Silicon ChipThe chip shortage is now a component shortage - October 2021 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: The chip shortage is now a component shortage
  4. Mailbag
  5. Feature: Detecting Gravitational Waves by Dr David Maddddison
  6. Product Showcase
  7. Project: Tele-com – an intercom using analog phones by Greig Sheridan & Ross Herbert
  8. Project: Two- or Three-Way Stereo Active Crossover – Part 1 by Phil Prosser
  9. Feature: El Cheapo Modules: 3.8GHz Digital Attenuator by Jim Rowe
  10. Project: SMD Test Tweezers by Tim Blythman
  11. Review: PicoScope 6426E USB Oscilloscope by Tim Blythman
  12. Project: Touchscreen Digital Preamp with Tone Control – Part 2 by Nicholas Vinen & Tim Blythman
  13. Review: Solder Master ESM-50WL Cordless Iron by Tim Blythman
  14. Serviceman's Log: Life on the 'bleeding edge' by Dave Thompson
  15. Feature: UT-P 2016 MEMS Woofer by Allan Linton-Smith
  16. Vintage Radio: Reinartz 4-valve reaction radio by Fred Lever
  17. Circuit Notebook: Colour recognition using LEDs and an LDR by Les Kerr
  18. Circuit Notebook: Battery charger with WiFi interface by Phillip Webb
  19. PartShop
  20. Ask Silicon Chip
  21. Market Centre
  22. Advertising Index
  23. Notes & Errata: Tapped Horn Subwoofer, September 2021; Touchscreen Digital Preamplifier, September 2021; Battery Manager, August 2021; Bush VTR103 AM/FM radio, August 2021; Silicon Labs FM/AM/SW Digital Radio, July 2021; 7-Band Stereo Equaliser, April 2020; CLASSiC DAC, February-May 2013
  24. Outer Back Cover

This is only a preview of the October 2021 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 0 of the 112 pages in the full issue.

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Items relevant to "Tele-com – an intercom using analog phones":
  • The Tele-com Intercom PCB (aka OzPLAR) [12110211] (AUD $30.00)
  • The Tele-com Intercom PCB pattern (PDF download) [12110211] (Free)
  • Tele-com front & rear panel 3D printing files (Panel Artwork, Free)
Items relevant to "Two- or Three-Way Stereo Active Crossover – Part 1":
  • Two- or Three-Way Stereo Active Crossover PCB [01109211] (AUD $15.00)
  • Two- or Three-Way Active Crossover PCB patterns (PDF download) [01109211] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Two- or Three-Way Stereo Active Crossover – Part 1 (October 2021)
  • Two- or Three-Way Stereo Active Crossover – Part 2 (November 2021)
Articles in this series:
  • El Cheapo Modules From Asia - Part 1 (October 2016)
  • El Cheapo Modules From Asia - Part 2 (December 2016)
  • El Cheapo Modules From Asia - Part 3 (January 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules from Asia - Part 4 (February 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules, Part 5: LCD module with I²C (March 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules, Part 6: Direct Digital Synthesiser (April 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules, Part 7: LED Matrix displays (June 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Li-ion & LiPo Chargers (August 2017)
  • El Cheapo modules Part 9: AD9850 DDS module (September 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules Part 10: GPS receivers (October 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules 11: Pressure/Temperature Sensors (December 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules 12: 2.4GHz Wireless Data Modules (January 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 13: sensing motion and moisture (February 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 14: Logarithmic RF Detector (March 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 16: 35-4400MHz frequency generator (May 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 17: 4GHz digital attenuator (June 2018)
  • El Cheapo: 500MHz frequency counter and preamp (July 2018)
  • El Cheapo modules Part 19 – Arduino NFC Shield (September 2018)
  • El cheapo modules, part 20: two tiny compass modules (November 2018)
  • El cheapo modules, part 21: stamp-sized audio player (December 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 22: Stepper Motor Drivers (February 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules 23: Galvanic Skin Response (March 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Class D amplifier modules (May 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Long Range (LoRa) Transceivers (June 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules: AD584 Precision Voltage References (July 2019)
  • Three I-O Expanders to give you more control! (November 2019)
  • El Cheapo modules: “Intelligent” 8x8 RGB LED Matrix (January 2020)
  • El Cheapo modules: 8-channel USB Logic Analyser (February 2020)
  • New w-i-d-e-b-a-n-d RTL-SDR modules (May 2020)
  • New w-i-d-e-b-a-n-d RTL-SDR modules, Part 2 (June 2020)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Mini Digital Volt/Amp Panel Meters (December 2020)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Mini Digital AC Panel Meters (January 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: LCR-T4 Digital Multi-Tester (February 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: USB-PD chargers (July 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: USB-PD Triggers (August 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: 3.8GHz Digital Attenuator (October 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: 6GHz Digital Attenuator (November 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: 35MHz-4.4GHz Signal Generator (December 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: LTDZ Spectrum Analyser (January 2022)
  • Low-noise HF-UHF Amplifiers (February 2022)
  • A Gesture Recognition Module (March 2022)
  • Air Quality Sensors (May 2022)
  • MOS Air Quality Sensors (June 2022)
  • PAS CO2 Air Quality Sensor (July 2022)
Items relevant to "SMD Test Tweezers":
  • SMD Test Tweezers PCB set [04106211+04106212] (AUD $10.00)
  • PIC12F1572-I/SN [0410621A.HEX] or PIC12LF1572-I/SN [0410621C.HEX] programmed for the SMD Test Tweezers (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $10.00)
  • 64x32 white OLED screen (0.49-inch, 1.25cm diagonal) (Component, AUD $10.00)
  • Improved SMD Test Tweezers kit (Component, AUD $35.00)
  • Firmware for the SMD Test Tweezers [0410621A.HEX] (Software, Free)
  • SMD Test Tweezers PCB patterns (PDF download) [04106211/2] (Free)
Items relevant to "Touchscreen Digital Preamp with Tone Control – Part 2":
  • Touchscreen Digital Preamp PCB [01103191] (AUD $12.50)
  • Touchscreen Digital Preamp ribbon cable/IR adaptor PCB [01103192] (AUD $2.50)
  • PIC32MX170F256B-50I/SP programmed for the Touchscreen Digital Preamp, 2.8in screen version [0110319A.hex] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • PIC32MX170F256B-50I/SP programmed for the Touchscreen Digital Preamp, 3.5in screen version [0110319B.hex] (Programmed Microcontroller, AUD $15.00)
  • Pair of AD8403ARZ10 quad digital potentiometer ICs (Component, AUD $40.00)
  • Micromite LCD BackPack V3 complete kit (Component, AUD $75.00)
  • Micromite LCD BackPack V2 complete kit (Component, AUD $70.00)
  • Micromite LCD BackPack V1 complete kit (Component, AUD $65.00)
  • Firmware for the Touchscreen Digital Preamp (Software, Free)
  • Touchscreen Digital Preamp PCB patterns (PDF download) [01103191/2] (Free)
Articles in this series:
  • Touchscreen Digital Preamp with Tone Control – Part 1 (September 2021)
  • Touchscreen Digital Preamp with Tone Control – Part 2 (October 2021)
Articles in this series:
  • A high-performance MEMS tweeter that’s just 6.7 x 4.7mm! (May 2020)
  • UT-P 2016 MEMS Woofer (October 2021)
Items relevant to "Colour recognition using LEDs and an LDR":
  • Software, drawings & Gerber files for Colour Recognition using LEDs and an LDR (Free)
Items relevant to "Battery charger with WiFi interface":
  • Arduino sketches and user manual for the WiFi Battery Charger (Software, Free)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $10.00.

SILICON SILIC CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Publisher/Editor Nicholas Vinen Technical Editor John Clarke, B.E.(Elec.) Technical Staff Jim Rowe, B.A., B.Sc. Bao Smith, B.Sc. Tim Blythman, B.E., B.Sc. Nicolas Hannekum, Dip. Elec. Tech. Technical Contributor Duraid Madina, B.Sc, M.Sc, PhD Reader Services Rhonda Blythman, BSc, LLB, GDLP Advertising Enquiries Glyn Smith Phone (02) 9939 3295 Mobile 0431 792 293 glyn<at>siliconchip.com.au Regular Contributors Dave Thompson David Maddison B.App.Sc. (Hons 1), PhD, Grad.Dip.Entr.Innov. Geoff Graham Associate Professor Graham Parslow Ian Batty Cartoonist Brendan Akhurst Founding Editor (retired) Leo Simpson, B.Bus., FAICD Staff (retired) Ross Tester Ann Morris Greg Swain, B. Sc. (Hons.) Silicon Chip is published 12 times a year by Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd. ACN 626 922 870. ABN 20 880 526 923. All material is copyright ©. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the written consent of the publisher. Subscription rates (Australia only): 12 issues (1 year): $105 24 issues (2 years): $202 For overseas rates, see our website or email silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au Recommended & maximum price only. Editorial office: Unit 1 (up ramp), 234 Harbord Rd, Brookvale, NSW 2100. Postal address: PO Box 139, Collaroy Beach, NSW 2097. Phone (02) 9939 3295. ISSN 1030-2662 Printing and Distribution: Editorial Viewpoint The chip shortage is now a component shortage I mentioned the severe semiconductor shortages in my June 2021 editorial. By that time, we had been having problems getting some parts for a few months, but it was clearly getting worse. Many common parts were unavailable, with long lead times. Things have only gone downhill since then. It isn’t just products like ICs and semiconductors that are becoming hard to get, but even basic components like ceramic capacitors and inductors are running out. And the situation with semiconductors like microcontrollers and Mosfets is becoming ridiculous, with whole ranges completely out of stock and astronomical lead times. I’m not joking about that. We were trying to buy some NXP Mosfets (PSMN1R030YL) for one of the kits that we sell, and not only were they out of stock everywhere, but one major supplier quoted us an estimated backorder delivery date of April 25th, 2024 – over two and a half years from now! This is a major headache for us. How can we publish constructional projects if we don’t know whether readers will be able to buy the parts to build them? Even if we check and stock levels look healthy now, by the time we publish the article (which can range from a few weeks to a few months), they could all be gone and not available for a long time. We used to keep around one month worth of parts for the kits and programmed microcontrollers we sell, perhaps 10-20 of each. Now we have to keep 6-12 months worth, often well over 100 of each, because of how quickly the suppliers run out of stock and how long it takes to replenish them. So we’re paying a lot more up-front and we have to find space to store them all. I can only imagine it’s an even bigger headache for manufacturers, service centres and others who have to order in reel-size quantities and require a much more comprehensive range of parts for assembly or repair. And the fact that everyone is scrambling to get the parts they’re going to need for the foreseeable future can’t be helping with the shortages. Given that the lead times for many out-of-stock components are already midto-late 2022, it’s clear that these shortages are not going away any time soon. By the time that stock arrives next year, much of it might already have been sold, and what’s left will likely be quickly snapped up. Fundamentally, the only ways to solve a situation where demand is grossly outstripping supply is to either significantly increase supply or reduce demand. Increasing supply is not easy or quick, and I don’t see the demand dropping just yet (but it will have to eventually). So we’d all better prepare for this situation to continue for some time. ElectroneX postponed again Given the current Australian COVID-19 situation, it comes as no surprise that ElectroneX had to be postponed again, this time until April next year. Please see the full announcement on page 29 for more details. Exciting competition funded by Dick Smith Also, don’t miss the competition announcement on page 13 of this issue. It’s an excellent opportunity for budding electronics enthusiasts to have the chance to win a substantial cash prize, and it sounds like a fun challenge. We’ve timed it so that entrants will have the Christmas/New Year break to work on their designs. Depending on how many entries we get and their quality, we might also end up featuring some of them in the magazine; we’ll definitely be featuring the best entry, as described in the announcement. by Nicholas Vinen 24-26 Lilian Fowler Pl, Marrickville 2204 2 Silicon Chip Australia’s electronics magazine siliconchip.com.au