Contents
Vol.32, No.3; March 2019
Features & Reviews
16 Medical, Health and First Aid Smartphone Apps – Part 2
There are so many smartphone apps out there to get you healthy, keep you fit
and treat any maladies that you’d have to wonder what your doctor is going to
do in the future! (OK, slight exaggeration perhaps!) – by Dr David Maddison
71 Review: First Look at the Arduino MKR Vidor 4000
SILICON
CHIP
www.siliconchip.com.au
We continue our look at
the huge numbers of
medical/health/first aid
apps now available for
your smartphone. Part
Two mainly looks at apps
which require add-on
hardware – Page 16
It’s the latest board from Arduino, with 48MHz 32-bit processor, onboard FPGA,
WiFi and Bluetooth. So Tim Blythman put it through its paces. His verdict? “It
looks like a very capable device”, despite just a few (minor) quibbles.
84 El Cheapo Modules 23: Galvanic Skin Response
If you’ve ever wanted to make a lie detector, with this little module you’re more
than half way there. But it has a whole lot of serious uses, too – by Jim Rowe
Constructional Projects
28 Ultra low noise remote controlled stereo preamp
THD+N is an almost immeasurable <0.0003% – and it has all the niceties you’d
expect from a state-of-the-art preamplifier. And, in response to many requests
from you, dear readers, it sports bass and treble controls! – by John Clarke
42 Our new DAB+ Tuner with FM and AM – Part 3
It’s attracted a huge amount of interest – and not just here in Australia! We now
complete the world-beating SILICON CHIP DAB+/FM/AM receiver and show you
how to get the most from it – by Duraid Madina and Tim Blythman
62 Touch controlled all-diode checker and plotter
Got a box of unknown zeners? This will check them AND tell you their knee
voltage. Or maybe a whole lot of unknown LEDs? Same thing! In fact, you can
test any type of diode and reveal its hidden secrets! – by Tim Blythman
76 Versatile Trailing Edge Dimmer – Part 2
If you try to use your old dimmer with dimmable LEDs and CFLs, you’ll know
it’s not too successful. We complete the construction and set up of this new
trailing-edge dimmer – which WILL work with almost all lights – by John Clarke
Your Favourite Columns
57 Serviceman’s Log
My late father – the ultimate “serviceman” – by Dave Thompson
88 Vintage Radio
Astor HNQ Mickey 4-½ valve radio – by Fred Lever
92 Circuit Notebook
(1) AVR-based inductance/capacitance/frequency meter
(2) Micromite-based colour organ
(3) Automatic switchmode solar charger for 6V SLAs
Everything Else!
4
6
41
97
Editorial Viewpoint
Mailbag – Your Feedback
Product Showcase
Ask SILICON CHIP
100
103
104
104
SILICON CHIP ONLINE SHOP
Market Centre
Advertising Index
Notes and Errata
Infrared remote control,
motorised volume
control, bass and treble
controls , ultra low noise . . . Our
new stereo preamp has everything
you’ve ever wanted! – Page 28
We’ve reached the last episode
of our incredible DAB+/FM/AM
receiver. Here’s where it all comes
together – including
programming
and trouble
shooting
– Page 42
Got a pile of zeners you’d like to
identify? Or LEDs? Or any other
diodes? This new
touchscreen
checker/plotter
will tell you what
you need to
know – Page 62
The latest micro and FPGA board
from Arduino, the MKR Vidor
4000. It could be
just as popular
as its forebears –
Page 71
This Galvanic Skin
Response module only
costs just a few
dollars so you can
afford to experiment
to your heart’s content –
Page 84
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