Practical
Electronics
Volume 53. No. 5
May 2024
ISSN 2632 573X
Contents
Projects and Circuits
GPS-Disciplined Oscillator by Alan Cashin
16
This GPS-Disciplined Oscillator is mostly built in software, so it only requires a PIC,
an oven-conditioned crystal oscillator and a few other supporting parts. It provides an
extremely accurate 10MHz signal with an error in the parts per billion range.
Dual RF Amplifier by Charles Kosina
26
This small RF amplifier has two outputs with individually selectable gains. This makes
it suitable to add to a signal generator to provide a higher output level, or for better
drive strength, or ‘fanning it out’ to multiple other pieces of equipment and more.
UVM-30A Module Ultraviolet Light Sensor by Jim Rowe
29
This UV light-sensing ‘breakout’ module detects the intensity of UV solar radiation and
hence the degree of protection you may need to prevent skin damage. If you connect it
to an Arduino or other microcontroller, it can even indicate the current ‘UV Index’.
Songbird by Andrew Woodfield
33
Here’s a decades-old design brought up to date in a new package and made to appeal
to beginners as well as experienced builders. It’s quick and easy to build and a great
project if you’re new to electronics.
Series, Features and Columns
Techno Talk by Max The Magnificent
One step closer to a dystopian abyss?
8
Net Work by Alan Winstanley
Reports on an environment monitor and Tapo smart sensors; news of forthcoming
(expensive!) electric cars from Lotus; plus a roundup of current Moon-shot missions.
9
The Fox Report by Barry Fox
Cloning drives the easy way, plus more news on scams
14
NEW SERIES!
Teach-In 2024 – Learn electronics with the ESP32 by Mike Tooley
Part 3 – Analogue input and output
40
Max’s Cool Beans by Max The Magnificent
Arduino Bootcamp – Part 17
50
Audio Out by Jake Rothman
Back to the buffers – Part 4
58
Circuit Surgery by Ian Bell
Topics in digital signal processing – sampling
63
Wireless for the Warrior
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Reader services – Editorial and Advertising Departments
Editorial
Welcome to May!... Topics in Digital Signal Processing
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
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Regulars and Services
Made in the UK.
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 June 2024 issue of Practical Electronics will be
published on Thursday, 2 May 2024 – see page 72.
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