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Contents SILICON CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Vol.26, No.6; June 2013 Features   13  Get a LiFe with LiFePO4 Cells Why be limited by Nicads or NiMH cells when you can get far more grunt from LiFePO4 cells? We look at their advantages and drawbacks – by Stan Swan   18  High-Resolution Monitor Shoot-Out Ever wondered if you could use a 32-inch LCD TV as a monitor? We wondered too, so we purchased a Dell U3011 30-inch monitor and an LG 32LS5700 32inch Smart TV and did a comparison – by Leo Simpson & Nicholas Vinen LF-HF Up-Converter For VHF/ UHF TV Dongles – Page 26.   36  Digital TV: Where To From Here? There has been a lot of change to digital TV in the last few years but there is a lot more change to come – by Alan Hughes   40  Wireless Microphones & Digital TV With digital TV, it’s a whole new ball game. Most wireless mics currently on sale and in use will soon become illegal – by Ross Tester   42  GW-Instek GDS-2104A 100MHz 4-Channel Digital Scope New digital oscilloscopes from GW-Instek are available in 2 and 4-channel versions, are easy to drive and have lots of features – by Leo Simpson Pro jects To Build   26  LF-HF Up-Converter For VHF/UHF Digital TV Dongles Want to use a digital TV dongle as a software defined radio (SDR)? They work down to 52MHz but this easy-to-build up-converter lets you monitor the lowfrequency, medium-frequency and high-frequency bands as well – by Jim Rowe   58  A Versatile 10-Channel Remote Control Receiver It works with virtually any universal IR remote control, can also be controlled via a UHF radio link for increased range and its outputs can be individually configured for momentary or toggle operation – by John Clarke Versatile 10-Channel Remote Control Receiver – Page 58. IR-To-433MHz UHF Transceiver For Increased Range – Page 66.  66 Infrared-To-433MHz UHF Transceiver Designed for the 10-Channel Remote Control Receiver, this simple unit converts the remote’s IR signals into a UHF radio link for longer range – by John Clarke   72  A “Lump-In-The-Coax” Mini Audio Mixer It connects in-line with an XLR microphone lead and lets you mix up to three other audio sources with the mic signal – by Nicholas Vinen & Ross Tester Special Columns  53 Serviceman’s Log DVD zoning: a long-held pet peeve that’s returned – by Dave Thompson  68 Circuit Notebook (1) Simplifying The Ignition Coil Driver; (2) Simple Metal Detector Uses A TL074 Quad Op Amp; (3) Dual-Foldback Loudspeaker Indicator & Protector; (4) Solar-Powered 5W Trickle-Charger For 12V SLA/LA Batteries   81  Vintage Radio Raytheon’s T-2500 7-transistor radio – by Ian Batty Departments   2 Publisher’s Letter   4 Mailbag siliconchip.com.au  35 Subscriptions   86  Product Showcase 88 Online Shop 90 Ask Silicon Chip 95 Market Centre 96  Notes & Errata “Lump-In-The-Coax” Mini Audio Mixer – Page 72. June 2013  1