Poptronics articles from January 2000

Poptronics archives from January 2000

That Secure Feeling.(Brief Article)(Editorial)
January 1, 2000... Welcome to the first issue of Poptronics, the magazine for the electronics activist. As mentioned in our publisher's letter on page 1, this new title represents the merger of our favorite content from Popular Electronics and Electronics Now,...

Mini DV Viewcam.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Sharp Electronics' VL-SD20U mini DV Viewcam weighs in at less than 1.25 pounds (without battery pack or cassette), measures just 6.4 X 3.8 X 2.9 inches, and costs under $1000. The digital Viewcam fits in the palm of a hand and slips...

Playing Tag.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... The Dymo LetraTag electronic labeler ($29.99) from Esselte is consumers who are trying to get organized. It can be used to organize crafts projects, schoolbooks, workshop tools and supplies, and kitchen cupboards, as well as home offices. ...

Kaboom Box.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... The RV-B99 Kaboom Box ($330) from JVC Company of America is a cylindrical portable music system that's available in two-toned black/silver or gray/black. The CD/cassette/radio is equipped with a 1/4-inch jack for a guitar/mic input with level...

Affordable Surround Sound.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... While multi-speaker surround-sound systems are terrific, they don't come cheap. If you'd rather not shell out as much as a grand on enhancing the sound of your movie experience at home, consider Spectrum Research's Theater 2000 ($169.95, MSRF)....

Scaled-Down Wega.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... We're not quite sure when 27-inchers went from large- to small-screen sets, or when just under a grand became modestly priced, but--for videophiles with limited space and/or budgets--Sony has extended its line of FD Trinitron Wega flat-screen...

It's Multiplying!(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... The PhoneMate MA-240 multi-handset It's Multiplying phone system from Casio is multiplying, that is. The basic system ($199) contains a two-line, digital 900-MHz base and one handset. The base unit, however, can support up to 11 additional...

Digital Video Recorders--Head to Head.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Philips TiVo and ReplayTV provide truly customized video viewing and digital recording. There's been a lot of talk lately about HDTV and the coming digital television (DTV) revolution, but for most of us it's been just talk. Our closest...

Waves That Return to the Past.
January 1, 2000... It's no use crying over spilt milk, as the saying goes. To err may be human; but in the world of wave mechanics, the clock can be turned back; spilt milk can be returned to the saucer. This phenomenon is called a time-reversal wave, and it can...

Biosensors: Detecting Contaminated Meat.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Recent incidents of contaminated meat in grocery stores and restaurants have heightened consumer concern. A new bacterial sensing device called a biosensor was developed at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) and is currently being...

What's That I Smell?(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Hewlett-Packard Company has signed a collaborative research agreement with Cyrano Sciences, Inc., a company that uses chemical sensors on a silicon chip to mimic receptors in the human nose. Under the terms of the agreement, the companies will...

Is There Life Down There?(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... In September, researchers conducted an experiment at Yellowstone National Park, WY, in an effort to find tiny multi-cellular organisms that may be living in the Hot Springs. Conventional wisdom says that only single-celled life, such as...

Optical Networks.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Chorum Technologies Inc. has introduced its PolarWave family of advanced optical products for terabitscale active optical networks. PolarWave's optical switching, routing, and processing technologies dramatically increase the performance,...

Large-Screen TVs.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Sony is changing the look of analog (NTSC) and high-definition (HDTV) programs with the introduction of two new Hi-Scan big-screen TVs. These rear-projection TVs feature Sony's second-generation Digital Reality Creation (DRC) technology for...

Q & A.
January 1, 2000... Joystick-Port Voltmeter Q I d like to make a voltage meter out of my PC's joystick port. I've tried something with resistors and a transistor without success. Does anyone have a schematic for a joystick-port-to-voltmeter adapter?--Pekka...

CALLER-ID ALARM SYSTEM.
January 1, 2000... What good is an alarm system if you don't know that there's problem? With this one, the alert is only a phone call away! When you decide that you need a security system for your home or business, you will find systems starting at "nothing...

THE WATCHDOG.(installing an anti-theft device in your car)
January 1, 2000... Protect your vehicle against theft with this easy-to-install, remote-controlled security system. If you own a late-model vehicle, you know how much of your hard-earned money is invested in it. You want to do everything possible to prevent...

Electronic Padlock.(installing an electronic lock on your computer)
January 1, 2000... Electronic locks can block access to your computer terminal, prohibit ignition in your automobile, be used in a host of other applications where preventing Unauthorized access to important data or use of expensive equipment is paramount. ...

A PC Tablet?(the new Qbe laptop)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... As great as laptops may be, their form factors are not suited for every application. If you need a mobile computer, but won't necessarily be able to use it sitting down, Aqcess Technologies has come up with the perfect solution. Called the Qbe...

Pro Video Studio.(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
January 1, 2000... Own a Digital Video (DV) camcorder? These devices represent 40 percent of all new consumer video-camera purchases, no doubt thanks to their stellar quality. Now there's another reason to go DV or Digital8: these camcorders can be interfaced...

Pen-Sized Scanner.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Capturing data from printed documents cannot always be done from the comfort of a desktop. Whether you're digging up facts at the local library or bookstore or finding yourself encumbered by loose business cards on a trip, having a portable...

MPEG-4 Camera.(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
January 1, 2000... Untethered as it may be, Sharp's new VN-EZ1U Internet Viewcam ($699, MSRP) is the world's first digital motion picture and sound camera designed specifically for the Net. Capture sights and sounds, then use them on Web pages, send them via...

Call-Waiting Modem.(Brief Article)(Evaluation)
January 1, 2000... The Internet has brought us a lot, including busy signals. If you have one phone line and would like to be reachable while online, check out Actiontec's 56K External Call Waiting Modem ($124.99). The unit connects to an open serial port (a...

SONY VAIO SLIMTOP PCV-L620.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Welcome to the first installment of our new column on system design. Each issue, we'll take a look at a desktop or laptop that incorporates one or more significant new design features. Sometimes, these will be in the components being used;...

Computer Security in the Hacker Age.
January 1, 2000... Your PC may be a target for information thieves and prying eyes. Learn what you can do to keep your files and data safe from invasion. The adage that knowledge is power has never been truer. Whether you're an employee of a large corporation...

CD-R EXPANDS.(Compact Disk-Recordable drives)
January 1, 2000... It's not often that a technology can improve the enjoyment of life in seemingly unconnected ways, but CD-R has done just that. Both data and audio applications have made this one cool tech to own at the dawn of the new millennium. As a...

PUTTING A SCANNER TO WORK.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Those of you who have been reading Popular Electronics know that we've been exploring scanners for a couple of months in this column. We've talked about the technologies used in them, and some of the terms you'll run across when shopping for a...

FREE WEB ACCESS OPTIONS.
January 1, 2000... About half a year ago in Popular Electronics, we covered a free Internet Service Provider (ISP), expecting that more than a few of our readers would be interested in getting online for nada. However, we didn't expect the deluge of letters that...

Using and Hacking Robots with Lego Mindstorms.
January 1, 2000... Say the word "Lego" and most adults think of a million tiny plastic pieces strewn across a floor, waiting to be stepped on with bare feet. Anyone who has ever had one of those little angle pieces jabbed into their tender arch or break the skin...

Speech-Recognition Interfacing Circuit.
January 1, 2000... Last month we built a 40-word speech-recognition circuit. Those new to this column can either order a back issue of the December 1999 Popular Electronics from Gernsback, or get a kit of parts from Images Company (PO Box 140742, Staten Island,...

PostScript Integration, X-ray Fluorescence, Preventing CD-R Blowups, and more.
January 1, 2000... That word "overunity" surely gets kicked around the Web a lot. There appear to be two definitions in current use, both of which aren't even wrong. Some folks use the term "overunity" as a code word for a "perpetual-motion machine," hoping...

Portable Oscilloscope.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
January 1, 2000... IDEAL FOR HOBBYISTS, TECHNIcians, and engineers, the PersonalScope is a compact, portable oscilloscope that measures 4.13 by almost 8 by 1.38 inches. The unit is designed to perform measurements on audio equipment, power lines, voltage...

Benchtop Air Ionizer.(workstation fan from 3M)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... DESIGNED TO NEUTRALIZE ELECtrostatic build-up at ESD workstations, the Model 963 Benchtop Air Ionizer is a self-contained (7 by 9 by 4 inches) intrinsically balanced fan. It ensures that equal levels of positive and negative ions are produced...

Digital Light Meter.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
January 1, 2000... THE DIGITAL LIGHT METER (Model LM-80) provides a dual measuring capability that measures from 0.01 to 20,000 Foot-candles or Lux. It features both Data Hold and Peak Hold functions. The Data Hold function retains the present reading for future...

Video Converter.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... THE TR-20 AND TR-21 GLOBAL Digital Video Converters are worldwide-ready, featuring a global decoder that allows conversion from any of the world's TV standards: NTSC 3.58, NTSC 4.43, SECAM, PAL B-G-D-I-K, PAL-N, AND PAL-M. In addition to...

Ham Radio Power Meter.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... DESIGNED FOR HAM RADIO ENTHUsiasts, the GrandMaster Power Meters feature a functional and simple front-panel layout that permits users to select power ranges or bands or to make SWR readings intuitively. The 3 1/4 X 1 1/4-inch precision...

NESDA Helps With Service Center Survival.(National Electronic Service Dealers Association)
January 1, 2000... NESDA has a history of service to its members, including education, technical and management training, and discounted business services. It also provides legislative representation on a national level. Independent product servicers need that...

NESDANet: A Tool For Success in the Product Service Business.(National Electronic Service Dealers Association)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... If you want your business to grow and prosper, you can't go it totally alone. One of the best "tools" is a collection of your peers who will help you find parts, advise you about equipment, critique your business, and tell you what will and...

Going Beyond the "Cost of Doing Business" Analysis.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Too many service dealers don't know their actual costs of doing business, but of those who do know, too many are using the information in the wrong way. Sam came back from the cost-of-doing-business (CODB) seminar eager to revamp his...

NWSN: Service Companies That Would Service the World.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... If your service business is equipped to provide top quality service, and is willing to guarantee 'no unresolved customer complaints,' without exception, you may want to join the NESDA World Service Network. NWSN members feel they are preparing...

ISCET - Preparing Technicians for Today and Tomorrow.(International Society of Certified Electronic Technicians)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... There is a place for technicians who have proven their abilities through certification. There is a place for proven-professional technicians to continue their training, and help elevate their industry to new levels. These places are the same...

Receiver and Detector Circuits.(Brief Article)
January 1, 2000... Building and experimenting with receiver and detector circuits can be as much fun and as educational today as it was for the electronic pioneer of yesteryear. I firmly believe that the majority of electrical engineers and technicians in the...

VCRs.
January 1, 2000... This month we'll begin a series of Service Clinic articles on troubleshooting and repairing video-cassette recorders--VCRs. Unlike computer monitors, problems with VCRs are mostly mechanical--dirty or deteriorated rubber parts, gummed up...