# 25: Thunderdome for Antennas

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2013-10-30
- Length: 51m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-30-25-thunderdome-for-antennas
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/mes-ep25-mp3

## Summary

Jen Costillo, founder of a hardware startup, discusses the challenges of moving from prototyping to manufacturing a tiny wireless consumer device with three antennas. She details the 'garbage in, garbage out' risks of working with contract manufacturers, specifically focusing on the difficulties of antenna integration, conductive epoxy application, and soldering large ground planes. Costillo also explains the new product development stages (EVT, DVT, PVT) and the critical importance of rigorous manufacturing test coverage to avoid costly recalls.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-30-25-thunderdome-for-antennas#t=6) Startup Life and Manufacturing Basics
- [2:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-30-25-thunderdome-for-antennas#t=170) Antenna Design and Enclosure Constraints
- [6:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-30-25-thunderdome-for-antennas#t=378) Conductive Epoxy and Soldering Challenges
- [12:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-30-25-thunderdome-for-antennas#t=726) Workspace Solutions: Hacker Dojo and GPS Boosters
- [24:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-30-25-thunderdome-for-antennas#t=1468) First Article Testing and Verification
- [34:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-30-25-thunderdome-for-antennas#t=2061) New Product Development Stages: EVT, DVT, PVT
- [40:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-30-25-thunderdome-for-antennas#t=2422) Manufacturing Test Strategy and Documentation

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Quality & yield](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/quality-and-yield)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Hacker Dojo (other)
- MakerBot (tool)
- AMScope (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Product Design and Manufacturing with Nick Frank of Knectiv](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-02-02-product-design-and-manufacturing-with-nick-frank-of-knectiv) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [DeepDive 1-on-1 Series: MAPPING THE ROUTE - Path to the Summit (20m32s)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/npi-sherpa/2026-02-25-deepdive-1-on-1-series-mapping-the-route-path-to-the-summit-20m32s) (NPI Sherpa)
- [Manufacturing By Wire And Skipping Testing - Calefacient Cuculine Cash](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-01-29-manufacturing-by-wire-and-skipping-testing-calefacient-cuculine-cash) (The Amp Hour)
- [49: Landlocked Jetskis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/thoroughly-considered/2019-03-31-49-landlocked-jetskis) (Thoroughly Considered)
- [Inspirations and Aspirations - Recanting Rocket Rationale](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-06-26-inspirations-and-aspirations-recanting-rocket-rationale) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-10-30-25-thunderdome-for-antennas. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.