# Things are looking up

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2026-10-21
- Length: 1h 02m
- Episode: 737
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2026-10-21-things-are-looking-up
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/737-things-are-looking-up/

## Summary

Chris Gammell, now Developer Relations Lead at Hubble Network, explains the company's Bluetooth-based terrestrial and satellite IoT connectivity, which leverages partner apps like Life 360 for relaying data and commercial chips from Espressif, Nordic, and Silicon Labs. Dave Jones discusses the fragility of appliance repair supply chains, specifically his struggle to find a spare door interlock for his Miele washing machine, and details sophisticated hardware supply chain attacks targeting crypto wallets like Ledger. The hosts also cover the end-of-life announcement for the Z80 microprocessor, the physics of sunlight erasing low-power LCD pixels, and the rise of AI-driven EDA tools controlling Altium and KiCad.

## Outline

1. Introduction: Appliance Repair Nightmares and Miele Supply Chain
2. Chris Gammell Joins Hubble Network for Bluetooth Satellite IoT
3. Hardware Supply Chain Attacks on Ledger and Crypto Wallets
4. LCD Physics: Sunlight Erasing Pixels and Teaching Light Spectra
5. AI in EDA: Altium Training Data and Turnkey Design Tools
6. Z80 Microprocessor End-of-Life and Espressif ESP32-S3 SDR
7. CrowdSupply, Mauser, and Bunnie Huang's Baochip RISC-V

## Topics

- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [EDA & CAD tools](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/eda-and-cad-tools)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Crowdfunding & preorders](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/crowdfunding)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies, large enterprises

## Mentioned

- Hubble Network (company)
- Miele (company)
- Ledger (product)
- Life 360 (product)
- Espressif (company)
- Nordic (company)
- Silicon Labs (company)
- TI (company)
- Z80 (chip)
- ESP32-S3 (chip)
- Altium (tool)
- KiCad (tool)
- CrowdSupply (company)
- Mauser (company)
- Baochip (chip)
- Raspberry Pi Pico (chip)
- STM32 (chip)
- RP2350 (chip)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [How Does Crowdsourcing Connectivity Impact the IoT Industry? | Micha Benoliel, CEO of Nodle | #IoTFounders E049](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2020-01-23-how-does-crowdsourcing-connectivity-impact-the-iot-industry-micha-benoliel-ceo-o) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [The Spark Gap - Episode 8](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-spark-gap/2014-08-05-the-spark-gap-episode-8) (The Spark Gap)
- [Decentralized IoT Connectivity With Helium Hotspots | Helium's Jacob Swinn](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/iot-for-all-podcast/2022-03-08-decentralized-iot-connectivity-with-helium-hotspots-heliums-jacob-swinn) (IoT For All Podcast)
- [IoT Trends: A Year in Review and 2023 Predictions with Rob Tiffany and Bill Flaherty](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2023-02-02-iot-trends-a-year-in-review-and-2023-predictions-with-rob-tiffany-and-bill-flahe) (Over the Air)
- [Breaking IoT Connectivity Barriers with Chris Baird, CEO of OptConnect](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/over-the-air/2024-07-25-breaking-iot-connectivity-barriers-with-chris-baird-ceo-of-optconnect) (Over the Air)

## Citing this page

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