Order at no risk .* 24 hours a day, 7 days a week .

Have your
We'lI give you 10 days to try out the ZX81 . If MasterCard or VISA ready.
you're not completely satisfied, just return it to These numbers are for orders only. If you just
Sinclair Research and we'll give you a full refund . want information, please write : Sinclair Research
And if you have a problem with your ZX81, Ltd ., 2 Sinclair Plaza, Nashua, NH 03061 .
'Plus shipping and handling . Price includes connectors for TV and cassette, AC adaptor, and
send it to Sinclair Research within 90 days and FREE manual .
**Does not apply to ZX81 kits .
we'll repair or replace it at no charge .
Introducing the ZX81 kit.
If you really want to save
money, and you enjoy building elec-
tronic kits, you can order the ZX81
in kit form for the incredible price
of just $99 .95 .* It's the same, full-
featured computer, only you put it
together yourself . We'll send com-
plete, easy-to-follow instructions NEW sOFTWARE : Sinclair ZX PRic i Ln . 16K MEMORY MODULE :
on how you can assemble your has published pre-recorded Printer will work with your Like any powerful, full
programs on cassettes for ZX81 . It will be available in the fledged computer, the ZX81
ZX81 in just a few hours . All you your ZX81 . We're constantly near future and will cost less is expandable . Sinclair's 16K
have to supply is the soldering iron . coming out with new pro- than $100 . memory module plugs right
grams, so we'll send you our onto the back of your ZX81 .
A leader in microelectronics . latest software catalog with Cost is $99 .95, plus shipping
The ZX81 represents the latest yourr computer. and handling .

in microelectronics .
More than 10,000 are sold every
week. In fact, the ZX81 is the fastest
selling personal computer in the
world .
sinclair
We urge you to place your To order call toll free : 800-543-3000
order for the ZX81 today. r~~~ ==== =M
E
'
To order. Ad Code 06PE Price* Qty. Amount
To order, simply call toll free . ZX81 $149 .95
Or use the coupon below . Remem- ZX81 Kit 99 .95
ber, you can try it for 10 days at no 16K Memory Module 99 .95
risk .* * The sooner you order, the Shipping and Handling 4 .95 $4 .95
sooner you can start enjoying your TOTAL
own computer.
MAIL TO : Sinclair Research Ltd .,
Call toll free 800-543-3000 . One Sinclair Plaza, Nashua, NH 03061 .
Ask for operator # 509 . In
Name
Ohio call : 800-582-1364 ; in Can-
ada call : 513-729-4300 . Ask for Address
operator # 509 . Phones open
City State Zip


Few Years Ago,

he Idea of a
r You Could
r Pocket
as Just
Fiction."
ac Asimov
enowned Science and

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Today, Just '149 .95 Buys a Radio Shack TRS-80®

Pocket Computer-And That's a Fact!
Back when computers filled entire Programs and data stay in memory
rooms, Isaac Asimov was writing even when the Pocket Computer is
about computers you could hold in turned off. And it can also function just
your hand . "Radio Shack's TRS-80 like a calculator-something a
Pocket Computer turned my dreams desktop computer can't do .
into reality. Now I can take the power of "With a TRS-80 Pocket Computer, you
a true computer with me wherever I can hold the future in the palm of your
go," says Asimov . hand ." Add our $79 .95 Minisette°-9
The TRS-80 Pocket Computer is programmable in cassette recorder and a Cassette Interface for $29 .95,
BASIC . Isaac, however, would rather write novels than or a Cassette Interface with built-in printer for
programs . "If you're like me, you'll want to get a low $127 .95 . They're all as close as your nearby Radio
cost interface that lets you use Radio Shack's ready-to- Shack store, dealer or Computer Center .
run programs." There are programs for engineering,
finances, statistics-even real estate and aviation . I want a glimpse of the Radio Shack, Dept. 82-A-502 ~
1300 One Tandy Center
future- send me a Fort Worth, Texas 76102
I TRS-80 computer catalog .

Rade IhaeK
The biggest name in little computers ®
NAME

ADDRESS

I CITY STATE ZIP

Retail prices may vary at individual stores and dealers .


Pop#- lElectiromes
0

WORLD'S LARGEST SELLING ELECTRONICS MAGAZINE JUNE 1982/$1 .25

How to Get Stereo Sound from TV&VCRs

Wireless System Stops B urglars BeforeThey Enter
Add a Status Monitor to Extension Telephones

Riri-Unm»»ter Performance from a PocketComn»ter

T Ton".
90
E£ sue ::
SNIxdOH S&`mnt
2&' ,inl OTtrO £60T00T0 NdH
tr000tComputer System
0
2 AudioNideo Control Amplifier
14024 142781 III ~~ ocfiy ,vim-ivi uvuby-C Noise Reduction Processor


t
CDflŒNL
Copping Out

copout : to back out (as of an unwanted
responsibility) .
The Federal Communications Com-
mission (FCC) recently declined to en-
dorse any of the five AM stereo trans-
mission methods submitted to it . The
Commision decided to allow the "mar-
ketplace" to determine which system(s)
it wishes to use .
What a copout! To give you some
background : the FCC chose one stereo
AM system (Magnavox's) in 1980, then
succumbed to a cacophony of screeches
and screams from a variety of disap-
pointed contenders and others who fa-
vored one system or another . So it did
not finalize its endorsement, intending
to study the proposals again . Now the
FCC contends, in a 6-1 vote, that choos-
ing a single system would cause further
delays in introducing stereo AM owing
to fears of a lengthy court fight .
What a copout!
The one dissenter, Abbot Washburn,
notes that having competing systems out
there would result in higher receiver
prices for consumers, who would have to
buy a receiver capable of tuning in the
various AM stereo systems that could be
used in their reception area . He also
observed that this decision could delay
AM stereo service (which has been on
the FCC agenda since 1977) .
A Commissioner who decided not to
decide said that the action was "terribly
unfortunate ." Another apologized by
calling the refusal " . . . a practical
and political solution to a technical
problem ."
I believe that the FCC has sullied
itself by not choosing a single, nation-
wide system . This is carrying a free-
market philosophy too far . Will the AM
stereo broadcast maker who is best
financed overwhelm poorer competi-
tors? Will the confusion of choosing
from among multiple systems cause
broadcasters to delay buying a transmit-
ting system? Will radio receiver makers
move more cautiously in producing units
to receive the mix of transmissions that
is likely to be chosen by various broad-
casters?
According to the National Semicon-
ductor Corporation, it has developed a
low-cost AM stereo decoder chip that is
universal to all AM stereo systems pro-
posed . The pilot-tone section for each
system has to be added, though, as do
switching provisions . Since system com-
patibility extends beyond different pilot
tones, I question whether performance
of each system would be optimized, pe-
nalizing the consumer with less-than-
the-best performance as well as higher
price .
The ultimate loser in this comedy is
the consumer, who will be forced to
blithely switch his car stereo (estimated
to be the largest radio market for AM
stereo) from one stereo AM system to
another as he rides merrily along a high-
way . This would be a dangerous distrac-
tion for any driver .
I hope that copping out won't become
the order of the day for FCC decisions in
the future .

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