Silicon ChipContents - October 2004 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Australia's future energy options
  4. Feature: The Humble “Trannie” Turns 50 by Kevin Poulter
  5. Review: Stressless Wireless by Peter Smith
  6. Feature: Epson’s Latest Micro-Flying Robot by Silicon Chip
  7. Project: SMS Controller, Pt.1 by Peter Smith
  8. Project: RGB To Component Video Converter by Jim Rowe
  9. Feature: This new PICAXE-08M is a wee ripper! by Stan Swan
  10. Review: The Amateur Scientist 2.0 by Peter Smith
  11. Project: USB Power Injector by Jim Rowe
  12. Project: Remote Controller For Garage Doors & Gates by Oatley Electronics
  13. Vintage Radio: Those troublesome capacitors, Pt.1 by Rodney Champness
  14. Back Issues
  15. Book Store
  16. Advertising Index
  17. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the October 2004 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 22 of the 104 pages in the full issue, including the advertisments.

For full access, purchase the issue for $10.00 or subscribe for access to the latest issues.

Articles in this series:
  • Amateur Radio (November 1987)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1987)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1987)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1987)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1988)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1989)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1990)
  • The "Tube" vs. The Microchip (August 1990)
  • The "Tube" vs. The Microchip (August 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1990)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (April 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1991)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (November 1992)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (July 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (August 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (October 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1993)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (February 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (March 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (May 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (June 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (September 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (December 1994)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1995)
  • Amateur Radio (January 1995)
  • CB Radio Can Now Transmit Data (March 2001)
  • CB Radio Can Now Transmit Data (March 2001)
  • What's On Offer In "Walkie Talkies" (March 2001)
  • What's On Offer In "Walkie Talkies" (March 2001)
  • Stressless Wireless (October 2004)
  • Stressless Wireless (October 2004)
  • WiNRADiO: Marrying A Radio Receiver To A PC (January 2007)
  • WiNRADiO: Marrying A Radio Receiver To A PC (January 2007)
  • “Degen” Synthesised HF Communications Receiver (January 2007)
  • “Degen” Synthesised HF Communications Receiver (January 2007)
  • PICAXE-08M 433MHz Data Transceiver (October 2008)
  • PICAXE-08M 433MHz Data Transceiver (October 2008)
  • Half-Duplex With HopeRF’s HM-TR UHF Transceivers (April 2009)
  • Half-Duplex With HopeRF’s HM-TR UHF Transceivers (April 2009)
  • Dorji 433MHz Wireless Data Modules (January 2012)
  • Dorji 433MHz Wireless Data Modules (January 2012)
Items relevant to "SMS Controller, Pt.1":
  • ATmega8515 programmed for the SMS Controller (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • ATmega8515 firmware and source code for the SMS Controller (Software, Free)
  • SMS Controller PCB pattern (PDF download) [12110041] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • SMS Controller, Pt.1 (October 2004)
  • SMS Controller, Pt.1 (October 2004)
  • SMS Controller, Pt.2 (November 2004)
  • SMS Controller, Pt.2 (November 2004)
Items relevant to "RGB To Component Video Converter":
  • RGB to Component Video Converter PCB pattern (PDF download) [07209041] (Free)
  • RGB to Component Video Converter front and rear panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)
Items relevant to "USB Power Injector":
  • USB Power Injector PCB pattern (PDF download) [07110041] (Free)
  • USB Power Injector panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Those troublesome capacitors, Pt.1 (October 2004)
  • Those troublesome capacitors, Pt.1 (October 2004)
  • Those troublesome capacitors, Pt.2 (November 2004)
  • Those troublesome capacitors, Pt.2 (November 2004)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $10.00.
Contents Vol.17, No.10; October 2004 www.siliconchip.com.au FEATURES 8 The Humble “Trannie” Turns 50 You say you want a revolution? Well, the humble transistor radio has just turned 50! Here’s a look at some of the early designs and how they were developed – by Kevin Poulter 22 Review: Stressless Wireless Add short-range wireless communications to your projects with these easy-touse transceiver modules – by Peter Smith The Humble “Trannie” Turns 50 – Page 8. 24 Epson’s Latest Micro-Flying Robot Is it a bird, is it a plane? . . . no, it’s the worlds smallest “micro-flying” robot and it flies by itself 46 Review: The Amateur Scientist 2.0 Over 1000 classic science projects from “Scientific American” and they’re all on a single CD – by Peter Smith PROJECTS TO BUILD 26 SMS Controller, Pt.1 Control equipment from anywhere using SMS and an old Nokia mobile phone. It can even text you when your alarm has activated – by Peter Smith Build An SMS Controller – Page 26. 36 RGB To Component Video Converter What – no RGB inputs on your TV to match your new digital set-top box? Don’t sweat it . . . build this low-cost unit instead – by Jim Rowe 68 USB Power Injector Don’t overload your PC’s USB ports or USB hub. This simple gadget goes in the USB line and will drive that power-hungry USB peripheral – by Jim Rowe 76 Remote Controller For Garage Doors & Gates It’s easy to build and has all the features you’ve ever wanted in a remote control, including battery back-up SPECIAL COLUMNS 60 Circuit Notebook (1) Light-Controlled Pond Pump; (2) Bike Battery Charger; (3) 6-Station Sprinkler Controller; (4) 4-Channel Oscilloscope Adapter 82 Serviceman’s Log RGB To Component Video Converter – Page 36. Flushing out the problems – by the TV Serviceman 90 Vintage Radio Those troublesome capacitors, Pt.1 – by Rodney Champness DEPARTMENTS 2 4 57 59 89 Publisher’s Letter Mailbag Product Showcase Silicon Chip Weblink Order Form siliconchip.com.au 98 101 102 104 Ask Silicon Chip Notes & Errata Market Centre Ad Index USB Power Injector – Page 68. October 2004  1