Graphics Splitter High resolution 1in/2out VGA splitter. Comes with 1.5m HQ cable and 12V supply. Custom-length HQ VGA cables also available. Check our NEW website for latest prices and MONTHLY SPECIALS www.questronix.com.au Email: questav<at>questronix.com.au Video Processors, Colour Correctors, Stabilisers, TBC’s, Converters, etc. QUESTRONIX www.siliconchip.com.au All mail: PO Box 348, Woy Woy NSW 2256 Ph (02) 4343 1970 Fax (02) 4341 2795 Visitors by appointment only There is also a baseband drive level control, and a switchable 10dB input attenuator. If required, Av-Comm can also supply the user manual and circuit diagrams for these receivers. And needless to say, if you do need a dish and mounting hardware, Av-Comm can help you out there – at the right price. Once again it’s strictly while stocks last (remember the rush last time!). These receivers are available for $55ea, including GST. Freight is extra and depends on the number ordered, the freight method and the destination. Contact: Av-Comm PO Box 225, Brookvale NSW 2100 Ph: (02) 9939 4377 Fax: (02) 9939 4376 Website: www.avcomm.com.au World’s first siliconbased RF capacitors Vishay Intertechnology, Inc has released the first silicon-based RF capacitors, a technology breakthrough that boosts electrical performance while greatly reducing the board space required for circuitry in cell phones and other wireless communication systems. The new HPC0402A capacitors provide the same broad range of capacitance values as conventional capacitors (0.6pF up to 180pF with tolerance to ±1% or 0.05pF) while delivering superior stability over a wide frequency range, high Q factors, low ESR values and highly accurate dimensions. They are available in 6-V, 10-V, 16-V, and 25-V options. Typical applications for the new devices will include wireless communications, GPS, VCO, filter and matching networking, and power amplifiers. Contact: Vishay Intertechnology Inc. Malvern, Pennsylvania, USA Ph: 0011 1 610 251-5287 Website: www.vishay.com November 2002  53 TFT LCD industrial monitors models, with or without touchscreens. Enclosure styles include Panelmount IP65, Panelmount IP65 Stainless, Panelmount IP54, Rackmount and Wallmount. Touchscreen options include capacitive, resistive and SAW in both RS-232 and USB interfaces. The Vector range is manufactured by Aydin Displays in the United States. For more the 25 years, Aydin Displays have been the leading supplier of Industrial and Military Touchscreen Displays in the US. Their web site is at www.aydin-industrial.com Intelligent Systems Australia has announced the release of the Vector range of industrial TFT LCD monitors in Australia. They are available in 15" and 18" Contact: Intelligent Systems Australia PO Box 27, Cockatoo Vic 3781 Ph: (03) 5968 0117 Fax: (03) 5868 0119 Web: www.intelligentsystems.com.au LCD projector remote controller JED Microprocessors have released a dedicated, microprocessor-powered controller for LCD Data and Video Projectors. The fully programmable controller can handle more than 75 of the most popular projectors on the market, including Hitachi, NEC, Mitsu-bishi, Epson, Sanyo, Proxima and ASK – and can also be programmed to handle less popular models. It is housed on a plastic plate the size of a standard power outlet and in fact uses a power outlet mounting box for fixing in permanent or semi-permanent positions. It operates from 9-15V DC. The T460 communicates with the projector via a 3-wire RS232 link (a future model is planned to have infrared control). It is designed to be mounted in a convenient position (eg, on the speaker’s lectern) to give complete “remote control” to the projector. The simplicity of operation of the T460 means that presenters who are unfamiliar with A/V equipment do not need an audio/visual assistant/ operator to run a “show”. Four push-buttons handle all the controller’s functions with an LCD screen to tell you what’s happening. At the heart of the controller is the Wilke Tiger CPU, running multi-tasking compiled BASIC in a 20MHz CPU, with 512Kbyte of FLASH memory. It can easily be reprogrammed in-situ via a serial cable. Future software upgrades (from the 54  Silicon Chip Personal alcohol breathalyser JED website) are planned to handle even more projectors. Up to eight sources of signal can be selected, simply by stepping through a menu displayed on the LCD screen. Audio can also be controlled with audio control signals sent to the projector along with the video source and power control signals. If a companion T461 audio attenuator/mixer is installed, audio levels can be controlled and selected in step with source select signals sent to the video projector. Relay outputs in this box can also be used for such things as motorised screens, curtains, light dimmers and so on. Contact: JED Microprocessors PO Box 30, Boronia Vic 3155 Ph: (03) 9762 3588 Fax: (03) 9762 5499 Website: www.jedmicro.com.au Drinking and driving continues to be a major social problem within Australia. One of the key reasons is that people find it virtually impossible to identify if they are over the limit or not. In many instances, it can only take a few drinks to put someone over the limit and often without them realising it. But now there is a product that takes the guesswork out of this process. It is called the Sober Check SC3000 Personal Alcohol Breathalyser and it accurately measures the user’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC), allowing them to make an informed decision about driving or not. There are many factors that determine a person’s blood alcohol level, but the SC3000 is claimed to be the only personal device that can accurately measure it. The Sober Check SC3000 has been specifically calibrated to the Australian legal limit. At a lightweight 200 grams, it is pocket-sized and easy to have on you when you need it. Its accuracy level, using the latest oxide sensor technology, is the highest available for a consumer breathalyser (.01% at the .10% BAC level). It is also reusable time and time again – friends, family and colleagues can use it by simply changing the mouthpiece. Recommended retail price is $279.95 Contact: Sober Check International Suite 126, 184 Blues Pt Rd McMahons Point NSW 2060 Ph: 1800 151 208 Website: www.sobercheck.com.au www.siliconchip.com.au “evolution” speakers: with extruded tubular enclosures Sydney-based Austube Tubular Speaker Systems have released their range of “evolution” speakers featuring extruded aluminium enclosures. The extrusion is one piece, with internal fins and an acoustically optimised shape said to give minimum internal reflections and colourations. Included in the range are the EVO3TW main tower speakers which stand some 1.5 metres tall yet occupy a footprint of just 320 x 320mm. These speakers have four high-complinace 3-inch mid-range/woofers with polypropylene/mica cones, cast magnesium baskets and fully magnetically shielded neodymium magnet assemblies. They are rated at 80W RMS with a frequency response of 65 -20,000Hz. The EVO3SUB2 and EVO3SUB2P subwoofers are an integral part of the setup. The difference between the two is that the “SUB2” is self-powered (with a 100W amplifier) while the SUB2P is not. With a double-braced MDF bass reflex enclusore, the SUB2 has a frequency response of 35-200Hz (adustable on the rear panel). The size is 310 x 410 x 315mm. Also shown in the system pictured above are the EVO3AVR rear-channel speakers. Again, these are based on the one-piece aluminium extrusion and contain one 3-inch midrange/woofer in a 300mm high AUDIO MODULES broadcast quality Manufactured in Australia Harbuch Electronics Pty Ltd 9/40 Leighton Pl. HORNSBY 2077 Ph (02) 9476-5854 Fx (02) 9476-3231 “Tradestart” sparks electrical exporters enclosure. A larger rear-channel box, the EVO3AVR2 (not pictured), contains four similar speakers in its 600mm height. Rounding out the system is the EVO3AVC centre-channel speaker. Again, this is based on the aluminium extrusion and is 600mm wide, 100mm deep and 100mm high. Standard body colours are red, blue, pearl white, anodised and black, while the grille colours are white, silver and black. Other colours for both body and grille are available on request. Contact: Austube Tubular Speaker Systems Ph: (02) 9766 5588 Fax: (02) 9767 5577 Web: www.austube.com.au/evolution Australian electrical, electronic and information communications technology industries now have access to a new national TradeStart office to assist them break into overseas markets. Trade Minister Mark Vaile said that Austrade had signed a partnership agreement with Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (AEEMA) to establish the new TradeStart office to help drive the Government’s commitment to double the number of Australian exporters in five years. The Australian electrical and electronic industry is a major generator of jobs and export revenue for Australia. Export revenue exceeded $4.9 billion in 2000-01, some 3% of Australia’s total exports. Companies can contact the TradeStart office (operating out of Brisbane but with a national focus) by telephoning (07) 3831 0993. SC Oatley’s ultrabrite ultrabrite LEDs We used to think that 1000mCd was pretty neat. And expensive. Now Oatley Electronics have a range of LEDs which are very, very bright – and much cheaper! All are 8-10Cd (yes, 800010,000mCd!) and the most you’ll pay is $2.50 each for white ones. If you want garden-variety yellow or red, they’re only 70c and 80c each respectively! Green ones sell for $2.10 each, Blue www.siliconchip.com.au for $2.20 each and UV are $1.60. For more info, see Oatley’s website. Contact: Oatley Electronics PO Box 89, Oatley NSW 2223 Ph: (02) 9485 3563 Fax: (02) 9584 3564 Website: www.oatleyelectronics.com November 2002  55