February 2018
14 Build the IoT Sump Pump
Although the device described here will send a text as a
sump pump warning, this project applies to pretty much
anything with an appropriate sensor. An open door or
window, a tripped laser beam, a pressure change on a
pressure plate, a proximity sensor, etc., could all be
converted into a text message warning.
■ By Mirza Kolakovic
19 Rebuilding a Tektronix THS7X0
Portable
Oscilloscope
Battery Pack
When batteries fail, they can
be replaced or rebuilt, but it’s
usually at considerable
expense. Here’s one
application where a very
expensive battery pack can be
easily rebuilt at a fraction of
the replacement cost,
returning the device to useful
portable service.
■ By Kevin O’Connor
22 The Arduino Graphics Interface
— Part 1
See how to turn an Arduino Due and a leftover analog
oscilloscope into a high resolution computer graphics
display.
■ By Ed Andrews WA9UQN
30 Light Bulbs, LEDs, and Circuit
Junctions
We’ll take a look at some specific electrical properties of
both light bulbs and LEDs, and use them to discuss
junctions in DC circuits.
■ By Tom Bensky
36 A Digital Analog — Part 4
This installment in a
recurring series
examines the more
complex circuits
from 555 Timer IC
Circuits by Forrest
Mims, which are
variations on audio
oscillators.
■ By Larry Cicchinelli
Columns
06 Q&A
52 The Design Cycle
Reader Questions Answered Here
Topics discussed this month:
Advanced Techniques for Design
Engineers
• Neuter the Spray
• A Clearly Better Baby Monitor
Smartphone App Programming for
Remote Control
09 Open Communication
The Latest in Networking and
Wireless Technologies
Connected Cars are Coming
Cars are already loaded with communications
technology. AM, FM, and satellite radios are
common, as is a GPS receiver for the navigation
system. In the coming years, we’ll be seeing new wireless
systems incorporated into every vehicle for improving
safety and for aiding in the implementation of self-driving
cars. Here’s an update on this communications
technology.
This month, we’ll add Basic for iPhone (B4I)
and Basic for Android (B4R) to your Design
Cycle, and put your iPhone to work as a
remote control device. We’ll write the iPhone
code using B4I and code up an I/O pin switch
server using an inexpensive WEMOS D1 mini
and B4R.
Departments
05 DEVELOPING
PERSPECTIVES
Electronics Padawans
48 Near Space
12 NEW PRODUCTS
13 SHOWCASE
46 NV WEBSTORE
60 TECH FORUM
64 CLASSIFIEDS
64 ELECTRO-NET
64 AD INDEX
Approaching the Final Frontier
Total Solar Eclipse Near Space Flight: Part 2
A lot of data was collected on my eclipse near space
flight; unfortunately, not as much as I hoped (some
experiments failed to record data at the appropriate time).
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Still, there was enough data for a second article and I’d
like to share three of the results with you.
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4 February 2018
