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Contents Vol.34, No.2 February 2021 SILICON CHIP www.siliconchip.com.au Features & Reviews 9 Radio Time Signals throughout the World Radio signals can provide a way to synchronise timekeeping devices without internet access or a GPS receiver – by Dr David Maddison 25 Follow-up: Quantum-dot Cellular Automata We cover a more efficient approach to the standard 3-input majority gate, and how to incorporate it into a full one-bit adder – by Dr Sankit Ramkrishna Kassa 74 Making Android Apps with App Inventor App Inventor is a browser-based tool which is used to make mobile applications. In this article we’ll show you how it can be used to make a time domain reflectometry calculator for your Android smartphone – by Roderick Wall Radio-controlled clocks and watches are an interesting way to maintain accurate time. They’re synchronised via a radio transmitter, connected to an atomic clock, over the LF and SW bands – Page 9 88 Upgrading your Computer to the latest CPU We’ll cover what to consider before making the leap and what pitfalls you might get caught on, and most importantly whether it’s worth it – by Nicholas Vinen 98 El Cheapo Modules: LCR-T4 Digital Multi-Tester The Geekcreit multi-tester will identify, check and anaylse bipolar transistors, JFETs, Mosfets, diodes, resistors, capacitors, inductors etc – by Jim Rowe Constructional Projects 28 Battery Multi Logger The Battery Multi Logger uses a dedicated Micromite BackPack, and can monitor a battery from 6-100V at up to 10A, or much more (100A+) with an external shunt – Page 28 Monitoring the condition of your batteries is essential for long-term use. This project helps you to monitor, log and even troubleshoot batteries from 6-100V at up to 10A, or 100A+ with external shunts – by Tim Blythman 38 Arduino-based Adjustable Power Supply This basic power supply has voltage/current monitoring and limiting, and only requires an Arduino Uno, matching shield and computer – by Tim Blythman 61 Electronic Wind Chimes Here’s an alternative way to play wind chimes using solenoids. You can even record and play back set tunes – by John Clarke 80 Making a Compact Virtual Electronics Workbench A Raspberry Pi can be used to create a remote, computer-controlled and electronically-isolated test bench. It incorporates a Bitscope Micro USB oscilloscope and an adjustable power supply – by Tim Blythman This 0-14V, 0-1A power supply based on an Arduino is a compact, portable supply which only needs a computer to operate – Page 38 Your Favourite Columns 46 Serviceman’s Log A feline-themed cautionary tale – by Dave Thompson 69 Circuit Notebook (1) LCD clock and thermometer (2) DIY laser rangefinder (3) Animal and pest repeller (4) Multi-frequency sinewave generator (5) WiFi snooping with a Raspberry Pi 102 Vintage Radio Philips 1952 BX205 B-01 AM/SW battery valve radio – by Charles Kosina Everything Else 2 Editorial Viewpoint 4 Mailbag – Your Feedback siliconchip.com.au 97 Silicon Chip Online Shop 107 Ask Silicon Chip 111 Market Centre 112 Notes and Errata Australia’s electronicsIndex magazine 112 Advertising Our bench space is at a premium, so we used a Raspberry Pi to create a low-cost development environment and testing system. It includes a two-channel oscilloscope and programmable power supply – Page 80 February 2021  1 www.facebook.com/siliconchipmagazine