Advantages: Some practical circuits, some introduction to new electronics concepts (only on the surface level) Disadvantages: Few new ideas, not in depth discussion about anything, repeating of trivial circuits, few writers with few ideas. Neither strong on theory, nor strong on state of art technology.
Bill W says: It's pretty good. In addition to relatively interesting projects with simple components/pc boards, there are "experimenter" style columns with some basic theory and circuits to experiment with.
Bill W says: It started out worse than "Radio Electronic", and seems to have gone even further downhill.
Bill W says: "EE Times" gets my vote for best "news oriented" electonics magazine.
Practical applications of microcomputers, (with a higher quality of engineering than the average in Electronics Now). Along with some theory articles covering things like how to synthesize holograms. Like an older copy of Byte, without the reviews (so it's about 1/4 the size :-)
Bill W says: Recently, they've also had a lot of articles based around the the PIC processors. Articles tend to revolve around concepts like "interface a single board microcontroller to your furnace/alarm system/whatever, although ocasionally there is a really cool article/project like "software generated holograms" or "single chip wind-speed measurement drives monitor directly." Typically, projects are not something you can build out of "junkbox" components (frequently exotic parts are considered a feature!), and PC board complexity is high, perhaps contra-indicating home etching. On the other hand, many of the projects are from professional or semi-pro designers, and have PC boards and/or kits comercially available.
By the way: Steve Ciarcia's e-mail is ciarcia@circellar.com
Projects use a lot of European components, making things a little difficult for North Americans. On newsstands in Europe. North America by subscription only. Generally high quality articles, projects developed in Phillips labs, nice board layouts. Published in a bunch of languages in various editions. Theory similar to RE
We are nearly 25 years old and cover mainly the hobbyist, student and educational sectors, being widely subscribed in many UK colleges, universities and schools, also we are well known for our project pages - at least 5 projects every month, fully supported by the writers. Project details include all diagrams, p.c.b. foils and photos to enable you to build the projects successfully and the writers will generally be very happy to lend a hand to anyone in difficulty.
We also include lengthy educational series and regular features such as my own Circuit Surgery column (helpdesk for readers' general questions) and Ingenuity Unlimited (Readers' own circuits), news, topical features and much more!! Best of all, we cater for all abilities in electronics, from the complete novice up to quite serious level!
Subscription rates:
POUNDS STERLING ONLY
Delivered in the UK Stlg. 24.00 Overseas Stlg 30.00 or Stlg 47.50 airmail.
Payments accepted by Cheques or bank drafts in Sterling, drawn on a UK bank, or Visa/ Mastercard, by writing to:-
EPE Subscriptions Department, Wimborne Publishing Ltd., Allen House, East Borough, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1PF.
Tel. + 44 1202 881749 Fax + 44 1202 841692.
Email address is postmaster@epemag.demon.co.uk or alternatively my own address alan@epemag.demon.co.uk
Minimum credit card value accepted is Stlg. 5.00
Comprehensive back issue service, also our PCB Service enables readers to buy ready-made project PCBs direct from us when desired. Also, our Direct Book Service stocks many interesting titles for direct sale to readers.
Similar to Elektor, but has the very cool feature of including a centre-fold of pc board positive artwork on transparent plastic. Only auf Deutsch. Makes things difficult if you don't know the language. Same problem with strange Euro parts. Some ELV projects appear in the North American editions of Elektor.
Probably only published auf Deutsch. Haven't seen enough to judge it. Seems to be good for ham radio projects.
The want ads for the electronics underground. Recently added some article and columns, which range from trivial to incomprehensible, with some good stuff in-between. A lot of ads :-)
Bill W says: "Nuts & Volts", which used to be almost exclusively an advertising vehicle, has moved up quite a bit. Now each issue has several projects, as well as rather nice columns on robotics and laser experimentation. It's very experimenter oriented - while EN might have projects rivaling commercial products, N&V will have articles on radio tracking or transisitor testing. I'm just annoyed that the surplus stores I frequent stopped advertising there, so I can't get free copies any more!
and
Electronics Design or EDN
Cahners Publishing Netherlands
Postbus 9000
2130 DB HOOFDDORP
Netherlands
It's about Electronics Products. Contains what's new and how to use it. Disadvantages are controlled circulation - qualify or forget it (or pay a lot of money)
Bill W says: "EDN" also has a "Design Ideas" column with small and quick circuits. These range from weird to neat to obscure to advertisements for some companies chips. Frequently these originate from some manufacturer's engineering department, and describe interesting ways that some new chip can be used.
It's about Design and Development - CAD = EDA (Electronic Design Automation),
Logic Synthesis (PALASM, CUPL, ABEL), Compilers -> Data Acquisition and
Control - Data collection, process control -> Test and Analysis -
Logic analyzers plug-ins, O'cope boards, graphing and display. Good columns
on DSP, Embedded Techniques, etc
Disadvantage: mostly new product releases
It's about industry news, new product information, design discussions, and lots of advertising. This news paper is mainly aimed at the professional, however a hobbits would definitely find it to be interesting reading. The subscription is free to people they believe to be in the industry. I'm not sure how tight their screening is, but it takes a long time to get your first issue. (3-6 months)
In between a trade journal and a popular magazine. Projects tend not to have PCB layouts, as if they are provided more to illustrate a point. Good theory in less depth than IEEE journals. Older issues were much meatier, on a par with journals.
Electronics & Wireless World is available both via subscription ($116/yr. via airmail) and on the newsstand. EWW is well worth any effort it takes to get it. Wish we had a magazine like this published in the US. UK only
T&MW covers all aspects of electronics test and measurement, including test instruments (scopes, DMMs, etc.), automatic test equipment (ATE), computer-controlled instruments, and instrumentation software.
Very little on the electrical and non-semiconductor side of things, almost everything has a chip in it. Subscription price is $29.95. Note: This is an Australian magazine now with US editions
Only in Australia.
Non-qualified U.S. and all other countries subscription base rate is $62.00. (2nd Class/Surface shipping), Airmail outside North America add $50
Sensors magazine subscription info:
Sensors
P.O. Box 1285
Northbrook, IL 60065-1285
"Historically Brewed" is a small bimonthly magazine (24 pages) of the Historical Computer Society. "HB" is filled with stories of the people and machines which forged a revolution that changed our lives as drastically as the telephone and the automobile. It's informative, interesting and often humerous. Past articles have covered the history of the GUI, Altair, Star Trek and its influence on the development of the personal computer, Computer war stories, Kaypro Korner, Apple ][ history revisited and more. Regular features include letters, book reviews, trading post, classifieds and other resources for computer history buffs.
"HB" was recently listed in "Wired" magazine's "Top Ten 'Zines" feature out of over 1000 reviewed in "Factsheet Five" (a newsletter review mag from San Francisco) and it is now sold at The Computer Museum in Boston.
To try the premier publication for computer history enthusiasts and "old stuff" collectors, send $3.00 to the address above. Subscriptions are $18 a year.
Electronic fuel injection theory and projects, among other auto racing topics. Not on newsstands.
Ham radio oriented. Various ham-oriented projects. Little theory. North America only?
Published by CQ ("Contesters' Quarterly" :-) to sort of apologize for taking over Ham Radio (which used to be the most technical ham radio magazine). Published four times a year and fairly expensive, but has significant technical content.
THE original ham mag. Ham projects. Used to have theory. May have gone "lite" according to rumors.
Note: Published by the ARRL, more technical content and no contest results :-). Recently, they had an article on DSP theory which served as a companion to a DSP construction article in QST. Monthly, but very thin, needs more contributors.
Loudspeaker and test gear projects and modifications. Not on newsstands.
Occasionally publishes audio projects, ranging from test gear to power amps and antennae. Sometimes prints schematics of equipment being reviewed. VERY occasionally.
High-end audio projects and modifications. Some theory. Not on newsstands.
These are here because I have no clue what category they belong in... anyone know?