# Secret Squirrel

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2017-10-02
- Length: 1h 11m
- Episode: 362
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-02-secret-squirrel
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/362-secret-squirrel/

## Summary

Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics discusses his new role as a developer advocate, focusing on modular hardware like U-Blocks and the trend of integrating complex functions into single System-in-Package (SIP) modules such as the Octavo OSD335x-SM. Dave Jones of EEV Blog shares his experience prototyping a new multimeter with a South Korean manufacturing partner, detailing the financial risks and supply chain decisions involved in moving from prototype to pilot production. The conversation also covers the resurgence of retro computing standards like PC-104 and the strategic use of crowdfunding for hardware ventures.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-02-secret-squirrel#t=0) Introduction: Chris Gammell and Contextual Electronics
- [3:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-02-secret-squirrel#t=237) Modular Hardware and Sleep Currents in U-Blocks
- [8:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-02-secret-squirrel#t=488) Chip Selection and Sourcing Challenges for Power Supplies
- [14:04](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-02-secret-squirrel#t=844) PC-104 Standard and Retro Embedded Computing
- [27:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-02-secret-squirrel#t=1631) Octavo OSD335x-SM and System-in-Package Technology
- [43:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-02-secret-squirrel#t=2582) Lessons from Pebble and Consumer Hardware Risks
- [51:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-02-secret-squirrel#t=3065) Multimeter Pilot Run and Manufacturing Partnership
- [1:05:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-02-secret-squirrel#t=3940) Product Development Philosophy and Community News

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Contextual Electronics (company)
- EEV Blog (company)
- U-Blocks (product)
- PC-104 (product)
- Octavo (company)
- OSD335x-SM (product)
- Pocket Beagle (product)
- Raspberry Pi (product)
- Pebble (company)
- BioLite (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [322: Learn Assembly Code](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-02-28-322-learn-assembly-code) (Embedded.fm)
- [069 - Canned Cheese and Onion Rings](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2024-04-17-069-canned-cheese-and-onion-rings) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [359: You Can Never Have Too Many Socks (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-11-18-359-you-can-never-have-too-many-socks-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [100: Unintentional Radiator](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-05-06-100-unintentional-radiator) (Embedded.fm)
- [123: Banished from Running Linux](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-10-28-123-banished-from-running-linux) (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/2017-10-02-secret-squirrel. 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.