# NDA Sideshow

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2024-06-20
- Episode: 671
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-06-20-nda-sideshow
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/671-nda-sideshow/

## Summary

Dave Jones and Chris Gammell discuss the pitfalls of signing NDAs for 'over-unity' scams, using a recent Twitter challenge as a case study. They then analyze a teardown of a DI solar inverter, debating whether component brand names (like Nippon Chemicon) matter more than the end-product brand's trustworthiness. Finally, they cover Altium's shift to a subscription-only model following its acquisition by Renesas, comparing the cost and workflow implications for KiCad users.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-06-20-nda-sideshow#t=0) Introduction and the NDA Sideshow
- [3:11](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-06-20-nda-sideshow#t=191) Debunking Over-Unity Scams and NDAs
- [13:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-06-20-nda-sideshow#t=787) DI Solar Inverter Teardown and Component Trust
- [24:53](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-06-20-nda-sideshow#t=1493) Microcontroller Brands: CH32, PY32, and GD32
- [37:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-06-20-nda-sideshow#t=2229) Altium's Shift to Subscription and Renesas Acquisition
- [57:27](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2024-06-20-nda-sideshow#t=3447) Old School Web: WebRings and Dontronics

## Topics

- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Altium (company)
- KiCad (tool)
- Renesas (company)
- DI Solar (company)
- Nippon Chemicon (company)
- CH32 (chip)
- PY32 (chip)
- GD32 (chip)
- Herrick inverter (product)
- Dontronics (company)
- Warp 13 (tool)
- High-Tech C (tool)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Altium Develop: Returning to Our Roots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2025-10-28-altium-develop-returning-to-our-roots) (OnTrack)
- [317: What Do You Mean by Disintegrated? (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-10-06-317-what-do-you-mean-by-disintegrated-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [Altium Is Coming Home to the Designer | Lawrence Romine on OnTrack](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ontrack/2026-08-18-altium-is-coming-home-to-the-designer-lawrence-romine-on-ontrack) (OnTrack)
- [353: Red for the Ones That Might Blow Up](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2020-11-26-353-red-for-the-ones-that-might-blow-up) (Embedded.fm)
- [EMS@C-LEVEL 2022 Season Episode #1 with Altium and MacroFab](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2022-02-20-ems-c-level-2022-season-episode-1-with-altium-and-macrofab) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## 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/2024-06-20-nda-sideshow. 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.