Silicon ChipAdvertising Index - February 2021 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: New computer technology
  4. Mailbag
  5. Feature: Radio Time Signals throughout the World by Dr David Maddison
  6. Feature: Follow-up: Quantum-dot Cellular Automata by Dr Sankit Ramkrishna Kassa
  7. Project: Battery Multi Logger by Tim Blythman
  8. Project: Arduino-based Adjustable Power Supply by Tim Blythman
  9. Serviceman's Log: A feline-themed cautionary tale by Dave Thompson
  10. Project: Electronic Wind Chimes by John Clarke
  11. Circuit Notebook: LCD clock and thermometer by Mahmood Alimohammadi
  12. Circuit Notebook: DIY laser rangefinder by Bera Somnath
  13. Circuit Notebook: Animal and pest repeller by Warwick Talbot
  14. Circuit Notebook: Stable multi-frequency sinewave generator by Petre Petrov
  15. Circuit Notebook: WiFi Snooping with a Raspberry Pi by Sid Lonsdale
  16. Feature: Making Android Apps with App Inventor by Roderick Wall
  17. Feature: Making a Compact Virtual Electronics Workbench by Tim Blythman
  18. Feature: Upgrading your Computer to the latest CPU by Nicholas Vinen
  19. PartShop
  20. Feature: El Cheapo Modules: LCR-T4 Digital Multi-Tester by Jim Rowe
  21. Vintage Radio: Philips 1952 BX205 B-01 AM/SW battery valve radio by Charles Kosina
  22. Ask Silicon Chip
  23. Market Centre
  24. Notes & Errata: Busy Loo Indicator, January 2021; Mini Digital AC Panel Meters, January 2021; Radiating test antenna for AM Radios, Circuit Notebook, January 2021; Vintage Battery Radio Li-ion Power Supply, December 2020; Colour Maximite 2, July-August 2020
  25. Advertising Index
  26. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the February 2021 issue of Silicon Chip.

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Items relevant to "":
  • BWD602 Documents (Software, Free)
Items relevant to "Follow-up: Quantum-dot Cellular Automata":
  • QCA follow-up: Potential Energy Explanation (Software, Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Quantum-dot Cellular Automata (August 2019)
  • Follow-up: Quantum-dot Cellular Automata (February 2021)
Items relevant to "Battery Multi Logger":
  • Battery Multi Logger PCB [11106201] (AUD $5.00)
  • Matte/Gloss Black UB3 Lid for 2.8-inch Micromite LCD BackPack (PCB, AUD $5.00)
  • PIC32MX170F256B-50I/SO programmed for the Battery Multi Logger [1110620A.hex] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • PIC16F1455-I/SL programmed for the Microbridge [2410417A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • SMD resistor - 15mΩ ±1% M6332/2512 3W (CRA2512-FZ-R015ELF or similar) (Source component, AUD $2.00)
  • DS3231MZ real-time clock IC (SOIC-8) (Component, AUD $4.00)
  • DS3231 real-time clock IC (SOIC-16) (Component, AUD $3.00)
  • 2.8-inch TFT Touchscreen LCD module with SD card socket (Component, AUD $22.50)
  • Battery Multi Logger software (1110620A.hex) (Free)
  • Battery Multi Logger PCB pattern (PDF download) [11106201] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Battery Multi Logger (February 2021)
  • Battery Multi Logger - Part 2 (March 2021)
Items relevant to "Arduino-based Adjustable Power Supply":
  • Arduino-based Adjustable Power Supply PCB [18106201] (AUD $5.00)
  • SMD resistor - 15mΩ ±1% M6332/2512 3W (CRA2512-FZ-R015ELF or similar) (Source component, AUD $2.00)
  • MCP4251-502E/P dual 5kΩ digital potentiometer (Component, AUD $3.00)
  • Arduino-based Adjustable Power Supply Software (Free)
  • Arduino-based Adjustable Power Supply PCB pattern (PDF download) [18106201] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Making a Compact Virtual Electronics Workbench (February 2021)
  • Arduino-based Adjustable Power Supply (February 2021)
Items relevant to "Electronic Wind Chimes":
  • Electronic Wind Chimes PCB [23011201] (AUD $10.00)
  • PIC16F1459-I/P programmed for the Electronic Wind Chimes [2301120A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • Pair of CSD18534KCS logic-level Mosfets (Component, AUD $6.00)
  • Electronic Wind Chimes software [2301120A.hex] (Free)
  • Electronic Wind Chimes PCB pattern (PDF download) [23011201] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Electronic Wind Chimes (February 2021)
  • Electronic Wind Chimes - Part 2 (March 2021)
Items relevant to "LCD clock and thermometer":
  • Firmware for the LCD Clock and Thermometer (Software, Free)
Items relevant to "DIY laser rangefinder":
  • Firmware for the DIY Laser Rangefinder (Software, Free)
Items relevant to "WiFi Snooping with a Raspberry Pi":
  • Commands for WiFi Snooping with a Raspberry Pi (Software, Free)
Items relevant to "Making Android Apps with App Inventor":
  • TDR Android app (made using App Inventor) (Software, Free)
Items relevant to "Making a Compact Virtual Electronics Workbench":
  • Arduino-based Adjustable Power Supply PCB [18106201] (AUD $5.00)
Articles in this series:
  • Making a Compact Virtual Electronics Workbench (February 2021)
  • Arduino-based Adjustable Power Supply (February 2021)
Articles in this series:
  • El Cheapo Modules From Asia - Part 1 (October 2016)
  • El Cheapo Modules From Asia - Part 2 (December 2016)
  • El Cheapo Modules From Asia - Part 3 (January 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules from Asia - Part 4 (February 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules, Part 5: LCD module with I²C (March 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules, Part 6: Direct Digital Synthesiser (April 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules, Part 7: LED Matix displays (June 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Li-ion & LiPo Chargers (August 2017)
  • El Cheapo modules Part 9: AD9850 DDS module (September 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules Part 10: GPS receivers (October 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules 11: Pressure/Temperature Sensors (December 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules 12: 2.4GHz Wireless Data Modules (January 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 13: sensing motion and moisture (February 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 14: Logarithmic RF Detector (March 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 16: 35-4400MHz frequency generator (May 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 17: 4GHz digital attenuator (June 2018)
  • El Cheapo: 500MHz frequency counter and preamp (July 2018)
  • El Cheapo modules Part 19 – Arduino NFC Shield (September 2018)
  • El cheapo modules, part 20: two tiny compass modules (November 2018)
  • El cheapo modules, part 21: stamp-sized audio player (December 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 22: Stepper Motor Drivers (February 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules 23: Galvanic Skin Response (March 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Class D amplifier modules (May 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Long Range (LoRa) Transceivers (June 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules: AD584 Precision Voltage References (July 2019)
  • Three I-O Expanders to give you more control! (November 2019)
  • El Cheapo modules: “Intelligent” 8x8 RGB LED Matrix (January 2020)
  • El Cheapo modules: 8-channel USB Logic Analyser (February 2020)
  • New w-i-d-e-b-a-n-d RTL-SDR modules (May 2020)
  • New w-i-d-e-b-a-n-d RTL-SDR modules, Part 2 (June 2020)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Mini Digital Volt/Amp Panel Meters (December 2020)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Mini Digital AC Panel Meters (January 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: LCR-T4 Digital Multi-Tester (February 2021)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $7.00.

Notes & Errata Busy Loo Indicator, January 2021: at the bottom of the left-hand column on p79, where the text says the inputs of IC1b are normally high, it should read IC1d instead. Mini Digital AC Panel Meters, January 2021: if the current transformer secondary is not terminated with a low impedance, it will generate a very high (and potentially dangerous) voltage if any significant AC current is flowing in the primary. So make sure to connect the secondary leads of the CT to the panel meter before any current is allowed to flow through the primary. Radiating test antenna for AM Radios, Circuit Notebook, January 2021: the ferrite rod is 200mm long, not 400mm as stated in the text. Vintage Battery Radio Li-ion Power Supply, December 2020: on page 28, the text refers to a 220µF capacitor being charged via a 220W resistor. The capacitor value is actually 10µF. Colour Maximite 2, July & August 2020: the SD card socket specified for this project (Hirose DM1AA-SF-PEJ(21)) is being discontinued by the manufacturer. Instead, use the DM1AA-SF-PEJ(82) which costs the same and fits the existing footprint on the PCB. The March 2021 issue is due on sale in newsagents by Thursday, February 25th. Expect postal delivery of subscription copies in Australia between February 23rd and March 12th. Advertising Index Altronics...............................21-24 Ampec Technologies................. 37 Dave Thompson...................... 111 Digi-Key Electronics.................... 3 Emona Instruments................. IBC Jaycar............................ IFC,53-60 Keith Rippon Kit Assembly...... 111 LD Electronics......................... 111 LEDsales................................. 111 Microchip Technology............ OBC Ocean Controls........................... 5 Silicon Chip Binders............... 111 pair of Ultra-LD Mk.3 amplifier modules (March-May 2012; siliconchip. com.au/Series/27). The transistors specified for Q1 and Q2, 2SA970 lownoise PNP bipolar transistors (BJTs), seem to be no longer available. I am considering using KSA992s as a substitute. Do you think this will compromise the performance of the amplifiers? (I. S., Mitcham, Vic) • The KSA992 looks OK. It’s hard to be sure because the way they specify the noise voltage in the data sheet is not very useful. We don’t think you will notice the difference (if any). We can see some online sellers offering 2SA970s, but we think many of them are counterfeit parts. Some people have said that the clone parts work well, while others say they are not low-noise types; it probably depends on the luck of the draw. Your suggestion of using KSA992s is safer since you can get them from a reputable supplier. Old remote preamp not recommended I was browsing old issues of Silicon Chip and found a project by John Clarke called the Stereo Preamplifier with IR Remote Control (September & November 1993; siliconchip.com.au/ Series/168). Since then, many newer designs have been published like the Ultra-LD Stereo Preamplifier & Input Selector 112 Silicon Chip that I am happily using together with the Ultra-LD Mk4 amp. What caught my attention was the absence of a volume pot and the LED display. I was wondering if that design is still valid and if I could build it? I’d need to find a few replacement components that’d be obsolete by now. I checked that I could source the microcontroller online; however, I have no way to program it. Do you have any advice on this? (O. A., Singapore) • That Preamplifier would be extremely difficult to build at this late date, as many critical parts would be very difficult to obtain. The microcontroller would be difficult to program as we don’t have the facilities for that processor anymore. We do not recommend that you start building this project. Note that we are working on a new digital preamp design with remote volume, bass and treble controls; however, it is not yet finished, and we don’t know when it might be published at this stage. Problem with 3-channel Rolling Code Remote I built this project, described in your August & September 2009 issues (siliconchip.com.au/Series/39) from a Jaycar kit, Cat KC5483. All functions are operational, but the range is only about 3m. I have checked the antennas on both Australia’s electronics magazine SC Micromite BackPack............ 96 Silicon Chip PDFs on USB....... 87 Silicon Chip Shop.................... 97 The Loudspeaker Kit.com........... 7 Tronixlabs................................ 111 Vintage Radio Repairs............ 111 Wagner Electronics................... 51 the transmitter and receiver but cannot find a fault in the construction. Do you have any suggestions? (G. P., via email) • The most likely cause is the soldering to the coiled wire antenna. The wire is enamel-coated, and unless this is scraped off well before soldering, it may not form a good connection, reducing the effectiveness of the antenna. You probably have already checked these connections. However, a multimeter measurement of resistance from the antenna input on the receiver module (or output for the transmitter module) to the free end of the antenna will verify if this is a low-ohms connection, as expected, or high-resistance/ open-circuit. Another thing to check is that there is the full 5V DC supply to the transmitter and receiver modules and that the transmitter supply stays at 5V when transmitting. SC siliconchip.com.au