# An Interview with Tim "Mithro" Ansell

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2018-01-15
- Length: 1h 47m
- Episode: 375
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-01-15-an-interview-with-tim-mithro-ansell
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/375-an-interview-with-tim-mithro-ansell/

## Summary

Tim 'Mithro' Ansell, a software engineer and open-source hardware advocate, discusses his projects including the Tomu USB key, the TimVideos HDMI capture system, and FPGA training. He explains how he built the Tomu to provide a cheap, open-source alternative to YubiKey for two-factor authentication, and details the design of the HDMI-to-USB capture boards using FPGAs to enable deep debugging of conference AV setups. Ansell also outlines his work on running MicroPython and Linux on soft cores within FPGAs using Python-based tooling to simplify hardware design.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-01-15-an-interview-with-tim-mithro-ansell#t=0) Introduction and Background
- [11:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-01-15-an-interview-with-tim-mithro-ansell#t=718) Early Hardware and University Projects
- [20:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-01-15-an-interview-with-tim-mithro-ansell#t=1255) Software Engineering Mindset in Hardware
- [34:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-01-15-an-interview-with-tim-mithro-ansell#t=2090) TimVideos and HDMI Capture Hardware
- [1:12:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-01-15-an-interview-with-tim-mithro-ansell#t=4360) The Tomu USB Key Project
- [1:27:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-01-15-an-interview-with-tim-mithro-ansell#t=5254) FPGA Training and MicroPython

## Topics

- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Open-source hardware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/open-source-hardware)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Tomu (product)
- TimVideos (product)
- YubiKey (product)
- Spartan 6 (chip)
- Digilent (company)
- Atlas (product)
- Opsis (product)
- AnyTV (product)
- PicoRV32 (chip)
- LM32 (chip)
- MicroPython (product)
- KiCad (tool)
- DigiKey (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [025 - Opaque Magisterium](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2019-08-14-025-opaque-magisterium) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [Ep051: Pointing With Your Tongue, C64 Touchpad, USB Killcord, and Audacity Does Everything](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-01-24-ep051-pointing-with-your-tongue-c64-touchpad-usb-killcord-and-audacity-does-ever) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Ep048: Truly Trustworthy Hardware, Glowing Uranium Marbles, Bitstreaming the USB, Chaos of Congress](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2020-01-01-ep048-truly-trustworthy-hardware-glowing-uranium-marbles-bitstreaming-the-usb-ch) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [486: A Nice Rainbow Dream](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2024-10-03-486-a-nice-rainbow-dream) (Embedded.fm)
- [Ep011: Weird Keyboards, Salvaging LCD Screens, and Mike Interviews Ivan of Espressif in Shanghai](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-03-22-ep011-weird-keyboards-salvaging-lcd-screens-and-mike-interviews-ivan-of-espressi) (Hackaday Podcast)

## 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/2018-01-15-an-interview-with-tim-mithro-ansell. 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.