Practical
Electronics
Volume 55. No. 02
February 2026
ISSN 2632 573X
Contents
Projects and Circuits
Power LCR Meter, part one by Phil Prosser
10
This LCR meter can deliver up to 30A to inductors to determine their properties at
higher power levels. That makes it particularly useful for determining when and how an
inductor saturates. It can also measure very low resistances and high capacitances.
34
Versatile Waveform Generator by Randy Keenan
This versatile waveform/function generator is handy for a variety of uses, including
audio equipment analysis and circuit development. It uses three op amps to deliver
square, pulse, triangle, ramp and sine waves from 1Hz to 30kHz.
54
The PicoMite 2 by Geoff Graham
This MMBasic interpreter for the Raspberry Pi Pico 2 and Pico 2 W takes advantage
of the new features of the Raspberry Pi Pico 2. It converts the Pico 2 into an easy-touse and powerful platform for beginners and experts alike.
Series, Features and Columns
4
Max’s Cool Beans by Max The Magnificent
Weird & Wonderful Arduino Projects, part 14: enough playing games, it’s time to play
games! This instalment focuses on wiring up the plug-in cartridge system that our
games console will use to select and play games.
22
Teach-In 12.4: the World of Wireless by Mike Tooley
This month, our focus shifts to software-defined radio (SDR), which enables radio
signal processing tasks traditionally handled by hardware to be managed via software. We examine different SDR solutions that will work from HF to UHF.
42
Circuit Surgery by Ian Bell
Measuring the frequency response of a circuit using a PC sound card, part 5: op
amp frequency response & stability. We look into op amp open-loop vs closed-loop
gain, gain bandwidth, phase shift, phase margin and stability criteria.
50
Raspberry Pi Pico 2 microcontroller module review by Tim Blythman
The Raspberry Pi Pico 2 microcontroller board is similar to the original Pico (released in
2021) except that it features the new RP2350 microcontroller chip.
Techno Talk by Max the Magnificent
60
Welcome to the sensorium. From breadcrumb-sized accelerometers to microwatt
neural nets and backscattered wireless links, ultra-low-power technologies are turning
everyday objects into intelligent, connected companions.
62
Audio Out by Jake Rothman
We’ve described some musical instrument fuzz boxes over the last few issues; this new
PCB can be configured in many different ways to produce all kinds of fuzz pedals.
Review: Mini UPS module by Jim Rowe
70
This module uses a single Li-ion cell (or a few in parallel) to provide backup DC power.
It’s useful for powering devices like internet routers so they’ll work during a blackout.
The Fox Report by Barry Fox
Pure’s Classic C-D6i do-it-all DAB & FM radio/internet streaming audio player.
74
Regulars and Services
Made in Australia & the UK.
Written in Britain, Australia,
the USA and Ireland.
Read everywhere.
© Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd 2025
Copyright in all drawings, photographs, articles, technical
designs, software and intellectual property published in
Practical Electronics is fully protected, and reproduction
or imitation in whole or in part are expressly forbidden.
The March 2026 issue of Practical Electronics will be
published on Thursday, 5th of February, 2026 (see p80).
Practical Electronics | February | 2026
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