Getting Started with Electronic Projects by Bill Pretty

Build thrilling and intricate electronic projects using LM555, ZigBee, and BeagleBone
About This Book
Get acquainted with fundamental concepts such as tools and circuits required for the projects
Develop stunning cost-effective projects and build your own range of designs including flashlights, beacons, motion alarms, and wireless network alarm sensors using the LM555 timer, ZigBee, and BeagleBone
A practical guide to developing handy electronic projects with lots of tips, tricks, and screenshots

Who This Book Is For
This book is aimed at hobbyists with basic knowledge of electronics circuits. Whether you are a novice electronics project builder, a ham radio enthusiast, or a BeagleBone tinkerer, you will love this book.

What You Will Learn
Build an infrared beacon with the LM555 timer for someone interested in night vision
Develop a motion detector using a mercury switch-activated car alarm sensor
Redesign your PC sound card into a real oscilloscope and signal generator
Build an RF power meter with some RF assembly techniques and programming skills
Write Visual Basic software that will poll the power meter we created for readings and calculate antenna gain
Use several ZigBee devices and a BeagleBone to create a wireless network of alarm sensors
In Detail
With Getting Started with Electronic Projects, you will create several popular electronic security projects. This practical and accessible guide will show you more than just building handy and useful electronic security projects.

Beginning with what the hams call "DC to Daylight," you will learn how to build everything from an IR Beacon to an RF power meter and a ZigBee point-to-point network. All you need to get started is a few simple tools and ordinary soldering skills.

The projects eventually become more complex when you start building an infrared flashlight using materials from a dollar store. Here you start with a IR flashing beacon and a motion sensitive alarm with a really cool on/off switch, then you move on to a black box project that will turn your sound card into an oscilloscope and eventually a ZigBee-based alarm system.