Arjen Roodselaar
@arjenroodselaar.nl
Dad, geek, tinkerer, private pilot, drummer wannabe. Building a room sized LLM accelerator at MatX
For one it would not be that hard to claim the sats to be for plausible tests or research only to simply upload new software once in orbit and change their role/capabilities.
November 6, 2025 at 10:22 AM
For one it would not be that hard to claim the sats to be for plausible tests or research only to simply upload new software once in orbit and change their role/capabilities.
I expect that launch manifests are now more closely tracked. But with ever more frequent launches from the various providers it’s only a matter of time for stuff to slip through.
November 6, 2025 at 10:19 AM
I expect that launch manifests are now more closely tracked. But with ever more frequent launches from the various providers it’s only a matter of time for stuff to slip through.
It may have already been done.
I’d have to look up the reference, but a new sat company launched multiple vehicles to LEO a few years ago before completing the required paperwork. The US State Dept wasn’t happy.
I’d have to look up the reference, but a new sat company launched multiple vehicles to LEO a few years ago before completing the required paperwork. The US State Dept wasn’t happy.
November 6, 2025 at 10:18 AM
It may have already been done.
I’d have to look up the reference, but a new sat company launched multiple vehicles to LEO a few years ago before completing the required paperwork. The US State Dept wasn’t happy.
I’d have to look up the reference, but a new sat company launched multiple vehicles to LEO a few years ago before completing the required paperwork. The US State Dept wasn’t happy.
For LEO you’re not wrong though, it would be like the pirate radio ships in the North Sea during the ‘60s and ‘70s. And the transmitter hardware you need is very doable.
GEO is more involved due to the distance. And coverage area is less than you’d want, spot beams just a few hundred km’s across.
GEO is more involved due to the distance. And coverage area is less than you’d want, spot beams just a few hundred km’s across.
November 6, 2025 at 6:10 AM
For LEO you’re not wrong though, it would be like the pirate radio ships in the North Sea during the ‘60s and ‘70s. And the transmitter hardware you need is very doable.
GEO is more involved due to the distance. And coverage area is less than you’d want, spot beams just a few hundred km’s across.
GEO is more involved due to the distance. And coverage area is less than you’d want, spot beams just a few hundred km’s across.
LEO is getting easier. You can hitch a ride after modest paperwork and once you’re up there it’s pretty much a free for all. No one is going to shoot you down for fear of it causing cascading debris. But you can only communicate with the vehicle every 90 mins or so.
November 6, 2025 at 5:37 AM
LEO is getting easier. You can hitch a ride after modest paperwork and once you’re up there it’s pretty much a free for all. No one is going to shoot you down for fear of it causing cascading debris. But you can only communicate with the vehicle every 90 mins or so.
GEO specifically is tough though because the launch providers won’t take you up unless you have an approved slot. They’ll play by the rules in order not to get in hot water and jeopardize their launch permits.
November 6, 2025 at 5:35 AM
GEO specifically is tough though because the launch providers won’t take you up unless you have an approved slot. They’ll play by the rules in order not to get in hot water and jeopardize their launch permits.
I won’t say never, people have done crazy difficult things. But since consoles started to look more like PCs, emulation of their SDKs and runtimes using more modern hardware is probably a more fruitful endeavor.
October 31, 2025 at 3:25 AM
I won’t say never, people have done crazy difficult things. But since consoles started to look more like PCs, emulation of their SDKs and runtimes using more modern hardware is probably a more fruitful endeavor.
The Xbox for example used a CPU/GPU which were each designed by large teams and leaned on several prior generations. The task to replicate this would be monumental.
October 31, 2025 at 3:21 AM
The Xbox for example used a CPU/GPU which were each designed by large teams and leaned on several prior generations. The task to replicate this would be monumental.
The 8 and 16 bit systems were designed by small teams using relatively primitive tools. Modern tools really provide core designers significant leverage in comparison. The chipsets of PS1 and beyond were designed by both larger teams and using similar tools, so the advantage is shrinking.
October 31, 2025 at 3:18 AM
The 8 and 16 bit systems were designed by small teams using relatively primitive tools. Modern tools really provide core designers significant leverage in comparison. The chipsets of PS1 and beyond were designed by both larger teams and using similar tools, so the advantage is shrinking.
Indeed. Larger and faster FPGAs are becoming more obtainable and the pipelined logic of newer CPU/GPU designs maps better to this hardware. But the engineering hours required to replicate the functionality of these systems is probably beyond the reach of even small teams.
October 31, 2025 at 3:15 AM
Indeed. Larger and faster FPGAs are becoming more obtainable and the pipelined logic of newer CPU/GPU designs maps better to this hardware. But the engineering hours required to replicate the functionality of these systems is probably beyond the reach of even small teams.
Looking forward to see you route that memory interface. I am looking to complete this, similar FPGA.
October 12, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Looking forward to see you route that memory interface. I am looking to complete this, similar FPGA.
I looked up the histories of Enron, WorldCom and Global Crossing after having the same thought.
October 6, 2025 at 10:17 PM
I looked up the histories of Enron, WorldCom and Global Crossing after having the same thought.
True. And given the enthusiasm as signaled by the market, Su not taking this deal and that fact leaking may very well have had immediate negative consequences.
But I generally like the product AMD puts in the market, so I hope this doesn’t come back to haunt them.
But I generally like the product AMD puts in the market, so I hope this doesn’t come back to haunt them.
October 6, 2025 at 10:05 PM
True. And given the enthusiasm as signaled by the market, Su not taking this deal and that fact leaking may very well have had immediate negative consequences.
But I generally like the product AMD puts in the market, so I hope this doesn’t come back to haunt them.
But I generally like the product AMD puts in the market, so I hope this doesn’t come back to haunt them.
You’re not reading that wrong. But by entangling themselves with OpenAI and raising investor expectations they will take a hit if OpenAI falls on its face.
October 6, 2025 at 9:12 PM
You’re not reading that wrong. But by entangling themselves with OpenAI and raising investor expectations they will take a hit if OpenAI falls on its face.
Most people are paralyzed and don’t know what to do. For many their situation has been bad for years, this is their normal. They don’t know how to fight or what to fight for.
Many people don’t really understand that crushing medical debt is not normal and doesn’t happen elsewhere.
Many people don’t really understand that crushing medical debt is not normal and doesn’t happen elsewhere.
October 6, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Most people are paralyzed and don’t know what to do. For many their situation has been bad for years, this is their normal. They don’t know how to fight or what to fight for.
Many people don’t really understand that crushing medical debt is not normal and doesn’t happen elsewhere.
Many people don’t really understand that crushing medical debt is not normal and doesn’t happen elsewhere.
I am more pessimistic. Unless individuals arise from the people with a clear voice and call to action which can overcome the societal inertia, we’ll remain keyboard revolutionaries.
October 6, 2025 at 5:56 PM
I am more pessimistic. Unless individuals arise from the people with a clear voice and call to action which can overcome the societal inertia, we’ll remain keyboard revolutionaries.
Oh is this available for download somewhere? I just updated my copy of FreeCAD today with the intention of modeling this.
September 21, 2025 at 8:47 AM
Oh is this available for download somewhere? I just updated my copy of FreeCAD today with the intention of modeling this.
These are footprint compatible with KU3P devices which I think are closer to $1500/device direct from regular distributors. So at least for prototyping it may be an ok path and then switch back to KU3P if a proper source is required.
September 20, 2025 at 8:27 PM
These are footprint compatible with KU3P devices which I think are closer to $1500/device direct from regular distributors. So at least for prototyping it may be an ok path and then switch back to KU3P if a proper source is required.
How many units are you looking to build. There are new KU5P devices floating on eBay for ~$110/piece. I just received a small batch and other than needing a moisture bake they appear what they claim to be.
But it’s unknown how much is available and how long it’ll last for.
But it’s unknown how much is available and how long it’ll last for.
September 20, 2025 at 8:24 PM
How many units are you looking to build. There are new KU5P devices floating on eBay for ~$110/piece. I just received a small batch and other than needing a moisture bake they appear what they claim to be.
But it’s unknown how much is available and how long it’ll last for.
But it’s unknown how much is available and how long it’ll last for.
Don’t worry, retail therapy has been diverted to the “used measurement equipment” section of eBay 😅
September 15, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Don’t worry, retail therapy has been diverted to the “used measurement equipment” section of eBay 😅
Hot take; multicursors have increased my productivity more than LLMs.
September 15, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Hot take; multicursors have increased my productivity more than LLMs.
I am not allowed to buy a new dev board anymore unless I’ve installed the toolchain and synthesized a blinky for it 😅
September 13, 2025 at 8:07 PM
I am not allowed to buy a new dev board anymore unless I’ve installed the toolchain and synthesized a blinky for it 😅
I could have written the code while waiting. But instead I spent four days refreshing the order status page like a mad man, convinced it would make the boards come out better.
September 4, 2025 at 4:47 AM
I could have written the code while waiting. But instead I spent four days refreshing the order status page like a mad man, convinced it would make the boards come out better.
They’re just like kids; they’re not sorry about the act, they’re sorry about being caught and the (fear of) ensuing consequences. But they’d do it again.
August 31, 2025 at 6:18 PM
They’re just like kids; they’re not sorry about the act, they’re sorry about being caught and the (fear of) ensuing consequences. But they’d do it again.
Many discussions were had, but no; the product has no batteries. It’s all business, no fun 😅
August 21, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Many discussions were had, but no; the product has no batteries. It’s all business, no fun 😅