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Contents Vol.33, No.5 May 2020 SILICON CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Features & Reviews 12 Stealth Technology They’re making aircraft, ships and even soldiers less visible or even invisible to the opposition. The latest techniques used is a story in itself! – by Dr David Maddison 62 New w-i-d-e-b-a-n-d RTL-SDR modules We decided to put some fully assembled RTL-SDRs through their paces. They cover from low frequencies right through to ultra high frequencies – by Jim Rowe 84 Review: a 13.6GHz Signal Generator for $250? ADF5355-based modules have taken signal generators up to a whopping 13.6GHz – with touchscreen control! And all this for around $250 – by Allan Linton-Smith 100 A high-performance tweeter that’s just 6.7 x 4.7mm! New MEMS (Micro Electrical Mechanical Systems) tweeters have just as much in common with SMD components as traditional speakers! – by Allan Linton-Smith Constructional Projects How DO you make a plane, a ship or a soldier invisible? Stealth techniques are improving all the time – Page 12 Anodising aluminium panels and parts at home is not that difficult with the right components – and knowledge! Here’s how to do it – Page 26 26 YOU can anodise aluminium at home! All it takes is a decent DC supply (an old ATX computer supply?), some easy-to-get chemicals and some hardware you probably already have at home – by Phil Prosser 36 H-Field Transanalyser for AM radio alignment & service Build one of these and you’ll take all the guesswork out of AM radio building, testing or alignment. Great for transistor radios; can do valves as well – by Dr Hugo Holden 68 An altimeter for your . . . car? Ever wondered as you’re driving along just how high you are above sea level? This dash-mounted project adapts an earlier plane/ultralight altimeter and gives you a readout in feet or metres plus touchscreen control – by Peter Bennett This H-Field Transanalyser makes testing and aligning AM radios a snap! If you’re into Vintage Radio or any AM radio work, you really do need one of these – Page 36 88 A DIY Reflow Oven Controller – Part 2 We’ve got the cheap toaster oven. We’ve made the cheap controller. Now we’re almost ready to start soldering SMDs! – by Phil Prosser Your Favourite Columns 46 Serviceman’s Log A shed full of tools . . . by Dave Thompson 79 Circuit Notebook (1) (2) (3) (4) 3-output power supply using plugpacks Variable speed discrete reversing LED chaser Proximity warning for the blind Simple “emergency” charger for small batteries 96 Vintage Radio Toshiba 9TM-40 “robot” radio – by Ian Batty Everything Else 2 Editorial Viewpoint 108 SILICON CHIP ONLINE SHOP 4 Mailbag – Your Feedback 111 Market Centre 61 Product Showcase 112 Advertising Index 105 Ask S ILICON C HIP siliconchip.com.au New wideband RTL-SDR modules go down to kHz and up to GHz. They’re a great (and inexpensive) way to listen to what’s on the air . . . anywhere! – Page 62 Yes, it fits in your car dashboard and gives you your current height above sea level – Page 68 We’re finishing off our new SMD reflow oven – and showing you how to use it! – Page 88 Would you believe this is a high performance tweeter? You’d better – at 6.7 x 4.7mm, it’s one of the new breed of MEMS devices that you’re going to hear a lot more of – Page 100 www.facebook.com/siliconchipmagazine