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Practical Electronics Editorial offices Electron Publishing Tel +61 2 9939 3295 (Australia) Email pe<at>pemag.au Web www.electronpublishing.com Address mail to: Electron Publishing (Australia) PO Box 194, Matraville NSW 2036 Australia Advertising enquiries +61 2 9939 3295 pe<at>pemag.au Editor Nicholas Vinen Publisher Nicholas Vinen Digital subscriptions Stewart Kearn Tel 07918 614662 Online Editor Alan Winstanley Web Systems Kris Thain Production Bao Smith Technical staff Tim Blythman, John Clarke Print subscriptions Practical Electronics Subscriptions PO Box 6337 Bournemouth BH1 9EH Tel 01202 087631 United Kingdom Email pesubs<at>selectps.com Technical enquiries We regret that technical enquiries cannot be answered over the telephone. We are unable to offer any advice on the use, purchase, repair or modification of commercial equipment or the incorporation or modification of designs published in the magazine. Questions about articles or projects should be sent to the editor by email: pe<at>pemag.au Projects and circuits All reasonable precautions are taken to ensure that the advice and data given to readers is reliable. We cannot, however, guarantee it and we cannot accept legal responsibility for it. Some projects and circuits published in Practical Electronics employ voltages that can be lethal. Do not build, test, modify or fix any mains-powered equipment unless you fully understand the safety aspects involved and you use an RCD (GFCI) adaptor. Volume 55. No. 01 January 2026 ISSN 2632 573X Editorial Hardware requiring an App is a red flag Lately, I’ve noticed more consumer gear (routers, printers etc) requiring a smartphone App to control or set it up. I plan to avoid buying such gear in future for a few reasons, the primary one being the obvious: it will have a limited lifespan. For example, I bought a TP-Link Deco mesh Wi-Fi system for my home office because a single Wi-Fi router, even a high-end one, can’t penetrate the double brick walls very well. This system works well, but it’s fully controlled via a smartphone App. What’s stopping TPLink from withdrawing the App and preventing me from changing its configuration, or even remotely disabling the whole system? Nothing, really. And that is not without precedent, either. Had I known that this system was App-configured when I bought it, I probably would have chosen something else. Next time, I will certainly do more research and buy a system that doesn’t rely on an App. I don’t mind having an optional App, but I want another configuration method for the inevitable day when the App is no longer available. Of course, companies love this because it’s yet another form of planned obsolescence. iFixit (a right-to-repair-friendly company) has a good article on this unfriendly practice on their website here: https://www.ifixit.com/News/97135/companies-keep-bricking-productswho-will-hold-them-accountable (https://pemag.au/link/ac9d). Nicholas Vinen, Electron Publishing (Australia)* Publisher & Editor, Practical Electronics Magazine * a division of Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. Component supplies Silicon Chip Publications may offer kits or other parts for making our projects, but not in all cases. When kits are not available, readers will need to find and source parts themselves. We advise readers to check that all parts are still available before commencing any project in a back-dated issue. Advertisements Although the proprietors and staff of Practical Electronics take reasonable precautions to protect the interests of readers by ensuring as far as practicable that advertisements are bona fide, the magazine and its publishers cannot give any undertakings in respect of statements or claims made by advertisers, whether these advertisements are printed as part of the magazine, or in inserts. The Publishers regret that under no circumstances will the magazine accept liability for non-receipt of goods ordered, or for late delivery, or for faults in manufacture. Transmitters/bugs/telephone equipment We advise readers that certain items of radio transmitting and telephone equipment which may be advertised in our pages cannot be legally used in the UK. Readers should check the law before buying any transmitting or telephone equipment, as a fine, confiscation of equipment and/or imprisonment can result from illegal use or ownership. The laws vary from country to country; readers should check local laws. 2 Jake Rothman’s “Pre-driver” guitar preamp/ overdrive pedal, described on pages 50-55 (no App needed!). Practical Electronics | January | 2026