19 March 2010

Based on the very accurate Dallas DS18B20 digital temperature sensor, this thermometer/thermostat provides accurate readings to one decimal point. The LCD shows current, minimum and maximum temperature readings. An internal buzzer will sound when temperature limits are exceeded. It is intended for controlling air conditioners, heaters, cool rooms, wine cellars, etc. The software is user-customisable.

16 March 2010

The UNIQUE UQ2062C is a highly affordable and portable entry-level 60MHz, 500MS/s digital storage oscilloscope with a colour screen and two channels.

14 March 2010

Interesting circuit ideas which we have checked but not built and tested. Contributions from readers are welcome and will be paid for at standard rates.

12 March 2010

This neat little adaptor allows a standard digital multimeter to measure low values of capacitance - from less than one picofarad to over 10nF. It will allow you to measure tiny capacitors or stray capacitances in switches, connectors and wiring.

10 March 2010

You can sense the frustration in this first-hand account of the design and development of an effective, targeted and most of all affordable natural disaster warning system. Developed specifically in response to those terrible bushfires of a year ago, everyone who sees it says "fantastic!" So why is it languishing in some bureaucrat's "in" tray?

08 March 2010

This Digital Audio Signal Generator has TOSLINK and coax (S/PDIF) digital outputs, as well as two analog audio outputs. If a digital output is used, the harmonic distortion from a high quality DAC is extremely low. Alternatively, if you use the analog outputs the harmonic distortion of the sinewave signal is typically still very low at less than .06%.

06 March 2010

Most blokes have got a shed - or wish they had! While many people have alarms for their home and cars, a lot of valuable stuff is unprotected in garages and sheds. It needs protecting and now you can do it with this simple alarm based on a PIR sensor. It's solar-powered so no mains supply is needed. And let's not forget boats on moorings - they need protecting too.

04 March 2010

Digital TV commenced in Australia on 1st January 2001 - yes, nine years ago, making Australia one of the first countries to start regular DTV transmissions. These transmissions now cover 60% of the population but for Australians to get full HD programming, we need MPEG-4 broadcasts. At present, we are being short-changed.

02 March 2010

Computer companies release their latest models with much fanfare and we all go 'ho-hum', as the look and feel of a new computer soon vapourises when we discover bugs, plus a host of software and drivers won't work without expensive upgrades. This time Apple should have bought out the brass band and fireworks!

23 February 2010

Each year around the world enormous numbers of marine mammals are caught in both commercial fishing nets and the shark nets protecting our beaches. Now an Australian company has come up with a way to warn cetaceans - dolphins, porpoises and soon whales – away from nets and hopefully save many of these magnificent creatures from becoming what is euphemistically known as "by-catch".