Hardware Podcasts

Ep 264: Cheap Minimills, 65-in-1 Electronics, and Time on Moon

Hackaday Podcast · 29 Mar 2024 · 1h 03m · Episode 264

What this episode covers

Hosts Elliot Williams and Dan Maloney discuss a range of hardware hacks, including a modern recreation of the RadioShack 65-in-1 electronics kit by Tom Cohen, a deep dive into the analog gray zones of FPGAs by Alex Lau, and a DIY magnetic charging adapter for a mobility scooter by Nicholas Frost. They also cover a MicroPython driver for E Ink displays that achieves 32 gray levels, the history of US color TV compatibility, and the challenges of timekeeping on the Moon.

Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

Topics

Mentioned

Products
Flipper Zero, RadioShack 65-in-1, Hardy Marquis
Chips
UC8151
Tools
Micro Python
Also
NTSC, UTC

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 47m

    Timing is Everything

    Dave Jones and Chris Gammell host a live Q&A for their 555th episode, discussing the history and engineering of the 555 timer, the safety constraints preventing rechargeable multimeters, and the PCB manufacturing economics of ground pours. Gammell recounts his time at Altium, detailing the failed 'NanoBoard' FPGA development platform and the company's strategic pivot away from hardware. The conversation also covers the challenges of home energy storage, the viability of hydrogen vehicles versus EVs, and the professional market dynamics between Altium and KiCad.

    Microcontrollers & dev platformsTest & measurement
    8 chapters

  • The Electromaker Show · 41m

    MNT Pocket Reform, Apple E-Ink display, Pi Pico Midi Step Sequencer, and more!

    The host of The Electromaker Show reviews the August Electromaker of the Month winners, including a QR code access system by SwAWEC 13, a smoke detection project by Blatz 01 using Nordic Semiconductor kits, and a light-based audio transmission project by Yeshvanth M. He also discusses the MNT Pocket Reform, a modular open-source mini laptop, and GlowStich LEDs, which are sewing-machine-compatible conductive strips for wearable tech. Additionally, the episode covers Femto, an ultra-compact RP2040 development board, and a 3D-printed electronic guitar built with multiple ESP32 microcontrollers.

    Prototyping & iterationMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    1 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 11m

    Apple HQ and Vintage Arcade Games - The Mothership Manifesto

    Dave Jones and Jeff Kaiser discuss the passing of legendary analog designer Jim Williams and the upcoming third edition of The Art of Electronics by Wyn Hill. They explore the use of FPGAs to recreate vintage arcade hardware, specifically mentioning the Jammer board and FPGA Arcade, contrasting this with software emulation. The hosts also analyze the new Apple 'Mothership' headquarters, Agilent's responsive handling of a firmware bug in their U1272A multimeter, and the economic and technical arguments for retaining 8-bit microcontrollers over 32-bit ARM architectures.

    PCB design & layoutMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    9 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 18m

    The Automation Amish

    Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the failure of TI's 80 GHz radar eval kit, the shutdown of Intel's IoT dev boards (Galileo, Edison), and the insolvency of Jerry Morris's company Cast AR. They also cover the teardown of the Batteriser chip, the history of the 555 timer, and the enduring popularity of the SparkFun 130-in-1 electronics kit.

    Chips, FPGAs & semiconductorsGrowth, exits & acquisitions
    10 chapters

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 42m

    181: Work on It for Ten Years

    Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics joins the hosts of Embedded.fm and The Amp Hour for a crossover holiday episode discussing expertise, prototyping tools, and industry trends. The conversation covers the limitations of MicroPython on custom hardware, the value of analog circuit design, and the importance of writing to clarify technical thinking. They also share personal updates on learning calculus, using VR for exercise, and the future of solar energy and automation.

    Careers & educationPrototyping & iteration
    9 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.