# An Interview with Robert Feranec

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2016-09-23
- Length: 1h 29m
- Episode: 316
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-09-23-an-interview-with-robert-feranec
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/316-an-interview-with-robert-feranec/

## Summary

Robert Feranec of Fedevel Academy discusses his transition from corporate electronics design to freelancing and finally to creating online courses. He details the complexities of designing high-layer-count boards like the IMX6 Rex and OpenRex, the limitations of auto-routers in EDA tools like Altium, and the challenges of building a sustainable business model for open-source hardware. Feranec also explains his technical approach to selling digital content via a custom WordPress backend and Amazon S3, while Chris Gammell proposes a nuanced, tiered logo system to clarify open-source hardware compliance.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-09-23-an-interview-with-robert-feranec#t=0) Introduction and Career Background
- [12:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-09-23-an-interview-with-robert-feranec#t=724) Transition from Freelancing to Courses
- [27:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-09-23-an-interview-with-robert-feranec#t=1626) Complex PCB Design and Tooling
- [41:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-09-23-an-interview-with-robert-feranec#t=2502) Open Source Hardware and the OpenRex Board
- [1:03:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-09-23-an-interview-with-robert-feranec#t=3790) Open Source Hardware Logo Debate
- [1:20:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-09-23-an-interview-with-robert-feranec#t=4824) Business Model and Content Delivery

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)
- [Creator business](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/creator-business)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Fedevel Academy (company)
- Altium (tool)
- IMX6 Rex (product)
- OpenRex (product)
- Arduino (product)
- Raspberry Pi (product)
- OrCAD (tool)
- CircuitStudio (tool)
- CircuitMaker (tool)
- WordPress (tool)
- Amazon S3 (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [35: All These Different Reasons Why You Might Want to Do Something](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2014-01-15-35-all-these-different-reasons-why-you-might-want-to-do-something) (Embedded.fm)
- [171: Perfectly Good Being Square and Green](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-10-12-171-perfectly-good-being-square-and-green) (Embedded.fm)
- [123: Banished from Running Linux](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-10-28-123-banished-from-running-linux) (Embedded.fm)
- [92: Everybody Behave, Please](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-03-11-92-everybody-behave-please) (Embedded.fm)
- [293: Skateboard Tricks (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-12-23-293-skateboard-tricks-repeat) (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/2016-09-23-an-interview-with-robert-feranec. 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.