[time-nuts] time-nuts Digest, Vol 80, Issue 114

[Douglas H Reed]

I'll chime in too.
I've done plenty of small SMT at work and I do have a stereo
microscope and suitable tools at home. I'd potentially try the toaster
oven reflow technique but mainly just to see if it works. Paste solder
is not my friend....

On the other hand, I'd say it was easily worth a $50 surcharge to have
a board house do it for me. As reference, the DG8SAQ VNWA was
originally a kit but is now only available assembled and tested, and I
think that was less than $100 more. For a potentially high volume
project, the FunCube dongle is professionally assembled and then
tested and repaired by the club volunteers before being assembled and
shipped.

If some one or a group is going to create parts kits for the project,
you will find it takes a lot of time that might otherwise be used for
testing the assembled boards coming back from the board house. Please
note that any $$$ figures are just a guess, not from any Purchasing
knowledge. I've never dealt with a board house but I know short runs
will be expensive due to setup time.

I don't want to throw cold water on the project because I think these
sorts of projects are the best part of what ham radio is. I've always
been a techie more than a PTT pusher.... I have a couple SoftRock
kits, and I think there are a set of boards for a Scottie's Spec-an
somewhere around the house.... But I bought the VNWA assembled.

I'll certainly keep reading and will be interested to see where the
project goes.

73, Doug Reed, N0NAS.