[hpsdr] parts kit vs mounted SMT

[Lyle Johnson]

> Ditto.  How many in this large and growing group have the necessary 
> microscope,  hand tools etc. to do the successful application of these 
> find pitched parts?  These parts were made for machine soldering.  No,  
> crazy is the right word since those of us with the necessary tools are a 
> tiny percentage of this group.   We need to choose a contract 
> manufacturer to put on these parts.

There are a lot of facets to this jewel :-)

We must keep in mind that TAPR's charter is as a non-profit (tax exempt) 
scientific, educational and research organization.  Providing kits for 
people to build in conjunction with advanced technology experimentation 
and learning certainly fits within this charter.

Assembled and tested products that create a plug and play environment 
may be a little less clear.

We know that there is at least one player in the assembled and tested 
SDR marketplace that has zero reservations about pursuing open-source 
designers with threats of lawsuits and cease-and-desist orders at the 
drop of a hat.  It would be unfortunate if TAPR, in an effort to provide 
better services to the Amateur community, found itself embroiled in 
legal wrangling.

I am sure there are for-profit companies that will be wanting to step in 
and offer assembled and tested board level products.  Being open source, 
no one can or should try and prevent them from doing so.  Being open 
source, there is plenty of opportunity for the marketplace to keep 
pricing efficient, especially if we are successful in getting an open 
source hardware license structure in place that assures derivative 
designs are just as open as the source designs.

I suggest that we start with bare boards and kits of parts and see where 
it leads us.  I recall that when AmQRP offered the DDS cards, they also 
had at least one person willing to attach the SMT IC for a small fee.  I 
can't help but believe that there are multiple entrepreneurs out there 
who would be happy to attach the parts that make some folks nervous, 
also for a small fee.

I remember these sorts of discussion in the 80s when TAPR made kit TNCs. 
  The result, at that time, was a decision to not pursue the assembled 
and tested marketplace. It was appropriate for the Beta test, but not later.

I could be very wrong, and there may be no issue at all for TAPR to 
enter the marketplace with assembled and tested boards without risk to 
their tax-exempt status. But TAPR must be very careful about approaching 
this, I suspect.

73,

Lyle KK7P


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