Hardware Podcasts

Ep096: Diaphragm Engine, DIY Dish Washer, Forgotten Soviet Computers, and a Starlink Teardown

Hackaday Podcast · 4 Dec 2020 · 45m · Episode 96

What this episode covers

Hackaday editors Mike Szczys and Elliot Williams discuss a diaphragm air engine by Tom Stanton, a Starlink antenna teardown by Kenneth Kiter, and a DIY dishwasher built by Billy. They also cover the 'Mayhem' firmware for the HackRF PortaPack, data exfiltration via Ethernet modulation by Jasek, and the discovery of a forgotten Soviet computer lab. The episode concludes with commentary on Amazon Sidewalk's privacy implications and AI image enhancement.

Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
SpaceX
Products
Starlink, HackRF PortaPack, Amazon Sidewalk
Also
Tom Stanton, Mayhem, Jasek, Arecibo Observatory

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast · 1h 12m

    056 - Listening to Jupiter

    Oleg Kutkov, a reverse engineer from Kyiv, details his work reverse engineering SpaceX Starlink terminals and satellites, explaining how he bypassed security to access the underlying Linux kernel and custom 'SpaceX Launcher' software. He discusses the technical challenges of using a HackRF supercluster to monitor Starlink beacons, specifically citing phase noise issues, and describes his Allsky Camera project which was repurposed for medical research. Kutkov also covers his Tesla LTE modem replacement and the use of tools like Saleae logic analyzers and IDA Pro in his hardware hacking process.

    PCB design & layoutWireless & RF
    8 chapters

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 13m

    182: Sorry Little Diodes

    Hosts Elecia White and Chris Svec discuss a variety of embedded systems topics, including the use of the RTL-SDR dongle for software-defined radio and the challenges of low-quality Chinese Ham radios. They analyze the industry's need to 'grow up' regarding security and ethics, citing the ESA Schiaparelli lander failure as an example of integration testing gaps. The conversation also covers the utility of Compiler Explorer (Godbolt.org) for comparing assembly output and addresses the prevalence of imposter syndrome among engineers.

    Microcontrollers & dev platformsSecurity & privacy
    6 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 15m

    Space Difficulties and Lost Heroes - Wanzing Workshop Whemmle

    Hosts Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss the recent Antares rocket explosion, the Hackaday Prize space trip controversy, and the passing of Tom Maglioli from Car Talk. They also cover U-beam's wireless charging technology, Dr. Greg Shaver's ultrasound chip startup, and DIY projects including a Tony Stark Halloween costume and reflow oven modifications.

    Direct-to-consumer & e-commerceChips, FPGAs & semiconductors
    10 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 14m

    Pneumatic Tubes, Straight To The Home

    Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss recent tech hype, including debunking viral claims about the 'Water Cube' dehumidifier and beta-voltaic 'nuclear diamond' batteries. They cover the merger of Evil Mad Scientist and Bantam Tools, a side-channel security vulnerability affecting ESP32 microcontrollers, and the acquisition of a used TVM pick-and-place machine. The conversation also touches on power grid issues, CAD software choices like Fusion 360 and Onshape, and the failure of solar roadways.

    Debugging & failure analysisMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    8 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 05m

    Optimization Beast

    Hosts Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss a sophisticated impersonation scam targeting Dave, the passing of analog legend Barry Gilbert, and the logistics of moving labs. They announce KiCon 2020 at CERN, analyze the Starlink satellite network's latency and orbital debris issues, and review the Fairchild FSBB20 IGBT module, detailing its unique staggered pin package for high-voltage isolation. The episode concludes with a discussion on engineering productivity, task switching, and firmware debugging challenges.

    PCB design & layoutMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    7 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by Hackaday Podcast. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.