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Contents SILICON CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Vol.25, No.9; September 2012 Features 12 Electronex: The Latest Smart Electronics Electronex returns to Sydney’s Australian Technology Park from 12-13th September and entry is free for SILICON CHIP readers – by Ross Tester 16 Review: Virtins Technology Multi-Instrument 3.2 This software package turns your PC into a 2-channel audio scope, a powerful spectrum analyser, a signal generator and lots more – by Jim Rowe 61 The HRSA’s 30th Birthday Colour MaxiMite Microcomputer, Pt.1 – Page 22. 22. They specialise in bringing old radios back to life and this month, they’re celebrating their 30th birthday with a show in Melbourne – by Kevin Poulter 92 Review: iModela 3-Axis CNC Router/Mill It’s small, it’s low cost and it may be just what many hobbyists have been looking for – by Nicholas Vinen Barking Mad: Shut That Annoying Mutt Up – Page 30. Pro jects To Build 22 Colour MaxiMite Microcomputer, Pt.1 How do you improve on the original MaxiMite Microcomputer? By using a new PIC32 chip, adding an Arduino connector and adding eight vibrant colours plus a stereo music synthesiser – by Geoff Graham 30 Barking Dog Blaster: Shut That Annoying Mutt Up! Driven mad by a barking dog? Don’t get mad, get even. This unit operates above the range of human hearing and may help shut that mutt up – by John Clarke 40 USB Test Instrument Interface For PCs Turn your PC into a whole suite of test instruments with this USB interface plus some free software. There’s a 2-channel scope, spectrum analyser, frequency counter and a signal/function/arbitrary waveform generator – by Jim Rowe 70 Digital Sound Effects Generator Versatile module can play back up to eight different sound tracks. It’s ideal for use with model railway layouts and other application requiring sound effects and you can download the sounds from a PC via USB – by Nicholas Vinen Special Columns 64 Serviceman’s Log Outsmarted & frustrated by smartphones 82 Circuit Notebook (1) Simple Sound & Light Alarm; (2) Low-Voltage LED Lighting System Has Remote-Controlled Dimming; (3) Bilge Pump Time Extender; (4) Induction Motor Centrifugal Switch Over-ride; (5) Simple Metal Locator; (6) Compensated Probe Measures Peak Mains AC Voltage 98 Vintage Radio USB Test Instrument Interface For PCs – Page 40. Digital Sound Effects Generator – Page 70. A “vintage” radio from just a front panel – by Graham Parslow Departments   2 Publisher’s Letter   4 Mailbag 52 Product Showcase siliconchip.com.au 105 Order Form 106 Ask Silicon Chip 111 Market Centre 112 Notes & Errata Note: due to space constraints, Pt.2 of the RPA story has been held over until the October issue. September 2012  1