Silicon ChipSTEWART OF READING - April 2024 SILICON CHIP
  1. Contents: FLOWCODE
  2. Subscriptions
  3. Back Issues
  4. Publisher's Letter: Welcome to the future
  5. Feature: Techno Talk - Wait! What? Really? by Max the Magnificent
  6. Feature: Net Work by Alan Winstanley
  7. Project: Basic RF Signal Generator by Charles Kosina
  8. Project: Swiss Army Knife by Richard Palmer
  9. Project: Silicon Chirp - the pet cricket by John Clarke
  10. Project: Teach-In 2024 by Mike Tooley
  11. Feature: Circuit Surgery by Ian Bell
  12. Feature: Max’s Cool Beans by Max the Magnificent
  13. Project: AUDIO OUT by Jake Rothman
  14. PartShop
  15. Advertising Index: Peak Test Instruments
  16. Back Issues

This is only a preview of the April 2024 issue of Practical Electronics.

You can view 0 of the 72 pages in the full issue.

Articles in this series:
  • (November 2020)
  • Techno Talk (December 2020)
  • Techno Talk (January 2021)
  • Techno Talk (February 2021)
  • Techno Talk (March 2021)
  • Techno Talk (April 2021)
  • Techno Talk (May 2021)
  • Techno Talk (June 2021)
  • Techno Talk (July 2021)
  • Techno Talk (August 2021)
  • Techno Talk (September 2021)
  • Techno Talk (October 2021)
  • Techno Talk (November 2021)
  • Techno Talk (December 2021)
  • Communing with nature (January 2022)
  • Should we be worried? (February 2022)
  • How resilient is your lifeline? (March 2022)
  • Go eco, get ethical! (April 2022)
  • From nano to bio (May 2022)
  • Positivity follows the gloom (June 2022)
  • Mixed menu (July 2022)
  • Time for a total rethink? (August 2022)
  • What’s in a name? (September 2022)
  • Forget leaves on the line! (October 2022)
  • Giant Boost for Batteries (December 2022)
  • Raudive Voices Revisited (January 2023)
  • A thousand words (February 2023)
  • It’s handover time (March 2023)
  • AI, Robots, Horticulture and Agriculture (April 2023)
  • Prophecy can be perplexing (May 2023)
  • Technology comes in different shapes and sizes (June 2023)
  • AI and robots – what could possibly go wrong? (July 2023)
  • How long until we’re all out of work? (August 2023)
  • We both have truths, are mine the same as yours? (September 2023)
  • Holy Spheres, Batman! (October 2023)
  • Where’s my pneumatic car? (November 2023)
  • Good grief! (December 2023)
  • Cheeky chiplets (January 2024)
  • Cheeky chiplets (February 2024)
  • The Wibbly-Wobbly World of Quantum (March 2024)
  • Techno Talk - Wait! What? Really? (April 2024)
  • Techno Talk - One step closer to a dystopian abyss? (May 2024)
  • Techno Talk - Program that! (June 2024)
  • Techno Talk (July 2024)
  • Techno Talk - That makes so much sense! (August 2024)
  • Techno Talk - I don’t want to be a Norbert... (September 2024)
  • Techno Talk - Sticking the landing (October 2024)
  • Techno Talk (November 2024)
  • Techno Talk (December 2024)
  • Techno Talk (January 2025)
  • Techno Talk (February 2025)
  • Techno Talk (March 2025)
  • Techno Talk (April 2025)
  • Techno Talk (May 2025)
  • Techno Talk (June 2025)
Articles in this series:
  • Win a Microchip Explorer 8 Development Kit (April 2024)
  • Net Work (May 2024)
  • Net Work (June 2024)
  • Net Work (July 2024)
  • Net Work (August 2024)
  • Net Work (September 2024)
  • Net Work (October 2024)
  • Net Work (November 2024)
  • Net Work (December 2024)
  • Net Work (January 2025)
  • Net Work (February 2025)
  • Net Work (March 2025)
  • Net Work (April 2025)
Articles in this series:
  • Teach-In 2024 (April 2024)
  • Teach-In 2024 (May 2024)
  • Teach-In 2024 – Learn electronics with the ESP32 (June 2024)
  • Teach-In 2024 – Learn electronics with the ESP32 (July 2024)
  • Teach-In 2024 – Learn electronics with the ESP32 (August 2024)
  • Teach-In 2024 – Learn electronics with the ESP32 (September 2024)
  • Teach-In 2024 – Learn electronics with the ESP32 (October 2024)
  • Teach-In 2024 – Learn electronics with the ESP32 (November 2024)
Articles in this series:
  • Circuit Surgery (April 2024)
  • STEWART OF READING (April 2024)
  • Circuit Surgery (May 2024)
  • Circuit Surgery (June 2024)
  • Circuit Surgery (July 2024)
  • Circuit Surgery (August 2024)
  • Circuit Surgery (September 2024)
  • Circuit Surgery (October 2024)
  • Circuit Surgery (November 2024)
  • Circuit Surgery (December 2024)
  • Circuit Surgery (January 2025)
  • Circuit Surgery (February 2025)
  • Circuit Surgery (March 2025)
  • Circuit Surgery (April 2025)
  • Circuit Surgery (May 2025)
  • Circuit Surgery (June 2025)
Articles in this series:
  • Max’s Cool Beans (April 2024)
  • Max’s Cool Beans (May 2024)
  • Max’s Cool Beans (June 2024)
  • Max’s Cool Beans (July 2024)
  • Max’s Cool Beans (August 2024)
  • Max’s Cool Beans (September 2024)
  • Max’s Cool Beans (October 2024)
  • Max’s Cool Beans (November 2024)
  • Max’s Cool Beans (December 2024)
Articles in this series:
  • Audio Out (January 2024)
  • Audio Out (February 2024)
  • AUDIO OUT (April 2024)
  • Audio Out (May 2024)
  • Audio Out (June 2024)
  • Audio Out (July 2024)
  • Audio Out (August 2024)
  • Audio Out (September 2024)
  • Audio Out (October 2024)
  • Audio Out (March 2025)
  • Audio Out (April 2025)
  • Audio Out (May 2025)
  • Audio Out (June 2025)
Articles in this series:
  • Circuit Surgery (April 2024)
  • STEWART OF READING (April 2024)
  • Circuit Surgery (May 2024)
  • Circuit Surgery (June 2024)
  • Circuit Surgery (July 2024)
  • Circuit Surgery (August 2024)
  • Circuit Surgery (September 2024)
  • Circuit Surgery (October 2024)
  • Circuit Surgery (November 2024)
  • Circuit Surgery (December 2024)
  • Circuit Surgery (January 2025)
  • Circuit Surgery (February 2025)
  • Circuit Surgery (March 2025)
  • Circuit Surgery (April 2025)
  • Circuit Surgery (May 2025)
  • Circuit Surgery (June 2025)
BACK ISSUES Practical Electronics All of our stock is RoHS compliant and CE approved. Visit our well stocked shop for all of your requirements or order on-line. BACK ISSUES – ONLY £5.95 Practical Electronics Practical Electronics The UK’s premier electronics and computing maker magazine The UK’s premier electronics and computing maker magazine The UK’s premier electronics and computing maker magazine Circuit Surgery Circuit Surgery Flowerpot speakers! Make it with Micromite Audio Out Make it with Micromite Build an RGB display project using a Micromite Plus Timing and metastability in synchronous circuits Construct a transistor radio Make it with Micromite Fun display project using a Micromite Plus Nutube Guitar Overdrive and Distortion Pedal WIN! Microchip Curiosity HPC Development Board Tel: 0191 2514363 sales<at>esr.co.uk www.esr.co.uk <at>practicalelec Transformers and LTspice Audio Out Make it with Micromite Accessing Internet data with your MKC Superb microphone preamplifier Touchscreen Wide-range RCL Box WIN! Microchip PIC24F LCD and USB Curiosity Development Board Programmable Thermal Regulator WIN! Microchip MCP19114 Flyback Standalone Evaluation Board Apr 2021 £4.99 04 9 772632 573016 PLUS! Techno Talk – No blame, no shame? Cool Beans – Round-up of NeoPixel effects Net Work – Videoconference cameras practicalelectronics www.electronpublishing.com <at>practicalelec Mar 2021 £4.99 03 9 772632 573016 practicalelectronics PLUS! PIC n’ Mix Software tools for the PIC18F Ultrabrite LED bike light WIN! Microchip Explorer 16/32 Development Kit WIN! Circuit Surgery Understanding Differential amplifiers Analogue inputs and using servomotors Don’t miss our Super Summer Sale! Random Number Generator Meet the Micromite Explore-28 Robot Buggy Ultrasound sensing! Fabulous low-cost Concrete speakers! Techno Talk – Bad science and good Cool Beans – Smoothing LED colour transitions Net Work – Lockdown technology and how we now work www.electronpublishing.com A low-cost route to high-quality Hi-Fi Mastering stepper motor drivers Roadies’ Test Signal Generator Tunable HF Preamplifier Techno Talk – Tin whiskers scourge Cool Beans – Bouncing around the Maxiverse Net Work – Hydrogen: a viable alternative to batteries? www.electronpublishing.com How to make a transistor radio Meet the Cricket: making IoT designs super easy! Programmable Thermal Regulator Make your own PCBs with our precision Solder Reflow Oven PLUS! Audio Out Superb PE PIC Development Board WIN! Station Road Cullercoats North Shields Tyne & Wear NE30 4PQ Practical Electronics The UK’s premier electronics and computing maker magazine Circuit Surgery Frequency Reference Mastering Signal Distributor RFID tags for your projects Monday to Friday 08:30 - 17.00, Saturday 08:30 - 15:30 Practical Electronics The UK’s premier electronics and computing maker magazine Timing and metastability in synchronous circuits 3D Printing • Cable • CCTV • Connectors • Components • Enclosures • Fans • Fuses • Hardware • Lamps • LED’s • Leads • Loudspeakers • Panel Meters • PCB Production • Power Supplies • Relays • Resistors • Semiconductors • Soldering Irons • Switches • Test Equipment • Transformers and so much more… Practical Electronics – N NEW E EW PE D NA – ES M IG E N ! We can help and advise with your enquiry, from design to construction. – N NEW E EW PE D NA – ES M IG E N ! ESR Electronic Components Ltd <at>practicalelec Jun 2021 £4.99 06 9 772632 573016 practicalelectronics Constructing the PE Theremin amplifier Circuit Surgery Micro-Cap 12 simulator review WIN! Microchip MPLAB Starter Kit for Serial Memory Products WIN! Clever Controller for dumb chargers Hi-Fi amp on the cheap! Completing the High-power 45V/8A Variable Linear Supply Building the Low-noise theremin PSU PLUS! Cool Beans – Even cooler ping-pong ball lights! Net Work – IP security cameras Techno Talk – The perils of an enquiring mind... www.electronpublishing.com Audio Out <at>practicalelec Sep 2020 £4.99 09 9 772632 573016 practicalelectronics Making a splash with NeoPixels! Fun LED Christmas Tree offer! PLUS! Techno Talk – Triumph or travesty? Cool Beans – Mastering NeoPixel programming Net Work – The (electric) car’s the star! www.electronpublishing.com <at>practicalelec Dec 2020 £4.99 12 9 772632 573016 practicalelectronics We can supply back issues of PE/EPE by post. We stock magazines back to 2006, except for the following: 2006 Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jul 2007 Jun, Jul, Aug 2008 Aug, Nov, Dec 2009 Jan, Mar, Apr 2010 May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Oct, Nov 2011 Jan 2014 Jan 2018 Jan, Nov, Dec 2019 Jan, Feb, Apr, May, Jun Issues from Jan 1999 are available on CD-ROM / DVD-ROM If we do not have a a paper version of a particular issue, then a PDF can be supplied – your email address must be included on your order. Please make sure all components are still available before commencing any project from a back-dated issue. STEWART OF READING 17A King Street, Mortimer, near Reading, RG7 3RS Telephone: 0118 933 1111 Fax: 0118 933 2375 USED ELECTRONIC TEST EQUIPMENT Check website www.stewart-of-reading.co.uk Fluke/Philips PM3092 Oscilloscope 2+2 Channel 200MHz Delay TB, Autoset etc – £250 LAMBDA GENESYS LAMBDA GENESYS IFR 2025 IFR 2948B IFR 6843 R&S APN62 Agilent 8712ET HP8903A/B HP8757D HP3325A HP3561A HP6032A HP6622A HP6624A HP6632B HP6644A HP6654A HP8341A HP83630A HP83624A HP8484A HP8560E HP8563A HP8566B HP8662A Marconi 2022E Marconi 2024 Marconi 2030 Marconi 2023A PSU GEN100-15 100V 15A Boxed As New £400 PSU GEN50-30 50V 30A £400 Signal Generator 9kHz – 2.51GHz Opt 04/11 £900 Communication Service Monitor Opts 03/25 Avionics POA Microwave Systems Analyser 10MHz – 20GHz POA Syn Function Generator 1Hz – 260kHz £295 RF Network Analyser 300kHz – 1300MHz POA Audio Analyser £750 – £950 Scaler Network Analyser POA Synthesised Function Generator £195 Dynamic Signal Analyser £650 PSU 0-60V 0-50A 1000W £750 PSU 0-20V 4A Twice or 0-50V 2A Twice £350 PSU 4 Outputs £400 PSU 0-20V 0-5A £195 PSU 0-60V 3.5A £400 PSU 0-60V 0-9A £500 Synthesised Sweep Generator 10MHz – 20GHz £2,000 Synthesised Sweeper 10MHz – 26.5 GHz POA Synthesised Sweeper 2 – 20GHz POA Power Sensor 0.01-18GHz 3nW-10µW £75 Spectrum Analyser Synthesised 30Hz – 2.9GHz £1,750 Spectrum Analyser Synthesised 9kHz – 22GHz £2,250 Spectrum Analsyer 100Hz – 22GHz £1,200 RF Generator 10kHz – 1280MHz £750 Synthesised AM/FM Signal Generator 10kHz – 1.01GHz £325 Synthesised Signal Generator 9kHz – 2.4GHz £800 Synthesised Signal Generator 10kHz – 1.35GHz £750 Signal Generator 9kHz – 1.2GHz £700 HP/Agilent HP 34401A Digital Multimeter 6½ Digit £325 – £375 HP 54600B Oscilloscope Analogue/Digital Dual Trace 100MHz Only £75, with accessories £125 (ALL PRICES PLUS CARRIAGE & VAT) Please check availability before ordering or calling in HP33120A HP53131A HP53131A Audio Precision Datron 4708 Druck DPI 515 Datron 1081 ENI 325LA Keithley 228 Time 9818 Practical Electronics | April | 2024 Marconi 2305 Marconi 2440 Marconi 2945/A/B Marconi 2955 Marconi 2955A Marconi 2955B Marconi 6200 Marconi 6200A Marconi 6200B Marconi 6960B Tektronix TDS3052B Tektronix TDS3032 Tektronix TDS3012 Tektronix 2430A Tektronix 2465B Farnell AP60/50 Farnell XA35/2T Farnell AP100-90 Farnell LF1 Racal 1991 Racal 2101 Racal 9300 Racal 9300B Solartron 7150/PLUS Solatron 1253 Solartron SI 1255 Tasakago TM035-2 Thurlby PL320QMD Thurlby TG210 Modulation Meter £250 Counter 20GHz £295 Communications Test Set Various Options POA Radio Communications Test Set £595 Radio Communications Test Set £725 Radio Communications Test Set £800 Microwave Test Set £1,500 Microwave Test Set 10MHz – 20GHz £1,950 Microwave Test Set £2,300 Power Meter with 6910 sensor £295 Oscilloscope 500MHz 2.5GS/s £1,250 Oscilloscope 300MHz 2.5GS/s £995 Oscilloscope 2 Channel 100MHz 1.25GS/s £450 Oscilloscope Dual Trace 150MHz 100MS/s £350 Oscilloscope 4 Channel 400MHz £600 PSU 0-60V 0-50A 1kW Switch Mode £300 PSU 0-35V 0-2A Twice Digital £75 Power Supply 100V 90A £900 Sine/Sq Oscillator 10Hz – 1MHz £45 Counter/Timer 160MHz 9 Digit £150 Counter 20GHz LED £295 True RMS Millivoltmeter 5Hz – 20MHz etc £45 As 9300 £75 6½ Digit DMM True RMS IEEE £65/£75 Gain Phase Analyser 1mHz – 20kHz £600 HF Frequency Response Analyser POA PSU 0-35V 0-2A 2 Meters £30 PSU 0-30V 0-2A Twice £160 – £200 Function Generator 0.002-2MHz TTL etc Kenwood Badged £65 Function Generator 100 microHz – 15MHz Universal Counter 3GHz Boxed unused Universal Counter 225MHz SYS2712 Audio Analyser – in original box Autocal Multifunction Standard Pressure Calibrator/Controller Autocal Standards Multimeter RF Power Amplifier 250kHz – 150MHz 25W 50dB Voltage/Current Source DC Current & Voltage Calibrator £350 £600 £350 POA POA £400 POA POA POA POA Marconi 2955B Radio Communications Test Set – £800 65