Contents
Vol.31, No.1; January 2018
SILICON
CHIP
www.siliconchip.com.au
Features & Reviews
Swarms of
tiny satellites,
many smaller
than this page,
are watching
you from space.
– Page 14
14 Monitoring our world – and beyond – with tiny satellites
Every year, hundreds of satellites are launched to watch over us from space.
Some are huge . . . but many are really tiny, some as small as 10 x 10 x 10cm.
Here’s the latest on these miniature marvels – by Dr David Maddison
The Theremin:
inexpensive and
easy to build . . .
and if you
master it, can
make really
beautiful music!
But can you
master it?
– Page 24
78 El Cheapo Modules 12: 2.4GHz Wireless Data Modules
The nRF24L01+ chip makes a complete 2.4-2.5GHz wireless data transceiver
capable of up to 2Mb/s over modest distances. It has a standard SPI interface,
making it easy to use with any microcontroller – by Jim Rowe
Constructional Projects
24 Make your own Theremin – then make music!
It’s been around for almost 100 years – but now you can make your own lowcost version and produce the eerie sounds characteristic of this instrument.
Even the volume plate is part of the PCB – by John Clarke
36 The Lathe-E-Boy: high power Lathe Controller
Combine our Induction Motor Speed Controller and a Micromite Plus Explore
100 and you have an easy way to control a lathe, automatically adjusting its
speed to suit the material being turned – by Peter Bennet and Nicholas Vinen
44 Arduino LC Meter Shield Kit
Altronics have just released a complete LC Meter kit based on our June ’17
Arduino LC Meter. It’s easy to build and can be used in stand-alone mode or in
conjunction with the Mega Box, described last month – by Bao Smith
If you use a
lathe, you’ll
know how
important
good speed
control is!
The Lathe-EBoy can do
it for you –
Page 36
Altronics have
just released
this superb
LC Meter shield
kit, based on
the June 2017
SILICON CHIP
project – Page 44
64 High Power DC Fan Controller has loads of applications
This proportional speed controller was designed to run an intercooler fan in a
high-power V8 but could be used with virtually any DC motor requiring accurate
speed control. It’s compact, light and easy to build – by Nicholas Vinen
Your Favourite Columns
58 Serviceman’s Log
The dodgy stereo recorder that wasn’t stereo – by Dave Thompson
84 Circuit Notebook
(1) Precision Fridge Door Alarm
(2) Debugging a failing electric motor
(3) Op Amp Antenna Preamplifier
88 Vintage Radio
“Restoring” a pile of hydrated ferric oxide. It will never work again – but it looks
great – by Associate Professor Graham Parslow
Everything Else!
100 SILICON CHIP Online Shop
2 Editorial Viewpoint
4 Mailbag – Your Feedback 103 Market Centre
104 Advertising Index
57 Product Showcase
siliconchip.com.au
Celebrating 30 Years
104 Notes
and Errata
94 Ask SILICON CHIP
We designed
this device
for auto fan
control but
then realised
it has many
other uses!
– Page 64
When is
a vintage
restoration
not a vintage
restoration?
When it starts out as a pile of junk
which can never work again! The
“restoration” is all for show – but
gee it looks good . . . – Page 88
January 2018 1
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