# Interconnectorama

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2015-12-11
- Length: 1h 09m
- Episode: 277
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-11-interconnectorama
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/277-interconnectorama/

## Summary

Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics and Dave Jones of EEVblog discuss the complexities of board-to-board interconnects, with Jones advocating for direct headers or Samtech connectors to avoid custom cabling hassles. They review the release of KiCad 4.0, noting its stability and community growth, while contrasting it with the high cost of Altium. The conversation also covers industry consolidation, such as Microsemi's acquisition of PMC Sierra, and the rising cost of labor in China driving automation.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-11-interconnectorama#t=0) Introduction and Show Housekeeping
- [5:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-11-interconnectorama#t=343) Australian Tech Policy and Atlassian
- [10:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-11-interconnectorama#t=648) Power Supply Design and Noise
- [13:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-11-interconnectorama#t=837) Shonky Products: Stern and Pedal Generator
- [19:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-11-interconnectorama#t=1192) KiCad 4.0 Release and PCB Art
- [27:43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-11-interconnectorama#t=1663) Semiconductor Mergers and FPGA Bitstreams
- [35:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-11-interconnectorama#t=2126) Educational Kits and Subscription Boxes
- [38:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-11-interconnectorama#t=2286) Shipping Logistics and Costs
- [43:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-11-interconnectorama#t=2608) Interconnect Strategies: Cabling vs. Headers
- [59:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2015-12-11-interconnectorama#t=3556) ARM1 Gate Level Simulation

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Analog & power electronics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/analog-and-power-electronics)
- [Factory operations & automation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/factory-operations)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Contextual Electronics (company)
- EEVblog (company)
- KiCad (tool)
- Altium (tool)
- Microsemi (company)
- PMC Sierra (company)
- Skyworks (company)
- Actel (company)
- iCE40 (chip)
- Lattice (company)
- Samtech (other)
- Grove (product)
- Seeed Studio (company)
- ARM1 (chip)
- visual6502.org (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [20: Soldered Together By Monkeys](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-09-26-20-soldered-together-by-monkeys) (Embedded.fm)
- [322: Learn Assembly Code](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-02-28-322-learn-assembly-code) (Embedded.fm)
- [The Power of Proto Boards!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2023-01-17-the-power-of-proto-boards) (Oxide and Friends)
- [EMS@C-Level 2022 Season, episode 10 - Greg Papandrew of PCB Buying Expert](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2022-08-29-ems-c-level-2022-season-episode-10-greg-papandrew-of-pcb-buying-expert) (EMS@C-LEVEL)
- [Integrating Hardware and Software Teams](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/oxide-and-friends/2022-07-12-integrating-hardware-and-software-teams) (Oxide and Friends)

## 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/2015-12-11-interconnectorama. 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.