06 October 2009

Ever wondered how scope probes really work? Most textbooks treat scope probes as a combination of a resistive divider in combination with capacitors to provide an extended frequency response. But as will be revealed, the reality is that they are much more complex in principle. Read on.

02 October 2009

Provided you have the correct tools and a syringe of no-clean flux paste, soldering very small SMDs (eg, TSSOP devices) into place is easier than you think. Here's how to do it.

25 September 2009

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.

19 September 2009

Organic LED technology is now affordable for the hobbyist. In this article, we survey some available OLED screens and modules and give an example for a simple oscilloscope.

17 September 2009

Last month we introduced our new high security remote control and got as far as completing both the receiver/relay driver and transmitter. This month we'll put it all together and get the two parts talking to each other - securely!

15 September 2009

Here's a low-cost add-on for the Digital GPS Time Display published in the May & June 2009 issues of SILICON CHIP. It senses the ambient light level, so that a modified program running in the display unit’s PIC controller can adjust the LED brightness to a comfortable level - ranging from full brightness when the ambient light level is high down to dim when the ambient light is very low.

13 September 2009

Mount a Seismograph on a Protoboard, PEBBLE it then transfer it to a KPB. What's a KPB? Read on!

09 September 2009

This Wideband Controller is intended to be used with a Bosch Wideband LSU4.2 oxygen sensor and our Wideband Sensor Display to accurately measure air/fuel ratios over a wide range from rich to lean. It can be used for precise engine tuning and can be a permanent installation in the car or a temporary connection to the tailpipe of the exhaust.

08 September 2009

Are you listening to CDs via your DVD player? Does your DVD player have average sound quality or worse, cause buzz and hum problems when hooked up to your hifi system? Either way, you need this high-quality Stereo Digital-To-Analog Converter (DAC) to get first class sound and zero hum.

07 September 2009

Imagine being able to produce a professional quality diagram such as the one shown above to show how a circuit was laid out on a breadboard. You can - and the software to do it is FREE! And despite the name, it's not limited to PICAXE circuits, it's universal!