# The Endless Y2K

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2017-10-23
- Length: 1h 15m
- Episode: 364
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-23-the-endless-y2k
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/364-the-endless-y2k/

## Summary

Dave Jones of EEVblog discusses the final stages of his 121 GW multimeter, specifically the decision to use an SD card for firmware updates instead of Bluetooth due to reliability and bootloader complexity. Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics shares his experience hand-assembling 0402 components and advocates for KiCad's OpenGL rendering mode for PCB design. The hosts also debate the industry's reliance on always-connected IoT devices, citing the WPA2 vulnerability and Tesla's Powerwall, before touching on CircuitPython and the future of embedded development.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-23-the-endless-y2k#t=0) Introduction and EEVblog Meetup
- [7:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-23-the-endless-y2k#t=478) Multimeter Firmware and Bootloader Design
- [14:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-23-the-endless-y2k#t=872) PCB Assembly and Pick-and-Place Economics
- [29:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-23-the-endless-y2k#t=1782) KiCad, Altium, and EDA Tool Comparison
- [42:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-23-the-endless-y2k#t=2542) WPA2 Vulnerability and IoT Security
- [59:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-23-the-endless-y2k#t=3554) Power Supply UI and Case Selection
- [1:07:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2017-10-23-the-endless-y2k#t=4075) Real-time Translation and CircuitPython

## Topics

- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Scaling production](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/scaling-production)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- EEVblog (company)
- Contextual Electronics (company)
- KiCad (tool)
- Altium Designer (tool)
- CircuitStudio (tool)
- Macrofab (company)
- Tesla Powerwall (product)
- CircuitPython (tool)
- MicroPython (tool)
- WPA2 (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Spark Gap - Episode 8](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-08-05-the-spark-gap-episode-8) (The Spark Gap)
- [272: Stick 'Em on Whales](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-12-28-272-stick-em-on-whales) (Embedded.fm)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-05-06-the-spark-gap-episode-32) (The Spark Gap)
- [390: Irresponsible At the Time](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-10-21-390-irresponsible-at-the-time) (Embedded.fm)
- [#019: END-OF-YEAR CELEBRATION: Moments You Loved, Stories You Missed, and 2026 Predictions You Need](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/coredump-sessions/2025-12-11-019-end-of-year-celebration-moments-you-loved-stories-you-missed-and-2026-predic) (Coredump Sessions)

## 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/2017-10-23-the-endless-y2k. 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.