The Spark Gap - Episode 24

The Spark Gap · 7 Jan 2015 · 42m

What this episode covers

Hosts Carl and Corey discuss their 2015 resolutions, including revisiting basic electronics design and exploring open-source EDA tools like KiCad and Altium CircuitMaker. They announce a shift to a bi-weekly release schedule to allow for more guest interviews and higher-quality content. The episode then explores the topic of reverse engineering old hardware, citing examples like the original Xbox, cable modems, and Kinect sensors to demonstrate how discarded electronics can be repurposed or studied.

Mentioned

Companies
Adafruit, SparkFun, DigiKey
Products
Xbox, Kinect, HackRF
Tools
KiCad, Altium CircuitMaker, Eagle
Also
DEF CON, Black Hat

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Hackaday Podcast · 1h 23m

    Ep 375: Rebuilding Tech on Our Terms and the Hero Nerd

    Hackaday editors Elliot Williams and Tom Nardi discuss the shutdown of the RPiLocator.com tool, a nostalgic time capsule from the chip shortage era. They review listener hacks including a fake bike counter, a graphics upgrade for the Nintendo Entertainment System using a second Picture Processing Unit, and building dynamic RAM from discrete components. The episode also covers a drop-in replacement PCB for the Casio G-Shock watch, DIY robot actuators, and the evolution of the 'hero nerd' archetype in film.

  • Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast · 1h 28m

    058 - Technically Met the Specs

    Eric Schlaepfer and Windell Oskay discuss their book 'Open Circuits,' detailing the process of cutting components in half with sandpaper and grinding wheels to reveal internal structures, while Jacob Creedon, Spencer Moss, Ken, and Will McGuiness share their perspectives on reverse engineering tools like IDA Pro and Ghidra, and the legal and social implications of technology. The group debates the future of AI, the validity of NFTs, and the importance of right-to-repair legislation, with Spencer Moss from Google and Ken from Somerset Recon highlighting the increasing complexity of hardware security. Mike Ryan from Ice 9 Consulting joins to discuss Bluetooth security, the obsolescence of passwords, and the dual-use nature of technology in the context of government regulation.

  • Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast · 1h 16m

    062 - Keymap Rain Dance

    David Ray of Cyber City Circuits explains his company's transition from a kitchen-table hobby to a small-scale manufacturing hub for electronics and escape room props. He details a specific reverse engineering workflow for PCBs involving high-resolution photo scanning, GIMP, and Inkscape to recreate designs in KiCad, illustrated by his TI-83 calculator project. The conversation also covers the challenges of legacy component obsolescence, the utility of online communities like electronics Twitter, and the technical aspects of building interactive escape room hardware.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 06m

    Motivational Speaker

    Chris Gammell of Contextual Electronics and Reality Instruments joins Dave Jones to discuss the success of KiCon, the rapid rise of KiCad as a dominant EDA tool displacing competitors like Eagle, and the potential for commercialization of open-source hardware. Gammell details his new company, Reality Instruments, and its open-source add-on hardware for the Valve Index VR headset, while Jones shares insights on branding pitfalls and the risks of venture capital in robotics, citing the shutdown of Anki.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Spark Gap. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.