The Basics, New Ideas & Applications
Build digital electronics from the ground up—and take it all the way to practical circuits you can use.
This book guides you through the core principles of digital technology with a strongly hands-on approach. You’ll begin with the essentials: signals, devices for working with them, and what "logic 0" and "logic 1" mean in real hardware. Simple demonstration setups made from easy-to-find parts (LEDs, diodes, resistors, switches) help you see how logic behaves, making the theory click before you move on.
From there, you’ll explore a wide range of logic elements and how they’re implemented, including classic logic families such as TTL and CMOS. The fundamentals section covers the building blocks of digital systems: flip-flops, Schmitt triggers, registers, counters and dividers, encoders/ decoders, multiplexers/demultiplexers, plus A/D and D/A conversion and timing circuits.
Next, the book invites you into "new ideas" in digital electronics—universal logic elements, unconventional approaches (including thyristor-based and fractional logic), and creative logic functions that can inspire original designs.
Finally, a large, well-organized collection of application circuits turns knowledge into projects: electronic switches and selectors, pulse generators, PWM regulators, frequency multipliers/dividers, phase shifters, and digital filters.
Study it deeply, and you’ll gain not only understanding—but the ability to design and debug digital circuits independently.
Program and Build Raspberry Pi 5 Based Ham Station Utilities with the RTL-SDR
The RTL-SDR devices (V3 and V4) have gained popularity among radio amateurs because of their very low cost and rich features. A basic system may consist of a USB based RTL-SDR device (dongle) with a suitable antenna, a Raspberry Pi 5 computer, a USB based external audio input-output adapter, and software installed on the Raspberry Pi 5 computer. With such a modest setup, it is possible to receive signals from around 24 MHz to over 1.7 GHz.
This book is aimed at amateur radio enthusiasts and electronic engineering students, as well as at anyone interested in learning to use the Raspberry Pi 5 to build electronic projects. The book is suitable for both beginners through experienced readers. Some knowledge of the Python programming language is required to understand and eventually modify the projects given in the book. A block diagram, a circuit diagram, and a complete Python program listing is given for each project, alongside a comprehensive description.
The following popular RTL-SDR programs are discussed in detail, aided by step-by-step installation guides for practical use on a Raspberry Pi 5:
SimpleFM
GQRX
SDR++
CubicSDR
RTL-SDR Server
Dump1090
FLDIGI
Quick
RTL_433
aldo
xcwcp
GPredict
TWCLOCK
CQRLOG
klog
Morse2Ascii
PyQSO
Welle.io
Ham Clock
CHIRP
xastir
qsstv
flrig
XyGrib
FreeDV
Qtel (EchoLink)
XDX (DX-Cluster)
WSJT-X
The application of the Python programming language on the latest Raspberry Pi 5 platform precludes the use of the programs in the book from working on older versions of Raspberry Pi computers.
Programming with GNU Radio
HackRF is an open-source hardware platform developed by Great Scott Gadgets and serves as a versatile front end for software-defined radio (SDR). With HackRF One and its successor, HackRF Pro, users can develop their own SDR applications, build powerful receivers and transmitters, and tackle demanding RF measurement tasks.
This book provides a practical introduction to the world of SDR. Step by step, the author shows how powerful SDR projects can be implemented with HackRF – from the fundamentals of RF technology to advanced applications using GNU Radio.
In addition to working with SDR Sharp (SDR#), RadioConda, and GNU Radio, the book also covers the fundamentals of modern digital signal processing. Numerous experiments and easy-to-follow practical examples guide readers through topics such as AM, FM, and SSB reception, digital filters, shortwave radio, amateur radio, signal generators, and custom RF projects up to 6 GHz.
Whether you are a maker, radio amateur, electronics enthusiast, or SDR beginner, this book provides solid knowledge, practical applications, and the motivation to creatively explore the possibilities of modern SDR technology.
From Detector to Software Defined Radio
Radio frequency (RF) technology is one of the areas which still allows putting your own ideas into practice. Countless circuit variants with special objectives allow space for meaningful experiments and projects. Many things simply aren’t available off the shelf. Crystal detector radios without their own power source, simple tube receivers with a touch of nostalgia, the first reception attempts at Software Defined Radio, special receivers for amateur radio, all this can be realized with little effort and as a perfect introduction to RF electronics.
For a long time, radio construction was the first step into electronics. Meanwhile, there are other ways, especially via computers, microcontrollers, and digital technology. However, the analog roots of electronics are often neglected. Elementary radio technology and easy-to-do experiments are particularly well suited as a learning field for electronics because you can start with the simplest basics here.
But the connection to modern digital technology is also obvious, for example, when it comes to modern tuning methods such as PLL and DDS or modern DSP radios.
This book aims to give an overview and present a collection of simple RF projects. The author would like to support you to develop your own ideas, to design your own receivers and to test them.
Principles, Design, and Real-World Applications of Modern Photonics
Light shapes our world—from the glow of a simple LED to the precision of a laser beam and the immense power of the sun. LEDs, Lasers, and Sunlight – Principles, Design, and Real-World Applications of Modern Photonics is your comprehensive guide to understanding, designing, and applying modern light technologies.
This book takes you on a journey from the fundamentals of photonics—covering the nature of light, optical laws, and color theory—to real-world engineering with today’s most important light sources. You’ll explore how LEDs work, how to design efficient lighting systems, and how to tackle practical challenges such as thermal management, power supply design, and optical performance.
Beyond illumination, the book opens doors to specialized applications: horticultural lighting for plant growth, infrared and ultraviolet technologies, modern display systems from LCD to MicroLED, and the fascinating world of lasers—from their physics to their use in medicine, industry, and communication. It also connects light engineering to sustainability through solar energy and thermal radiation.
Written with a strong practical focus, this book bridges theory and application. Whether you are an engineer, student, or advanced hobbyist, you’ll gain the tools to turn concepts into working solutions—from selecting components to building complete systems.
If you want to understand light not just as a phenomenon, but as a powerful engineering tool, this book will illuminate the way.
From Theory to Practical Applications in Wireless Energy Transfer and Harvesting
Wireless power transmission has gained significant global interest, particularly with the rise of electric vehicles and the Internet of Things (IoT). It’s a technology that allows the transfer of electricity without physical connections, offering solutions for everything from powering small devices over short distances to long-range energy transmission for more complex systems.
Wireless Power Design provides a balanced mix of theoretical knowledge and practical insights, helping you explore the potential of wireless energy transfer and harvesting technologies. The book presents a series of hands-on projects that cover various aspects of wireless power systems, each accompanied by detailed explanations and parameter listings.
The following five projects guide you through key areas of wireless power:
Project 1: Wireless Powering of Advanced IoT Devices
Project 2: Wireless Powered Devices on the Frontline – The Future and Challenges
Project 3: Wireless Powering of Devices Using Inductive Technology
Project 4: Wireless Power Transmission for IoT Devices
Project 5: Charging Robot Crawler Inside the Pipeline
These projects explore different aspects of wireless power, from inductive charging to wireless energy transmission, offering practical solutions for real-world applications. The book includes projects that use simulation tools like CST Microwave Studio and Keysight ADS for design and analysis, with a focus on practical design considerations and real-world implementation techniques.
Programming with GNU Radio
HackRF is an open-source hardware platform developed by Great Scott Gadgets and serves as a versatile front end for software-defined radio (SDR). With HackRF One and its successor, HackRF Pro, users can develop their own SDR applications, build powerful receivers and transmitters, and tackle demanding RF measurement tasks.
This book provides a practical introduction to the world of SDR. Step by step, the author shows how powerful SDR projects can be implemented with HackRF – from the fundamentals of RF technology to advanced applications using GNU Radio.
In addition to working with SDR Sharp (SDR#), RadioConda, and GNU Radio, the book also covers the fundamentals of modern digital signal processing. Numerous experiments and easy-to-follow practical examples guide readers through topics such as AM, FM, and SSB reception, digital filters, shortwave radio, amateur radio, signal generators, and custom RF projects up to 6 GHz.
Whether you are a maker, radio amateur, electronics enthusiast, or SDR beginner, this book provides solid knowledge, practical applications, and the motivation to creatively explore the possibilities of modern SDR technology.
A Practical Guide to Tube Electronics
Vacuum tubes continue to exert a special fascination. Their long-lasting operation, robustness, and characteristic behavior fundamentally distinguish them from modern semiconductor technology. Despite their age, tubes are by no means merely historical components; they are still used today in audio technology, measurement technology, and especially in hobbyist applications.
This book is aimed at electronics enthusiasts and hobbyists who want to not only learn about and understand vacuum tubes in theory, but also use them in practice. It conveys the fundamentals of tube technology, explains the different designs and designations, shows typical circuits, and addresses power supplies, measurements, and safety-related aspects. The focus is on practical explanations and realistic examples from the workshop. Numerous tips help you avoid typical mistakes, build circuits, and understand tube devices and their construction. Basic knowledge of electronics is assumed.
Vacuum Tubes: A Practical Guide to Tube Electronics offers an accessible and thorough introduction to tube technology – factual, comprehensible, and with a clear focus on practical applications.
A Practical Guide to Tube Electronics
Vacuum tubes continue to exert a special fascination. Their long-lasting operation, robustness, and characteristic behavior fundamentally distinguish them from modern semiconductor technology. Despite their age, tubes are by no means merely historical components; they are still used today in audio technology, measurement technology, and especially in hobbyist applications.
This book is aimed at electronics enthusiasts and hobbyists who want to not only learn about and understand vacuum tubes in theory, but also use them in practice. It conveys the fundamentals of tube technology, explains the different designs and designations, shows typical circuits, and addresses power supplies, measurements, and safety-related aspects. The focus is on practical explanations and realistic examples from the workshop. Numerous tips help you avoid typical mistakes, build circuits, and understand tube devices and their construction. Basic knowledge of electronics is assumed.
Vacuum Tubes: A Practical Guide to Tube Electronics offers an accessible and thorough introduction to tube technology – factual, comprehensible, and with a clear focus on practical applications.
Projects with Arduino Uno & Raspberry Pi with Examples for the MCP2515 CAN Bus Interface Module
This book details the use of the Arduino Uno and the Raspberry Pi 4 in practical CAN bus based projects. Using either the Arduino Uno or the Raspberry Pi with off-the-shelf CAN bus interface modules considerably ease developing, debugging, and testing CAN bus based projects.
This book is written for students, practicing engineers, enthusiasts, and for everyone else wanting to learn more about the CAN bus and its applications. The book assumes that the reader has some knowledge of basic electronics. Knowledge of the C and Python programming languages and programming the Arduino Uno using its IDE and Raspberry Pi will be useful, especially if the reader intends to develop microcontroller-based projects using the CAN bus.
The book should be a useful source of reference material for anyone interested in finding answers to questions such as:
What bus systems are available for the automotive industry?
What are the principles of the CAN bus?
How can I create a physical CAN bus?
What types of frames (or data packets) are available in a CAN bus system?
How can errors be detected in a CAN bus system and how dependable is a CAN bus system?
What types of CAN bus controllers exist?
How do I use the MCP2515 CAN bus controller?
How do I create 2-node Arduino Uno-based CAN bus projects?
How do I create 3-node Arduino Uno-based CAN bus projects?
How do I set the acceptance masks and acceptance filters?
How do I analyze data on the CAN bus?
How do I create 2-node Raspberry Pi-based CAN bus projects?
How do I create 3-node Raspberry Pi-based CAN bus projects?
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by Jean-François Simon
The RC-RICK-868-EV Wireless Modem: A Compelling Addition to Your Workbench
In this review, we're exploring the RC-RICK-868-EV, a specialized evaluation kit by Radiocontrolli designed for their RC-RICK-868 radio modem. This device stands out by employing...
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by Lobna Belarbi
Must-Have Boards, Kits & Tools to Start Your Arduino Journey with Elektor
Whether you're a newcomer eager to explore the world of microcontrollers or an experienced maker seeking to expand your toolkit, Elektor offers a curated selection...