# 304: ADC Channel Six

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2019-09-26
- Length: 1h 15m
- Episode: 304
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-26-304-adc-channel-six
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/304-adc-channel-six

## Summary

Gregory Gluszek, who created the OpenSteamController project, and Jeff Keyzer, the former lead electrical engineer at Valve, discuss the reverse engineering and original design of the Steam Controller. They detail how Gluszek used pinkySim and GDB to reverse engineer the firmware without schematics, while Keyzer explains the hardware challenges of alkaline battery management and the design philosophy of making the device unbrickable and open to modification. The conversation covers the technical trade-offs of using AA batteries versus lithium, the role of test points in manufacturing versus development, and the ethical implications of open-sourcing hardware designs.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-26-304-adc-channel-six#t=7) Introduction: Gregory Gluszek and Jeff Keyzer
- [6:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-26-304-adc-channel-six#t=360) Reverse Engineering the Steam Controller with pinkySim
- [11:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-26-304-adc-channel-six#t=712) Test Points and Hardware Accessibility
- [16:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-26-304-adc-channel-six#t=996) Preventing Bricking and Battery Management Challenges
- [24:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-26-304-adc-channel-six#t=1457) Alkaline Battery Complexity and Brownout Detection
- [30:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-26-304-adc-channel-six#t=1805) Valve's Open Design Philosophy and Reverse Engineering
- [37:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-26-304-adc-channel-six#t=2269) The I-Opener Case Study and Open Source Risks
- [44:21](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-26-304-adc-channel-six#t=2661) Risks of Open Sourcing Hardware: Raspberry Pi and Counterfeits
- [53:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-26-304-adc-channel-six#t=3187) Hobbyist vs. Professional Reverse Engineering Approaches
- [1:07:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-09-26-304-adc-channel-six#t=4040) Jeff Keyzer's Career at Valve and MightyOhm

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Valve (company)
- Steam Controller (product)
- OpenSteamController (product)
- pinkySim (tool)
- GDB (tool)
- MightyOhm (company)
- I-Opener (product)
- Raspberry Pi (product)
- Nintendo Switch (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [004 - 0x0FF the Rails](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2017-10-13-004-0x0ff-the-rails) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [058 - Technically Met the Specs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2022-06-15-058-technically-met-the-specs) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [Stories from Teardown 2019](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-07-08-stories-from-teardown-2019) (The Amp Hour)
- [Ep 353: Fantastic Peripherals, Fake or Not Fake Picos, and Everything on the Steam Deck](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-01-16-ep-353-fantastic-peripherals-fake-or-not-fake-picos-and-everything-on-the-steam) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep062: Tripping Batteries, Ventilator Design, Stinky Prints, and Simon Says Servos](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-04-10-ep062-tripping-batteries-ventilator-design-stinky-prints-and-simon-says-servos) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

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