[hpsdr] Alex

[Jeroen Bastemeijer]

Dear All,

I reply to this message as it represents best the point I want to make.

The discussion from last summer, about winding the toroids, is still in 
my memory. Including the jokes for trying to "convince" people that they 
should do the winding. ;-) As a result the toroids were woudn by an 
external company. Which is fine.

At this moment, there is a large box (boxes?) at the TAPR office, I 
guess, with all the toroids waiting to be put on a board. This soldering 
can either be done by a contract manufacturer or by the buyers (= hams) 
themselves. I think those toroids should be used. We can't let TAPR 
stock those toroids forever! ;-)

The point I want to make is: Who is going to assemble the board? At this 
moment, there is no other choice than buying ready built boards (except 
for waiting till the gerbers are available). The options I would like to 
see:
- buy the ready assembled boards
- buy the bare board and a bag with the toroids (I didn't mean a partial 
build kit!)
- optionally, third option, buy the bare board (this would be cheaper 
than, taking the Gerber and have the board made/manufactured yourself)

To be short, I agree on the toroid winding, this discussion has been 
going on long enough to get the input from everybody. However, the 
decission on offering Alex only as ready build board was taken without 
much discussion, to my opinion that's a pitty.

According to my opnion, the fun stuff (for a HAM) is:
- building the board (learning new assembly techniques, like soldering 
SMD for example)
- testing the boards (see how they perform, learn how they work)
- using the boards

I think Alex is one of the boards which is best suited for this concept.

73 Jeroen PE1RGE

Magnus Lindahl wrote:
> ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
>
>
> Hi Mike,
>
> I get this explanation from Dave, and I understand that decision, but a
> option with a set of PCB's would be nice to see at TAPR kits section.
>
> Magnus --
>
>  Scotty put the layout files on hpsdr.org/support after th TAPR produces the
> board.  This is an as built board layout for those that would like to
> recreate the TAPR boards.  As Alex has not been built yet the file are not
> available.  The project leader and the Alpha testers make little change
> right up to the production date.  On teamspeak Scotty mention that Alex will
> likely be available around Dayton time in Mid-May.
>
> As for the kit ideas.  We had a big discussion last summer  on teamspeak
> about all these options.  The issue came down to numbers, it is cheaper to
> make all boards one way, than half build and half kits, one build board from
> the single production is cheaper that a kit from a half run.  Once a
> reasonable toroid vendor was found it was decided to make the cheapest as
> build board possible, which needed the largest number of board orders
> possible.
>
>   Dave KV0S
>   hpsdr.org webmanager
>
>  
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mike Naruta [mailto:mnaruta at comcast.net] 
> Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 9:20 PM
> To: Magnus Lindahl
> Cc: 'HPSDR Reflector'
> Subject: Re: [hpsdr] Alex
>
>
> Sorry Magnus, my mistake.  The pc board artwork is not posted there yet,
> just the schematic, layout, and bill of materials.
>
>
>
> Magnus Lindahl wrote:
>   
>> Hello Mike,
>>
>> Maybe I'm blind, but I can't see any layout files for Alex at HPSDR.org.
>>
>> Magnus
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: hpsdr-bounces at lists.hpsdr.org 
>> [mailto:hpsdr-bounces at lists.hpsdr.org]
>> On Behalf Of Mike Naruta
>> Sent: Tuesday, March 10, 2009 4:49 PM
>> To: HPSDR Reflector
>> Subject: Re: [hpsdr] Alex
>>
>> ***** High Performance Software Defined Radio Discussion List *****
>>
>>
>> After hearing the difficulties with the toroids on the previous board, 
>> it seems to make sense to have that work done by professionals using
>>     
> machines.
>   
>> There is a local ham who's Elecraft K2 is still sitting incomplete 
>> after years.  The only thing left for him to do are the toroids.  I 
>> suspect the assembly costs using a machine are not greatly more than 
>> having someone assemble bags of parts.
>>
>> If you feel you must solder, the circuit board layouts are available 
>> on HPSDR.org
>>
>>
>>
>>     
>
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