Extra! Extra! This is what you said, this is what we say.
by the Editor
AS WELL AS providing us with a lot of statistical information which we shall be using to help provide what you-the-buyers want from electronics monthly the 1985 Reader Survey turned up a lot of valuable comments from readers.
While there were no big surprises, we thought you would like to know some thing about what your contemporaries are saying and what will be influencing us in the future.
Let's get down to the nitty gritty. More than half the replies thought the first two issues of EM were "good" compared with our rivals. Hardly anyone said they thought we were "poor". Well, they wouldn't, would they? Taking into account that people who aren't interested are not going to buy a magazine, we are very pleased with that result. You are quick enough, after all, to let us know when something is wrong.
Nearly a quarter of you come from the Thames area, but there are also plenty in the Granada, Harlech, Central and Yorkshire areas.
By far the most popular project is The Thing (more of that later). Well over half of you own a computer, but you are far more interested in general electronics knowledge (theoretical and practical) than programming. Which is as it should be, is it not? You are more interested in electronics as a personal pastime than simply as an education. More than half prefer to use PCBs, and many would like to etch their own; around a quarter already do, but Veroboard is still very popular.
Project builders are fairly evenly split between those who build 'straight' and those who build with a few mods, and ditto between those whose projects work first time and those whose projects work after a bit of tweaking--but nearly half have some trouble getting components.
People still expect too much from component suppliers. We won't mention motor spares. But people express surprise when their favorite supplier doesn't stock the whole list. Most of them give a pretty remarkable service, if you think about it.
------------ Readers prepare to beseige our offices...but are thwarted. We're in the basement...
Give Me Space
Our research also shows that a very large number of EM readers believe that they are the only person who remembered to include their name and
address on the form. 'How will you know where to send my prize?' Is this a fiddle, perhaps?' Where's the space for my name' were typical comments. 'This isn't April 1st, is it?' was another (look at the cover date, buster). 'Is this an initiative test for a sub-editor?' was yet another. A what? We don't do marine engineering here, sorry.
A far larger grouping of EM readers simply put their name and address in the space provided.
The lucky ten winners duly emerged from the bottom of a deep postal sack and had the immediate privilege of posing with the Editor's Hat (the survey forms, that is. We aren't inviting you up here to meet it in person) and will be hearing in due course.
A reaction of overwhelming joy radiated from those who wanted their electronics spelled out as simply as possible, and they are many. 'Good value, ideal for me (a beginner)'. 'We need a non-expert approach.' So far I like this mag (but I'm no judge)'. 'Articles can never be too simple for we newcomers.' Perfect magazine.' The editor deserves a bigger hat. With all the money I'll be saving not buying other mags I can buy more components.' A dream. It really shows concern for the beginner's ignorance.' The Editor has put in for a bigger head.
Not everyone who likes the simple approach is a lone novice. Many of you are teachers. 'I'm a teacher of middle school children. I know very little about electronics, but we have constructed some simple projects. For the likes of me any circuitry should be discussed very simply' says one. Others are actually working. 'Studying mechanical and production engineering and finding electronics rather difficult, it is very refreshing to find a magazine so easy to read' said one engineer, and another cried 'I am a qualified installation electrician, but as for understanding electronics, I have learned more from two editions of your magazine than I did in four years at tech.' Does this provide an answer to the well meaning gent who pleaded: 'Do not write patronizing articles about electronics theory. The reader is fairly intelligent just to want to read a technical magazine as a hobby pastime.' I don't want to knock your self-esteem, but it might be a mistake to assume that everyone who wants to build gadgets is quick on the uptake, or that intelligence is measured by someone's ability to grasp what is, at bottom, a very, very complicated subject.
I can wholeheartedly recommend ETI for people who find EM too simple, but not for the guy who asked: 'Have been a reader of ETI but it has got too technical.
How about a series on building a computer from scratch, say, with a module costing £ (x 1.4 USD) 10 a month? It would then not be too expensive.' We would jump at the chance, but what would the first issue feature? Half a micro processor?
Future Articles
Not surprisingly, the most popular comments were suggestions for future articles. You came down very heavily on the side of more information on components, specifications, general information and circuit design. 'It would be ideal if simple projects could be done in groups on breadboard before transferring them onto PCBs or Vero' writes a teacher. But why not? It would be a very instructive exercise, for school groups or electronics clubs alike, to build up projects onto breadboard, simply following the circuit diagram, and matching this with the layout given. You may develop alternative layouts and modifications, and will certainly learn a lot about following schematics and testing the circuit as you go along.
Music projects are in demand. So, despite long controversy on the subject, are computer related projects (we'll come back to that), burglar alarms and household projects in general. 'I would like to see dimmers. Xmas tree light flashers, digital thermostats. etc.' writes one hopeful. There. I would say, is a very satisfied customer!
'Projects on tape decks are very rare.
Are they too difficult for us?' comes an appeal. Tape decks come under the general heading of projects which would be too expensive to construct, considering the quality and price of shop-bought tape recorders; the same, unfortunately.
goes for quite a few gadgets which were once hobbyist staples. 'Would it be possible to do a modular project for a dual beam oscilloscope so that the expense could be over a long period? After all a 'scope is THE instrument for electronics' laments another reader.
How true this is. We have been looking into it, but after one disastrous effort two years ago, we are aware that there is no such thing as a cheap oscilloscope.
The problem is that, even if it were possible to devise a cheap, modular 'scope, we have yet to find an author whose services we can afford to buy-in to design one. Magazines can't pay the rates for what is in reality a piece of industrial design. Any serious suggestions will be looked at carefully.
The computer debate still rages, but it is beginning to take an encouraging and coherent form:
'No computer programs please!'
'Please, please, please cut down on computer items as the market is swamped with computer books: 'No more computers.' All the other publications have gone mad on computers.'
'How nice to see a journal which is not full with computers.'--the list is endless.
But we also have the pros: 'Great mag.
How about a project for the Amstrad CPC464?" There must be many unused ZX81 s lying around. A project that used them even if it means destroying them may be useful.' There must be lots of people interested in building simple components to interface computers.'-
intelligent comments, and ones which show an appreciation of micros as a component which can be used as part of a piece of electronic equipment. This is the kind of computer building which we want to include in our mix of subjects.
But don't worty! The accent is always going to be on fundamental electronics, which means resistors. capacitors, and simple logic. Yes, egg timers too, if that's what people want.
More Women This year we have a cross section of five lady readers, an advance of four on our last survey. It emerges that you are grown-ups, and that in general you have some kind of job in view. It seems to be accepted now that boys are more interested in how things work, and girls are more interested in how beings work.
Perhaps this is why there are more women in amateur radio than in electronics. 'Can we have more projects which appeal more to girls?' comes a plaintive cry, but she doesn't say what those projects are. I don't think she means egg timers. I shall not speculate lest I fall into pre-judgment. I shall only add that my intuition gives me no insight into this one whatsoever, and that when I suggested a speedometer for a horse to Ms. James in the ad. department, she laid into me with a back-number.
On the other hand the question of components: 'We want more sources for components--many suppliers will not quote a price for a complete list of components but offer their catalogues for £ (x 1.4 USD) 1 or more. We want alternative components to the originals.' See my comments higher up for the first half. All the components we use have been sourced at the time and are available from large component suppliers or from some source quoted. Please don't substitute components in projects unless you know in advance what you are doing.
'When From The Start finishes, courses on circuit design and digital electronics would be welcome.' is a representative comment. It will come, don't worry, in the long term, and in the meantime there will be occasional articles on those subjects. 'I would like to see charts printed covering IC data, transistor data etc. and most of all ceramic plate capacitors' writes another reader, and many of you chime in with him. We will look into it. How about
'Electronics magazines fight shy of mathematics. It would be nice if you started to show the beauty in the maths of electronics theory'? Well, we want to put over electronics with as little maths as possible, but having said that ... it is a mathematical subject. 'Articles on trouble shooting and test equipment would be most welcome.' Can we have more on fault finding please, especially hifi and radio?'. Yes, we can. 'Could some articles be included on TV servicing please?' No. Television servicing is an absolute minefield. Most TV servicepersons are specialists in one kind of set, or operate simply by replacing modules. Having watched grown men moved almost to tears by a color telly I can understand why.
The ancient subject of misprints had a good airing. 'The Veroboard for The Thing is not in the book' (please, please, sir, books have little pages) 'Doesn't anybody check?' My poor heart. Yes. All the things which aren't mistakes are the products of multiple checks. The mistakes are the ones which get through. Many of our contributors are amateurs, and occasionally we lose something because pressure of life diverts the author. The person who was to do the Vero layout still intends to, and a miniature PCB as well, but is rather heavily involved elsewhere at present.
We'll put it on the cover when it happens.
'If there are errors, how about publishing errors the next month, instead of six months later?' asks one reader. We publish them as soon as we know about them. We hear about most errors from readers. If you suspect something is not right, try us on it. We can't take technical enquiries by phone, but error enquiries are another matter--call us.
"The second issue reminds me of early HE--I wonder why? It's important to have a clear layout, simple explanations and a hint of humor in the writing like ETI.' (Hold on. I'm not sure I can stand that much humor.) '741 s are a bit old fashioned. How about readers projects and short circuits? EM seems a but thin for around £ (x 1.4 USD) 1--even I can remember when P* E* was 3 shillings'.
741 s are old fashioned, but a lot of students, as well as serious designers, are still using them. You have short circuits, you send us short circuits. If we look a bit like early HE, we'll be well pleased. It was a good mag idea then and it's a good one now. I can remember when New Musical Express was only 21/2p for a whole issue. How things change. . . .
ON the subject of commerce: 'I wonder how intimately related to dealers/producers is this magazine (eg question 17). I'm allergic to hidden advertising'. Not at all, mate. We don't deal in any hardware except the PCBs (and we don't even make them ourselves), we have no commercial connections, and when we are doing a promotion we let you know about it, so rest easy in your bed. No kickbacks around here. Darn it.
ON the subject of black holes: 'The paper it is printed on really puts me off.
Quality of paper attracts people even if the cover price is lifted slightly. It would improve your illustrations no end'. Yes, we are tired of not being able to see our own photos properly, too, and we are looking into the print processes, etc. to find a solution.
ON the subject of media: "Why are the lessons not available on tape (VCR)?' You don't want to see this editorial team on your TV, that's why. 'Letters page is a bit thin. Don't you have any letters?' Strewth, mother, the ice pack. We don't have room. I'm trying to lever some of the pages apart to get more letters in even now.
I will sum up with the most illuminating comments. 'Don't forget every hobbyist wants to learn more about the field, from start to new tech.' I know nothing about electronics, but if you touch a live wire, you say ARRGH. "Please put simpler projects and anythink, just so we get practice and also get the knowledge.' (Can this gentleman contact me with a handwritten letter, please, identifying himself. He forgot to include his address.) And my favourite one: 'Thanks for a great magazine'.
-------------- Hurry up and jump! These things are going for my throat.
Also see: SHORT CIRCUIT: RF SIGNAL TRACER