Silicon ChipInfrared remote control jammer - May 2021 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Farewell to Gary Johnston A Remarkable Australian
  4. Mailbag
  5. Feature: Digital Radio Modes – Part 2 by Dr David Maddison
  6. Project: Programmable Hybrid Lab Supply with WiFi – Part 1 by Richard Palmer
  7. PartShop
  8. Project: Digital FX (Effects) Pedal – Part 2 by John Clarke
  9. Project: Arduino-based MIDI Soundboard – Part 2 by Tim Blythman
  10. Review: EVOR04 Audio Analyser by Allan Linton-Smith
  11. Project: Variac-based Mains Voltage Regulation by Dr Hugo Holden
  12. Circuit Notebook: Revised "GPS" Analog Clock for NTP module by Graeme Dennes
  13. Circuit Notebook: Simple DMM calibrator by Colin O'Donnell
  14. Circuit Notebook: Infrared remote control jammer by Geoff Coppa
  15. Feature: The History of Videotape – Cassette Systems by Ian Batty, Andre Switzer & Rod Humphris
  16. Serviceman's Log: Some jobs are much harder than they should be by Dave Thompson
  17. Product Showcase
  18. Vintage Radio: 1972 BWD 141 Audio Generator by Ian Batty
  19. Ask Silicon Chip
  20. Market Centre
  21. Advertising Index
  22. Notes & Errata: ESR Meter with LCD readout, Circuit Notebook, May 2016; Barking Dog Blaster, September 2012
  23. Outer Back Cover

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

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Articles in this series:
  • Digital Radio Modes - Part 1 (April 2021)
  • Digital Radio Modes – Part 2 (May 2021)
Items relevant to "Programmable Hybrid Lab Supply with WiFi – Part 1":
  • Programmable Hybrid Lab Supply Control Panel PCB [18104211] (AUD $10.00)
  • Programmable Hybrid Lab Supply Regulator Module PCB [18104212] (AUD $7.50)
  • 2.8-inch TFT Touchscreen LCD module with SD card socket (Component, AUD $25.00)
  • Software, manuals and laser templates for the Programmable Hybrid Lab Supply (Free)
  • Programmable Hybrid Lab Supply Control Panel PCB pattern (PDF download) [18104211] (Free)
  • Programmable Hybrid Lab Supply Regulator PCB pattern (PDF download) [18104212] (Free)
  • Drilling/cutting diagrams and front panel artwork for the Programmable Hybrid Lab Supply (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Programmable Hybrid Lab Supply with WiFi – Part 1 (May 2021)
  • Programmable Hybrid Lab Supply with WiFi – Part 2 (June 2021)
Items relevant to "Digital FX (Effects) Pedal – Part 2":
  • Digital FX Unit PCB (potentiometer-based version) [01102211] (AUD $7.50)
  • Digital FX Unit PCB (switch-based version) [01102212] (AUD $7.50)
  • 24LC32A-I/SN EEPROM programmed for the Digital FX Unit [0110221A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • PIC12F1571-I/SN programmed for the Digital FX Unit with potentiometer [0110221B.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • Spin FV-1 digital effects IC (SOIC-28) (Component, AUD $40.00)
  • Firmware for the Digital FX Unit [0110221A.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • Digital FX Unit PCB patterns (PDF download) [01102211-2] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Digital FX (Effects) Pedal - Part 1 (April 2021)
  • Digital FX (Effects) Pedal – Part 2 (May 2021)
Items relevant to "Arduino-based MIDI Soundboard – Part 2":
  • 64-Key Arduino MIDI Shield PCB [23101211] (AUD $5.00)
  • 8x8 Tactile Pushbutton Switch Matrix PCB [23101212] (AUD $10.00)
  • Simple Linear MIDI Keyboard PCB [23101213] (AUD $5.00)
  • Firmware for the 64-Key Arduino MIDI Matrix (Software, Free)
  • Software for the Arduino MIDI Shield & 8x8 Key Matrix plus 3D keycap model (Free)
  • 64-Key Arduino MIDI Shield PCB pattern (PDF download) [23101211] (Free)
  • 8x8 Tactile Pushbutton Switch Matrix PCB pattern (PDF download) [23101212] (Free)
  • Simple Linear MIDI Keyboard PCB pattern (PDF download) [23101213] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Arduino-based MIDI Soundboard - Part 1 (April 2021)
  • Arduino-based MIDI Soundboard – Part 2 (May 2021)
  • Simple Linear MIDI Keyboard (August 2021)
Items relevant to "Variac-based Mains Voltage Regulation":
  • Variac-based Regulation Control Module PCB [10103211] (AUD $7.50)
  • Variac-based Regulation Control Module PCB pattern (PDF download) [10103211] (Free)
Items relevant to "Infrared remote control jammer":
  • Firmware for the Infrared Remote Control Jammer (Software, Free)
Articles in this series:
  • The History of Videotape – Quadruplex (March 2021)
  • The History of Videotape - Helical Scan (April 2021)
  • The History of Videotape – Cassette Systems (May 2021)
  • The History of Videotape – Camcorders and Digital Video (June 2021)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $10.00.

Infrared remote control jammer This device was developed to preserve our sanity when our grandson or younger family members come to visit. They love watching childrens TV channels at high volume levels, resulting in an amazing amount of highly irritating sounds. The result is continuous cries of “turn it down”, only to have the volume slowly turned up again over the course of a few minutes. This device sends out a 15-second burst of infrared at around 38kHz whenever the volume up button is pressed on the remote control. This swamps the IR receiver in the television, stopping the volume increasing. To successfully turn the volume up, two buttons on the remote must be pressed first (in either order), then the volume up button. I chose the yellow and red buttons on my TCL brand remote. Note that as soon as another button is pressed, for example to change channels, the device reverts to jamming mode. I also had to disable the manual volume up button on our TV as our grandson soon worked out that he could turn the volume up that way! The circuit is simple – the infrared receiver and IR LED are both powered from the Arduino’s 5V supply. The receiver feeds remote control codes into digital input D11 while digital output pin D8 drives the IR LED via NPN transistor Q1, with a 270W base current limiting resistor and a 10W LED current limiting resistor. I built my device inside a plastic box and powered it from a USB power supply that goes to the same socket as the television, so the circuit has power whenever the TV is plugged in. The infrared LED needs to be reasonably close to the TV, and ideally hidden to avoid sabotage. The software code is commented to show where to enter the required infrared codes to suit other TVs. You will need to use the included IR decoder sketch (which I did not write) to determine the codes produced by your remote control. Both sketches are available for download from siliconchip.com.au/Shop/6/5821 Geoff Coppa, Toormina, NSW. ($75) POWER SUPPLIES PTY LTD ELECTRONICS SPECIALISTS TO DEFENCE AVIATION MINING MEDICAL RAIL INDUSTRIAL Our Core Ser vices: Electronic DLM Workshop Repair NATA ISO17025 Calibration 37 Years Repair Specialisation Power Supply Repair to 50KVA Convenient Local Support SWITCHMODE POWER SUPPLIES Pty Ltd ABN 54 003 958 030 Unit 1 /37 Leighton Place Hornsby NSW 2077 (PO Box 606 Hornsby NSW 1630) Tel: 02 9476 0300 Email: service<at>switchmode.com.au Website: www.switchmode.com.au May 2021  85