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Contents Vol.31, No.10; October 2018 SILICON CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Features & Reviews 14 Want to go into space? It’s not too far off! You’d have heard of Elon Musk’s SpaceX but there are others waiting to put tourists into space with reusable rockets: Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin are almost ready to take off! – by Dr David Maddison 68 Developing CleverScope’s high-performance CS448 It wasn’t always plain sailing for Bart Schroeder as he took his concept ’scope from a thought bubble to market. What he ended up with is one of the highest regarded scopes on the market: the CS448. He tells us the story himself. 82 Intro to programming: Cypress’ System-on-a-chip It’s much more than just a microcontroller. The CY8CKIT-049-42XX Prototyping Kit is one of the best development platforms available at the moment. And you can buy a kit – complete with the chip – for about six bucks! – by Dennis Smith Constructional Projects Reusable spacecraft are now available (or being developed) to reduce the cost of sending anything into space (even humans!) – Page 14 It’s one Clever ’Scope, this CleverScope! Four isolated inputs with 1kV rating – Page 68 28 GPS-synched Frequency Reference (Part 1) With an accuracy of 100 parts per billion and synched to the GPS time standard this beauty also has a Micromite BackPack touch screen interface and rock-solid output between ~1MHz to 100MHz – by Tim Blythman 38 Arduino-based programmer for DCC decoders If you’re into model trains on a BIG layout, you’d know that you absolutely need DCC (Digital Command Control) to individually control locos on the same track. This programmer makes it all so easy - and it’s cheap! – by Tim Blythman 46 Low voltage, high current DC motor speed controller We originally designed it for car fans and pumps - which of course it does really well. But it suits virtually any low voltage (ie, 5-25V) motor with pulse-width modulation giving virtually any speed from 0% to 100% – by Nicholas Vinen 74 Opto-isolated Mains Relay: switches up to 10A <at> 250V Switching from a micro? Or any other low voltage source? Here’s the safe way to do it. It keeps dangerous voltages away from low voltage circuitry, where it could do components – or you – some serious harm! by Tim Blythman Touch screen control, extremely accurate, stable . . . what more could you ask for in a Frequency Reference? – Page 28. Want to run multiple locos at the same time in your model layout? You need DCC – and this DCC decoder programmer – Page 38. Your Favourite Columns 61 Serviceman’s Log I’m on holidays – but not from servicing! – by Dave Thompson 90 Circuit Notebook (1) Arduino talking clock (2) Micromite Plus Explore data logger (3) Eight-button quizmaster (4) Switch-mode solar battery charger with sunset switch 98 Vintage Radio Emerson 838 hybrid valve/transistor radio – by Ian Batty Everything Else! 2 Editorial Viewpoint   104 Ask SILICON CHIP 4 Mailbag – Your Feedback    111 Market Centre siliconchip.com.au Australia’s electronicsIndex magazine 88 SILICON CHIP Online Shop   112 Advertising 96 Product Showcase    112 Notes and Errata Run your DC pumps and fans at the speed YOU want with this low voltage, high current motor speed controller. Ideal for auto use – plus more. – Page 46. Switching mains voltages can be dangerous – but not if you use this Opto-isolated Mains Relay – handles 10A <at> 250V – Page 74 October 2018  1 www.facebook.com/siliconchipmagazine