Practical
Electronics
Volume 53. No. 4
April 2024
ISSN 2632 573X
Contents
Projects and Circuits
Basic RF Signal Generator by Charles Kosina
16
Our AM/FM/DDS Signal Generator design from May 2023 is a great piece of test
equipment, but overkill for many tasks. If you only need a basic test signal from 10Hz
to 25MHz, then this Generator is just right – compact and cheap to build.
Automated Test Bench by Richard Palmer
24
This ‘Swiss Army Knife’ provides test voltages/signals, varies a resistance, switches
a component in/out of circuit and even measures some voltages. It uses automation
software, testing automatically and records input and output values for analysis.
Silicon Chirp by John Clarke
34
This pet cricket will keep you company; it only needs to be fed occasionally and won’t
run away. Keep it for yourself or play a prank on a family member or friend by hiding it
in their room. When they switch the lights off, they will get a bit of a surprise!
Series, Features and Columns
Techno Talk by Max The Magnificent
Wait! What? Really?
8
Net Work by Alan Winstanley
Reports on a bargain label printer from China, plus smart home products by
TP-Link’s Tapo are examined. There’s also news on SMR power generation.
10
NEW SERIES!
Teach-In 2024 – Learn electronics with the ESP32 by Mike Tooley
Part 2 – Digital input and output
40
Circuit Surgery by Ian Bell
LTspice 24 and Frequency Response Analysis – Part 2
50
Max’s Cool Beans by Max The Magnificent
Arduino Bootcamp – Part 16
56
Audio Out by Jake Rothman
Back to the buffers – Part 3
62
Wireless for the Warrior
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Reader services – Editorial and Advertising Departments
Editorial
Welcome to the future
Exclusive Microchip reader offer
Win a Microchip Explorer 8 Development Kit
Teach-In bundle – what a bargain!
PE Teach-In 9
PE Teach-In 8
PCBs for Practical Electronics projects
Practical Electronics PCB Service
Classified ads and Advertiser index
Next month! – highlights of our next issue of Practical Electronics
2
4
6
7
7
Regulars and Services
Made in the UK.
9
23
39
61
68
71
72
Written in Britain, Australia,
the US and Ireland.
Read everywhere.
© Electron Publishing Limited 2024
Copyright in all drawings, photographs, articles,
technical designs, software and intellectual property
published in Practical Electronics is fully protected,
and reproduction or imitation in whole or in part are
expressly forbidden.
The May 2024 issue of Practical Electronics will be
published on Thursday, 4 April 2024 – see page 72.
Practical Electronics | April | 2024
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