Silicon ChipProduct Showcase - March 2014 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Cruise ships are technical marvels
  4. Feature: Digital Cameras Come of Age by Barrie Smith
  5. Feature: Retro Round-Up: Nostalgic Radio Is Back! by Kevin Poulter
  6. Subscriptions
  7. Project: Arduino-Based GSM Remote Monitoring Station by Nicholas Vinen
  8. Project: Precision 10V DC Reference For Checking DMMs by Jim Rowe
  9. Review: Cadex C7400ER-C Battery Analyser by Nicholas Vinen
  10. Project: Burp Charger For NiMH & Nicad Batteries by John Clarke
  11. Product Showcase
  12. Project: 230V/10A Speed Controller For Universal Motors, Pt.2 by John Clarke
  13. Book Store
  14. Feature: A Look Back At Ferrite Core Memory: Bits You Can See by Brian Armstrong
  15. Vintage Radio: The 1956 Sony Gendis TR-72 transistor radio by Dr Hugo Holden
  16. Order Form
  17. Notes & Errata
  18. Market Centre
  19. Advertising Index
  20. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the March 2014 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 46 of the 112 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 "Arduino-Based GSM Remote Monitoring Station":
  • Arduino software for the GPRS Remote Monitoring Station (Free)
  • Arduino GPRS Remote Monitoring panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)
Items relevant to "Precision 10V DC Reference For Checking DMMs":
  • Precision 10V DC Reference Mk2 PCB [04104141] (AUD $5.00)
  • Precision 10V DC Reference Mk2 PCB pattern (PDF download) [04104141] (Free)
  • Precision 10V DC Reference Mk2 panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)
Items relevant to "Burp Charger For NiMH & Nicad Batteries":
  • NiMH/Nicad Burp Charger PCB [14103141] (AUD $15.00)
  • PIC16F88-I/P programmed for the NiMH/Nicad Burp Charger [1410314A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • Complementary pair of logic-level Mosfets (CSD18534KCS/SPP15P10PL-H) (Component, AUD $7.50)
  • Firmware (ASM and HEX) files for the NiMH/Nicad Burp Charger [1410314A.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • NiMH/Nicad Burp Charger PCB pattern (PDF download) [14103141] (Free)
  • NiMH/Nicad Burp Charger panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)
Items relevant to "230V/10A Speed Controller For Universal Motors, Pt.2":
  • 230V/10A Universal Motor Speed Controller PCB [10102141] (AUD $10.00)
  • 230V/10A Universal Motor Speed Controller prototype PCB [10102141] (AUD $2.50)
  • PIC16F88-I/P programmed for the 230V/10A Universal Motor Speed Controller [1010214A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • Parts for the 10A 230VAC Universal Motor Speed Controller (Component, AUD $45.00)
  • Firmware (ASM and HEX) files for the 230V/10A Universal Motor Speed Controller [1010214A.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • 10A/230VAC Universal Motor Speed Controller PCB pattern (PDF download) [10102141] (Free)
  • 10A/230VAC Universal Motor Speed Controller panel artwork (PDF download) (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • 230V/10A Speed Controller For Universal Motors, Pt.1 (February 2014)
  • 230V/10A Speed Controller For Universal Motors, Pt.1 (February 2014)
  • 230V/10A Speed Controller For Universal Motors, Pt.2 (March 2014)
  • 230V/10A Speed Controller For Universal Motors, Pt.2 (March 2014)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $10.00.

PRODUCT SHOWCASE Verbatim MediaShare Wireless stores, streams and shares media content, anywhere Verbatim introduces MediaShare Wireless – a portable device which connects with up to five Wi-Fi enabled tablets and smartphones allowing you to view, play, stream and back up photos, video clips and music simultaneously, anywhere. With this unit you can connect up to five devices to the MediaShare simultaneously to share videos, music and data. A built-in USB port and SD Memory slot allows easy access to content from a USB portable hard drive, USB Drive or SD memory card and expansion of available storage on smartphones and tablets. You can also upload and download content wirelessly to and from your tablet or smartphone and safely back ‘NZ’ Series of Compact Switch Joysticks playback. An easy-to-use MediaShare Wireless app, available to download from iTunes and Google Play for iOS and Android devices respectively, lets users manage content (copying files between devices and MediaShare Wireless). It also provides a bridge to other wireless LAN networks to allow internet connections while files are being streamed. This means you can continue to use the internet while streaming content from the MediaShare. up photos and video clips from your smartphone or tablet to physical storage without needing a computer. The MediaShare Wireless allows up to nine hours of continuous video A new line of switch joysticks from APEM bridges the gap between joysticks and switches. The ‘NZ’ series is designed for the control of either machine functions or menu navigation. With above-panel options that mimic the look of either a joystick or toggle switch, they offer an IP67 panel-sealed, twoaxis-control in a compact below-panel housing. Constructed with gold-plated silver alloy contacts to provide reliable switching at low current levels, the NZ Series is rated for 2A or 100mA. They feature an open square gate, allowing the user to move freely in 360°. This omnidirectional movement allows movement in a diagonal direction, which yields a contact on two switches simultaneously. As a standard option, the joystick may be factory fitted with an anodised aluminium limiter plate, limiting the travel to just NSEW or NS directions. The series is Contact: rated for one mil- Control Devices lion operations, Unit 5, 79 Bourke Rd, Alexandria NSW 2015. with an operating Tel: (02) 9330 1700 Fax: (02) 8338 9001 temperature range Website: www.controldevices.net of -25°C to +50°C. 78  Silicon Chip Contact: Verbatim Australia 6/450 Princes Hwy, Noble Park, Vic 3174 Tel: (03) 9790 8999 Fax: (03) 9790 8911 Website: www.verbatim.com.au Design-specific enclosures for credit-card sized computers Hammond Electronics has launched a range of design-specific moulded enclosures to support the new types of credit card sized, low cost bare board computers. The enclosures provide good protection for the board themselves, and have dedicated access positions for external connectivity such as Ethernet, USB and serial ports. Although broadly similar in size and shape, there are inevitable differences in the positioning of I/O, power and expansion ports on each design. Hammond’s enclosures, derived from its popular 1593 family, are available in translucent blue, grey or black, and each version is configured for the particular design of board, with machined slots, cutouts and apertures in the cover and end panels. In some variants, the covers are moulded with the required access points. The new format of development boards are aimed at both professional developers and hobbyists. Initially, the supported computers are the Arduino Uno, Due and Mega, the Beaglebone and Beaglebone Black and the Freescale Freedom. Enclosures for the Arduino Tre and Intel Galileo are in development and will be available soon. In such a fast-moving environment, new versions are regularly being added to Contact: support additional Hammond Electronics Pty Ltd development board 11-13 Port Rd, Queenstown, SA 5014 designs as they are Tel: (08) 8240 2244 Fax: (08) 8240 2255 Website: www.hammondmfg.com introduced. siliconchip.com.au Tibbits Pre-packaged I/O Tibbits (as in “Tibbo Bits”) are blocks of prepackaged I/O functions housed in colour-coded plastic shells. Want an ADC? There is a Tibbit for this. 5V power supply? Got that! RS232/422/485 port? PoE? PWM? There are many other Tibbits, too, divided into Tibbit modules and Tibbit connectors. Each BASIC-programmable Tibbo Project PCB (TPP) can accommodate multiple Tibbit modules and connectors. Only bare essentials are provided on each board – there is a CPU, an Ethernet port and a very simple power supply. The rest of the board’s functionality is defined by what Tibbits you plug in. There are several TPP “sizes” that differ in the number of Tibbits they can accommodate. TPPs are programmable in Tibbo BASIC. This easy-to-learn programming language is particularly suited for control, automation, and networking applications. Tibbo BASIC is complemented by a rich set of programming objects, including socket (TCP, UDP, HTTP) and serial communications, Wi-Fi, GPRS, file data storage, LCD and keypad control, and many other functions. Tibbo BASIC applications are created using free Tibbo IDE software (TIDE). This features a built-in debugger, allowing you to upload your Tibbo BASIC application onto the TPP board and cross-debug it through the Ethernet Contact: LAN without the aid of Tibbo Technology Inc   9F-3, No 31, any special debugging Lane 169, Kang-Ning St, Hsi-Chih, Taipei, Taiwan hardware (such as a Tel: (886) 2 2692 5443 Fax: (886) 2 2692 3139 JTAG board or an ICE Website: www.tibbo.com machine). New Catalog for Off-Road, Caravanning & Marine Enthusiasts With a heavy emphasis on electronics and hardware, Road Tech Marine, Australia’s new supplier for the boating, caravanning and offroad enthusiast has released an impressive first catalog for this market. Featuring a detailed “Where’s Wally?” type front cover showing a stylised outback 4WD/camping/boating scene, the full colour catalogue is 260 crammed pages, with over 4,200 products, technical tips and suggestions. It even has a recipe to make bread from beer! The catalog is available to be posted to you via their website (see below) or by calling into any RTM store for just $3.95 – or it’s FREE with any purchase over $100. RTM Stores are located at Lawnton and Underwood (Qld), Granville and Caringbah (NSW), Fyshwick (ACT) and Dandenong (Vic). They have big expansion plans so be sure to check out their Contact: website for their Road Tech Marine newest stores and Reply Paid PO Box 7172, Silverwater NSW 1811 their increasing Tel: 1300 964 264 Fax: (02) 8832 3333 product line. Website: www.roadtechmarine.com.au Proposed Format for KitStop ¼ Page Ad Silicon Chip Magazine March 2014 ARM-based SBC with touch-screen display for HMI applications                  The EDM6070AR-01 fully-integrated Embedded Display Module (EDM) from element14 is ideally suited for a variety of embedded control HMI (human machine interface) applications including industrial control terminals, intelligent instruments, medical products, network terminals as well as data acquisition and analysis. It integrates an ARM-based single board computer (SBC) with a 7-inch LCD and touch-screen assembly. The multi-function embedded EDM is based on the ARM9 AT91SAM9X35 industrial processor from Atmel. The module has a plate with display, connectors and place for the Mini6935 module with ARM microcontroller. Included is 128MB SDRAM, 256MB NAND flash and 4MB data flash. It is supplied with a Smart-Home demo application with an intuitive smart-LED controller allowing the user to set independent light levels in each room, smart-climate controller allowing the user to control temperature and humidity throughout the house and smart-multimedia allowing the user to play streamed audio Contact: files into any element14 Pty Ltd room and man- 72 Ferndell St, Chester Hill NSW 2162 age surveillance Tel: (02) 9644 7722 Fax: (02) 9645 1381 Website: www.au.element14.com cameras. siliconchip.com.au KSSM-30Sec DIY SOUND RECORDER 30second recording time. Robust sound output. Simplified recording control. Easy to Use New Low Price $7.77 inc. GST Plus $3.60 P & P KSDVM-30 ULTRA-COMPACT 4.5V-30VDC Digital Panel Meter Here's a meter that is range-optimized for solar, automotive and trucking applications: Features:Bright 0.36” Red LED Digits, Value Snap-Fit Housing, 2 Wire Installation. inc. GST Plus $3.60 Pack & Post $6.70 Hours of Fun – Our 5 Kit Bonanza Kick 2014 off with this great set: A FK109 2 LED Flasher, FK908 Soil Moisture Indicator FK233 Emergency Vehicle Siren with speaker, FK602 2W Mono Audio Amplifier (Uses the FK233 Siren speaker) plus the FK401 LightActivated Switch. All for $25.50 inc. GST Plus $8.50 Pack & Post On Line at www.kitstop.com.au P.O. Box 5422 Clayton Vic.3168 Tel:0432 502 755 March 2014  79