# Transistor Types and Where To Get Electronic Gear

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2010-11-23
- Length: 1h 02m
- Episode: 18
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-11-23-transistor-types-and-where-to-get-electronic-gear
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/the-amp-hour-18-transistor-types-and-where-to-get-electronic-gear/

## Summary

Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the challenges of sourcing obsolete components, noting that companies like Rochester Semiconductor charge high prices for discontinued chips, and explore the viability of buying a fab to replicate old processes. They compare retail electronics stores like J-Car and Altronics in Australia to US retailers like Radio Shack and Fry's, while also listing online suppliers such as Electronic Goldmine and Futurelec. The conversation shifts to the difficulties of contract design work, specifically the 'moving goalposts' problem where client requirements change mid-project, leading Jones to advocate for building one's own product portfolio instead.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-11-23-transistor-types-and-where-to-get-electronic-gear#t=0) Introduction and Multimeter Shoutouts
- [11:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-11-23-transistor-types-and-where-to-get-electronic-gear#t=675) Obsolete Chips and Fab Viability
- [18:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-11-23-transistor-types-and-where-to-get-electronic-gear#t=1083) Retail Electronics Stores: J-Car and Altronics
- [32:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-11-23-transistor-types-and-where-to-get-electronic-gear#t=1962) Online Suppliers and Surplus
- [37:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-11-23-transistor-types-and-where-to-get-electronic-gear#t=2248) Transistor Substitution and Standardization
- [47:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-11-23-transistor-types-and-where-to-get-electronic-gear#t=2832) Contract Design Challenges and Moving Goalposts
- [59:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-11-23-transistor-types-and-where-to-get-electronic-gear#t=3574) Workplace of the Week Segment

## Topics

- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Rochester Semiconductor (company)
- Landstale (company)
- J-Car (company)
- Altronics (company)
- Radio Shack (company)
- Fry's (company)
- Electronic Goldmine (company)
- Futurelec (company)
- BC547 (chip)
- 2N3904 (chip)
- 2N2222 (chip)
- Tektronix DPO4034 (product)
- Rigol (product)
- Adafruit (company)
- X-Tech (product)
- Freetronics (company)
- Arduino (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Spark Gap - Episode 41](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-10-14-the-spark-gap-episode-41) (The Spark Gap)
- [052 - Twitter Is My Lab Notebook](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-10-26-052-twitter-is-my-lab-notebook) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [033 - All Over the Place](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2020-04-27-033-all-over-the-place) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [That SCOOPshow - Season 6, Productronica 2021 - Håvard Korsvoll, CTO at Circular Components](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2021-11-11-that-scoopshow-season-6-productronica-2021-havard-korsvoll-cto-at-circular-compo) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [360: Cats Love It!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-01-29-360-cats-love-it) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2010-11-23-transistor-types-and-where-to-get-electronic-gear. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Amp Hour.