# Boat Anchors

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2019-10-13
- Length: 1h 11m
- Episode: 462
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-10-13-boat-anchors
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/462-boat-anchors/

## Summary

Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the history and economics of the Iridium satellite constellation, noting its $6.2 billion cost and eventual pivot to industrial markets. They compare modern satellite internet efforts to the Iridium story, then debate the value of vintage 'boat anchor' test equipment like the HP 8753 against modern affordable tools like the Siglent VNA. The conversation shifts to Chris Gammell's experience with Bantam Tools PCB milling, highlighting the software workflow and design challenges, before detailing Dave Jones's struggles with undocumented USB PD registers from Rich Tech and confusing part numbers from Giga Devices and Bright LED drivers.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-10-13-boat-anchors#t=0) Introduction and Listener Survey
- [2:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-10-13-boat-anchors#t=144) Iridium Satellite History and Economics
- [14:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-10-13-boat-anchors#t=880) Vintage vs. Modern Test Equipment
- [22:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-10-13-boat-anchors#t=1330) PCB Milling with Bantam Tools
- [39:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-10-13-boat-anchors#t=2354) USB PD Implementation Challenges
- [45:34](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-10-13-boat-anchors#t=2734) Giga Devices and RISC-V Confusion
- [53:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-10-13-boat-anchors#t=3189) Undocumented LED Driver Chips
- [1:00:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2019-10-13-boat-anchors#t=3600) Cheap Test Gear and Content Creation

## Topics

- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Test & measurement](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/test-and-measurement)
- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Iridium (product)
- Motorola (company)
- Siglent (company)
- Bantam Tools (company)
- HP 8753 (tool)
- Tektronix TDS 220 (tool)
- Analog Discovery 2 (tool)
- Rich Tech (company)
- Giga Devices (company)
- Bright (company)
- Seeed Studio (company)
- Wild Light (product)
- ESP8266 (chip)
- SDM32 (chip)
- GD32F103 (chip)
- Bumblebee core (chip)
- ARM (company)
- DigiKey (company)
- AliExpress (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [From Closed to Open Source: Revolutionizing the Satellite Industry with Ian Itz, Director of IoT at Iridium](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-02-29-from-closed-to-open-source-revolutionizing-the-satellite-industry-with-ian-itz-d) (Over the Air)
- [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)
- [Brandon Satrom Returns! Blues SVP talks Starnote, and cheap Satellite Communication!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2025-02-05-brandon-satrom-returns-blues-svp-talks-starnote-and-cheap-satellite-communicatio) (The Electromaker Show)
- [A Daring Space Rescue | PUF Protection | Reverse Costing](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-03-08-a-daring-space-rescue-puf-protection-reverse-costing) (EE Times Current)
- [Combining Satellite and Cellular IoT | POND IoT's Alex Kotler | Internet of Things Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2024-05-07-combining-satellite-and-cellular-iot-pond-iots-alex-kotler-internet-of-things-po) (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/2019-10-13-boat-anchors. 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.