Silicon ChipMater Maria College Scoops Technology Prize Pool - February 2007 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Let's not vacillate on nuclear power
  4. Feature: Viganella: Solar Power With A Twist by Ross Tester
  5. Feature: New “Naked” WiFi Distance Record by Ermanno Pietrosemoli
  6. Project: Remote Volume Control & Preamplifier Module; Pt.1 by Peter Smith
  7. Project: Simple Variable Boost Control For Turbo Cars by Denis Cobley
  8. Project: Fuel Cut Defeater For The Boost Control by Denis Cobley
  9. Review: Teac GF350 Turntable/CD Burner by Barrie Smith
  10. Review: Jaycar Gets Into Wireless Microphones by Ross Tester
  11. Feature: Mater Maria College Scoops Technology Prize Pool by Silicon Chip
  12. Project: Low-Cost 50MHz Frequency Meter; Mk.2 by John Clarke
  13. Project: Bike Computer To Digital Ammeter Conversion by Stan Swan
  14. Vintage Radio: The quirky Breville 801 personal portable by Rodney Champness
  15. Book Store
  16. Advertising Index
  17. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the February 2007 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 37 of the 104 pages in the full issue, including the advertisments.

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

Items relevant to "Remote Volume Control & Preamplifier Module; Pt.1":
  • ATmega8515 programmed for the Remote Volume Control & Preamplifier Module [DAVOL.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • ATmega8515 firmware and source code for the Remote Volume Control and Preamplifier (Software, Free)
  • Main PCB pattern for the Remote Volume Control and Preamp (PDF download) [01102071] (Free)
  • Display PCB pattern for the Remote Volume Control and Preamp (PDF download) [01102072] (Free)
  • Power supply PCB patterns for the Remote Volume Control and Preamp (PDF download) [01102073/4] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Remote Volume Control & Preamplifier Module; Pt.1 (February 2007)
  • Remote Volume Control & Preamplifier Module; Pt.1 (February 2007)
  • Remote Volume Control & Preamplifier Module; Pt.2 (March 2007)
  • Remote Volume Control & Preamplifier Module; Pt.2 (March 2007)
Items relevant to "Simple Variable Boost Control For Turbo Cars":
  • Variable Boost Controller PCB [05102072] (AUD $5.00)
  • PCB pattern for the Variable Boost Control (PDF download) [05102072] (Free)
Items relevant to "Fuel Cut Defeater For The Boost Control":
  • Fuel Cut Defeater PCB [05102071] (AUD $5.00)
  • PCB pattern for the Fuel Cut Defeater (PDF download) [05102071] (Free)
Items relevant to "Low-Cost 50MHz Frequency Meter; Mk.2":
  • PIC16F628A-I/P programmed for the Low-Cost 50MHz Frequency Meter, Mk.2 [freqenc2.hex] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • PIC16F628A firmware for the Low-Cost 50MHz Frequency Meter, Mk.2 [freqenc2.hex] (Software, Free)
  • PCB patterns for the Low-Cost 50MHz Frequency Meter, Mk.2 (PDF download) [04110031/2/3] (Free)
  • Low-Cost 50MHz Frequency Meter, Mk.2 panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $10.00.

Mater Maria College Scoops Technology Prize Pool SILICON CHIP has rewarded two students from Mater Maria Catholic College, Warriewood, with its inaugural “Excellence in Education Technology” awards, and the college itself with more than $6000 worth of electronics laboratory equipment. The awards had two divisions, both worth $5000. One was for any secondary school or college with an electronics curriculum and the other for universities and TAFEs. In the schools division, there were two awards made of $1000 each to the students submitting their major works for electronics in the Higher School Certificate, with $3000 going to the winning school/ college for electronic test and construction equipment. As it turned out, the judges awarded Mater Maria students with both individual prices and the college took out the major award. Leo Simpson, publisher of SILICON CHIP, said that with the magazine’s connections, the $3000 was turned into $6000 worth of gear. “We obtained gear from Jaycar Electronics, Altronics and Dick Smith Electronics, as well as bullet-proof digital multimeters from Yokogawa Australia” (see review this issue). “We believe that with this equipment, Mater Maria electronics laboratory will be the best-equipped in the state,” he said. “The teacher of electronics, Dave Kennedy, was speechless when he saw what he would be working with next year.” The $1000 cash prizes were awarded to two students, Lauren Capel and Matt McDonald. Lauren sourced a non-working 1940s vintage battery-operated valve radio receiver, restored and repaired it, then added a mains power supply and brought it into the twenty-first century with an MP3 player and miniature radio transmitter so she could play her MP3s through the radio. Matt’s project was a complete home security system, complete with SMS text messaging service to warn of intruders and mobile-phone operated remote control. Unable to find the alarm control he wanted in Australia, Matt sourced and imported a unit from Great Britain. Leo Simpson said that both projects demonstrated a great deal of ingenuity and were markedly different from the majority of Higher School Certificate major works entered. “Most students chose projects such as high power audio amplifiers for the home or car,” he said. “They reflect the interests of students of that age.” “But the projects Lauren and Matt produced showed that they thought outside the square. Much more research and documentation was needed in their projects than the majority, who in the main build SC their projects from kits of parts.” Our photo shows Dave Kennedy, electronics teacher at Mater Maria College, Leo Simpson and the two schools division winners, Matt McDonald and Lauren Capel. siliconchip.com.au February 2007  57