Fullscreen HTML5Med Res (??MB)HTML4

Contents Vol.30, No.8; August 2017 SILICON CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Features & Reviews 12 Radio Telescopes and Interferometry Radio astronomy wasn’t even thought of eighty years ago – now major advances in the field have scientists looking back billions of years for elusive electro-magnetic signals. Here’s how they do it – by Dr David Maddison 22 Review: Rohde & Schwarz RTB2004 Mixed Signal Oscilloscope It’s a four-channel MSO with 10-bit analog-to-digital converter, a large hi-res touch screen and a built-in four-channel pattern generator – by Nicholas Vinen 74 LTspice Part 2: Simulating and Testing Circuits We build a flexible and realistic relay simulation in LTspice and then incorporate it into a simulation of the SoftStarter circuit from last month – by Nicholas Vinen Want to know more about the fascinating field of radio astronomy? David Maddison explains – Page 12 88 Lithium-ion cells – What You Need to Know! Lithium-ion and lithium-ion-phosphate cells give you much more bang for your buck – as long as they don’t go bang! There are a lot of bogus claims out there, too – buying cheap cells is usually not the best option! – by Jim Rowe Constructional Projects 26 An Arduino Data Logger with GPS It’s based on an Arduino Uno (or equivalent) and can log just about any form of data from a variety of inputs, including GPS. With a mini solar cell and regulator it will stay alive almost indefinitely – by Nicholas Vinen 34 Mains Power Supply for Battery Valve Radio Sets Log just about any data from a variety of inputs, including GPS, with this Arduinobased data logger – Page 26 Even if you can buy them, batteries for valve radio sets are very expensive and don’t last long. Here’s a versatile supply to suit a wide range of sets – by Ian Robertson 44 El Cheapo Modules: Li-ion & LiPo Chargers If you try to charge Li-ion and LiPo batteries with the wrong charger (or none at all) they won’t last long at all. But these modules from China give them a perfect charge – by Jim Rowe 62 Deluxe Touchscreen eFuse, Part 2 We introduced the higher-rated eFuse last month – now we move on to building it, programming the BackPack it uses and setting the whole thing up so it does what YOU want it to – by Nicholas Vinen 82 Building and calibrating the RapidBrake Want to avoid the guy behind you running into you? The RapidBrake flashes your brake lights or hazard lights when it detects heavy braking, gaining their attention earlier and hopefully letting them stop that much earlier – by John Clarke Your Favourite Columns 40 Circuit Notebook (1) Raspberry Pi Elevator Display & Annunciator (2) Distributed temperature sensing using an ATmega8 and DS18B20 sensors 57 Serviceman’s Log Well-made 1980s hifi amplifiers are worth repairing – by Dave Thompson 94 Vintage Radio STC’s 1946 model 512 5-valve radio – by Assoc. Prof. Graham Parslow Everything Else!   2 Publisher’s Letter    4 Mailbag – Your Feedback siliconchip.com.au 69 SILICON CHIP Online Shop 99 Ask SILICON CHIP 103 Market Centre 104 Advertising Index 104 Notes and Errata One for vintage radio enthusiasts: a mains power supply for batteryoperated valve receivers. – Page 34 It’s vital to charge Li-ion & LiPo cells correctly – and you can do it very cheaply with these Chinese modules – Page 44 Lithium-ion cells are used in everything from toys to electric cars. Here’s the low-down! – Page 88 August 2017  1 www.facebook.com/siliconchipmagazine