Silicon Chip March 2009

This month a wealth of useful technical articles for the engineer and hobbyists. Firstly, how to revive an old laptop with a small footprint operating system. Ideal for bringing that retired laptop back to life, this operating system needs only 93MB when running, an operates entirely in RAM. This will allow you to run your laptop a number of applications reasonably quickly with minimal memory or processor requirements. Also the second part of our article on Digital Radio, looks at some of the technical aspect and improvements in performance this new technology with bring. Finally a quick brief at how to safely discharging high energy and high voltage capacitors.

This month’s projects include a GPS Synchronized Clock, the GPS system also transmits a time reference signal. This signal can easily be decoded and used to control or set a clock for maximum accuracy. This inexpensive kit, will allow you to use a standard wall clock with a GPS module, such that there is no need to adjust or set the time again. Also this month a new Theremin unit, these units can produce some great sounds and provide some ideal entertainment and learning experience. Use your hands to control the pitch and the volume of this unit, the theory of the design is also covered in detail in this design. Finally this month a very useful Digital Audio Millivoltmeter, this unit is ideal for the repair man or technician, the signal is measured in mV, dBv and also dbm. The unit will measure from 5Hz to 100kHz and will measure signals of only 160µV.

All projects come complete with circuit diagram and electronic parts list.

Part Code: SILCHIPMAR2009

Features

Reviving Old Laptops with Puppy Linux
Digital Radio is Coming, Part 2
How Do You Safely Discharge High-Energy Capacitors

Projects

A GPS-Synchronised Clock
New Improved Theremin Mk 2
Build A Digital Audio Millivoltmeter
Microcontrollers Can Be a Snap

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