Silicon Chip's Radar Speed Gun Kit - Page 2

ltd73 · 31st December 2006, 2:09 PM

the other thing is i guess i also see SC going downhill

a case in point is their "DC relay circuit" in the same issue of SC on page 76.
they've used way to many components to create that circuit which is essentially a side-effect of using a really cheap optocoupler that doesn't have a Darlington transistor in it.
... which, as a result, cascades throughout the entire design, perhaps using 3x more discrete components than are necessary.
if instead they'd used the optocoupler with an integrated Darlington, (about $0.60 more), you could remove just about all the other parts.

its that same "old school" mentality.

while i don't agree with all views expressed, the "Silicon Chip magazine" thread in aus.electronics has been somewhat enlightening ..
i haven't been interested in electronics through the life of SC (& demise of its competitors) but do think its going downhill.

i haven't resubscribed nor do i plan to do much more than glance over it whenever i'm at Borders or similar.
for my money (actually - was part of a christmas present), i now have subscriptions to Make magazine and Nults & Volts.

cheers.

31st December 2006, 2:09 PM	#16
ltd73 Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,724	the other thing is i guess i also see SC going downhill a case in point is their "DC relay circuit" in the same issue of SC on page 76. they've used way to many components to create that circuit which is essentially a side-effect of using a really cheap optocoupler that doesn't have a Darlington transistor in it. ... which, as a result, cascades throughout the entire design, perhaps using 3x more discrete components than are necessary. if instead they'd used the optocoupler with an integrated Darlington, (about $0.60 more), you could remove just about all the other parts. its that same "old school" mentality. while i don't agree with all views expressed, the "Silicon Chip magazine" thread in aus.electronics has been somewhat enlightening .. i haven't been interested in electronics through the life of SC (& demise of its competitors) but do think its going downhill. i haven't resubscribed nor do i plan to do much more than glance over it whenever i'm at Borders or similar. for my money (actually - was part of a christmas present), i now have subscriptions to Make magazine and Nults & Volts. cheers.