OnTrack: The PCB Design Podcast

PCB grounding mistakes rarely start with the designer; they start in the datasheet, the app note, and the reference design that gets copied straight into production. On this episode of the Altium OnTrack Podcast, Zach Peterson talks with Dan Beeker, president of System Solution Specialists, about split grounds, mislabeled ground pins, and leftover ferrites that turn evaluation-board shortcuts into EMC failures. 

Drawing on a 45-year career across Motorola, Freescale, and NXP, Dan explains why field-based design, which treats the dielectric rather than the copper as the place energy travels, makes signal integrity and EMC compliance predictable. You'll also hear why the kitchen-sink approach to a failed emissions test rarely works, what critical switching-speed and geometry details datasheets leave out, and how to build a proper Z-axis transmission line through HDI vias. Dan also previews his three PCB West 2026 classes, running September 29 to October 2 in Santa Clara.

📚 More from this Episode:
- System Solution Specialists (Dan Beeker): https://systemsolutionspecialists.com/ 
- Dan Beeker on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielbeeker/ 
- PCB West 2026, Sept 29 – Oct 2, Santa Clara: https://pcbwest.com/
- Dan Beeker's articles on Altium Resources: https://resources.altium.com/experts/daniel-beeker

💡 Watch Next:
- Why 90% of Electronics Fail EMC Tests and How to Fix It: https://youtu.be/XG1gHjPkXyY
- EMC Expert Debunks Common PCB Grounding Myths: https://youtu.be/7PJGPDiA31Q
- Bridging Grounds with Ferrites? TERRIBLE IDEA!!!: https://youtu.be/dZ_ogEydnFM
- Remove the Ferrites! 1 Min PCB Design Review: https://youtu.be/qC0_UzjPDC0
- PCB Assembly Mistakes Designers Keep Making: PCB West 2026 Preview: https://youtu.be/NfpMqeP6JnA

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The Altium Academy is an online experience created to bring modern education to PCB Designers and Engineers all across the world. Here you can access a vast library of free training and educational content covering everything from basic design to advanced principles and step-by-step walkthroughs. Join industry legends as they share their career knowledge, review real-life design projects, or learn how to leverage one of Altium's leading design tools. No matter your level of experience, the Altium Academy can help you become a better Designer and Engineer!

About Altium LLC
Altium LLC (ASX:ALU), a global software company based in San Diego, California, is accelerating the pace of innovation through electronics. From individual inventors to multinational corporations, more PCB designers and engineers choose Altium software to design and realize electronics-based products.

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