Practical
Electronics
Volume 53. No. 7
July 2024
ISSN 2632 573X
Contents
Projects and Circuits
Pi Pico-based Thermal Camera by Kenneth Horton
17
A thermal infrared camera measures hot or cold spots compared to the surrounding
area – useful for diagnosing hot spots in electronic circuits, which may indicate a failing
component. They can be pricey, but not this one, a DIY version that’s easy to build.
Dynamic NFC Tag by Tim Blythman
22
The availability of dynamic NFC tags means you can now easily create your own
custom NFC/RFID Tags. This article explains how to program NFC chips that can be
used as smart business cards and more.
Reciprocal Frequency Counter by Charles Kosina
30
A traditional frequency counter samples over a long period to get an accurate result.
This one instead measures the average period and calculates the inverse, so it only
needs to monitor a few pulses to get a precise reading. It’s useful up to about 10MHz.
Series, Features and Columns
Techno Talk by Max The Magnificent
Who saw that coming?
8
The Fox Report by Barry Fox
Report from the Digital Television Group Summit
10
Net Work by Alan Winstanley
12
Reports on useful ideas for USB charging and monitoring, plus practical advice about
hobby and craft adhesives found online, as used in precision smartphone repairs.
Circuit Surgery by Ian Bell
Topics in digital signal processing – the sample-and-hold circuit and ADC Inputs
37
Audio Out by Jake Rothman
Switching in audio equipment – Part 2
44
Max’s Cool Beans by Max The Magnificent
Arduino Bootcamp – Part 19
50
Teach-In 2024 – Learn electronics with the ESP32 by Mike Tooley
Part 5 – Sensing the environment
58
Wireless for the Warrior
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Reader services – Editorial and Advertising Departments
Editorial
We’ve come a long way
Teach-In bundle – what a bargain!
PE Teach-In 9
PE Teach-In 8
Practical Electronics PCB Service
PCBs for Practical Electronics projects
Classified ads and Advertiser index
Next month! – highlights of our next issue of Practical Electronics
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4
6
7
7
Regulars and Services
Made in the UK.
9
21
36
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 August 2024 issue of Practical Electronics will be
published on Thursday, 4 July 2024 – see page 72.
Practical Electronics | July | 2024
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