# Optimization Beast

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2020-02-10
- Length: 1h 05m
- Episode: 478
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-10-optimization-beast
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/478-optimization-beast/

## Summary

Hosts Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss a sophisticated impersonation scam targeting Dave, the passing of analog legend Barry Gilbert, and the logistics of moving labs. They announce KiCon 2020 at CERN, analyze the Starlink satellite network's latency and orbital debris issues, and review the Fairchild FSBB20 IGBT module, detailing its unique staggered pin package for high-voltage isolation. The episode concludes with a discussion on engineering productivity, task switching, and firmware debugging challenges.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-10-optimization-beast#t=0) Introduction and Impersonation Scam
- [7:22](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-10-optimization-beast#t=442) Lab Organization and Security
- [15:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-10-optimization-beast#t=900) Tribute to Barry Gilbert
- [24:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-10-optimization-beast#t=1452) KiCon 2020 at CERN
- [30:52](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-10-optimization-beast#t=1852) Starlink and Rocketry News
- [43:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-10-optimization-beast#t=2631) Chip of the Week: Fairchild FSBB20
- [57:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2020-02-10-optimization-beast#t=3469) Engineering Productivity and Firmware

## Topics

- [PCB design & layout](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pcb-design)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Barry Gilbert (other)
- Fairchild (company)
- FSBB20 (chip)
- KiCon (other)
- CERN (company)
- Starlink (product)
- Astra (company)
- DigiKey (company)
- Ron Kwan (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [056 - Listening to Jupiter](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2022-03-17-056-listening-to-jupiter) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [This Year’s Model | Intel’s & Leti’s Trans-Atlantic Packaging | First Worm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-11-06-this-years-model-intels-letis-trans-atlantic-packaging-first-worm) (EE Times Current)
- [Ep023: Everything Breaks... Raspberry Pi, ADS-B, Hackaday Website, and Automotive Airbags](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2019-06-14-ep023-everything-breaks-raspberry-pi-ads-b-hackaday-website-and-automotive-airba) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [Bridgit Mendler and Griffin Cleverly talk about building scalable ground stations for satellite networks; cyberattacks on automakers, lead in protein powder; look back at the 1986 Challenger disaster](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2025-10-27-bridgit-mendler-and-griffin-cleverly-talk-about-building-scalable-ground-station) (Go/No-Go)
- [Ep140: Aqua Battery, IBM Cheese Cutter, Waiting for USB-C, and Digging ADCs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-10-15-ep140-aqua-battery-ibm-cheese-cutter-waiting-for-usb-c-and-digging-adcs) (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/2020-02-10-optimization-beast. 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.