# Ep103: Antennas for Everyone, a Clock Made of Chains, Magic Eye Tubes, and a Little Google Bashing

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2021-01-29
- Length: 48m
- Episode: 103
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-29-ep103-antennas-for-everyone-a-clock-made-of-chains-magic-eye-tubes-and-a-little
- Listen: https://hackaday.libsyn.com/ep-103-antennas-for-everyone-a-clock-made-of-chains-magic-eye-tubes-and-a-little-google-bashing

## Summary

Hackaday editors Mike Szczys and Elliot Williams discuss a variety of hardware hacks, including optimizing NRF24L01+ wireless modules by tuning PCB antennas and building simple dipole or ground plane antennas using tools like a Vector Network Analyzer. They highlight Ben Krasnow’s mouth-controlled guitar pedal, which uses a ramp mechanism and UV-cured adhesive, and Al Williams’ exploration of Magic Eye vacuum tubes as vintage voltmeters. The episode also covers Eka Grot Singh Kalsi’s 3D-printed chain clock, the musical instruments of the band Electronico's Fantasticos, and a retrospective on the Concorde's engineering and economics.

## Chapters

- [0:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-29-ep103-antennas-for-everyone-a-clock-made-of-chains-magic-eye-tubes-and-a-little#t=3) Introduction: Google's Project Loon and Chromium Controversy
- [6:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-29-ep103-antennas-for-everyone-a-clock-made-of-chains-magic-eye-tubes-and-a-little#t=398) Optimizing NRF24L01+ Modules and Simple Antenna Design
- [13:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-29-ep103-antennas-for-everyone-a-clock-made-of-chains-magic-eye-tubes-and-a-little#t=817) Ben Krasnow's Mouth-Controlled Guitar Pedal and UV Adhesives
- [19:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-29-ep103-antennas-for-everyone-a-clock-made-of-chains-magic-eye-tubes-and-a-little#t=1189) Magic Eye Vacuum Tubes and Spectrum Analyzers
- [24:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-29-ep103-antennas-for-everyone-a-clock-made-of-chains-magic-eye-tubes-and-a-little#t=1492) Eka Grot Singh Kalsi's 3D-Printed Chain Clock
- [28:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-29-ep103-antennas-for-everyone-a-clock-made-of-chains-magic-eye-tubes-and-a-little#t=1692) Electronico's Fantasticos Musical Instruments
- [31:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-29-ep103-antennas-for-everyone-a-clock-made-of-chains-magic-eye-tubes-and-a-little#t=1904) Quick Hacks: Raspberry Pi Repair and Pattern Projectors
- [37:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-29-ep103-antennas-for-everyone-a-clock-made-of-chains-magic-eye-tubes-and-a-little#t=2220) Concorde Retrospective and Cable Mechanism Math

## Topics

- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- NRF24L01+ (chip)
- Project Loon (product)
- Chromium (other)
- Starlink (product)
- Vector Network Analyzer (tool)
- Magic Eye Tube (other)
- Concorde (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [314: Why Are Wings Needed in Space?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2019-12-20-314-why-are-wings-needed-in-space) (Embedded.fm)
- [Discovering Cursed Connectors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2023-06-19-discovering-cursed-connectors) (The Amp Hour)
- [Space Difficulties and Lost Heroes - Wanzing Workshop Whemmle](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2014-11-06-space-difficulties-and-lost-heroes-wanzing-workshop-whemmle) (The Amp Hour)
- [314: Why Are Wings Needed in Space? (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-07-07-314-why-are-wings-needed-in-space-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [474: The Doublemint Gum Remote Control](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2025-03-07-474-the-doublemint-gum-remote-control) (Making It)

## Citing this page

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