# The Twelfth Day of Keyzermas

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2024-01-09
- Length: 1h 20m
- Episode: 655
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-01-09-the-twelfth-day-of-keyzermas
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/655-the-twelfth-day-of-keyzermas/

## Summary

Jeff Kaiser of Mightyohm discusses his transition from a high-volume electronics kit business to a slower phase, the personal challenges of caring for his sick cat, and his deep dive into repairing vintage HP and Tektronix test equipment. He details the mechanical failure of HP VNA step attenuators, the resurgence of CRT monitors for retro gaming, and his efforts to sell custom laser-cut parts on eBay to support his hobby. The conversation also touches on his use of SolidWorks and 3D printing for small repairs, and the cultural differences between the Tektronix and HP vintage equipment communities.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-01-09-the-twelfth-day-of-keyzermas#t=0) Introduction and Business Update
- [4:57](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-01-09-the-twelfth-day-of-keyzermas#t=297) Caring for a Sick Cat and Medical Logistics
- [14:29](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-01-09-the-twelfth-day-of-keyzermas#t=869) Repairing HP VNA Step Attenuators
- [25:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-01-09-the-twelfth-day-of-keyzermas#t=1554) Modules vs. Discrete RF Design
- [37:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-01-09-the-twelfth-day-of-keyzermas#t=2267) CAD, 3D Printing, and Tektronix TM500 Repair
- [48:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-01-09-the-twelfth-day-of-keyzermas#t=2894) Vintage Test Equipment Culture and eBay Sales
- [1:03:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-01-09-the-twelfth-day-of-keyzermas#t=3827) The Resurgence of CRT Monitors
- [1:16:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-01-09-the-twelfth-day-of-keyzermas#t=4602) Closing and Lord of the Rings References

## Topics

- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Prototyping & iteration](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/prototyping)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Logistics & fulfilment](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/logistics-and-fulfillment)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Mightyohm (company)
- Adafruit (company)
- HP 8753 (product)
- Copper Mountain (company)
- Tektronix TM500 (product)
- SolidWorks (tool)
- Prusa Mini (product)
- RetroPie (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [317: What Do You Mean by Disintegrated?](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-01-17-317-what-do-you-mean-by-disintegrated) (Embedded.fm)
- [Episode 248: The old man and the leaky pipes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2020-02-14-episode-248-the-old-man-and-the-leaky-pipes) (Making It)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2015-01-07-the-spark-gap-episode-24) (The Spark Gap)
- [Episode 094: Being a hoarder is a big job…](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-10-28-episode-094-being-a-hoarder-is-a-big-job) (Making It)
- [062 - Keymap Rain Dance](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2022-12-30-062-keymap-rain-dance) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering 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/2024-01-09-the-twelfth-day-of-keyzermas. 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.