Silicon ChipNew computer technology - 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.

You can view 0 of the 112 pages in the full issue.

For full access, purchase the issue for $10.00 or subscribe for access to the latest issues.

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 $10.00.

SILICON SILIC CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Publisher/Editor Nicholas Vinen Technical Editor John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Technical Staff Jim Rowe, B.A., B.Sc. Bao Smith, B.Sc. Tim Blythman, B.E., B.Sc. Nicolas Hannekum, Dip. Elec. Tech. Technical Contributor Duraid Madina, B.Sc, M.Sc, PhD Art Director & Production Manager Ross Tester Reader Services Ann Morris Advertising Enquiries Glyn Smith Phone (02) 9939 3295 Mobile 0431 792 293 glyn<at>siliconchip.com.au Regular Contributors Dave Thompson David Maddison B.App.Sc. (Hons 1), PhD, Grad.Dip.Entr.Innov. Geoff Graham Associate Professor Graham Parslow Ian Batty Cartoonist Brendan Akhurst Founding Editor (retired) Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD Silicon Chip is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. ACN 626 922 870. ABN 20 880 526 923. All material is copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Subscription rates (12 issues): $105.00 per year, post paid, in Australia. For overseas rates, see our website or email silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au Recommended & maximum price only. Editorial office: Unit 1 (up ramp), 234 Harbord Rd, Brookvale, NSW 2100. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9939 3295. E-mail: silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au ISSN 1030-2662 Printing and Distribution: Editorial Viewpoint New computer technology We haven’t published articles on personal computers in quite some time. The last one that I can find, in May 2012, is on optimising ADSL internet connections. There was also an article on the Linux operating system in July 2011 and a Macbook review in March 2010. Partly that’s because Silicon Chip isn’t a computer magazine, but of course, computers are made from silicon chips. The most advanced, powerful and flexible chips ever made are computer processors of various types. They contain billions of transistors and result from countless hours of engineering and testing, plus extremely impressive manufacturing techniques. One reason we’ve published so few computer articles of late is that computer technology has been somewhat stagnant over the last decade. There have been plenty of improvements in that time, but they’ve mostly been incremental. I think that’s starting to change now, so I plan to give computers some coverage, If you aren’t into computers, don’t worry, we’ll still have plenty of DIY and other articles. We’ll just be occasionally adding a computer-themed article into the mix. As evidence of the recent advances in computing technology, three major product series launches at the end of last year saw stocks of these new products almost immediately exhausted as production could not keep up with demand. Those were AMD’s Ryzen 5000 CPUs and Radeon 6000 series GPUs (graphics cards), and Nvidia’s RTX 3000 series GPUs. Apple also just released a line of Macs using their own ARM-based processors (the Apple Silicon M1) which have incredible levels of power efficiency and some other impressive features. The lack of availability was partly due to these new devices being so much more capable than the previously available equivalents, at similar prices (if you can find one). There were also supply problems due to COVID-19 (and many people being forced to stay at home also increased demand). It’s mind-boggling to realise that for a couple of thousand dollars, you can put together a computer that can perform over 30 trillion (3 × 1013) calculations per second! Solid-state data storage has also come a long way in the last year or two, with incredible speeds (more than four gigabytes per second for consumerlevel parts!), very high capacities and relatively low costs. So, we will likely have a handful of computer how-to articles this year. The first, in this issue, shows how to upgrade a PC to the latest AMD Ryzen 5000 series of CPUs (it is also mostly applicable to Intel CPU-based systems). We’ll also have some in-depth stories on the technology behind the incredible power of modern computers. The articles we have planned will describe some fascinating technology that I think many of our readers will not have heard of, or if they have, won’t know a lot about. To throw another almost unbelievable number out there, it is now possible to build a computer with over ten thousand computing units, each capable of executing instructions and performing calculations. We plan to do that and describe some of the challenges involved. By the way, Silicon Chip used to run quite a few computer columns in the early days, including one called “Computer Bits” from July 1989 to December 1998. We also had all sorts of other articles on topics like setting up a network, upgrading computer CPUs, computer reviews etc. Of course, PCs were not as mainstream back then and required a lot more DIY. So I don’t plan to go back to that sort of content. But the odd article on computer technology and some interesting computers you can build or modify yourself should be part of the mix of a magazine named after the very technology behind them. Nicholas Vinen 24-26 Lilian Fowler Pl, Marrickville 2204 2 Silicon Chip Australia’s electronics magazine siliconchip.com.au