Silicon ChipMarket Centre - February 2018 SILICON CHIP
  1. Outer Front Cover
  2. Contents
  3. Publisher's Letter: Yet another threat to surfing the net
  4. Feature: Turning your garbage into useful electricity by Ross Tester
  5. Project: A Water Tank Level Meter with WiFi and More! by Nicholas Vinen
  6. Review: Navman’s DriveDuo – Satnav and Dashcam by Leo Simpson
  7. Project: 6-Element VHF TV Yagi to kill UHF 4G interference by Leo Simpson
  8. Feature: El Cheapo Modules 13: sensing motion and moisture by Jim Rowe
  9. Serviceman's Log: Smart TVs can be pretty dumb sometimes by Dave Thompson
  10. Product Showcase
  11. Project: Highly versatile & accurate dot/bar 10-LED Bargraph by John Clarke
  12. Project: The Arduino Mega Box Music Player revisited by Bao Smith
  13. Vintage Radio: A more detailed look at the 1919/20 Grebe Synchrophase by Ian Batty
  14. PartShop
  15. Subscriptions
  16. Market Centre
  17. Advertising Index
  18. Notes & Errata: UV Light Box & Timer / Micromite BackPack Touchscreen DDS Signal Generator / Deluxe Touchscreen eFuse / Kelvin the Cricket
  19. Outer Back Cover: Hare & Forbes Machineryhouse

This is only a preview of the February 2018 issue of Silicon Chip.

You can view 37 of the 104 pages in the full issue, including the advertisments.

For full access, purchase the issue for $10.00 or subscribe for access to the latest issues.

Items relevant to "A Water Tank Level Meter with WiFi and More!":
  • WiFi Water Tank Level Meter shield PCB with stackable headers [21110171] (AUD $7.50)
  • Small 2A boost step-up regulator module (MT3608) (Component, AUD $3.00)
  • IPP80P03P4L-07 high-current P-channel Mosfet (Component, AUD $2.50)
  • GY-68 Barometric Pressure/Altitude/Temperature I²C Sensor breakout board (Component, AUD $2.50)
  • DHT22/AM2302 Compatible Temperature and Humidity sensor module (Component, AUD $9.00)
  • 5dBi 2.4GHz WiFi antenna with U.FL/IPX adaptor cable (Component, AUD $12.50)
  • 2dBi omnidirectional 2.4GHz WiFi antenna with U.FL/IPX adaptor cable (Component, AUD $10.00)
  • Elecrow 1A/500mA Li-ion/LiPo charger board with USB power pass-through (Component, AUD $25.00)
  • Arduino sketch (.ino) file and libraries for the WiFi Water Tank Level Meter (Software, Free)
  • WiFi Water Tank Level Meter shield PCB pattern (PDF download) [21110171] (Free)
Items relevant to "El Cheapo Modules 13: sensing motion and moisture":
  • Arduino and BASIC source code for El Cheapo Modules 13 (Software, Free)
Articles in this series:
  • El Cheapo Modules From Asia - Part 1 (October 2016)
  • El Cheapo Modules From Asia - Part 2 (December 2016)
  • El Cheapo Modules From Asia - Part 3 (January 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules from Asia - Part 4 (February 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules, Part 5: LCD module with I²C (March 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules, Part 6: Direct Digital Synthesiser (April 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules, Part 7: LED Matrix displays (June 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Li-ion & LiPo Chargers (August 2017)
  • El Cheapo modules Part 9: AD9850 DDS module (September 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules Part 10: GPS receivers (October 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules 11: Pressure/Temperature Sensors (December 2017)
  • El Cheapo Modules 12: 2.4GHz Wireless Data Modules (January 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 13: sensing motion and moisture (February 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 14: Logarithmic RF Detector (March 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 16: 35-4400MHz frequency generator (May 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 17: 4GHz digital attenuator (June 2018)
  • El Cheapo: 500MHz frequency counter and preamp (July 2018)
  • El Cheapo modules Part 19 – Arduino NFC Shield (September 2018)
  • El cheapo modules, part 20: two tiny compass modules (November 2018)
  • El cheapo modules, part 21: stamp-sized audio player (December 2018)
  • El Cheapo Modules 22: Stepper Motor Drivers (February 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules 23: Galvanic Skin Response (March 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Class D amplifier modules (May 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Long Range (LoRa) Transceivers (June 2019)
  • El Cheapo Modules: AD584 Precision Voltage References (July 2019)
  • Three I-O Expanders to give you more control! (November 2019)
  • El Cheapo modules: “Intelligent” 8x8 RGB LED Matrix (January 2020)
  • El Cheapo modules: 8-channel USB Logic Analyser (February 2020)
  • New w-i-d-e-b-a-n-d RTL-SDR modules (May 2020)
  • New w-i-d-e-b-a-n-d RTL-SDR modules, Part 2 (June 2020)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Mini Digital Volt/Amp Panel Meters (December 2020)
  • El Cheapo Modules: Mini Digital AC Panel Meters (January 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: LCR-T4 Digital Multi-Tester (February 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: USB-PD chargers (July 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: USB-PD Triggers (August 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: 3.8GHz Digital Attenuator (October 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: 6GHz Digital Attenuator (November 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: 35MHz-4.4GHz Signal Generator (December 2021)
  • El Cheapo Modules: LTDZ Spectrum Analyser (January 2022)
  • Low-noise HF-UHF Amplifiers (February 2022)
  • A Gesture Recognition Module (March 2022)
  • Air Quality Sensors (May 2022)
  • MOS Air Quality Sensors (June 2022)
  • PAS CO2 Air Quality Sensor (July 2022)
  • Particulate Matter (PM) Sensors (November 2022)
  • Heart Rate Sensor Module (February 2023)
  • UVM-30A UV Light Sensor (May 2023)
  • VL6180X Rangefinding Module (July 2023)
  • pH Meter Module (September 2023)
  • 1.3in Monochrome OLED Display (October 2023)
  • 16-bit precision 4-input ADC (November 2023)
  • 1-24V USB Power Supply (October 2024)
  • 14-segment, 4-digit LED Display Modules (November 2024)
  • 0.91-inch OLED Screen (November 2024)
  • The Quason VL6180X laser rangefinder module (January 2025)
  • TCS230 Colour Sensor (January 2025)
  • Using Electronic Modules: 1-24V Adjustable USB Power Supply (February 2025)
Items relevant to "Highly versatile & accurate dot/bar 10-LED Bargraph":
  • 10-LED Bargraph PCB [04101181] (AUD $7.50)
  • 10-LED Bargraph Signal Processing PCB [04101182] (AUD $5.00)
  • 10-LED Bargraph PCB patterns (PDF download) [04101181/2] (Free)
Items relevant to "The Arduino Mega Box Music Player revisited":
  • Firmware (Arduino sketch) for the LC Meter (Mega Box) (Software, Free)
  • Firmware (Arduino sketch) for the VS1053 Music Player (Mega Box) (Software, Free)
  • Geeetech VS1053B MP3/audio shield for Arduino (Component, AUD $10.00)
  • Firmware (Arduino sketch) for the VS1053 Music Player (Mega Box) (Software, Free)
Articles in this series:
  • The Arduino MegaBox from Altronics (December 2017)
  • Arduino LC Meter Shield Kit (January 2018)
  • The Arduino Mega Box Music Player revisited (February 2018)
  • Altronics New MegaBox V2 Arduino prototyping system (December 2019)

Purchase a printed copy of this issue for $10.00.

MARKET CENTRE Cash in your surplus gear. Advertise it here in SILICON CHIP FOR SALE WANTED KIT ASSEMBLY & REPAIR tronixlabs.com.au – Australia's best value for supported hobbyist electronics from Adafruit, SparkFun, Arduino, Freetronics, Raspberry Pi – along with kits, components and much more - with same-day shipping. WANTED: EARLY HIFIs, AMPLIFIERS, Speakers, Turntables, Valves, Books, Quad, Leak, Pye, Lowther, Ortofon, SME, Western Electric, Altec, Marantz, McIntosh, Tannoy, Goodmans, Wharfe­ dale, radio and wireless. Collector/Hobbyist will pay cash. Phone (07) 5471 1062. johnmurt<at>highprofile.com.au DAVE THOMPSON (the Serviceman from SILICON CHIP) is available to help you with kit assembly, project troubleshooting, general electronics and custom design work. No job too small. Based in Christchurch, NZ but service available Australia/NZ wide. Email dave<at>davethompson.co.nz PCBs MADE, ONE OR MANY. Any format, hobbyists welcome. Sesame Electronics Phone 0434 781 191. nev-sesame<at>outlook.com www.sesame.com.au LEDs, BRAND NAME and generic LEDs. Heatsinks, fans, LED drivers, power supplies, LED ribbon, kits, components, hardware, EL wire. www.ledsales.com.au PCB MANUFACTURE: single to multi­ layer. Bare board tested. One-offs to any quantity. 48 hour service. Artwork design. Excellent prices. Check out our specials: www.ldelectronics.com.au VINTAGE RADIO REPAIRS: electrical mechanical fitter with 36 years ex­ perience and extensive knowledge of valve and transistor radios. Professional and reliable repairs. All workmanship guaranteed. $17 inspection fee plus charges for parts and labour as required. Labour fees $38 p/h. Pensioner discounts available on application. Contact Alan on 0425 122 415 or email bigalradioshack<at>gmail.com KEITH RIPPON KIT ASSEMBLY & REPAIR: * Australia & New Zealand; * Small production runs. Phone Keith 0409 662 794. keith.rippon<at>gmail.com ADVERTISING IN MARKET CENTRE Classified Ad Rates: $32.00 for up to 20 words (punctuation not charged) plus $1.20 for each additional word. Display ads in Market Centre (minimum 2cm deep, maximum 10cm deep): $82.50 per column centimetre per insertion. All prices include GST. Closing date: 5 weeks prior to month of sale. To book, email the text to silicon<at>siliconchip.com.au and include your name, address & credit card details, or phone Glyn (02) 9939 3295 or 0431 792 293. WARNING! SILICON CHIP magazine regularly describes projects which employ a mains power supply or produce high voltage. All such projects should be considered dangerous or even lethal if not used safely. Readers are warned that high voltage wiring should be carried out according to the instructions in the articles. When working on these projects use extreme care to ensure that you do not accidentally come into contact with mains AC voltages or high voltage DC. If you are not confident about working with projects employing mains voltages or other high voltages, you are advised not to attempt work on them. Silicon Chip Publications Pty Ltd disclaims any liability for damages should anyone be killed or injured while working on a project or circuit described in any issue of SILICON CHIP magazine. Devices or circuits described in SILICON CHIP may be covered by patents. SILICON CHIP disclaims any liability for the infringement of such patents by the manufacturing or selling of any such equipment. SILICON CHIP also disclaims any liability for projects which are used in such a way as to infringe relevant government regulations and by-laws. Advertisers are warned that they are responsible for the content of all advertisements and that they must conform to the Competition & Consumer Act 2010 or as subsequently amended and to any governmental regulations which are applicable. siliconchip.com.au Celebrating 30 Years February 2018  103