# The Legend of Keyzermas

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2018-12-23
- Length: 1h 32m
- Episode: 421
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-12-23-the-legend-of-keyzermas
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/421-the-legend-of-keyzermas/

## Summary

Jeff Kaiser, known as Mighty Ohm, discusses his transition from full-time employment to contracting at Valve, highlighting the financial friction of floating component costs and managing business overhead. He details his focus on signal integrity, explaining the use of vector network analyzers and time-domain reflectometry for high-speed digital design, while recommending key texts by Eric Bogatin and Henry Ott. The conversation also covers the challenges of scaling his Mighty Ohm kit business through a partnership with Elektor, and speculates on 2019 technology trends including USB Type-C adoption, 60 GHz RF, and satellite internet constellations.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-12-23-the-legend-of-keyzermas#t=0) Introduction: Jeff Kaiser and Mighty Ohm
- [3:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-12-23-the-legend-of-keyzermas#t=216) Contracting at Valve: Financial Friction and Overhead
- [11:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-12-23-the-legend-of-keyzermas#t=704) Signal Integrity: VNAs, TDR, and High-Speed Design
- [18:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-12-23-the-legend-of-keyzermas#t=1133) Recommended Books: Bogatin, Ott, and Tektronix History
- [22:56](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-12-23-the-legend-of-keyzermas#t=1376) Scaling the Mighty Ohm Kit Business with Elektor
- [31:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-12-23-the-legend-of-keyzermas#t=1865) The Seattle Hardware Ecosystem: Boeing, Microsoft, and Valve
- [38:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-12-23-the-legend-of-keyzermas#t=2325) 2019 Tech Predictions: 3D Printing, VR, and USB-C
- [56:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-12-23-the-legend-of-keyzermas#t=3412) RF Trends: 60 GHz, Automotive Radar, and Satellite Internet
- [1:07:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-12-23-the-legend-of-keyzermas#t=4035) Gartner Hype Cycle and CES Themes

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Valve (company)
- Mighty Ohm (product)
- Elektor (company)
- Boeing (company)
- Microsoft (company)
- Tektronix (company)
- Fluke (company)
- Amazon (company)
- Facebook (company)
- SpaceX (company)
- Hyper (company)
- Eric Bogatin (other)
- Henry Ott (other)
- Howard Johnson (other)
- TS-80 (product)
- HoloLens (product)
- Magic Leap (product)
- Kit (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [154: Physics Is a Big Pain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2016-06-02-154-physics-is-a-big-pain) (Embedded.fm)
- [379: Monstrous Cable Corporation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2021-07-08-379-monstrous-cable-corporation) (Embedded.fm)
- [122: Glue a Board to Your Resume](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-10-21-122-glue-a-board-to-your-resume) (Embedded.fm)
- [20: Soldered Together By Monkeys](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2013-09-26-20-soldered-together-by-monkeys) (Embedded.fm)
- [Top 10 Product Design Mistakes You Must Avoid](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/predictable-designs-podcast/2022-07-05-top-10-product-design-mistakes-you-must-avoid) (Predictable Designs 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/2018-12-23-the-legend-of-keyzermas. 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.