Silicon ChipPartShop - April 2013 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Our new website is up and running
  4. Feature: How To Get Digital TV On Your Laptop Or PC by Jim Rowe
  5. Feature: The New SILICON CHIP Website by Nicholas Vinen
  6. Project: LED Ladybird: An Eye-Catching Electronic Beetle by John Clarke
  7. PartShop
  8. Order Form
  9. Project: High-Performance CLASSiC DAC; Pt.3 by Nicholas Vinen
  10. Project: Deluxe GPS 1pps Timebase For Frequency Counters by Jim Rowe
  11. Project: A Rugged 10A Battery Charger From Bits & Pieces by Ross Tester
  12. Review: Siglent SDG1050 50MHz 2-Channel Function Generator by Nicholas VInen
  13. Vintage Radio: The First "Trannie" – The Regency TR-1 4-transistor radio by Ian Batty
  14. Book Store
  15. Market Centre
  16. Advertising Index
  17. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the April 2013 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 22 of the 96 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.

Items relevant to "LED Ladybird: An Eye-Catching Electronic Beetle":
  • LED Ladybird PCB [08103131] (AUD $5.00)
  • LED Ladybird prototype PCB [08103131] (AUD $1.00)
  • PIC16LF88-I/SO programmed for the LED Ladybird [0810313A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • Firmware for the LED Ladybird [0810313A.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • LED Ladybird PCB pattern (PDF download) [08103131] (Free)
Items relevant to "High-Performance CLASSiC DAC; Pt.3":
  • CLASSiC DAC main PCB [01102131] (AUD $20.00)
  • CLASSiC DAC revised main PCB [01102134] (AUD $25.00)
  • dsPIC33FJ128GP306T-I/PT programmed for the CLASSiC DAC v1.02 [0110213B.hex] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $25.00)
  • Red & White PCB-mounting RCA sockets (Component, AUD $4.00)
  • SMD parts for the CLASSiC DAC (Component, AUD $80.00)
  • CLASSiC DAC front & rear panels [01102132/3] (PCB, AUD $20.00)
  • Firmware for the CLASSiC DAC [0110213B.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • CLASSiC DAC main PCB pattern (PDF download) [01102131] (Free)
  • CLASSiC DAC front and rear panel PCB patterns (PDF download) [01102132/3] (Free)
  • CLASSiC DAC front & rear panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • High Performance CLASSiC DAC; Pt.1 (February 2013)
  • High Performance CLASSiC DAC; Pt.1 (February 2013)
  • High Performance CLASSiC DAC; Pt.2 (March 2013)
  • High Performance CLASSiC DAC; Pt.2 (March 2013)
  • High-Performance CLASSiC DAC; Pt.3 (April 2013)
  • High-Performance CLASSiC DAC; Pt.3 (April 2013)
  • High-Performance CLASSiC DAC; Pt.4 (May 2013)
  • High-Performance CLASSiC DAC; Pt.4 (May 2013)
Items relevant to "Deluxe GPS 1pps Timebase For Frequency Counters":
  • Deluxe GPS 1pps Timebase PCB [04104131] (AUD $15.00)
  • VK2828U7G5LF TTL GPS/GLONASS/GALILEO module with antenna and cable (Component, AUD $25.00)
  • Deluxe GPS 1pps Timebase PCB pattern (PDF download) [04104131] (Free)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $10.00.

SILICON CHIP PARTSHOP Looking for a specialised component to build that latest and greatest SILICON CHIP project? Maybe it’s the PCB you’re after. Or a pre-programmed micro. Or some other hard-to-get “bit”. The chances are they are available direct from the SILICON CHIP PARTSHOP. As a service to readers, SILICON CHIP has established the PARTSHOP. No, we’re not going into opposition with your normal suppliers – this is a direct response to requests from readers who have found difficulty in obtaining specialised parts such as PCBs & micros. • • • • • PCBs are normally IN STOCK and ready for despatch when that month’s magazine goes on sale (you don’t have to wait for them to be made!). Even if stock runs out (eg, for high demand), in most cases there will be no longer than a two-week wait. One low p&p charge: $10 per order, regardless of how many boards or micros you order! (Australia only; overseas clients – email us for a postage quote). Our PCBs are beautifully made, very high quality fibreglass boards with pre-tinned tracks, silk screen overlays and where applicable, solder masks. Best of all, those boards with fancy cut-outs or edges are already cut out to the SILICON CHIP specifications – no messy blade work required! PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD TO SUIT PROJECT: AM RADIO TRANSMITTER PUBLISHED: PCB CODE: JAN 1993 06112921    Price: $25.00 PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD TO SUIT PROJECT: PCB CODE: Price: ULTRA-LD MK3 AMPLIFIER POWER SUPPLY PUBLISHED: SEP 2011 01109111 $25.00 $30.00 CHAMP: SINGLE CHIP AUDIO AMPLIFIER FEB 1994 01102941 $5.00 HIFI STEREO HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER SEP 2011 01309111 PRECHAMP: 2-TRANSISTOR PREAMPLIER JUL 1994 01107941 $5.00 GPS FREQUENCY REFERENCE (IMPROVED) SEP 2011 04103073 $30.00 HEAT CONTROLLER JULY 1998 10307981 $10.00 DIGITAL LIGHTING CONTROLLER LED SLAVE OCT 2011 16110111 $30.00 MINIMITTER FM STEREO TRANSMITTER APR 2001 06104011 $25.00 USB MIDIMATE OCT 2011 23110111 $30.00 MICROMITTER FM STEREO TRANSMITTER DEC 2002 06112021 $10.00 QUIZZICAL QUIZ GAME OCT 2011 08110111 $30.00 SMART SLAVE FLASH TRIGGER JUL 2003 13107031 $10.00 ULTRA-LD MK3 PREAMP & REMOTE VOL CONTROL NOV 2011 01111111 $30.00 12AX7 VALVE AUDIO PREAMPLIFIER NOV 2003 01111031 $25.00 ULTRA-LD MK3 INPUT SWITCHING MODUL NOV 2011 01111112 $25.00 POOR MAN’S METAL LOCATOR MAY 2004 04105041 $10.00 ULTRA-LD MK3 SWITCH MODULE NOV 2011 01111113 $10.00 BALANCED MICROPHONE PREAMP AUG 2004 01108041 $25.00 ZENER DIODE TESTER NOV 2011 04111111 $20.00 LITTLE JIM AM TRANSMITTER JAN 2006 06101062 $25.00 MINIMAXIMITE NOV 2011 07111111 $10.00 POCKET TENS UNIT JAN 2006 11101061 $25.00 ADJUSTABLE REGULATED POWER SUPPLY DEC 2011 18112111 $5.00 APRIL 2006 01104061 $25.00 DIGITAL AUDIO DELAY DEC 2011 01212111 $30.00 ULTRASONIC EAVESDROPPER AUG 2006 01208061 $25.00 DIGITAL AUDIO DELAY Front & Rear Panels DEC 2011 0121211P2/3 $20 per set RIAA PREAMPLIFIER AUG 2006 01108061 $25.00 AM RADIO JAN 2012 06101121 $10.00 GPS FREQUENCY REFERENCE (A) (IMPROVED) MAR 2007 04103073 $30.00 STEREO AUDIO COMPRESSOR JAN 2012 01201121 $30.00 GPS FREQUENCY REFERENCE DISPLAY (B) MAR 2007 04103072 $20.00 STEREO AUDIO COMPRESSOR FRONT & REAR PANELS JAN 2012 0120112P1/2 $20.00 KNOCK DETECTOR JUNE 2007 05106071 $25.00 3-INPUT AUDIO SELECTOR (SET OF 2 BOARDS) JAN 2012 01101121/2 $30 per set SPEAKER PROTECTION AND MUTING MODULE JULY 2007 01207071 $20.00 CRYSTAL DAC FEB 2012 01102121 $20.00 CDI MODULE SMALL PETROL MOTORS MAY 2008 05105081 $15.00 SWITCHING REGULATOR FEB 2012 18102121 $5.00 LED/LAMP FLASHER SEP 2008 11009081 $10.00 SEMTEST LOWER BOARD MAR 2012 04103121 $40.00 12V SPEED CONTROLLER/DIMMER      (Use Hot Wire Cutter PCB from Dec 2010 [18112101]) USB-SENSING MAINS POWER SWITCH STUDIO SERIES RC MODULE SEMTEST UPPER BOARD MAR 2012 04103122 $40.00 JAN 2009 10101091 $45.00 SEMTEST FRONT PANEL MAR 2012 04103123 $75.00 DIGITAL AUDIO MILLIVOLTMETER MAR 2009 04103091 $35.00 INTERPLANETARY VOICE MAR 2012 08102121 $10.00 INTELLIGENT REMOTE-CONTROLLED DIMMER APR 2009 10104091 $10.00 12/24V 3-STAGE MPPT SOLAR CHARGER REV.A MAR 2012 14102112 $20.00 INPUT ATTENUATOR FOR DIG. AUDIO M’VOLTMETER MAY 2009 04205091 $10.00 SOFT START SUPPRESSOR APR 2012 10104121 $10.00 6-DIGIT GPS CLOCK MAY 2009 04105091 $35.00 RESISTANCE DECADE BOX APR 2012 04104121 $20.00 APR 2012 04104122 $20.00 JUNE 2009 07106091 $25.00 RESISTANCE DECADE BOX PANEL/LID UHF ROLLING CODE TX AUG 2009 15008091 $10.00 1.5kW INDUCTION MOTOR SPEED CONTROLLER (New V2 PCB) APR (DEC) 2012 10105122 $35.00 UHF ROLLING CODE RECEIVER AUG 2009 15008092 $45.00 HIGH TEMPERATURE THERMOMETER MAIN PCB 6-DIGIT GPS CLOCK DRIVER MAY 2012 21105121 $30.00 MAY 2012 SEPT 2009 04208091 $10.00 HIGH TEMPERATURE THERMOMETER Front & Rear Panels 21105122/3 $20 per set STEREO DAC BALANCED OUTPUT BOARD JAN 2010 01101101 $25.00 MIX-IT! 4 CHANNEL MIXER JUNE 2012 01106121 $20.00 DIGITAL INSULATION METER JUN 2010 04106101 $25.00 PIC/AVR PROGRAMMING ADAPTOR BOARD JUNE 2012 24105121 $30.00 ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITOR REFORMER AUG 2010 04108101 $55.00 CRAZY CRICKET/FREAKY FROG JUNE 2012 08109121 $10.00 ULTRASONIC ANTI-FOULING FOR BOATS SEP 2010 04109101 $25.00 CAPACITANCE DECADE BOX JULY 2012 04106121 $20.00 HEARING LOOP RECEIVER SEP 2010 01209101 $25.00 CAPACITANCE DECADE BOX PANEL/LID JULY 2012 04106122 $20.00 S/PDIF/COAX TO TOSLINK CONVERTER OCT 2010 01210101 $10.00 WIDEBAND OXYGEN CONTROLLER MK2 JULY 2012 05106121 $20.00 TOSLINK TO S/PDIF/COAX CONVERTER OCT 2010 01210102 $10.00 WIDEBAND OXYGEN CONTROLLER MK2 DISPLAY BOARD JULY 2012 05106122 $10.00 DIGITAL LIGHTING CONTROLLER SLAVE UNIT OCT 2010 16110102 $45.00 SOFT STARTER FOR POWER TOOLS JULY 2012 10107121 $10.00 HEARING LOOP TESTER/LEVEL METER NOV 2010 01111101 $25.00 DRIVEWAY SENTRY MK2 AUG 2012 03107121 $20.00 UNIVERSAL USB DATA LOGGER DEC 2010 04112101 $25.00 MAINS TIMER AUG 2012 10108121 $10.00 HOT WIRE CUTTER CONTROLLER DEC 2010 18112101 $10.00 CURRENT ADAPTOR FOR SCOPES AND DMMS AUG 2012 04108121 $20.00 433MHZ SNIFFER JAN 2011 06101111 $10.00 USB VIRTUAL INSTRUMENT INTERFACE SEPT 2012 24109121 $30.00 CRANIAL ELECTRICAL STIMULATION JAN 2011 99101111 $30.00 USB VIRTUAL INSTRUMENT INT. FRONT PANEL SEPT 2012 24109122 $30.00 HEARING LOOP SIGNAL CONDITIONER JAN 2011 01101111 $30.00 BARKING DOG BLASTER SEPT 2012 25108121 $20.00 LED DAZZLER FEB 2011 16102111 $25.00 COLOUR MAXIMITE SEPT 2012 07109121 $20.00 12/24V 3-STAGE MPPT SOLAR CHARGER FEB 2011 14102111 $15.00 SOUND EFFECTS GENERATOR SEPT 2012 09109121 $10.00 SIMPLE CHEAP 433MHZ LOCATOR FEB 2011 06102111 $5.00 NICK-OFF PROXIMITY ALARM OCT 2012 03110121 $5.00 THE MAXIMITE MAR 2011 06103111 $25.00 DCC REVERSE LOOP CONTROLLER OCT 2012 09110121 $10.00 UNIVERSAL VOLTAGE REGULATOR MAR 2011 18103111 $15.00 LED MUSICOLOUR NOV 2012 16110121 $25.00 12V 20-120W SOLAR PANEL SIMULATOR MAR 2011 04103111 $25.00 LED MUSICOLOUR Front & Rear Panels NOV 2012 16110121 $20 per set MICROPHONE NECK LOOP COUPLER MAR 2011 01209101 $25.00 CLASSIC-D CLASS D AMPLIFIER MODULE NOV 2012 01108121 $30.00 PORTABLE STEREO HEADPHONE AMP APRIL 2011 01104111 $25.00 CLASSIC-D 2 CHANNEL SPEAKER PROTECTOR NOV 2012 01108122 $10.00 CHEAP 100V SPEAKER/LINE CHECKER APRIL 2011 04104111 $10.00 HIGH ENERGY ELECTRONIC IGNITION SYSTEM DEC 2012 05110121 $10.00 PROJECTOR SPEED CONTROLLER APRIL 2011 13104111 $10.00 USB POWER MONITOR DEC 2012 04109121 $10.00 SPORTSYNC AUDIO DELAY MAY 2011 01105111 $30.00 1.5kW INDUCTION MOTOR SPEED CONTROLLER (NEW V2 PCB) DEC 2012 10105122 $35.00 100W DC-DC CONVERTER MAY 2011 11105111 $25.00 THE CHAMPION PREAMP and 7W AUDIO AMP (one PCB) JAN 2013 01109121/2 $10.00 PHONE LINE POLARITY CHECKER MAY 2011 12105111 $10.00 GARBAGE/RECYCLING BIN REMINDER JAN 2013 19111121 $10.00 20A 12/24V DC MOTOR SPEED CONTROLLER MK2 JUNE 2011 11106111 $25.00 2.5GHz DIGITAL FREQUENCY METER – MAIN BOARD JAN 2013 04111121 $35.00 USB STEREO RECORD/PLAYBACK JUNE 2011 07106111 $25.00 2.5GHz DIGITAL FREQUENCY METER – DISPLAY BOARD JAN 2013 04111122 $15.00 VERSATIMER/SWITCH JUNE 2011 19106111 $25.00 2.5GHz DIGITAL FREQUENCY METER – FRONT PANEL JAN 2013 04111123 $45.00 USB BREAKOUT BOX JUNE 2011 04106111 $10.00 SEISMOGRAPH MK2 FEB 2013 21102131 $20.00 ULTRA-LD MK3 200W AMP MODULE JULY 2011 01107111 $25.00 MOBILE PHONE RING EXTENDER FEB 2013 12110121 $10.00 PORTABLE LIGHTNING DETECTOR JULY 2011 04107111 $25.00 GPS 1PPS TIMEBASE FEB 2013 04103131 $10.00 RUDDER INDICATOR FOR POWER BOATS (4 PCBs) JULY 2011 20107111-4 $80 per set LED TORCH DRIVER MAR 2013 16102131 $5.00 VOX JULY 2011 01207111 $25.00 CLASSiC DAC MAIN PCB APR 2013 01102131 $40.00 ELECTRONIC STETHOSCOPE 34  Silicon Chip AUG 2011 01108111 $25.00 CLASSiC DAC FRONT & REAR PANEL PCBs APR 2013 DIGITAL SPIRIT LEVEL/INCLINOMETER AUG 2011 04108111 $15.00 GPS USB TIMEBASE APR 2013 ULTRASONIC WATER TANK METER SEP 2011 04109111 $25.00 LED LADYBIRD APR 2013 6-DIGIT GPS CLOCK AUTODIM ADD-ON 01102132/3 $30.00 siliconchip.com.au 04104131 $15.00 08103131 $5.00 ULTRA-LD MK2 AMPLIFIER UPGRADE SEP 2011 01209111 $5.00 PCB prices shown in GREEN are new lower prices – our bulk buying savings are passed on to you! NOTE: These listings are for the PCB only – not a full kit. If you want a kit, contact the kit suppliers advertising in this issue.