Car Computer - Our PIC 16F877 microcontroller-powered project automatically calculates MPG (miles per UK gallon) or by KM per litre. Apart from monitoring fuel consumption, our Car Computer lets you log 'service intervals', as the project can be configured to track elapsed time and distance, and prompt you at the appropriate moment. These service points can be entered directly into the keypad or downloaded via your PC.Also functions correctly with US gallons.

It is not necessary to install it into the vehicle's electrics, as the motorist simply enters the present mileometer reading into the Car Computer using the keypad. Works in stand alone mode or can connect through a serial interface to a PC.
PLEASE TAKE NOTE: a revised version of the software was placed in our Downloads area to fix a minor display bug.

Bedside Nightlight - A two-in-one design that will bring 'comfort and joy' to your youngster's room. Part of our 'Top Tenner' projects that can be built for less than Ten Pounds ($15). Features a safe, low voltage bulb driver circuit that dims gently, coupled to an optional sound-sensitive trigger circuit. Battery operated, no mains voltages are present.

PIC Watering Timer - keep your plants in pristine condition, with our PIC 16F84A project which controls a motorised valve, in order to provide an automatic low pressure watering system for a greenhouse or garden.

Practical Radio Circuits (Part 8). The Superhet: Prescaler, Mixers and Oscillators. Concluding our highly acclaimed series of radio circuits for the set-builder and experimenter, we present a double-conversion superhet for the Short Wave bands. A Dual-Conversion SW Receiver is described, plus a signal strength meter and a BFO (beat frequency oscillator) product detector circuit.

There is probably nothing more satisfying to the radio hobbyist than listening to live radio broadcasts on a home-built receiver. This top quality series (please check our Online Shop for back issues) describes in complete detail a variety of practical radio circuits, also detailing the theory of operation and many fundamental radio principles. The series is fully illustrated and photographed in detail. We don't think you'll find a better introduction to radio project building anywhere!

Teach-In 2004 (Part 3) - Experimenting with op.amps. Operational amplifiers (op.amps) are simple integrated circuits that form a fundamental building block used in many areas of electronics. Our Teach-In series helps beginners to use them in a number of practical demonstrations. Using solderless breadboard prototyping systems and a selection of low cost components, you'll see how op.amps can be used to form useful systems or building blocks.

If you're just starting out in electronics, then Teach-In 2004 is for you. Don't miss this important educational series - back issues are available from our Online Shop.

GPS to PIC and PC interfacing

How to extract data from a GPS handset and use it in your PIC microcontroller circuitry and Visual Basic 6 programs.

Also in the January 2004 issue:

TechnoTalk: speculating on the future of television services; Ingenuity Unlimited (readers' own circuits). New Technology Update - how IntelliFET devices improve power supply protection, and new fuel cell developments. Net Work, our Internet column, explains the usefullness of newsgroups and suggests alternatives to the Google search engine. Circuit Surgery - defining source and sink currents. MOSFETs in linear mode, and an electric meter that offers voltage, frequency, true rms readings and more.