The first of Stan's breadboard circuits for this month: both use the wireless techniques explained last month...

Here’s a Picaxe-controlled wireless version that should suit many needs and YES! – it’s legal, as the only Australian/NZ 433.92MHz LIPD ISM regulatory restriction is that the transmitter should not exceed 25mW EIRP (Effective Isotropic Radiated Power).

Since Picaxe-08M microcontrollers work so well with 433MHz UHF data modules (see last month), it’s tempting to further link the pair to industry- standard DS18B20 Dallas Semiconductor (Maxim) digital temperature ICs and make a simple Picaxe-08M driven wireless thermometer.

Direct Celsius temperature data can be then transmitted some 50 metres and shown on a PC attached to the 433MHz receiver (with perhaps further treatment under Excel).

A simple antenna extends this range to more like 300m, while a Picaxe-controlled data repeater can even push ranges to perhaps 500m and may allow coverage when obstacles otherwise block weak signals.