Silicon Chip – May 2019

Vol.32, No.5; May 2019

Contents

http://www.siliconchip.com.au

SILICON

CHIP

http://www.facebook.com/siliconchipmagazine

Features & Reviews

12 Avalon Airshow: from killer drones to spacecraft!

SILICON CHIP visited the Australian International Airshow and Aerospace & Defence

Exposition (also known as the Avalon Airshow), to take a look at the latest

aerospace technology. We came away very impressed! – by Dr David Maddison

38 El Cheapo Modules: Class D amplifier modules

Here are two bargain Class-D amplifier modules which tend to put the lie to that

old adage that you only get what you pay for! One of these sells for less than $10,

p&p included – but you get a 3 x 50W RMS powerhouse! – by Allan Linton-Smith

83 Review: Microchip’s new “SNAP” debugger/programmer

Somewhat less complex and much lower in cost than the PICkit 4, we believe that

the SNAP will become popular as an economical first programmer or even as a

second device you can carry with your laptop or notebook – by Tim Blythman

Constructional Projects

26 DSP Active Crossover and 8-channel Parametric Equaliser

Adjust and tailor any audio signal to the way YOU want it with this versatile project.

You can also use it to “Biamplify” a pair of speakers – and many other tasks.

Offers very low distortion and noise, too – by Phil Prosser and Nicholas Vinen

44 Solar-powered data repeater for 433MHz remotes

Sometimes your keyfob transmitter or other 433MHz remote control doesn’t have

the range you need, or it is affected by weather, etc. This solar-powered repeater

can give you up to double the range – and it’s all legal! – by John Clarke

68 Bridge adaptor gives four times your amplifier power!

When you want real power, build this simple project. It drives two amplifiers (or

even two channels of a stereo amp) out of phase to give up to 4x the original

power. Build it in a Jiffy box or into your existing amplifier – by Nicholas Vinen

86 Low-cost 3.5-inch LCDs for Arduino or Micromite

There’s a big difference between a 2.8-inch and a 3.5-inch display – you can get

so much more information on them. We’ve found some quite cheap 3.5 inchers

that you can use with your Arduino or Micromite project – by Tim Blythman

Your Favourite Columns

61 Serviceman’s Log

Samsunk – the dishwasher that wouldn’t! – by Dave Thompson

96 Circuit Notebook

(1) Battery-powered Steam Train Whistle

(2) Switching cooling fan based on power supply load

(3) ESP32 Internet Radio Receiver

100 Vintage Radio

Admiral 1956 5ACW Clock Radio – by Graham Parslow

Everything Else!

When a 2.4” or 2.8”

display just

isn’t good enough

... use a 3.5” in-
stead

• Page 86

If you want more

range from your

UHF remote, try

this solar-powered

data repeater for

size. Simple, cheap

... and legal!

• Page 44

Audio

processing

has never

been this

good!

• Page 26

2 Editorial Viewpoint

4 Mailbag – Your Feedback

109 SILICON CHIP ONLINE SHOP

105 Product Showcase

106 Ask SILICON CHIP

111 Market Centre

112 Advertising Index

112 Notes and Errata

We simply

could not

believe the prices

of these Class-D

amplifier modules out of China!

So are they any good? Well, you be

the judge! – Page 38

Microchip’s “SNAP”

• it’s a snap to use
  and makes a great
  first programmer
  or even one to
  keep with your
  notebook or laptop – Page 83

We made a flying visit (pardon the

pun!) to the Australian International

Airshow at Avalon, Victoria. Wow!

• Page 12

This BTL Adaptor splits

your audio signal

and feeds half to

each amp,

giving up to 4x the

power output

• Page 68