Everyday Practical Electronics - April 2016

84 Pages·2016·17.94 MB·English

APPLIANCE INSULATION TESTER
• Displays insulation resistance with LED warning
• Over-current trip test and trip indicator
• 500V DC and 250V DC test voltages
• High voltage fault indicator
LOW FREQUENCY DISTORTION ANALYSER
Check your 50Hz supply or the distortion of a loudspeaker system
WIN ONE
REALLY BRIGHT 12/24V LED OF THREE
MICROCHIP
OYSTER LIGHT Curiosity
Development
Mains-free, low-cost, 1000+ lumen LED light fitting Boards
TEACH-IN 2016
INTRODUCING THE ARDUINO – PART 3
Keypads, strings and displays
PLUS
INTERFACE, NET WORK, PIC n’ MIX, HOT BEANS,
APRIL 2016 £4.40
CIRCUIT SURGERY, AUDIO OUT, TECHNO TALK,
READOUT & ELECTRONIC BUILDING BLOCKS
APRIL 2016 PDF VERSION Cover .indd 1 03/03/2016 12:24
Intelligent Design
Starts with Intelligent Analog PIC® MCUs
Analog design is diffi cult and consumes precious development time. Microchip’s
intelligent PIC® MCUs integrate analog functions such as high performance Analog-to-
Digital Converters, Digital-to-Analog Converters and op amps providing simple-to-use
interfaces that ease analog design. A single-chip solution enables reduced system noise
and provides higher throughput, while dramatically reducing design time and cost.
Applications
Environmental quality sensors Lighting
Portable medical equipment Power measurement and monitoring
Industrial equipment Energy harvesting equipment
Power conversion Solar inverters
Effi cient motor control
www.microchip.com/get/euintelligentanalog
The Microchip name and logo, the Microchip logo and PIC are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their registered owners.
© 2015 Microchip Technology Inc. All rights reserved. DS00001743B. ME2018Eng05/15
APRIL 2016 Page 2.indd 1 17/02/2016 14:40
ISSN 0262 3617
 PROJECTS  THEORY 
 NEWS  COMMENT 
INCORPORATING ELECTRONICS TODAY INTERNATIONAL
 POPULAR FEATURES 
VOL. 45. No 4 April 2016 www.epemag.com
Projects and Circuits
APPLIANCE INSULATION TESTER 12
by John Clarke
Check if your mains-powered tools and appliances are safely insulated
LOW FREQUENCY DISTORTION ANALYSER 24
by Nicholas Vinen
Measure the quality of your mains or harmonic distortion of loudspeakers
REALLY BRIGHT 12/24V LED OYSTER LIGHT 34
by Ross Tester
Low-cost, 1000+ lumen, LED light fitting for when mains isn’t available
Series and Features
TECHNO TALK by Mark Nelson 11
Beware of bargains!
TEACH-IN 2016 – EXPLORING THE ARDUINO 38
by Mike and Richard Tooley
Part 3: Keypads, strings and displays
NET WORK by Alan Winstanley 48
Chilling out... Hutber’s Law... Come on down... Caught on cammy
INTERFACE by Robert Penfold 51
Raspberry Pi capacitance meter
PIC n’ MIX by Mike O’Keeffe 55
Choosing and using accelerometers – Part 1
CIRCUIT SURGERY by Ian Bell 58
Voltage references – Part 2
AUDIO OUT by Jake Rothman 62
Speaking volumes – Part 5
Really Bright MAX’S HOT BEANS by Max The Magnificent 70
Have you got the tubes?... Bold as brass... It’s alive! It’s alive!...
12/24V LED Bigger is better
ELECTRONIC BUILDING BLOCKS by Julian Edgar 76
Oyster Light
PIR Sensor Module
Regulars and Services
No Mains Needed
SUBSCRIBE TO EPE and save money 4
EPE PIC PROJECTS VOLUME 1 5
EDITORIAL 7
Test that insulation!... Strings and things... Ebers-Moll... LIGO
Teach-In 2016 NEWS – Barry Fox highlights technology’s leading edge 8
Plus everyday news from the world of electronics
MICROCHIP READER OFFER 33
EPE Exclusive – Win one of three Microchip Curiosity Development Boards
Exploring the EPE BACK ISSUES 46
EPE BACK ISSUES CD-ROM 54
DIRECT BOOK SERVICE 67
Arduino
A wide range of technical books available by mail order, plus more CD-ROMs
CD-ROMS FOR ELECTRONICS 72
Part 3: Keypads, strings and displays
A wide range of CD-ROMs for hobbyists, students and engineers
READOUT – Matt Pulzer addresses general points arising 75
© Wimborne Publishing Ltd 2016. Copyright in all EPE PCB SERVICE 78
drawings, photographs and articles published in PCBs for EPE projects
EVERYDAY PRACTICAL ELECTRONICS is fully ADVERTISERS INDEX 79
protected, and reproduction or imitations in whole or
NEXT MONTH! – Highlights of next month’s EPE 80
in part are expressly forbidden.
Our May 2016 issue will be published on Readers’ Services • Editorial and Advertisement Departments 7
Thursday 7 April 2016, see page 80 for details.
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2016 1
Contents (MP 1st) – APRIL 2016.indd 1 18/02/2016 15:01
All prices INCLUDE 20.0% VAT. Free UK delivery on orders over £50
Quasar Electronics Limited
Postage & Packing Options (Up to 0.5Kg gross weight): UK Standard 3-7 Day
PO Box 6935, Bishops Stortford Delivery - £3.95; UK Mainland Next Day Delivery - £8.95; Europe (EU) -
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Please visit our online shop now for full details of over 1000 electronic kits,
Web: www.quasarelectronics.co.uk projects, modules and publications. Discounts for bulk quantities.

Card
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Solutions for Home, Education & Industry Since 1993
PIC Programmer & Experimenter Board 4-Ch DTMF Telephone Relay Switcher
PIC & ATMEL Programmers
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We have a wide range of low cost PIC and
buttons and LED indicators phone from anywhere
ATMEL Programmers. Complete range and
to carry out educational in the world and re-
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experiments such as the motely turn on/off any

Programmer Accessories: supplied programming examples. Includes a of the 4 relays as de-
40-pin Wide ZIF socket (ZIF40W) £9.95 16F627 Flash Microcontroller that can be sired. User settable Security Password, Anti-
18Vdc Power supply (661.121) £25.95 reprogrammed up to 1000 times. Software to Tamper, Rings to Answer, Auto Hang-up and
Leads: Parallel (LDC136) £3.95 / Serial compile and program your source code is Lockout. Includes plastic case. 130 x 110 x
(LDC441) £3.95 / USB (LDC644) £2.95 included. Supply: 12-15Vdc. 30mm. Power: 12Vdc.
Kit Order Code: K8048 - £23.94 Kit Order Code: 3140KT - £79.95
Assembled Order Code: VM111 - £39.12 Assembled Order Code: AS3140 - £94.95
USB & Serial Port PIC Programmer
USB or Serial connection.
Header cable for ICSP. 8-Ch Serial Port Isolated I/O Relay Module
Free Windows software. Controllers & Loggers Computer controlled 8
See website for PICs sup- channel relay board. 5A
ported. ZIF Socket & USB Here are just a few of the controller and mains rated relay outputs
lead extra. 16-18Vdc. data acquisition and control units we have. and 4 opto-isolated digital
Kit Order Code: 3149EKT - £49.95 See website for full details. 12Vdc PSU for inputs (for monitoring
Assembled Order Code: AS3149E - £64.95 all units: Order Code 660.446UK £11.52 switch states, etc). Useful
Assembled with ZIF socket Order Code: in a variety of control and
AS3149EZIF - £74.95 sensing applications. Programmed via serial
USB Experiment port (use our new Windows interface, termi-
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This tutorial project 5 digital input chan- be up to 35m long. Includes plastic case
board is all you need nels and 8 digital out- 130x100x30mm. Power: 12Vdc/500mA.
to take your first steps put channels plus two Kit Order Code: 3108KT - £74.95
into Microchip PIC analogue inputs and Assembled Order Code: AS3108 - £89.95
programming using a two analogue outputs with 8 bit resolution.
PIC16F882 (included). Later you can use it Kit Order Code: K8055N - £25.19 Infrared RC 12–Channel Relay Board
for more advanced programming. It programs Assembled Order Code: VM110N - £40.20 Control 12 onboard relays with
all the devices a Microchip PICKIT2® can! included infrared remote con-
You can use the free Microchip tools for the 2-Channel High Current UHF RC Set trol unit. Toggle or momentary.
PICKit2™ and the MPLAB® IDE environment. State-of-the-art high securi- 15m+ range. 112 x 122mm.
Order Code: EDU10 - £55.96 ty. 2 channel. Momentary or Supply: 12Vdc/0.5A
latching relay output rated to Kit Order Code: 3142KT - £64.95
ATMEL 89xxxx Programmer switch up to 240Vac @ 10 Assembled Order Code: AS3142 - £74.95
Uses serial port and any Amps. Range up to 40m. Up
standard terminal comms to 15 Tx’s can be learnt by Audio DTMF Decoder and Display
program. 4 LED’s display one Rx (kit includes one Tx Detect DTMF tones from
the status. ZIF sockets but more available separately). 3 indicator tape recorders, receivers,
not included. 16Vdc. LEDs. Rx: PCB 88x60mm, supply 9-15Vdc. two-way radios, etc using
Kit Order Code: 3123KT - £28.95 Kit Order Code: 8157KT - £49.95 the built-in mic or direct
Assembled Order Code: AS3123 - £39.95 Assembled Order Code: AS8157 - £54.95 from the phone line. Char-
acters are displayed on a
Introduction to PIC Programming Computer Temperature Data Logger 16 character display as they are received and
Go from complete beginner Serial port 4-channel tem- up to 32 numbers can be displayed by scroll-
to burning a PIC and writing perature logger. °C or °F. ing the display. All data written to the LCD is
code in no time! Includes 49 Continuously logs up to 4 also sent to a serial output for connection to a
page step-by-step PDF separate sensors located computer. Supply: 9-12V DC (Order Code
Tutorial Manual + Program- 200m+ from board. Wide PSU375). Main PCB: 55x95mm.
ming Hardware (with LED range of free software applications for stor- Kit Order Code: 3153KT - £37.95
test section) + Windows Software (Program, ing/using data. PCB just 45x45mm. Powered Assembled Order Code: AS3153 - £49.95
Read, Verify & Erase) + a rewritable by PC. Includes one DS1820 sensor.
PIC16F84A. 4 detailed examples provided for Kit Order Code: 3145KT - £19.95 3x5Amp RGB LED Controller with RS232
you to learn from. PC parallel port. 12Vdc. Assembled Order Code: AS3145 - £26.95 3 independent high power
Kit Order Code: 3081KT - £16.95 Additional DS1820 Sensors - £4.95 each channels. Preprogrammed
Assembled Order Code: AS3081 - £24.95 or user-editable light se-
Remote Control Via GSM Mo- quences. Standalone op-
PIC Programmer bile Phone tion and 2-wire serial inter-
Board Place next to a mobile phone (not face for microcontroller or
Low cost PIC program- included). Allows toggle or auto- PC communication with simple command set.
mer board supporting timer control of 3A mains rated Suitable for common anode RGB LED strips,
a wide range of Micro- output relay from any location LEDs and incandescent bulbs. 56 x 39 x
chip® PIC™ microcon- 20mm. 12A total max. Supply: 12Vdc.
trollers. Serial port. Free Windows software. Most items are available in kit form (KT suffix) Kit Order Code: 8191KT - £29.95
Kit Order Code: K8076 - £29.94 or pre-assembled and ready for use (AS prefix). Assembled Order Code: AS8191 - £39.95
APRIL 2015.indd 1 16/02/2015 10:41:38
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ics. Ideal gift for budding electronics expert!
sensor channels allowing flexibility to setup Assembled Order Code: AS3067 - £27.95
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ture and relay control via RS232 using a Control the speed of Get started on the
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external line in. 8-24Vdc powered. Change or 8-lead unipolar stepper Also available: 30-in-1 £24.95, 50-in-1
a resistor for different recording dura- motor rated up to 6 Amps. £33.95, 75-in-1 £45.95, 200-in-1 £65.95, 300-
tion/sound quality. Sampling frequency 4- Provides speed and direc- in-1 £89.95, 500-in-1 £199.95
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using on-board potentiom- externally supplied 5V lev- nels - high contrast LCD
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motor winding currents up to 2 Amps per TION control. Opto-isolated auto set-up for volt/div
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cluding full or half stepping of bipolar step- supply: 8-30Vdc. PCB: 75x85mm. screen - trigger mode:
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Kit Order Code: 3187KT - £39.95 AC Motor Speed Controller (600W)
Assembled Order Code: AS3187 - £49.95 Reliable and simple to Handheld Personal Scope with USB
install project that allows Designed by electronics enthusiasts for elec-
Video Signal Cleaner you to adjust the speed of tronics enthusiasts! Powerful,
Digitally cleans the video an electric drill or 230V AC compact and USB connectivity,
signal and removes un- single phase induction this sums up the features of this
wanted distortion in video motor rated up to 600 oscilloscope.
signal. In addition it stabi- Watts. Simply turn the potentiometer to adjust 40 MHz sampling rate, 12 MHz
lises picture quality and the motors RPM. PCB: 48x65mm. Not suita- analog bandwith, 0.1 mV sensitivity, 5mV to
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You will also benefit from Kit Order Code: 1074KT - £15.95 base in 34 steps, ultra fast full auto set up
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APRIL 2015.indd 2 16/02/2015 10:41:52
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PROGRAMMABLE MAINS TIMER Part 2 – PCB assembly and chassis wiring THE CURRAWONG SPARK ENERGY METER
Versatile switch to control power as and when you need it STEREO 10W VALVE AMPLIFIER Measure the energy delivered to spark plugs
Electronic Building Blocks Part 3 – Set up and volume remote control
PTCTEEILRACCUCHUHNSI-OTI N ST UA20LR1KG5,E ,H RPOYR,TA N CBETETIA CWNASOL RL&YK P ,S IAPCUE nDA’ KIMOINI OXG U, T , NOV 2015 £4.40 INCEPNLOELTETOECU LWRT SFBORAEOR CAKNEN,I, C SAC ,UB ITRDUECIIOCLUDH IOTINNU SOGTU , T BRPALIGLCOEK CnR A’KY MN,S D IX , DEC 2015 £4.40 PCTPERIRLCACHUCUNTSIIOTC SATUALLLRYKG SE&PR EEYL,A EAKCUINTDRGIOO, NNOEIUCTT B,W CUOOILRODKLI,N BPGEIC AB nNL’OS M,C IKXS, JAN 2016 £4.40 ICEPCCNLIoRTLGnEEnCCUeRAUTcFSItR- TAatO n CSoNcEUi-eI,VCRn NtG G BEcEoUTARm IWLYp ,DuV OAtIeNRIUrDsKGD t, IEo BOP mLOI OCOod UCnCeTK’r ,nM OST V IEGXNCA, H VHmNOEoOnTRi tBToTrAEsLAEKNR S&, PDIMeFPCEvIlDBCeaW Elt2RofM0oOIpN1r mCm6L A Hae £ bn I4P t.I 4 I 0
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4 Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2016
Subs page.indd 4 17/02/2016 11:07
EPE PIC PROJECTS
VOLUME 1
CD-ROM
A plethora of 20 ‘hand-PICked’ PIC
EPE
Projects from selected past issues of
Together with the PIC programming
software for each project plus bonus articles ONLY
The projects are: £14.75
PIC-Based Ultrasonic Tape Measure
You’ve got it taped if you PIC this ultrasonic distance NOTE: The PDF files on this CD-ROM are INCLUDING
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drive. They require Adobe Acrobat Reader
EPE Mind PICkler
– included on the CD-ROM
Want seven ways to relax? Try our PIC-controlled mind machine!
PIC MIDI Sustain Pedal
EPE PIC PROJECTS
Add sustain and glissando to your MIDI line-up with this
inexpensive PIC-controlled effects unit
CD-ROM ORDER FORM
PIC-based MIDI Handbells
Ring out thy bells with merry tolling – plus a MIDI PIC-up, of
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Please send me ........ (quantity)
EPE Mood PICker
Oh for a good night’s sleep! Insomniacs rejoice – your EPE PIC PROJECTS VOL 1 CD-ROM
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PIC Micro-Probe the world.
A hardware tool to help debug your PIC software
Name .............................................................................
PIC Video Cleaner
Improving video viewing on poorly maintained TVs and VCRs
Address .........................................................................
PIC Graphics LCD Scope
A PIC and graphics LCD signal monitor for your workshop ........................................................................................
PIC to Printer Interface
How to use dot-matrix printers as data loggers with PIC ........................................................................................
microcontrollers
.................................... Post Code .................................
PIC Polywhatsit
A novel compendium of musical effects to delight the creative  I enclose cheque/P.O./bank draft to the value of £
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Conjure music from thin air at the mere untouching gesture of  please charge my Visa/Mastercard/Maestro £
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PIC Mini-Enigma
Share encrypted messages with your friends — true Card No. ..........................................................
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PIC Virus Zapper
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controversial subject for yourself (The last 3 digits on or just under the signature strip)
PIC Controlled Intruder Alarm
Valid From ........................ Expiry Date .........................
A sophisticated multi-zone intruder detection system that
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Maestro Issue No. .................
PIC Big-Digit Display
Control the giant ex-British Rail platform clock 7-segment
digits that are now available on the surplus market SEND TO:
Everyday Practical Electronics,
PIC Freezer Alarm
How to prevent your food from defrosting unexpectedly Wimborne Publishing Ltd.,
PIC World Clock 113 Lynwood Drive, Merley, Wimborne,
Graphically displays world map, calendar, clock and global Dorset BH21 1UU.
time-zone data Tel: [phone]. Fax: [phone].
PICAXE Projects Email: [email protected]
A 3-part series using PICAXE devices – PIC microcontrollers that
do not need specialist knowledge or programming equipment Payments must be by card or in £ Sterling – cheque or
PIC-based Tuning Fork and Metronome bank draft drawn on a UK bank.
Thrill everyone by at long last getting your instrument properly
tuned!
Versatile PIC Flasher Order on-line from
An attractive display to enhance your Christmas decorations www.epemag.com
or your child’s ceiling or by Phone, Fax, Email or Post.
BECOME A PIC PROJECT BUILDER WITH THE HELP OF EPE!
Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2016 5
PIC Projects.indd 5 17/02/2016 11:08
Arduino Starter Kit
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Teach-In 2016
The Arduino Starter kit is the ideal partner for anyone following the Teach-In 2016
Exploring the
which started in the February 2016 issue of EPE Everyday Practical Electronics.
Arduino
This Starter kit is supplied with a Wood base, USB & Interconnect leads, Electric motor, Piezo sounder, Movement
and Temperature sensors, Switches, LCD, Breadboard & Servo motor. The kit also includes over 100 electronic com-
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ESR – MARCH 2016.indd 1 19/01/2016 16:01
EDITORIAL
VOL. 45 No. 04 APRIL 2016
Editorial Offices:
EVERYDAY PRACTICAL ELECTRONICS
EDITORIAL Wimborne Publishing Ltd., 113 Lynwood
Drive, Merley, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1UU
Phone: [phone]. Fax: [phone].
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.epemag.com Welcome to April’s issue – as always, your favourite electronics magazine is
See notes on Readers’ Technical Enquiries below packed with projects, analysis, explanations and news. Each of us has our
– we regret technical enquiries cannot be answered
own particular interests, and I especially enjoyed the insulation project and
over the telephone.
this month’s Teach-In and Circuit Surgery columns.
Advertisement Offices:
Everyday Practical Electronics Advertisements
113 Lynwood Drive, Merley, Wimborne, Dorset, Test that insulation!
BH21 1UU Our Appliance Insulation Tester is not just interesting, but also useful. It
Phone: [phone] Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected] may not have the ‘glamour’ of a high-end bells-and-whistles amplifier, but
if it warns you just once about a faulty appliance it will have fully repaid
Editor: MATT PULZER any investment in time and money. It works with both double-insulated and
Subscriptions: MARILYN GOLDBERG
conventionally earthed appliances and power tools. However, the one thing
General Manager: FAY KEARN
Graphic Design: RYAN HAWKINS it doesn’t do is apply 230V AC mains voltage and so it cannot test appliances
Editorial/Admin: 01202 880299 that have a ‘soft’ or non-mechanical power switch (eg, DVD players and TVs).
Advertising and
Never fear, next month we will feature an Appliance Earth Leakage Tester as
Business Manager: STEWART KEARN
01202 880299 a companion instrument to fill that gap.
On-line Editor: ALAN WINSTANLEY
Strings and things
Publisher: MIKE KENWARD
Our Arduino-themed Teach-In series continues with a detailed look at
READERS’ TECHNICAL ENQUIRIES
Arduino-friendly displays and indicators. We get to grips with arrays and
Email: [email protected]
We are unable to offer any advice on the use, purchase, strings, how to manipulate them and use that knowledge to build an access
repair or modification of commercial equipment or the control system. We’re only at Part 3 of Teach-In 2016, but already you should
incorporation or modification of designs published be able to put together some interesting Arduino-based designs.
in the magazine. We regret that we cannot provide
data or answer queries on articles or projects that are
more than five years’ old. Letters requiring a personal Ebers-Moll
reply must be accompanied by a stamped self- Who?! Jewell James Ebers and John Moll, that’s who. In 1954 this duo
addressed envelope or a self-addressed envelope and
introduced a famous – and still widely used – mathematical model of
international reply coupons. We are not able to answer
technical queries on the phone. transistor currents. At the heart of the Ebers-Moll model is a (relatively)
simple equation, which is commonly used to explain the operation of
PROJECTS AND CIRCUITS
All reasonable precautions are taken to ensure that transistors and transistor circuits – for example, the long-tailed pair difference
the advice and data given to readers is reliable. We amplifier. In this month’s Circuit Surgery, Ian Bell explains the operation
cannot, however, guarantee it and we cannot accept
of the bandgap reference voltage circuit using the Ebers-Moll model. It’s a
legal responsibility for it.
A number of projects and circuits published in particularly elegant design and well worth understanding. It does involve
EPE employ voltages that can be lethal. You should some mathematics, and if your logarithms and exponential functions are
not build, test, modify or renovate any item of mains- a little rusty then it’s worth refreshing your understanding over at: www.
powered equipment unless you fully understand the
safety aspects involved and you use an RCD adaptor. mathsisfun.com/algebra/exponents-logarithms
COMPONENT SUPPLIES
LIGO
We do not supply electronic components or kits for
building the projects featured, these can be supplied The day I chose to write this editorial happens to be the one researchers
by advertisers. announced the detection of gravity waves. It is not only an extraordinary
We advise readers to check that all parts are still
intellectual achievement, but also a fantastic feat of engineering, especially
available before commencing any project in a back-
dated issue. in the fields of electronics and sensing. The brief to the designers of ‘LIGO’,
the laser interferometer used at the heart of the experiment, was to measure a
ADVERTISEMENTS
Although the proprietors and staff of EVERYDAY change in length so small it was equivalent to the diameter of a football over
PRACTICAL ELECTRONICS take reasonable the width of the Milky Way – almost unimaginable accuracy, and just one of
precautions to protect the interests of readers by
many examples of how electronics continues to astonish and inspire us.
ensuring as far as practicable that advertisements are
bona fide, the magazine and its publishers cannot give
any undertakings in respect of statements or claims
made by advertisers, whether these advertisements
are printed as part of the magazine, or in inserts.
The Publishers regret that under no circumstances
will the magazine accept liability for non-receipt of
goods ordered, or for late delivery, or for faults in
manufacture.
TRANSMITTERS/BUGS/TELEPHONE
EQUIPMENT
We advise readers that certain items of radio
transmitting and telephone equipment which may
be advertised in our pages cannot be legally used in
the UK. Readers should check the law before buying
any transmitting or telephone equipment, as a fine,
confiscation of equipment and/or imprisonment can
result from illegal use or ownership. The laws vary from
country to country; readers should check local laws.
7
EPE Editorial_100144WP.indd 7 17/02/2016 11:11
N E W S
A roundup of the latest Everyday News
from the world of
electronics
Second chance for Blu-ray? – report by Barry Fox
Blu-ray did not take off as well The first 100GB releases will be ‘of- pictures because of ‘content rights
as the industry hoped, because fered by the end of August 2016’ issues’. So he had to show a Dolby
too many people rate online said Wolfgang Diemling. CGI promo instead.
instant access over picture and The reason for the delay, he ex- Both David Millar and Jim Bottoms
sound quality. But few broadband plained, is that although double lay- of MESA then encouraged delegates
connections can reliably stream 4K er 66GB disc production needs no to attend demonstrations of Dolby
UHD, so Blu-ray has another chance special equipment, other than new Atmos immersive sound and Dol-
with BD UHD. optics to handle the use of shorter byVision HDR after the main pro-
data pit length, which increases lay- ceedings, in side rooms set up by
BD standard er density to 33GB, triple layering Dolby and using new Vizio HDR TVs
The new BD standard, which was set needs ‘major investment in expen- brought in from the US. The content
last August and runs to 1200 pages, sive new presses, with secondary included impressive clips from Mad
covers discs with higher data density embossing and sputtering equip- Max in UHD HDR, they said.
per layer (33GB instead of 25GB) and ment, which all creates a bigger foot- One party of delegates was duly
more layers (up to three instead of print’. The cycle time for triple layer given the demonstration but further
two). But so far there have been no production is also less favourable, sessions were abruptly cancelled
triple layer 100GB BDs. and the final disc must be hard-coat- on orders received from the con-
A post-CES briefing by MESA Eu- ed for protection. tent providers. The audience would
rope, the Media and Entertainment There is also still a ‘missing link’; have included three media jour-
Services Alliance, held recently at there is no UHD PC drive yet avail- nalists who had attended the main
the Ray Dolby Theatre, Soho Square able and these are needed for image event, and the content owners want-
in London went some way towards analysis QC testing. ed on-the-spot approval of the Dolby
clarifying the confused picture on screen setup.
100GB viability. It also inadvertent- Meanwhile Jamie Hindhaugh,
ly highlighted the movie industry’s Chief Operating Officer, BT Sport
paranoia over releasing studio mas- & BT TV told of BT’s experiences
ter quality movies on BD. with covering sport live in 4K since
launching ‘Europe’s very first live
Reaching 100GB sports Ultra HD channel’ last August.
Seth Hallen, Senior Vice President Piracy protection ‘HDR has the potential to derail
Creative Services, Sony DADC New To meet the movie studio’s concern what’s currently been really good
Media Solutions in Culver City over piracy risks, the new UHD BD take-up of 4K’ Jamie Hindhaugh
and Wolfgang Diemling, Director discs will use AACS2 copy protec- warned. ‘The consumer is getting
Mastering, Sony DADC in Austria, tion, which provides for network- confused over whether it’s the right
confirmed their company currently authorised, time-based release. A time to buy a TV. The backwards
has 18 UHD BD projects under way, consumer player will go online to re- compatibility thing is a real issue.’
with the first commercial releases ceive the keys needed to unlock disc
slated for March 2016 to coincide play on an authorised release date. Consumer confusion
with the expected launch of Sam- Elfed Howells, Director, Business ‘The marketing and the messaging
sung’s UHD BD player. However, Development EMEA, Dolby Europe and the language is so messy, with
all these releases will be on double- kicked off the MESA conference by so many acronyms,’ he went on. ‘We
layer 66GB discs, with production trying to demonstrate how video has have always been an acronym-heavy
capacity of Sony’s plant in Austria progressed over the last decade from industry, but it’s got so much worse.
currently running at 50,000 discs DVD to BD to UHD. Using the Dolby No disrespect to your colleagues
per day. theatre’s laser projector, Howells in the UHD Alliance (who had just
There has been ‘a lot of discussion’ screened DVD and BD clip versions been seen enthusing in a video of
about 100GB triple layer test discs, of Tomorrowland, but regretted that their panel discussion at CES) but
Hallen said. ‘The first test discs have he could not show the same clip they were getting themselves con-
been successfully created’, he said. in UHD with High Dynamic Range fused at times and saying it’s great
8 Everyday Practical Electronics, April 2016
News (MP 1st) – April 2016.indd 8 17/02/2016 11:15