# Interview with Alan Wolke - Undulating Utensil Utility

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2012-10-15
- Length: 1h 27m
- Episode: 117
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-15-interview-with-alan-wolke-undulating-utensil-utility
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/theamphour-117-undulating-utensil-utility/

## Summary

Alan Wolke, a Field Application Engineer at Tektronix and ham radio operator, details his career path from repairing TVs in the late 1970s to working at optical startups like Lytel and Multilink, and finally to his current role supporting RF and high-speed design. He discusses the technical challenges of fiber optic transceivers, hard disk drive read channels, and the evolution of oscilloscope technology from analog to modern mixed-domain instruments. Wolke emphasizes the importance of understanding tool limitations, such as noise bandwidth in scopes and the hidden complexities of simulation software, while sharing anecdotes about debugging EMI issues and his hands-on approach to creating educational YouTube content.

## Chapters

- [0:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-15-interview-with-alan-wolke-undulating-utensil-utility#t=13) Introduction: Alan Wolke and Tektronix
- [1:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-15-interview-with-alan-wolke-undulating-utensil-utility#t=83) Early Career: TV Repair and High School Electronics
- [5:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-15-interview-with-alan-wolke-undulating-utensil-utility#t=340) Amateur Radio and Camp Evans History
- [11:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-15-interview-with-alan-wolke-undulating-utensil-utility#t=660) Tektronix FAE Role and Pre/Post-Sales Support
- [16:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-15-interview-with-alan-wolke-undulating-utensil-utility#t=1008) Optical Startups: Lytel, AMP, and Multilink
- [24:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-15-interview-with-alan-wolke-undulating-utensil-utility#t=1497) Hard Disk Drive Read Channels and Servo Systems
- [38:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-15-interview-with-alan-wolke-undulating-utensil-utility#t=2282) Debugging EMI and Troubleshooting Techniques
- [47:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-15-interview-with-alan-wolke-undulating-utensil-utility#t=2848) Home Lab: Analog Oscilloscopes and YouTube Content
- [56:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-15-interview-with-alan-wolke-undulating-utensil-utility#t=3417) Future of Oscilloscopes and Coherent Optical Comms
- [1:04:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-10-15-interview-with-alan-wolke-undulating-utensil-utility#t=3882) Advice for Beginners: Analog Fundamentals vs. Digital

## Topics

- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Test & measurement](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/test-and-measurement)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Tektronix (company)
- Lytel (company)
- AMP (company)
- Multilink (company)
- Vitesse Semiconductor (company)
- GE (company)
- Allen B. Dumont (other)
- Tektronix 465 (product)
- Tektronix 485 (product)
- Tektronix 2445 (product)
- Tektronix 2465 (product)
- Tektronix 2467 (product)
- Motorola 10116 (chip)
- LTSpice (tool)
- dorkage.com (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [S4E28 Kevin Distelhurst | Semiconductors – What They Are & How They’re Manufactured](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2023-07-28-s4e28-kevin-distelhurst-semiconductors-what-they-are-how-theyre-manufactured) (Being an Engineer)
- [200: Oops](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-05-17-200-oops) (Embedded.fm)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 9](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-08-12-the-spark-gap-episode-9) (The Spark Gap)
- [197: Smell the Transistor](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-04-26-197-smell-the-transistor) (Embedded.fm)
- [379: Monstrous Cable Corporation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-07-08-379-monstrous-cable-corporation) (Embedded.fm)

## Citing this page

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