Greetings,

This is my first post here, so maybe a little introduction would be in order. I'm a Computer Engineering Technology student, originally from Norway but now living in Canada, and as a part of my studies I'm required to make a project consisting of both a hardware part and a software part. I've decided on doing a home alarm system, consisting of motion sensors, door detectors and phone alert.

For the past 6 weeks we've been introduced to the 8051/52 world by doing a group project, and I've decided to use the same chip for my final project.

Now I've got a pretty good idea on how to do most things, but the phone part is kind of stomping me. I've been searching for some part numbers to use for DTMF generation but everything I seem to find is obsolete and no longer available. This includes TP5088N, HT-9170A, M-8888-01SM, PCD3312C and the ever so popular MT8880. Now I realize I could probably do a software DTMF generation (and I even found some C code on this very website!) but I would prefer to do it using an MT8880 or similar chip.

Now I've seen quite a few people around here talk about the MT8880 chip, so I'm wondering where are people finding these chips for sale? I've looked at Digikey and Newark (and tried some googling) and can not find it anywhere. The only DTMF chip I could find in stock was the M-8888-01SM, but the minimum purchase quantity is 228 at a few bucks each. That's quite outside my price range.

My knowledge in online electronic stores is rather limited (hence I only checked Digikey and Newark), but does anyone have any tips as to where I might be able to find these chips? Also if there are any alternate suppliers I should know of that ship to Canada, that would be very appriciated as well.

Thanks in advance.