Practical
Electronics
Volume 53. No. 1
January 2024
ISSN 2632 573X
Contents
Projects and Circuits
Q Meter by Charles Kosina
18
We’ve published numerous LC meters that can measure inductance and capacitance,
but you might need to know the quality factor (Q) of an inductor, not just its inductance.
This Q Meter uses a straightforward circuit to measure Q up to values of about 200.
Raspberry Pi Pico W BackPack by Tim Blythman
26
Our Raspberry Pi Pico BackPack from March 2023 has a powerful dual-core 32-bit
processor, 480 × 320 pixel colour touchscreen, onboard real-time clock, SD card socket,
stereo audio output and infrared receiver. Now, for about £5 more, it has Wi-Fi too!
Active Subwoofer – Part 1 by Phil Prosser
32
This subwoofer is designed to be a no-compromise approach to a ‘sub’, making it
a perfect match for a high-quality home theatre system, or as part of a high-fidelity
stereo system.
Series, Features and Columns
Techno Talk by Max The Magnificent
Oscillating onions, Batman!
8
Net Work by Alan Winstanley
Reports on wasteful electrical devices; insight into the mysteries of the British
mains plug; plus more uses for the Ecowitt Wi-Fi weather station.
10
The Fox Report by Barry Fox
Project challenges for inventive PE readers
16
Max’s Cool Beans by Max The Magnificent
Arduino Bootcamp – Part 13
42
Circuit Surgery by Ian Bell
Frequency shifting and superheterodyne receivers – Part 2
48
NEW SERIES!
MitchElectronics by Robin Mitchell
The 555 Timer IC – Part 2: Enter Logic
54
Audio Out by Jake Rothman
Discrete audio op amp – Part 4
64
Regulars and Services
Made in the UK.
Written in Britain, Australia,
the US and Ireland.
Read everywhere.
© Electron Publishing Limited 2023
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 February 2024 issue of Practical Electronics will be
published on Thursday, 4 January 2024 – see page 72.
Practical Electronics | January | 2024
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Next month! – highlights of our next issue of Practical Electronics
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