# A literal trainwreck

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2022-02-07
- Length: 1h 06m
- Episode: 576
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-02-07-a-literal-trainwreck
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/576-a-literal-trainwreck/

## Summary

Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss a viral video of a train derailment in Kansas City, using it to explore the hobbyist electronics involved in model railroading and large-scale control systems. They analyze Intel's announcement of a $20-100 billion semiconductor fabrication plant in Ohio, debating the necessity of government subsidies, the challenge of sourcing talent, and the geopolitical implications of domestic chip manufacturing. The hosts also critique the business models of failing IoT networks like Sigfox and Helium, arguing that asset tracking lacks a viable consumer use case compared to existing cellular solutions, while dismissing a crowdfunding campaign for a water-from-air device as redundant given existing infrastructure.

## Chapters

- [0:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-02-07-a-literal-trainwreck#t=30) Introduction: Train Derailment Video and Hobbyist Electronics
- [11:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-02-07-a-literal-trainwreck#t=698) Intel's New Ohio Fab: Costs, Subsidies, and Talent Challenges
- [23:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-02-07-a-literal-trainwreck#t=1426) Critique of Cara Pure Water-from-Air Crowdfunding Campaign
- [31:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-02-07-a-literal-trainwreck#t=1866) The Failure of Sigfox and the Economics of Helium Asset Tracking
- [45:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-02-07-a-literal-trainwreck#t=2717) RF Technology History: From Analog Phones to Iridium Satellites
- [54:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-02-07-a-literal-trainwreck#t=3288) STMicroelectronics Pricing, Open Source Reverse Engineering, and Linux

## Topics

- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)

## Most relevant to

large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Intel (company)
- Sigfox (company)
- Helium (company)
- Cara Pure (product)
- STMicroelectronics (company)
- STM32 (chip)
- Amazon Sidewalk (product)
- Apple AirTag (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [I’m the CHIPS bill / Stuck on Capitol Hill…](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2022-02-04-im-the-chips-bill-stuck-on-capitol-hill) (EE Times Current)
- [Legislating IoT Safety | TSMC in AZ: Fab or Vaporfab? | Remembering Lucky Lindy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ee-times-current/2020-05-22-legislating-iot-safety-tsmc-in-az-fab-or-vaporfab-remembering-lucky-lindy) (EE Times Current)
- [Episode 29: The Myth of Semiconductor Industry Deglobization](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-circuit/2023-08-15-episode-29-the-myth-of-semiconductor-industry-deglobization) (The Circuit)
- [Headlines | OpenAI Devices, Data Centers, Brightline](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/go-no-go/2026-07-30-headlines-openai-devices-data-centers-brightline) (Go/No-Go)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 43](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-11-11-the-spark-gap-episode-43) (The Spark Gap)

## 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/2022-02-07-a-literal-trainwreck. 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.