HDTenEightyP/NetNews huggingface dataset:
From: ted@helios.ucsc.edu (Ted Cantrall)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Airport X-Rays
Date: 24 Jul 1992 17:24:47 GMT
Organization: UCO/Lick Observatory
NNTP-Posting-Host: helios.ucsc.edu

*>>The X-rays themselves won't do any damage, unless you're carrying something
*>>like 1000ASA photographic film, but they use pretty hefty electromagnets
*>>to focus the beam, so I never trust floppies or tapes in them, just in case.
*>
*==========================================================================
Someone who travels often should do us all a favor and experiment. Pack
360K, 1.2M and 1.4M disks with data (one big ZIP file, perhaps) and put
them in the luggage that will be X-rayed. Trying to unZIP the file will
reveal if any of the data has been corrupted. If several people do this
in several airports (a variety of X-Ray equipment) and post the results,
we'll all know for sure.
				-ted-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ted@helios.ucsc.edu |"He has showed you, O man, what is good; and what does the
W (408)459-2110     |Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness
H (408)423-2444     |and to walk humbly with your God?" Micah 6:8 (RSV)
From: tonyo@pendragon.CNA.TEK.COM (Tony Ozrelic)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Aeroplane Seat Boxes for entertainment (was Re: SHOCKING STORIES)
Date: 29 Jul 92 19:24:25 GMT
Organization: Tektronix, Inc., Redmond,  OR.

In article <l79uohINNr7m@appserv.Eng.Sun.COM> bender@oobleck.eng.sun.com writes:
>>Another time I was working as a repair tech on seat boxes (the gizmos under
>>your airplane seat that pipe music to you [...]
>
>Can give some more detail on how these work?  Do the planes have one large
>multitrack tape for all of the entertainment channels?
>

The name of the company was Telephonics, and the system was used on 747's and
L-1011s. Thirteen channels of audio (12 stereo, 1 PA, 1 intercom). Near the
front of the plane was 12 continous-loop tape players that fed into a box
that digitized the sound at 8kHz (or was it 12?), put it onto a serial line
(Time Division multiplexing, can't remember the frame rate), and daisy-chained
it to every seat on the plane. The seat boxes also had switches for lights
and stewardess call. These signals were multiplexed onto the line too, and
there was a little box in the overhead that controlled the lighting for your
seat depending on your switch setting.

This all worked real nice, but when the Zone Submultiplexers that controlled
the lighting went out, an entire row of lights would blink on and off all
at the same time. Then they would flip the breaker and no lights and no
sound!

The other thing that was controlled by the overhead boxes was the dropping of
the oxygen masks. A glitch here or there in the ZSs would cause all the masks
in a row to fall out at once. Needless to say, this would freak out passengers!

All this was done to save weight, as all you needed was one cable that had
power and this spiffy TDM signal. All the boxes had custom MOS/LSI stuff
in them. Telephonics (a division of Instrument Systems Corp) thought they would
make a bundle on service contracts to offset the expense of the system. What
they didn't count on was the horrendous environmental problems involved in
these boxes - high temperature, soda, vomit, gorilla service people, etc.

Anybody out there know whatever became of ISC/Telephonics?

tony "a TENSE workplace is a PRODUCTIVE workplace" o.
From: philip@vogon.cetia.fr (Philip Peake)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Radar Detectors, and Radar Detector Detectors
Keywords: Radar
Date: 29 Jul 92 08:43:34 GMT
Reply-To: philip@vogon.cetia.fr (Philip Peake)
Organization: CETIA, France

In article <1992Jul28.081721.7020@apricot.co.uk>, marcusj@apricot.co.uk (Marcus Jenkins) writes:
|> 
|> I understand, and this may well be completely apocryphal rumour, that
|> British TV's must emit a *minimum* amount of IF specifically so they
|> can be detected by detector vans.  I understand that there are ways
|> (that have been printed in passim amateur electonics magazines) to
|> 'shut your TV' up.  I assume these involve shielding (baking foil) around
|> the inside of the rear case of the receiver and inserting a high pass
|> filter in your antenna feed.  Has anybody got some more concrete info-
|> rmation on this?

This is incorrect.
Older TV's *HAD* to have a foil screen - no longer present on most
of the imported junk.

The detector vans pick up the line-frequency (15.625 KHz), not IF frequencies.
That is the reason for the monsterous antenna on the top of the van - it is
tuned to 15.625 KHz !

They can tell which channel you are watching by checking which transmission
the line frequency is synchronised to.

The *only* way to detect colour TV is to look for the 4.433625 MHz
colour sub-carrier - it may or may not be possible to detect this
at more than a few feet - it is not reliable.

It isn't realistically possible to "shut up your telly", since most of the
radiation comes through the screen - you could wrap foil around this too,
but it would sort of defeat the object ... To completely stop the radiation,
you would need magnetic screening too - a simple foil lining will stop
the electric component, but the big fat magnetic component will go
through with no problem.

Philip
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,rec.audio
From: tmkk@uiuc.edu (Khan)
Subject: Re: Life after CDs
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Mon, 27 Jul 1992 17:42:37 GMT


In article <1992Jul24.065517.870@trl.oz.au> tpearson@titan.trl.OZ.AU (Trevor Pearson) writes:
>tmkk@uiuc.edu (Khan) writes:
>> 
>> In article <1992Jul20.192541.1069@access.usask.ca> choy@skorpio.usask.ca writes:
>> >CDs are obsolete. What comes next?
>> 
>> Hmm... Well, LDs are 12" (like records) and analog (like records)...
>> Maybe the next generation is a 12" sound-only analog LD. Surely this
>> would make the die-hard-vinyl-LP-loving crowd happy? And think of the
>> capacity! CLV LDs can cram 60 minutes of video per side. Audio, with its
>> much lower bandwidth requirements, could probably fit several hours per
>> side.
>> 
>
>Sorry to be pedantic but it is only the video that is analog now on 
>LD's, the audio is digital.

Apology acepted. ;-)

Actually, there are TWO soundtracks on an LD: an ANALOG soundtrack and
(on later discs) a digital one as well. Even new LDs maintain the analog
soundtrack to remain compatible with older players. Some discs have
supplementary material in the analog tracks (e.g. Criterion's Close
Encounters or the CAV Bond discs). But what I'm talking about here is a
(theoretical) new format which uses the 12" laser-read disc, but stores
analog audio information in the space where analog video information is
stored on a laserdisc. Since the bandwidth requirements are so much
lower for audio, perhaps such a disc would be spun more slowly (like
33-1/3 RPM ;-).
From: row@bnr.co.uk
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: PCB-CAD
Date: 31 Jul 92 13:24:49 GMT
Reply-To: row@bnr.co.uk ()
Organization: BNR Europe Limited, London Road, Harlow, Essex, GB

Hi,

I have just got PCB-CAD and compiled it on a Sun and my Archimedes
and it is wonderful apart from one thing ... I haven't got a laserjet
printer ! Has anyone got any utilities to take the output from this
program and convert it to postscript OR a program to translate
laserjet to PS ?

Thanks
Reuben O. Wells	- BNR Europe Ltd - (+44) 279 403704
From: george@mech.seas.upenn.edu
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Life after CDs
Date: 21 Jul 92 15:59:17 GMT
Organization: University of Pennsylvania, Mechanical Engineering


  "We may be able to get rid of all Mechanical engineers in a few years."


judging by the design of much electronic equipment, i'd say the
electronics industry has already gotten rid of the mechanical engineers.

--
-george            george@mech.seas.upenn.edu
From: phys2108@waikato.ac.nz
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Help need with SPICE
Date: 31 Jul 92 16:55:56 +1200
Organization: University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand

Hi,
	I need to find some grid-mesh type data, and I think Spice may
be able to be used.We have a version of spice on our vax network. However,
I have never used spice before, and don't know how to find my way around it.
I have just recalled a the only spice book in the library, it is Friday
afternoon, and i can't find anyone who has used it yet. Does anyone out there
have any documentation on it, and if so can I FTP etc. I'll be working during
the weekend, and any help would be much appreciated,
Geoff.
From: cyberman@toz.buffalo.ny.us (Cyberman)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Gate array information?
Date: 25 Jul 92 00:21:15 GMT
X-Maildoor: WaflineMail 1.00r

Hi all strange question here anyone have a way to access info on
gate arrays without buying manuals?

        Stephen Cyberman@Toz.Buffalo.NY.US
        Scripted at Fri  07-24-1992  17:58:24

... Proofread carefully to see if you any words out.
--- Blue Wave/QWK v2.10
                                                                                                                   
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,rec.audio,alt.folklore.urban
From: hbg6@phx.mcd.mot.com (John Schuch)
Subject: Re: CDs, Pens and Blue Lasers.
Keywords: Make MILLION$ with ME.
Organization: Motorola Computer Group, Tempe, Az.
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 19:08:40 GMT

In article <1992Jul30.055802.9318@news.columbia.edu> lasner@watsun.cc.columbia.edu (Charles Lasner) writes:
>In article <11477@optilink.UUCP> manley@optilink.UUCP (Dave Manley) writes:
>
>>+ The SONIC CLARITY(tm) CORP., LTD. is an equal opportunity /  +
>>+ affirmative action employer. M/F/H/V/HVAC                    +
>
>Are you saying that your company gives affirmative action bias to High
>Voltage Alternating Current machines over humans?

Or is that Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning. I guess if you move
enough hot air, you qualify for a job. :-)

John


Newsgroups: sci.electronics,rec.audio,alt.folklore.urban
From: lasner@watsun.cc.columbia.edu (Charles Lasner)
Subject: Re: CDs, Pens and Blue Lasers.
Keywords: Make MILLION$ with ME.
Reply-To: lasner@watsun.cc.columbia.edu (Charles Lasner)
Organization: Columbia University
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1992 05:58:02 GMT

In article <11477@optilink.UUCP> manley@optilink.UUCP (Dave Manley) writes:

>+ The SONIC CLARITY(tm) CORP., LTD. is an equal opportunity /  +
>+ affirmative action employer. M/F/H/V/HVAC                    +

Are you saying that your company gives affirmative action bias to High
Voltage Alternating Current machines over humans?

cj "I just knew I'd be replaced by a machine" l
From: m0102@tnc.UUCP (FRANK NEY)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Probably a FAQ: CATV channel frequencies
Date: 23 Jul 92 15:15:49 GMT
Reply-To: m0102@tnc.UUCP (FRANK NEY)
Organization: The Next Challenge, Fairfax, Va.


As I understand it, just keep adding.  Channel 14 is 6MHz above
13 and so on.  Since it is a closed system, interference with other
services is not possible.

And if you believe that, I've got a great bridge for sale cheap.
Wonderful view of Brooklyn.

Frank Ney N4ZHG EMT-P  NRA ILA GOA CCRTKBA "M-O-U-S-E"
Commandant and Acting President, Northern Virginia Free Militia
Send e-mail for an application and more information
----------------------------------------------------------------
"Whether the authorities be invaders or merely local tyrants, the 
effect of such [gun] laws is to place the individual at the mercy of 
the state, unable to resist."
       - Robert Heinlein, in a 1949 letter concerning "Red Planet"
-- 
The Next Challenge - Public Access Unix in Northern Va. - Washington D.C.
703-803-0391 To log in for trial and account info.
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,rec.audio,alt.folklore.computers
From: eric@telebit.com (Eric Smith)
Subject: Re: Life after CDs
Organization: Telebit Corporation
	<1992Jul26.155337.14069@news.columbia.edu>
	<ERIC.92Jul26155404@iceland.telebit.com> <3647@randvax.rand.org>
Date: 28 Jul 92 01:03:49

>>On 26 Jul 92 23:05:49 GMT, edhall@rand.org (Ed Hall) said:
> Even the cheapest VCR will have no problem locking onto a signal 0.1%
> faster than NTSC.  Consumer video cameras/camcorders can be off by more
> than that.

That's correct.  The problem is usually using the tape as a source.  If the
VCR is adjusted to spec, the vertical sync rate on playback will be 59.94 Hz,
even if the tape was orginally recorded with a 60 Hz rate.  If you pass a
PCM encoded audio signal from this player to another player that can handle
the 0.1% error, you can dub it fine.  But you may not be happy if you try to
listen to it, as the D/A system will either lock to the lower speed, or
have sample slips.

> This is good, since sample-rate conversion between 44.1Ks/s and 44.056Ks/s
> is pretty tricky and computationally expensive.

Computationally expensive is relative.  I wouldn't try to do it in real time
on my 486 machine, but a $10 integer DSP chip with about $15 worth of fast
static RAM can do it.

Cheers,
Eric
From: ehare@arrl.org (Ed Hare KA1CV)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: recommendations for shielding?
Date: 19 Jul 92 08:48:09 EDT
Organization: American Radio Relay League

In sci.electronics, chiangk@mira.crd.ge.com (Ken Chiang) writes:

>i'd like to shield my computer, its associated wires, and some telephone line,
>so that there is no interference with either my television or radio.  for the
>cabling, i've thought of putting them in some sort of metal pipe, except that i
>have no facilities for bending all the pipe that is required (and i'd like this
>project to cost less than $200).  as for the computer itself, the case is
>already metal, so i'm sort of at a loss for new ideas.  
 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Ken,

In the crazy world of electromagnetic compatibility we have a saying -- 
components don't radiate, wires do. The same thing usually applies to a 
metal case. It is far more likely that your peripheral wires (monitor, 
keyboard, printer, etc.) are doing the actual radiating.

First, make sure that you are using shielded cable. It won't be necessary
to install all of the cables in pipe, tho. Braided shielded cable should 
work just fine.

You can also try common-mode chokes on both ends of all cables. I would
recommend about 10 turns on an FT-140-43. You can also try some of the
clamp-on ferrites, although these are not usually effective for the low
end of the HF range.

Our free package - the EMI/RFI Package - contains a list of EMI/RFI products
that are available retail. It is available for a large SASE (9X12) from our
Technical Department Secretary. Our postage cost is 98 cents.

The ARRL book "Radio Frequency Interference - How to Find It and Fix It"
has a chapter on computer interference. Contact ARRL for information about
products and service.

You can contact me directly if I can answer any interference questions.
73, Ed


-----
Ed Hare, KA1CV                  | ehare@arrl.org
American Radio Relay League     | 
225 Main St.                    |
Newington, CT  06111            | There is no limit to what you can 
(203) 666-1541 - voice          | accomplish if you don't care who
Senior ARRL Laboratory Engineer | gets the credit. - Harry S Truman
RFI, xmtr and rcvr testing      |  
-----
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
From: klp@doe.carleton.ca (Ka Lun Pang)
Subject: FM subcarrier encryption
Organization: Dept. of Electronics, Carleton University
Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1992 16:47:59 GMT

Hi folks,

A friend of mine in Toronto told me about that foreign language radio stations
in that city use some sort of "FM subcarrier" for broadcasting. The signal
has to be received by special made radio sold by the stations.

Does anyone have more detail on this kind of operation?
Maybe someone in Toronto can tell me more about the technical side of this
story.

Thanks in advance.


Ka Lun Pang
From: bower@pecan.cns.udel.edu (Tyson Bower)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: Life after CDs
Date: 23 Jul 92 22:23:45 GMT
Article-I.D.: udel.1992Jul23.222345.22664
Organization: University of Delaware, Newark

I have not only heard the Beethoven's 9th story, I read it in a magazine.
(Ok, so you can't believe everything you read,  it's still more substantial
than, "I heard somewhere that...")

I wish I could remember which periodical it was.  Either Stereo Review
or High Fidelity.  It was a 1982 issue.  They were doing a report on the
latest addition to the audio market (the CD).  Apparantly, on interviewing
one of the engineers at Sony, he mentioned the Beethoven's imposed
time limit was sort of an informal requirement for the new media. 

Take it for what it's worth.  I'll try to find the exact reference, if
anybody cares...
From: falatic@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (MacGyver)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: 7 seg. Hex display driver IC?
Date: 25 Jul 92 08:17:16 GMT
Distribution: na
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center


	Hi! I am looking for a chip to convert BCD (actually, straight 4 bit 
binary) to drive a 7 segment LED display, and to display 10d to 15d in
Hexadecimal (A-F). I need something LIKE a 7447 driver, but that one does not 
treat 10d-15d the way I need. Anyone who can help, please reply thru E-Mail
if possible, or post here.
	ALSO!!!!! I need to find people who would be willing to make a
few dollars programming PALs or GALs or EPROMS for me, or vice versa. I am
in the Lafayette, IN area, and will travel in the state to get this service.
Any suggestions? (I don't need this right now, but I will in the coming
months....)
		Thanks!!!
			Marty "MacGyver" Falatic
				-falatic@mentor.cc.purdue.edu
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
From: martin@datacomm.ucc.okstate.edu (Martin McCormick)
Subject: Re: SHOCKING STORIES
Organization: Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 16:23:40 GMT


The question was asked as to how one goes about testing an
electric chair.  Besides the flip answer of "ve--ry
carefully," I recall reading, in a news magazine, that one of
the Southern states was having trouble with their chair.  It
seemed that they had to buzz this one guy several times
before his heart finally stopped.  Observers had reported
seeing dull red flames around the electrodes attached to the
prisoner's head and opponents of capital punishment were
saying that the prisoner was suffering cruel and unusual
punishment.  That same state had another convict awaiting the
same fate and prison officials wanted to be sure the system
was in working order.  They reportedly tested it by using
a dumby load consisting of a  kitchen colander covered with a
wet sponge.
     The lawyer for the man scheduled to test it for real
claimed that this wasn't a valid test because all it
demonstrated was that it worked on a kitchen colander.  I
believe that, a few days later, it worked on the real thing.

Martin McCormick WB5AGZ   Stillwater, OK
O.S.U. Computer Center Data Communications Group
From: falatic@mentor.cc.purdue.edu (MacGyver)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Re: blue LEDs
Date: 30 Jul 92 21:54:53 GMT
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center


	Jameco Electronics sells a T1-3/4 packaged Blue LED (Silicon Carbide)
part number 5D16 currently for $2.95 each. I just ordered a couple from them, 
in fact, and am eagerly awaiting my delivery. Jameco's number is 
(800) 831-4242. NOTE: I have found NO ONE else (eg DigiKey, JDR, etc.,) yet
who also sell these. If anyone out there knows of other places (cheaper, 
preferably!), let me know!

	-Marty "MacGyver"
		falatic@mentor.cc.purdue.edu
From: downin@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Dave Downin)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics
Subject: Help me identify this!
Date: 24 Jul 92 11:56:47 GMT
Reply-To: downin@oasys.dt.navy.mil (Dave Downin)
Organization: Carderock Division, NSWC, Bethesda, MD

I am trying to find out just what exactly this part is.  It is a 3-pronged
package like a regulator or a transistor.

Looks something like this:  (the M is the Motorolla symbol)

-----------
|  ----   |
|  |  |   |
|  ----   |
-----------
|M        |
|1826-0214|
|QQ8618   |
-----------
 |   |   |
 |   |   |
 |   |   |
 |   |   |

Please reply by e-mail.  Also, any information regarding an exact replacement
part or where I could obtain another one of these would be appreciated.

-Dave Downin
Xref: sparky sci.electronics:13612 comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware:20653
From: mikey@slic.cts.com (Mike Shirley)
Newsgroups: sci.electronics,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Airport X-Rays / Testing the integrity of Floppies
Summary: Airport Screening will not Necessarily Damage Floppies
Date: 30 Jul 92 04:38:16 GMT
Reply-To: mikey@slic.cts.com
Organization: Muth Valley Seismic Control District, San Diego, CA / Node 2

nolan@tssi.com (Michael Nolan) writes:

> On the other hand, I had a 720K 3.5" diskette that I forgot to take out
> of my computer's carrying case before it went through the X-ray scan and
> it now gives me read errors, although so far at least a couple of retries
> has always done the trick.  (And I've compared the results with an earlier
> install and the files are identical.)  Given my choice, I'd pull the
> diskettes from the case.

That certainly is the safest way to play.  But for what it's
worth, I've done the following...

I formated 2 3.5 HD floppies and wrote a 503K ZIP file to each.

I ran disk A through the X-Ray machine 1 time, then walked
through the metal detector (magnetometer) twice, and lastly ran the
hand scanner over/around the floppy twice.  This was to simulate
a normal pass through airport security, more or less.

I then took disk B and ran it through the X-Ray machine 10 times,
then placed the floppy inside the walk-thru metal detector and
ran it around the 3 walls of the machine, placing the floppy as
close as possible to the mag coils.  I then ran the floppy
through 10 times as if I were carrying it through normally.  Next
20 or so passes with the hand-held metal detector.

I then ran "CHKDSK" and "PKUNZIP -t" to test the ZIP file.
Both floppies passed fine and had identical values before and
after the "scanning".  Our machines are 14 months old and were then
the "latest in technology" at the time of purchase.

Bottom line, it appears that late model hardware will not cause data
loss on floppy discs.  But, as they say...your mileage may vary...

--
     Mike, WB6WUI   //   INET:  mikey@slic.cts.com   //   GEnie: SLIC
Xref: sparky sci.electronics:13700 alt.folklore.urban:20228