# PCBs, Tektronix & Ham Radio - Habitual Handicraft Hangups

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2013-05-01
- Length: 1h 18m
- Episode: 143
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-01-pcbs-tektronix-ham-radio-habitual-handicraft-hangups
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/the-amp-hour-143-habitual-handicraft-hangups/

## Summary

Hosts Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the evolution of electronics manufacturing, contrasting the low-cost, manual labor of the past with modern automation and the ethical implications of sourcing. They analyze why through-hole technology persists due to cost and kit-making practicalities, while also touching on the career risks of being pigeonholed in specific engineering niches. The conversation covers specific tools like Tektronix equipment, the Blink1 device, and emerging technologies like MEMS-based lab-on-a-chip diagnostics.

## Chapters

- [1:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-01-pcbs-tektronix-ham-radio-habitual-handicraft-hangups#t=68) Introduction and Retro Computer Ads
- [5:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-01-pcbs-tektronix-ham-radio-habitual-handicraft-hangups#t=303) PCB Manufacturing Evolution and Talking Electronics
- [12:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-01-pcbs-tektronix-ham-radio-habitual-handicraft-hangups#t=778) Ifttt.com and IoT Automation Tools
- [19:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-01-pcbs-tektronix-ham-radio-habitual-handicraft-hangups#t=1140) Ethical Sourcing and Factory Collapse
- [25:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-01-pcbs-tektronix-ham-radio-habitual-handicraft-hangups#t=1519) Through-Hole vs. SMD and Automation
- [33:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-01-pcbs-tektronix-ham-radio-habitual-handicraft-hangups#t=2017) Pricing, Kits, and Unit Economics
- [41:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-01-pcbs-tektronix-ham-radio-habitual-handicraft-hangups#t=2464) Patents, Prior Art, and Legal Risks
- [46:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-01-pcbs-tektronix-ham-radio-habitual-handicraft-hangups#t=2792) Shonky Products and Ham Radio
- [54:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-01-pcbs-tektronix-ham-radio-habitual-handicraft-hangups#t=3298) Engineering Career Pigeonholing
- [1:11:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2013-05-01-pcbs-tektronix-ham-radio-habitual-handicraft-hangups#t=4296) Lab-on-a-Chip and Bioelectronics

## Topics

- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [Medical & health devices](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/medical-devices)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- ViaDesigner (tool)
- Tektronix (company)
- Talking Electronics (company)
- Colin Mitchell (other)
- Ifttt.com (other)
- Blink1 (product)
- Belkin WeMo (product)
- Arduino (other)
- Raspberry Pi (product)
- Alibaba (other)
- DigiKey (other)
- Mouser (other)
- Newark (other)
- 114 (other)
- Evil Mad Scientist Labs (company)
- Wendell (other)
- Zach Hoken-Smith (other)
- Bot Queue (product)
- Radblock (product)
- Alan Wolke (other)
- Agile DMM (product)
- X-TEC (product)
- Hamvention (other)
- Icon (other)
- Monster (other)
- Node.js (other)
- Python (other)
- Mr. Money Mustache (other)
- MEMS (other)
- DARPA (other)
- CNC (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [PCB Assembly and Design for Manufacturing with Duane Benson of Screaming Circuits](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2020-03-03-pcb-assembly-and-design-for-manufacturing-with-duane-benson-of-screaming-circuit) (Predictable Designs Podcast)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-09-24-the-spark-gap-episode-15) (The Spark Gap)
- [464: Please Make This Monster Look Scary](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2023-11-16-464-please-make-this-monster-look-scary) (Embedded.fm)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-09-02-the-spark-gap-episode-13) (The Spark Gap)
- [Making It #012: Handmade?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2015-03-12-making-it-012-handmade) (Making It)

## Citing this page

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