Silicon ChipPartShop - December 2025 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Dutch government fumbles with Nexperia
  4. Product Showcase
  5. PartShop
  6. Feature: Humanoid Robots, Part 2 by Dr David Maddison, VK3DSM
  7. Feature: Power Electronics, Part 2 by Andrew Levido
  8. Project: RGB LED Star Ornament by Nicholas Vinen
  9. Feature: How to Design PCBs, Part 1 by Tim Blythman
  10. Project: Earth Radio, Part 1 by John Clarke
  11. Project: DCC Decoder by Tim Blythman
  12. Project: Digital Preamplifier, Part 3 by Phil Prosser
  13. Serviceman's Log: The Bad Old Days by Dave Thompson
  14. Vintage Radio: BC-211 Frequency Meter by Ian Batty
  15. Market Centre
  16. Advertising Index
  17. Notes & Errata: Digital Preamplifier, part one, October 2025; Serviceman’s Log, October 2025
  18. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the December 2025 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 35 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.

Articles in this series:
  • Humanoid Robots, Part 1 (November 2025)
  • Humanoid Robots, Part 2 (December 2025)
Articles in this series:
  • Power Electronics, Part 1 (November 2025)
  • Power Electronics, Part 2 (December 2025)
Items relevant to "RGB LED Star Ornament":
  • RGB LED Star PCB [16112251] (AUD $12.50)
  • PIC16F18126-I/SL programmed for the RGB LED Star [1611225A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • AP5002SG buck regulator IC (SOIC-8) (Component, AUD $5.00)
  • RGB LED Star kit (Component, AUD $80.00)
  • RGB LED Star firmware [1611225A.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • RGB LED Star PCB pattern (PDF download) [16112251] (Free)
Items relevant to "Earth Radio, Part 1":
  • Earth Radio PCB [06110251] (AUD $5.00)
  • Earth Radio short-form kit (Component, AUD $55.00)
  • Earth Radio PCB pattern (PDF download0 [06110251] (Free)
  • Earth Radio panel artwork, drilling and antenna construction diagrams (Free)
Items relevant to "DCC Decoder":
  • DCC Decoder PCB [09111241] (AUD $2.50)
  • PIC16F18126-I/SL programmed for the DCC Decoder [0911124A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • DCC Decoder kit (Component, AUD $25.00)
  • DCC Decoder Star firmware [0911124A.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • DCC Decoder PCB pattern (PDF download) [09111241] (Free)
Items relevant to "Digital Preamplifier, Part 3":
  • Digital Preamplifier main PCB [01107251] (AUD $30.00)
  • Digital Preamplifier front panel control PCB [01107252] (AUD $2.50)
  • Digital Preamplifier power supply PCB [01107253] (AUD $7.50)
  • PIC32MX270F256D-50I/PT‎ programmed for the Digital Preamplifier/Crossover [0110725A.HEX] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $20.00)
  • Firmware for the Digital Preamplifier/Crossover (Software, Free)
  • Digital Preamplifier/Crossover PCB patterns (PDF download) [01107251-3] (Free)
  • 3D printing files for the Digital Preamplifier/Crossover (Panel Artwork, Free)
  • Digital Preamplifier/Crossover case drilling diagrams (Panel Artwork, Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Digital Preamp & Crossover (October 2025)
  • Digital Preamp & Crossover, Pt2 (November 2025)
  • Digital Preamplifier, Part 3 (December 2025)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $14.00.

ONLINESHOP SILICON CHIP .com.au/shop PCBs, CASE PIECES AND PANELS WAVEFORM GENERATOR PICO 2 AUDIO ANALYSER (BLACK) PICO/2/COMPUTER ↳ FRONT & REAR PANELS (BLACK) ROTATING LIGHT (BLACK) 433MHZ TRANSMITTER VERSATILE BATTERY CHECKER ↳ FRONT PANEL (BLACK, 0.8mm) TOOL SAFETY TIMER RGB LED ANALOG CLOCK (BLACK) USB POWER ADAPTOR (BLACK, 1mm) HWS SOLAR DIVERTER PCB & INSULATING PANELS SSB SHORTWAVE RECEIVER PCB SET ↳ FRONT PANEL (BLACK) 433MHz RECEIVER SMARTPROBE ↳ SWD PROGRAMMING ADAPTOR MAR25 MAR25 APR25 APR25 APR25 APR25 MAY25 MAY25 MAY25 MAY25 MAY25 JUN25 JUN25 JUN25 JUN25 JUL25 JUL25 Subscribers get a 10% discount on all orders for parts 04104251 $5.00 04107231 $5.00 07104251 $5.00 07104252/3 $10.00 09101251 $2.50 15103251 $2.50 11104251 $5.00 11104252 $7.50 10104251 $5.00 19101251 $15.00 18101251 $2.50 18110241 $20.00 CSE250202-3 $15.00 CSE250204 $7.50 15103252 $2.50 P9054-04 $5.00 P9045-A $2.50 DUCTED HEAT TRANSFER CONTROLLER ↳ TEMPERATURE SENSOR ADAPTOR ↳ CONTROL PANEL MIC THE MOUSE (PCB SET, WHITE) USB-C POWER MONITOR (PCB SET, INCLUDES FFC) HOME AUTOMATION SATELLITE PICKIT BASIC POWER BREAKOUT DUAL TRAIN CONTROLLER TRANSMITTER DIGITAL PREAMPLIFIER MAIN PCB (4 LAYERS) ↳ FRONT PANEL CONTROL ↳ POWER SUPPLY VACUUM CONTROLLER MAIN PCB ↳ BLAST GATE ADAPTOR POWER RAIL PROBE RGB LED STAR EARTH RADIO DCC DECODER AUG25 AUG25 AUG25 AUG25 AUG25 SEP25 SEP25 OCT25 OCT25 OCT25 OCT25 OCT25 OCT25 NOV25 DEC25 DEC25 DEC25 17101251 17101252 17101253 SC7528 SC7527 15104251 18106251 09110245 01107251 01107252 01107253 10109251 10109252 P9058-1-C 16112251 06110251 09111241 $10.00 $2.50 $2.50 $7.50 $7.50 $3.50 $2.00 $3.00 $30.00 $2.50 $7.50 $10.00 $2.50 $5.00 $12.50 $5.00 $2.50 PRE-PROGRAMMED MICROS As a service to readers, Silicon Chip Online Shop stocks microcontrollers and microprocessors used in new projects (from 2012 on) and some selected older projects – pre-programmed and ready to fly! Some micros from copyrighted and/or contributed projects may not be available. $10 MICROS $15 MICROS PIC12F617-I/P PIC16F1455-I/P Battery-Powered Model Railway Transmitter (Jan25) Battery-Powered Model Railway TH Receiver (Jan25) Dual Train Controller (Transmitter / TH Receiver, Oct25) PIC16F1455-I/SL Battery-Powered Model Railway SMD Receiver (Jan25) USB Programmable Frequency Divider (Feb25) Dual Train Controller (SMD Receiver, Oct25) PIC16LF1455-I/P New GPS-Synchronised Analog Clock (Sep22) PIC16F1459-I/P 8CH Learning IR Remote (Oct24), Heat Transfer Controller (Aug25) Vacuum Controller (Oct25) PIC16F15214-I/SN Silicon Chirp Cricket (Apr23), Mic The Mouse (Aug25) PIC16F15214-I/P Filament Dryer (Oct24), Tool Safety Timer (May25) PIC16F15224-I/SL NFC IR Keyfob Transmitter (Feb25), Rotating Light (Apr25) PIC16F18126-I/SL DCC Decoder (Dec25), RGB LED Star (Dec25) PIC16F18146-I/SO Versatile Battery Checker (May25), RGB LED ‘Analog’ Clock (May25) USB-C Power Monitor (Aug25) PIC16LF15323-I/SL Remote Mains Switch (TX, Jul22), Secure Remote Switch (TX, Dec23) STM32G030K6T6 Variable Speed Drive Mk2 (Nov24) PIC16F1847-I/P PIC16F88-I/P PIC24FJ256GA702-I/SS PIC32MX170F256B-50I/SP STM32L031F6P6 Digital Capacitance Meter (Jan25) Battery Charge Controller (Jun22), Railway Semaphore (Apr22) ESR Test Tweezers (Jun24) Micromite LCD BackPack V1-V3 (Feb16 / May17 / Aug19) SmartProbe (Jul25) $20 MICROS PIC32MK0128MCA048 Power LCR Meter (Mar25) PIC32MX270F256D-50I/PT Digital Preamplifier (Oct25) $25 MICROS PIC32MX170F256B-50I/SO + PIC16F1455-I/SL Micromite Explore-40 (SC5157, Oct24) PIC32MX470F512H-120/PT Micromite Explore 64 (Aug 16), Micromite Plus (Nov16) PIC32MX470F512L-120/PT Micromite Explore 100 (Sep16) $30 MICROS PIC32MZ2048EFH064-I/PT DSP Crossover/Equaliser (May19), Low-Distortion DDS (Feb20) DIY Reflow Oven Controller (Apr20), Dual Hybrid Supply (Feb22) KITS & SPECIALISED COMPONENTS RGB LED STAR KIT (SC7535) Includes the mostly-assembled board and all non-optional components except the power supply (see p43, Dec25) EARTH RADIO KIT (SC7582) Includes everything to build the radio itself except the case and battery, plus the plug for the antenna (see p65, Dec25) RP2350B COMPUTER (NOV 25) Assembled Board: a fully-assembled PCB with all non-optional components, front and rear panels are sold separately below (SC7531; see p28, Nov25) - front & rear panels (SC7532) (OCT 25) - PIC16F1455-I/P programmed with 0911024D.HEX (Transmitter) - PIC16F1455-I/P programmed with 0911024S(or T).HEX (Receiver, TH) - PIC16F1455-I/SL programmed with 0911024S(or T).HEX (Receiver, SMD) firmware ending with “S.HEX” is for train 1, while “T.HEX” is for train 2 PICKIT BASIC POWER BREAKOUT KIT (SC7512) Includes all parts except the jumper wire and glue (see p39, Sep25) USB-C POWER MONITOR KIT (SC7489) (AUG 25) $55.00 433MHz RECEIVER KIT (SC7447) (JUN 25) $25.00 VERSATILE BATTERY CHECKER KIT (SC7465) (MAY 25) RGB LED ‘ANALOG’ CLOCK KIT (SC7416) (MAY 25) USB POWER ADAPTOR COMPLETE KIT (SC7433) (MAY 25) (SEP 25) 433MHz TRANSMITTER KIT (SC7430) (APR 25) Includes all parts except a CR2032 cell (see p64, Aug25) Includes all non-optional parts except the case, cell & glue (see p39, Aug25) (DEC 25) (DEC 25) DUAL TRAIN CONTROLLER MICROCONTROLLERS (AUG 25) $80.00 DCC DECODER KIT (SC7524) Includes everything in the parts list (see p73, Dec25) MIC THE MOUSE KIT (SC7508) (DEC 25) $90.00 $7.50 $10.00 $10.00 $10.00 Includes the PCB and all onboard parts (see p66, Jun25) Includes everything in the parts list (including the case), except the optional components, batteries and glue (see p30, May25) $37.50 $60.00 $20.00 $65.00 Includes all the parts except the power supply. When buying the kit select either a BZ-121 GPS module or Pico W (unprogrammed) for the time source (see p66, May25) $65.00 Includes everything in the parts list and a choice of one USB socket: USB-C power only; USB-C power+data; Type-B mini; or Type-B micro (see p80, May25) $10.00 Includes the PCB and all onboard parts (see p75, Apr25) $20.00 $20.00 $12 flat rate for postage within Australia. Overseas? Place an order via our website for a quote. All items subect to availability. Prices valid for month of magazine issue only. All prices in Australian dollars & include GST where applicable. HOW TO ORDER INTERNET (24/7) PAYPAL (24/7) eMAIL (24/7) MAIL (24/7) PHONE – (9-5:00 AET, Mon-Fri) siliconchip.com.au/Shop silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au PO Box 194, MATRAVILLE, NSW 2036 (02) 9939 3295, +612 for international You can also pay by cheque/money order (Orders by mail only) or bank transfer. Make cheques payable to Silicon Chip. 12/25