398: Clocks Get Into Everything
Tom Anderson, an engineer at Keysight Technologies who also consults for Alembic, explains the fundamentals of radio frequency (RF) electronics, clarifying that RF issues arise from voltage differentials on wires due to signal propagation delays. He demystifies RF jargon like dBm and Smith charts (which he calls 'dollhouses') and discusses practical design strategies, such as managing clock rise times, avoiding ground plane slots, and tuning antennas using varactors. The conversation also covers the specific electronic challenges of high-end bass guitars, including EMI shielding and signal-to-noise ratios.