Hardware & Computing
Physical hardware, devices, and computing
119 episodes · Page 2 of 5
#3694: The Hidden World of Electronic Component Distributors
Digikey, Mouser, and Farnell aren't normal retailers—they're the backbone of global electronics manufacturing. Here's how they work.
#3685: Ruling Pens, Grease Pencils, and the Case for Better Old Tech
Why a 400-year-old drafting tool outperforms modern alternatives, and how to spot genuinely superior antiques.
#3613: Paint-Fill Engraving: Permanent Tool IDs That Survive Everything
Why paint markers fail on metal tools — and how a $120 engraver plus a paint-fill trick creates markings that last.
#3612: How to Read a Rotary Engraver Spec Sheet
Collet size, runout, and real power ratings—what to look for when buying a rotary engraver for tool marking.
#3601: The All-Day Headset Unicorn: 12-Hour Mic & Comfort
One device, all day, great microphone, comfortable enough to forget. What actually exists for 12-hour voice work?
#3564: Fixing Your Phone's Variable Frame Rate Video
Why your phone's video drifts out of sync, how to fix it, and whether RAW video is actually worth it.
#3563: RAW Video on Android: Is It Worth the Storage Nightmare?
RAW video on Android means 6-12GB per minute. Here's how to shoot it, edit it, and actually export something usable.
#3539: Mapping a Room with Just Your Phone
Can your phone turn a video walkthrough into a measured 3D model? We break down the tools and the real-world limits.
#3533: The Only Ratchet Strap You'll Ever Need
How to buy a one-strap-for-life: WLL ratings, forged hardware, and why the hardware store is the last place to look.
#3471: What OS Actually Runs Inside a Siemens PLC?
Siemens, Rockwell, Beckhoff — the OS choices inside modern PLCs are more varied than you'd expect.
#3454: Bluetooth Range Lies: How to Get Audio Through Concrete Walls
Your phone's Bluetooth antenna can't punch through concrete walls. Here's the dedicated transmitter that can.
#3450: Who Actually Buys a Luggable Computer?
The people who need a 27-inch workstation in a hard case. Military, oil rigs, and live events.
#3289: From Breadboard to PCB: Your First Board Design
You can code and breadboard. Here's how to cross the gap to custom PCBs with free tools and minimal risk.
#3225: Why Loose Batteries Can't Fly in Checked Bags
Thermal runaway, Halon blind spots, and why your laptop is fine but a power bank isn't.
#3224: Pink vs Silver: The Truth About Anti-Static Bags
Pink poly bags don't actually shield your components. Here's what does.
#3220: When Pelicans Fail: Cases for Network Gear & Monitors
Why a sealed Pelican case can cook your switch or drown it in condensation.
#3203: How Liquid Chrome Markers Create a Mirror Finish
The chemistry behind mirror-finish paint pens and how to use them for professional results.
#3158: How Consumer Drones Really Talk to Their Controllers
From DJI's OcuSync to military SATCOM and 4G LTE — how drone control links actually work and why they fail.
#3141: How Search Teams Use $500 Torches to See 2km
How SAR teams deploy throwers, flood lights, and beacons as coordinated systems — and the physics that makes 2km throw possible.
#3107: Precision Engineering Disguised as a Paint Pen
The hidden science of markers that survive jet exhaust, salt fog, and 650°C steel.
#3105: The Four-Hundred-Year-Old Pen That Outperforms Modern Tech
A 400-year-old tool still draws lines thinner than any modern technical pen can manage.
#3103: Refillable Markers: Industrial Ink Chemistry & Nib Selection
How Molotow's modular marker system saves thousands on factory floors with lacquer and oil-based inks.
#3097: Measuring Car Horns: Phone Apps vs. Court Evidence
Can a phone spectrogram app prove which car honked? Usually not — here's what you actually need.
#3095: Can a $60 Dremel Engrave 4mm Lab Parts?
A $60 Dremel can engrave tiny numbers on metal — but only with the right bits, stencils, and ventilation.