#157 August 2003 www.circuitcellar.com CIRCUIT CELLAR® THE MAGAZINE FOR COMPUTER APPLICATIONS WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS WiFi SniFi Palm-Controlled Telescope Wireless Outdoor Light Control WWW.GiURUMELE.Hi2.RO USB-CAN Interface 08> 7925274 75349 $4.95 U.S. ($5.95 Canada) WWW.GiURUMELE.Hi2.RO MCU later. Your Customized Mixed Signal platform in 60 minutes or less Build your custom PSoC™ with programmable analog and digital functions from our extensive library. Option #8926 Option #1530 8-bit PWM Inverting Amplifier Option #625 Low Pass Filter 24-bit Timer Option #4237 16-bit CRC Notch Filter IrDA Transmitter Analog 12-bit Comparator Incremental A/D 8-bit DAC ™ 8-bit DAC Use the Cypress PSoC instead of an MCU for 12-bit Incremental A/D more flexibility, fewer parts and lower cost. Band Pass Filter IrDA Band Pass Filter 8-bit Counter Analog Semiconductor Corporation. The versatile PSoC™ Programmable System-on-Chip™ is Transmitter Comparator the world’s first mixed signal array that lets you custom Instrumentation11-bit AmplifierDelta Sigma A/D configure the exact functions you need. And it has an Instrumentation Programmable Amplifier CPU Gain Amplifier8-bit Counter on-chip controller to manage your application and run Analog the configuration process. Comparator 11-bit Analog Delta Sigma A/D Comparator 16-bit PWM Graphically select, place, and interconnect the peripherals you want and adapt the architecture with PSoCWWW.GiURUMELE.Hi2.RO Designer™ software There are many more blocks to work with— Dynamically reconfigure a single PSoC and thousands of configurations to choose from. chip multiple times—changing functionality PSoC Designer™ software is free for download, with on the fly in any application full-featured emulation hardware starting at $248. Reduce BOM cost by reducing the number of external components To learn more about our innovative PSoC solutions and to enter a drawing to win a PSoC Development Cypress, PSoC, Programmable-System-on-Chip and PSoC Designer are trademarks of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. ©2002 Cypress Kit, visit www.cypress.com/ad/mcu. All other Trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Digital Oscilloscopes • 2 Channel Digital Oscilloscope DSO-2102S $525 • 100 MSa/s max single shot rate DSO-2102M $650 • 32K samples per channel Each includes Oscilloscope, • Advanced Triggering Probes, Interface Cable, Power • Only 9 oz and 6.3” x 3.75” x 1.25” Adapter, and software for • Small, Lightweight, and Portable Win95/98, WinNT, Win2000 • Parallel Port interface to PC and DOS. • Advanced Math options • FFT Spectrum Analyzer options Logic Analyzers • 40 to 160 channels • 24 Channel Logic Analyzer • up to 500 MSa/s • 100MSa/S max sample rate • Variable Threshold • Variable Threshold Voltage • 8 External Clocks • Large 128k Buffer • 16 Level Triggering • Small, Lightweight and Portable • up to 512KWWW.GiURUMELE.Hi2.RO samples/ch • Only 4 oz and 4.75” x 2.75” x 1” • Optional Parallel Interface • Parallel Port Interface to PC • Optional 100 MSa/s Pattern Generator • Trigger Out • Windows 95/98 Software LA4240-32K (200MHz, 40CH) $1350 LA4280-32K (200MHz, 80CH) $2000 LA2124-128K (100MSa/s, 24CH) LA4540-128K (500MHz, 40CH) $1900 Clips, Wires, Interface Cable, AC LA4580-128K (500MHz, 80CH) $2800 Adapter and Software $800 LA45160-128K (500MHz, 160CH) $7000 All prices include Pods and Software www.LinkIns4.com Link Instruments • 369 Passaic Ave • Suite 100 • Fairfield, NJ 07004 • (973) 808-8990 • Fax (973) 808-8786 WWW.GiURUMELE.Hi2.RO TASK MANAGER EDITORIAL DIRECTOR/FOUNDER CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Steve Ciarcia Bulk Be Gone Jeannette Ciarcia MANAGING EDITOR CUSTOMER SERVICE Jennifer Huber Elaine Johnston TECHNICAL EDITOR ireless technology has become such a part of our lives that it’s diffi- C.J. Abate ACCOUNTANT W Jeff Yanco cult to remember what life was like without it. As I was walking into a movie WEST COAST EDITOR theater last weekend, I noticed a group of teenagers—each girl on her own Tom Cantrell ART DIRECTOR KC Prescott phone (personalized by different colors and ring tones). Remarkable CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Ingo Cyliax designs, innovative low-power devices, and, of course, savvy marketing GRAPHIC DESIGNER Fred Eady Mary Turek have helped make wireless technology accessible to nearly everyone. George Martin For the Wireless issue, we found some projects that are sure to pique George Novacek STAFF ENGINEER Jeff Bachiochi the interest of the more sophisticated consumers. But, what’s fun about John Gorsky simply buying the next gadget? We hope these projects inspire you to want NEW PRODUCTS EDITOR to build your own. John Gorsky QUIZ COORDINATOR David Tweed You’ll want to get started on your own wireless outdoor lighting system PROJECT EDITORS before summer’s over. John Dammeyer combined CAN, RF, and a Steve Bedford Ken Davidson PIC12C509 to develop an impressive outdoor lighting scheme (p. 12). David Tweed John’s design makes a sensible alternative to bulky wires or solar lamps that are often dim or unusable after cloudy days. ADVERTISING PUBLISHER For those of you who prefer looking to the sky rather than the ground, Dan Rodrigues E-mail: [email protected] we also have an interesting project to enhance your telescope. Steven ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER/DIRECTOR OF SALES Pope devised a way to link his Palm device to his Meade ETX-105 tele- Sean Donnelly Fax: (860) 871-0411 scope using the Zilog eZ80 microcontroller and Webserver module (p. 20). (860) 872-3064 E-mail: [email protected] Cell phone: (860) 930-4326 The ETX-105 has Meade’s Autostar controller, which enables it to locate celestial coordinates by compensating for the Earth’s rotation. The only ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Valerie Luster Fax: (860) 871-0411 trouble is that the telescope’s two-line display makes it difficult to use the (860) 875-2199 E-mail: [email protected] system. Although he could attach a laptop, he figured adding bulky wires to ADVERTISING ASSISTANT a nighttime activity might be a bad idea. Plus, he had a more inventive solu- Deborah Lavoie Fax: (860) 871-0411 tion: use the Palm device as an interface to a GPS receiver. There was one (860) 875-2199 E-mail: [email protected] last hurdle; he needed a wireless infrared IrDA port for the telescope. That Cover photograph Chris Rakoczy—Rakoczy Photography problem, too, was solved easily enough with the Zilog IrDA development PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES system. CONTACTING CIRCUIT CELLAR We also found a project to suit the interests of WiFi fans. When stories SUBSCRIPTIONS: INFORMATION: www.circuitcellar.com or [email protected] about WiFi started showing up on CNN’s web site last year, it was a sure To Subscribe: (800) 269-6301, www.circuitcellar.com/subscribe.htm, or sign that the technology has gained mainstream popularity. If you want to [email protected] PROBLEMS: [email protected] know the literal ins and outs of WiFi, turn to page 50 for Roy Franz’s arti- GENERAL INFORMATION: cle. Using an 8-bit microcontroller (NEC’s µPD78F9418), Roy designed an TELEPHONE: (860) 875-2199 Fax: (860) 871-0411 INTERNET: [email protected], [email protected], or www.circuitcellar.com application to find and monitor 802.11b wireless networks. The compact, EDITORIAL OFFICES: Editor, Circuit Cellar, 4 Park St., Vernon, CT 06066 low-power WiFi SniFi (pronouncedWWW.GiURUMELE.Hi2.RO “wiffy sniffy”) serves as a network node. NEW PRODUCTS: New Products, Circuit Cellar, 4 Park St., Vernon, CT 06066 [email protected] Aside from sniffing out wireless networks, the WiFi SniFi also displays AUTHOR CONTACT: E-MAIL: Author addresses (when available) are included at the end of each article. frames and responds to pings and ARPs. These projects are so interesting that I don’t even need savvy market- For information on authorized reprints of articles, contact Jeannette Ciarcia (860) 875-2199 or e-mail [email protected]. ing to draw your attention. From a consumer’s perspective, the next thing I CIRCUIT CELLAR®, THE MAGAZINE FOR COMPUTER APPLICATIONS (ISSN 1528-0608) and Circuit Cellar Online are pub- would like to see wireless is television, so I can get rid of the rat’s nest of lished monthly by Circuit Cellar Incorporated, 4 Park Street, Suite 20, Vernon, CT 06066 (860) 875-2751. Periodical rates paid at TV, cable box, and VCR (that’s right, despite the rental industry’s insidious Vernon, CT and additional offices. One-year (12 issues) subscription rate USA and possessions $21.95, Canada/Mexico $31.95, all other countries $49.95. Two-year (24 issues) subscription rate USA and possessions $39.95, Canada/Mexico efforts to get me to buy a DVD player by dwindling the VHS selection, I still $55, all other countries $85. All subscription orders payable in U.S. funds only via VISA, MasterCard, international postal money order, or check drawn on U.S. bank. use my VCR) cords in my living room. Sanyo and Magis Networks have Direct subscription orders and subscription-related questions to Circuit Cellar Subscriptions, P.O. Box 5650, Hanover, NH 03755-5650 or call (800) 269-6301. developed a wireless TV prototype that sounds promising. Something tells Postmaster: Send address changes to Circuit Cellar, Circulation Dept., P.O. Box 5650, Hanover, NH 03755-5650. me that that TV would sell itself without any fancy marketing ploys, too. Circuit Cellar® makes no warranties and assumes no responsibility or liability of any kind for errors in these programs or schematics or for the consequences of any such errors. Furthermore, because of possible variation in the quality and condition of materials and workmanship of read- er-assembled projects, Circuit Cellar® disclaims any responsibility for the safe and proper function of reader-assembled projects based upon or from plans, descriptions, or information published by Circuit Cellar®. The information provided by Circuit Cellar® is for educational purposes.