Hardware Podcasts

An Interview with Ron Quan - Tenacious Transistor Teacher

The Amp Hour · 19 Feb 2013 · 1h 31m · Episode 133

What this episode covers

Ron Kwan, author of 'Build Your Own Transistor Radios' published by McGraw-Hill, discusses his career designing analog video systems at Ampex and Sony, including early HDTV and CRT monitor linearization patents. He details the transition from analog to digital video, explaining the technical challenges of compression algorithms like discrete cosine transforms and the evolution of cable scrambling technologies at Macrovision. The conversation also covers his book's pedagogical approach, which uses practical breadboarding of 26 prototypes to teach complex transistor theory, alongside his analysis of audio measurement techniques and speaker cable physics.

Most relevant to

established companies

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
McGraw-Hill, Tab, Ampex, Sony, Macrovision, Monster Cable
Products
Build Your Own Transistor Radios
Chips
741, CA3086, CA3054, 3127
Tools
Tektronix 465, TDS 210, Spectran, ORCAD

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Being an Engineer · 51m

    Ray Kampmeier | The Humble Transistor

    Ray Kampmeier, founder of The Humble Transistor, discusses his journey from a curious student to an electrical engineering consultant and product developer. He explains the fundamental mechanics of the transistor, the history of solid-state switching at Bell Labs, and the complex yield management strategies used by semiconductor manufacturers like Intel and AMD. Kampmeier also shares advice for engineering students on the value of passion projects and internships, and reflects on the importance of professional networks when solving difficult technical problems.

    Careers & educationChips, FPGAs & semiconductors
    9 chapters

  • Hackaday Podcast · 43m

    Ep 242: Mechanical Math, KaboomBox, and Racing the Beam

    Editors Elliot Williams and Kristina Panos discuss a range of hardware hacks, including Ken Shirriff’s teardown of a Bendix mechanical air data computer and Cameron Coward’s RFID-enabled 'Kaboombox' music player. They also cover Humphrey Whittington’s 3D printing on a spinning rod, Denki Otaku’s factory tour of Nippon Chemicon capacitors, and Julian Schiffer’s deep dive into 'racing the beam' graphics techniques for retro consoles. The episode concludes with Kristina Panos wrapping up her series on USPS stamp technology.

    Mechanical engineeringPrototyping & iteration
    7 chapters

  • Hackaday Podcast · 58m

    Ep057: Dismantled LCD Panels, Unexpected Dynamometer, a Flappy POV, and Dastardly Encryption

    Hackaday editors Mike Szczys and Elliot Williams discuss several hardware hacks, including Elliot's Belgrade FPGA workshop shield which uses a novel analog mixing technique for digital signals, and a Tetris clone on an Arduino Nano that generates analog video and audio without a DAC. They also cover an iMac teardown where the backlight was removed to create a transparent display art piece, and a complex DIY dynamometer built from a motor and kitchen scale to measure torque. The episode concludes with a discussion on the Crypto AG espionage saga and the utility of modern scientific calculators like the HP Prime.

    PCB design & layoutEmbedded firmware
    10 chapters

  • Embedded.fm · 1h 08m

    76: Entropy Is for Wimps

    Ron Sparks (AG5RS), a veteran electrical engineer and ham radio operator, discusses the convergence of the maker movement and amateur radio, highlighting projects like the South Texas Balloon Launch Team and the Pecan Pico. He details the technical challenges of building ultra-compact RF devices for high-altitude balloons and the importance of analog signals for digital tracking. Sparks also reflects on his career in safety management and troubleshooting, offering advice on navigating ageism in engineering and finding community in technical hobbies.

    Wireless & RFCareers & education
    8 chapters

  • Embedded.fm · 59m

    376: Left Half of My Brain Is Digital

    David Comer, a retired engineer with a career spanning from the Galileo mission to the semiconductor industry, discusses his journey from early electronics hobbyist to chip designer at Texas Instruments and Signetics. He reflects on the evolution of embedded systems, comparing legacy architectures like the 8051 and 4-bit microcontrollers to modern ARM and FPGA technologies, while emphasizing the importance of continuous learning and professional resilience. Comer shares anecdotes about working on the Galileo probe's memory control system, the impact of alpha particles on space electronics, and the shifting landscape of major tech companies like HP and Intel.

    Careers & educationMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    10 chapters

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Amp Hour. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.