Hardware Podcasts

057 - I Did Not Expect Sharks!

Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast · 9 May 2022 · 1h 37m

What this episode covers

Michael Ossmann, founder and CTO of Great Scott Gadgets, discusses the creation of open-source hardware tools like HackRF One and Ubertooth One, which emerged from his background in wireless security research. He explains how his work on public safety protocols like APCO P25 and the NSA's ANT catalog led to the development of accessible RF tools and a passion for education through his SDR video series. Ossmann also shares anecdotes about unexpected uses of his hardware, such as studying shark behavior, and the importance of open-source software like GNU Radio Companion in lowering the barrier to entry for digital signal processing.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Great Scott Gadgets
Products
HackRF One, Ubertooth One, GreatFET One, Ettus USRP, Yardstick One, RTL-SDR
Tools
GNU Radio

Related episodes from other shows

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 43m

    Conning with Michael Ossmann

    Michael Ossmann of Great Scott Gadgets discusses the HackRF software defined radio, his company's open source hardware philosophy, and the development of the GreatFET hardware hacking tool. He details technical advancements in spectrum monitoring, including rapid sweeping algorithms and software interfaces for security researchers, while also covering his upcoming talks at Black Hat and DEF CON regarding spectrum analysis and spread spectrum systems. The conversation highlights the growing intersection of software and hardware security, the use of specialized components like GreenPak chips for level shifting, and the broader ecosystem of hardware hacking conferences and training.

    Wireless & RFSecurity & privacy
    8 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 36m

    Interview with Michael Ossmann - Gifted Grimgribber Grokker

    Michael Ossmann, founder of Great Scott Gadgets, details his transition from software security to hardware engineering, explaining how he designed the open-source Ubertooth and HackRF devices to probe wireless vulnerabilities. He discusses the success of his Kickstarter campaigns, which raised over $600k, and his decision to manufacture in China through referrals while managing small-batch production. Ossmann also shares insights on using KiCad for complex designs, the technical trade-offs of the HackRF's LPC microcontroller and CPLD, and his philosophy of open-source hardware development.

    Crowdfunding & preordersPCB design & layout
    9 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 33m

    #397.9 - An Interview with Dominic Spill

    Dominic Spill, a software engineer at Great Scott Gadgets, discusses the full software stack for their open-source hardware tools like the HackRF One and Ubertooth One. He details the architecture from high-level GNU Radio down to the USB and firmware layers, explaining how they use abstraction layers like Osmocom to support multiple hardware platforms. Spill also shares insights into their development philosophy, emphasizing novel applications over raw performance, and describes the vibrant community at hacker camps like ToorCamp and EMF.

    Embedded firmwarePCB design & layout
    7 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 57m

    Impedance Matching with Michael Ossmann and Dmitry Nedospasov

    Michael Ossmann of Great Scott Gadgets and Dmitry Nedospasov of Toothless Consulting discuss hardware security, training, and open-source tooling. They detail the development of the GreatFET platform and the next-generation HackRF 'Marzipan' using the i.MX7 processor, while Nedospasov outlines his FPGA-based protocol analyzer training. The conversation shifts to the ethical and legal complexities of hardware security, specifically the MedSec case involving St. Jude medical devices and the Volkswagen emissions scandal.

    Security & privacyMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    8 chapters

  • The Amp Hour · 1h 51m

    "Impedance Matching" With Charvat And Ossmann - Recurring RF Remontados

    Greg Charvat, an entrepreneur and radar expert known for the MIT coffee can radar, and Michael Ossmann of Great Scott Gadgets, creator of the HackRF software-defined radio (SDR), discuss the technical details of SDR, radar design, and RF security. They explore the architecture of the HackRF, specifically its decision to omit an FPGA to reduce cost and power, and discuss how to integrate it with low-cost FMCW radar modules for range-Doppler imaging. The conversation also covers Ossmann's work on RF retro-reflectors for the NSA Playset project, the challenges of interference in the 2.4 GHz band, and the regulatory landscape for devices like the GoTenna.

    Wireless & RFMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    8 chapters

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