When I was looking for a house two years ago, I found all of the CC&R documents and plat maps for properties that looked like possibilities online by going to the web sites of title companies that served the area where I was looking.  I was looking at houses 500 miles from where I lived so I did a LOT of online looking to try to narrow the choices (maybe lack of choices) before spending time looking at houses that weren't strong possibilities.

While the emphasis here always seems to be antennas and towers, you may find a lot of other things objectionable.  How about a requirement to keep your garage door closed except when you're actually going in or out, or having your front yard maintained by a lawn care company chosen by the association and paid for in your dues?

The real estate listing will usually give the subdivision name, but I found the county had a website with a lot of that information online, as well as detailed aerial photos with all the property outlines shown.

Regarding copies of the covenants....

I've been looking for some property and found that the title companies serving that area have covenants and plats available on-line so I've had no need to go to the courthouse or even ask the agent when browsing the houses for sale on the net (and 500 miles away).  Its just been a matter of knowing the subdivision name, and most of the listings will include that.  One definitely doesn't want to wait until closing to find out what is in there.  There are lots of things besides antenna restrictions you may or may not agree with ... like having your garage door open only when someone or a vehicle is going in or out, etc.  Waiting until the deal is almost done is a bit too late.

Digi-Key has three versions of a National Semiconductor LMC567 that is probably the same or similar.

Operating RS-232 through USB adapters seems to be a sporty proposition.  Some adapters work, but a lot don't.  Before shelling out the money for a PCMCIA card, you might see if someone can suggest a USB adapter that they know works - I'd search the Yahoo group(s) for the TH-D7A.  Adapters that work with one device don't necessarily work with another, so unless you want to trial and error it, its best to get specific recommendations.

PMATTB,

It sounds to me that you thought 6mm includes the head, but it doesn't.

As far as I know, the length of a screw or bolt never includes the head unless its a flat-head fastener.  Not sure how to describe it without a picture, but for a round head, pan head, hex head fastener, etc. the specified length is along the threaded portion (not necessarily threaded all the way) to the underside of the head.  So, a 6mm fastener including the head is probably more like 8mm total.  Unless you've really got constraints on the thickness of the head, the actual length that determines what you can fasten together is whats important to most people so thats how they're specified.