# The Custodial Arts

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2022-08-21
- Length: 1h 07m
- Episode: 600
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-08-21-the-custodial-arts
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/600-the-custodial-arts/

## Summary

Chris Gammell and Dave Jones discuss the Adafruit Feather form factor, noting its limitations regarding back-powering and pinout variations among vendors like Actinius and SparkFun. They analyze the new Nordic Semiconductor nRF7002 Wi-Fi chip, which lacks an integrated processor, and debate the complexity of building a countdown timer using discrete TTL logic chips like the CD4026 versus modern microcontrollers. The conversation shifts to the difficulty of sourcing TI parts like the TPIC 6595 shift register due to supply chain issues and inflated prices from third-party sellers, before concluding with a nostalgic look at obsolete test tools like the logic probe.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-08-21-the-custodial-arts#t=0) Introduction and Mailbag
- [12:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-08-21-the-custodial-arts#t=726) Adafruit Feather Form Factor Analysis
- [21:13](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-08-21-the-custodial-arts#t=1273) Nordic Semiconductor nRF7002 Wi-Fi Chip
- [26:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-08-21-the-custodial-arts#t=1588) Discrete TTL Logic for Countdown Timers
- [37:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-08-21-the-custodial-arts#t=2235) Sourcing TI Parts and Supply Chain Frustrations
- [51:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-08-21-the-custodial-arts#t=3077) Debugging High-Speed Ethernet with Oscilloscopes
- [1:00:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-08-21-the-custodial-arts#t=3607) The Vanishing Logic Probe

## Topics

- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Test & measurement](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/test-and-measurement)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Adafruit (company)
- Feather (product)
- Nordic Semiconductor (company)
- nRF7002 (chip)
- nRF9160 (chip)
- CD4026 (chip)
- TPIC 6595 (chip)
- Texas Instruments (company)
- DigiKey (company)
- Actinius (company)
- SparkFun (company)
- Circuit Dojo (company)
- Zephyr (other)
- KiCad (tool)
- Altium (tool)
- Rohde & Schwarz (company)
- National Instruments (company)
- Virtual Bench (product)
- Oxide Computer (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Analog Clock goes Digital, Nordic goes WiFi, Espressif goes NO-WIFI?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2023-02-01-analog-clock-goes-digital-nordic-goes-wifi-espressif-goes-no-wifi) (The Electromaker Show)
- [Arduino TinyML board, Nordic's Arduino Comptible Wifi 6 expansions, ESP32 Rover, and More!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2023-11-17-arduino-tinyml-board-nordics-arduino-comptible-wifi-6-expansions-esp32-rover-and) (The Electromaker Show)
- [New Arduino Board, No More Pi Shortages, Absurdly Tiny Resin Printers, and More!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2023-01-12-new-arduino-board-no-more-pi-shortages-absurdly-tiny-resin-printers-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [Arduino Nano R4, Bela Gem Funded, Nordic WiFi 6 Magic, and More!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-electromaker-show/2025-08-19-arduino-nano-r4-bela-gem-funded-nordic-wifi-6-magic-and-more) (The Electromaker Show)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-05-06-the-spark-gap-episode-32) (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/2022-08-21-the-custodial-arts. 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.