# EP 371: Space Computers, Spy Phones, and So Long CHU

- Show: [Hackaday Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast)
- Published: 2026-05-29
- Length: 1h 19m
- Episode: 371
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-05-29-ep-371-space-computers-spy-phones-and-so-long-chu
- Listen: https://hackaday.com/2026/05/29/hackaday-podcast-episode-371-space-computers-spy-phones-and-so-long-chu

## Summary

Hosts Tom Nardi and Al Williams discuss the shutdown of the CHU time broadcast station, the potential of using cheap smartphones as Linux servers, and a cycle-accurate 386 clone on FPGA. They also cover a microcontroller-based VPN gateway, the history of WWII spy radios like the S-phone and Joan-Eleanor, and the unexpected vulnerability of modern smartphone cameras to magnets.

## Chapters

- [0:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-05-29-ep-371-space-computers-spy-phones-and-so-long-chu#t=9) Introduction and Mailbag: Keyboards and Seismographs
- [11:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-05-29-ep-371-space-computers-spy-phones-and-so-long-chu#t=663) The Shutdown of CHU Time Broadcasts
- [20:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-05-29-ep-371-space-computers-spy-phones-and-so-long-chu#t=1202) Building Zinc-Air Batteries and Linux on Cheap Phones
- [31:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-05-29-ep-371-space-computers-spy-phones-and-so-long-chu#t=1883) Nan DeMario Z386 FPGA Clone and ESP32 VPN Gateway
- [42:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-05-29-ep-371-space-computers-spy-phones-and-so-long-chu#t=2576) SpaceLab Mitra 125 Computer and Quick Hacks
- [58:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-05-29-ep-371-space-computers-spy-phones-and-so-long-chu#t=3495) Magnets and Smartphone Cameras
- [1:04:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2026-05-29-ep-371-space-computers-spy-phones-and-so-long-chu#t=3843) WWII Spy Tech: S-Phone and Joan-Eleanor

## Topics

- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- CHU (other)
- WWVB (other)
- Zolar Lab (company)
- MotoG Power 2024 (product)
- Termux (other)
- Nan DeMario (other)
- ESP32 (chip)
- Mitra 125 (product)
- SpaceLab (product)
- AP 101S (product)
- IBM (company)
- Ken Sheriff (other)
- Decay Doc (product)
- James Webb Space Telescope (product)
- Chandra Observatory (other)
- Samsung (company)
- S-phone (product)
- Joan-Eleanor (product)
- OSS (company)
- Al Gross (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [A Security Update with Michael Ossmann](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-09-04-a-security-update-with-michael-ossmann) (The Amp Hour)
- [050 - Four Years In](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-08-22-050-four-years-in) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [012 - Cheese vs. SDR](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2018-06-29-012-cheese-vs-sdr) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [The Automation Amish](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-07-10-the-automation-amish) (The Amp Hour)
- [047 - The Sun, The Moon, The Stars](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-05-16-047-the-sun-the-moon-the-stars) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)

## Citing this page

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