# An Interview with Maarten Engelen

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2019-01-28
- Length: 1h 07m
- Episode: 427
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-01-28-an-interview-with-maarten-engelen
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/427-an-interview-with-maarten-engelen/

## Summary

Maarten Engelen, CTO of Hiber, explains how his company leverages low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites to provide global IoT connectivity for remote applications. He details the technical trade-offs in satellite design, including orbital decay, thermal cycling, and the use of star trackers for attitude determination, as well as the regulatory complexities of securing frequency licenses. Engelen also describes the Hiber modem module, highlighting its ultra-low power consumption, small form factor, and the strategy of handling all international certifications to simplify deployment for customers in industries like agriculture and logistics.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-01-28-an-interview-with-maarten-engelen#t=0) Introduction and Hiber's Origin
- [16:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-01-28-an-interview-with-maarten-engelen#t=965) Satellite Design and Orbital Mechanics
- [23:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-01-28-an-interview-with-maarten-engelen#t=1383) Attitude Determination and Control Systems
- [33:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-01-28-an-interview-with-maarten-engelen#t=1994) Modem Hardware and Power Consumption
- [59:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-01-28-an-interview-with-maarten-engelen#t=3590) Regulatory Challenges and Certification

## Topics

- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Batteries & low-power design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/batteries-and-low-power)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)
- [Certification & compliance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/certification-and-compliance)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Hiber (company)
- Sigfox (company)
- Planet Labs (company)
- Iridium (company)
- ESA (company)
- ITU (company)
- FCC (company)
- Star Tracker (tool)
- Reaction Wheels (tool)
- Anechoic Chamber (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Low-Cost IoT Connectivity with Satellites | Wyld Networks’ Alastair Williamson](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-06-16-low-cost-iot-connectivity-with-satellites-wyld-networks-alastair-williamson) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Satellite Connectivity in IoT Solutions | Iridium's Ian Itz | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2024-02-13-satellite-connectivity-in-iot-solutions-iridiums-ian-itz-internet-of-things-podc) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [Satellite Iot: Space-Based Connectivity Solutions With Oli Potter](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-10-24-satellite-iot-space-based-connectivity-solutions-with-oli-potter) (Over the Air)
- [Building A Low-cost Satellite IoT Solution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2022-07-07-building-a-low-cost-satellite-iot-solution) (Over the Air)
- [The State of Satellite IoT | Ground Control's Alastair MacLeod | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2023-05-25-the-state-of-satellite-iot-ground-controls-alastair-macleod-internet-of-things-p) (IoT For All 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/2019-01-28-an-interview-with-maarten-engelen. 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.