Electronics Now articles from October 1997

Electronics Now archives from October 1997

RF-Link Technology Wavecom Sr. audio/video re-broadcaster.
October 1, 1997... Audio/video re-broadcasters have always been popular and sought-after accessories, even when FCC regulations made their sale and use questionable. Their legal status has long since been clarified, and purchasing a unit these days is no more...

Setting up the audio oscillator.
October 1, 1997... Now that' you've completed assembling your audio oscillator, you need to align your unit for optimum performance. The output level must be set for +18DBM, or 7.95 volts. That can be done with any meter that can read AC volts. Most meters will...

Troubleshooting and repairing a microwave oven.
October 1, 1997... The past couple of times we have explored the workings of a microwave oven and some of the things that can go wrong. Now it is time to roll up our sleeves and get down to some practical troubleshooting. We will also look at some sources for the...

The Internet, Java, and hype-aplenty. (programming language)
October 1, 1997... View this as therapy. I'm in a bad mood (;-)). I'm really tired of... certain things. I'm going to tell you what bugs me (computer-wise, of course). Then you can tell me what bugs you. I'll compile a list and publish it here. Then we'll all...

Build the MarineLife Acoustic Sensor.
October 1, 1997... Eavesdrop on the sounds of the deep with this simple, handheld device! In truth, the silent deep is far from silent - the raucous deep would be a better name. Most of us are aware that marine mammals make sounds or noise for communication,...

A new voltage standard.
October 1, 1997... Learn how superconductor technology is being used to create a new, programmable, and super-accurate AC-based voltage standard. Scientists at the government's National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST] have made an advance in...

Recruiting tomorrow's electronics technicians.
October 1, 1997... While the demand for electronics technicians is increasing, the pool of qualified workers is shrinking. Here's what we can - and must - do about it. We'll begin this article with just one, seemingly simple question: "What makes a good...

Quick-test component tester.
October 1, 1997... Find bad components in-circuit on a crowded circuit card. Build this inexpensive, yet very useful tester in a single evening. In today's world of electronics, technicians sometimes forget or have never learned the older methods used to...

Energy from fuel cells.
October 1, 1997... As fuel reserves dwindle, research is turning to ways to extract the most energy from what remains, and to do so at a reasonable cost. Few of us think about our energy supply - unless it is disrupted - but we all rely on the things it makes...

Build a solar-charge controller.
October 1, 1997... Harness the sun's energy to charge batteries with this easy-to-build controller. With energy costs continually rising, using photovoltaic panels to get "free" electricity from the sun has become an intriguing concept. However, the cost of...