#397.4 - An Interview with ShadyTel

The Amp Hour · 23 Jun 2018 · 37m

What this episode covers

Carl Kosher, Falcon K, Nick Burrows, and Thumbfree from Shadytel explain their operation of running analog phone lines to tents and boats at ToorCamp. They discuss the logistical challenges of transporting heavy, power-hungry legacy equipment like the AT&T Infinity switch and surplus wire, and their transition to a new modular system designed for easier transport and lower power consumption. The team details the engineering of their new switch, which uses discrete logic and analog modules to mimic mid-20th-century circuitry, enabling hacking and mischief while maintaining voice quality. They also cover their sourcing strategies for surplus components and their commitment to open-sourcing the hardware and test harnesses for future installations.

Mentioned

Companies
Shadytel, Connections Museum, Cortelco, PCBWay, PCB Cart
Products
AT&T Infinity, Channel Bank, Model 2500
Tools
Altium, KiCad, Onshape
Also
ToorCamp, T1, Porta Potty, GitHub

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