# Photon Rich, Cash Poor

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2016-10-14
- Length: 1h 20m
- Episode: 319
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-10-14-photon-rich-cash-poor
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/319-photon-rich-cash-poor/

## Summary

Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss a Keysight U1272A multimeter that suffers from severe susceptibility to conducted and radiated EM fields, a flaw inherent to its design that bypassed standard compliance testing. They also examine the Allwinner R8 processor and the new Chip Pro module, noting how the latter's System-on-Module design with integrated DDR3 makes previously inaccessible consumer chips viable for small-batch production. Finally, they critique the Wi-Fi kettle's usability failures and Solar Roadways' non-functional public installation, attributing these to marketing-driven product decisions rather than engineering value.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-10-14-photon-rich-cash-poor#t=0) Introduction: Dave Jones and Chris Gammell
- [1:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-10-14-photon-rich-cash-poor#t=69) Keysight U1272A Multimeter EM Susceptibility
- [11:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-10-14-photon-rich-cash-poor#t=694) Orange Pi Cluster and ENC28J60 Ethernet via SPI
- [22:16](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-10-14-photon-rich-cash-poor#t=1336) Allwinner R8 and Chip Pro Module Analysis
- [32:18](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-10-14-photon-rich-cash-poor#t=1938) Pick-and-Place Machine Feeders and Macrofab
- [40:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-10-14-photon-rich-cash-poor#t=2425) Open Hardware Summit Licensing and Trademarks
- [50:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-10-14-photon-rich-cash-poor#t=3003) Wi-Fi Kettle Usability Failures
- [1:02:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-10-14-photon-rich-cash-poor#t=3772) Solar Roadways Installation Debacle
- [1:07:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2016-10-14-photon-rich-cash-poor#t=4054) 3D Robotics Pivot and Space Race Investment

## Topics

- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Intellectual property](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/intellectual-property)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Keysight (company)
- U1272A (product)
- Allwinner (company)
- Chip Pro (product)
- R8 (chip)
- ENC28J60 (chip)
- Orange Pi (product)
- Raspberry Pi Zero (product)
- Macrofab (company)
- Solar Roadways (product)
- 3D Robotics (company)
- Boeing (company)
- SpaceX (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [480: Surprises Early In The Game](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-06-27-480-surprises-early-in-the-game) (Embedded.fm)
- [182: Sorry Little Diodes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-01-04-182-sorry-little-diodes) (Embedded.fm)
- [Ep 313: Capacitor Plague, Wireless Power, and Tiny Everything](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-03-21-ep-313-capacitor-plague-wireless-power-and-tiny-everything) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep 313: Capacitor Plague, Wireless Power, and Tiny Everything](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2025-03-21-ep-313-capacitor-plague-wireless-power-and-tiny-everything-b56cece1) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [154: Physics Is a Big Pain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-02-154-physics-is-a-big-pain) (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/2016-10-14-photon-rich-cash-poor. 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.