I wonder if things have changed

[WA6MHZ]

Ball grid array devices that have no external pins; 139 balls on the bottom of the chip that are soldered to the board! no way to access anything to test it unless there are test points provided.

I just HATE ball grid arrays, and they are my Achilles Heel in testing. Sometimes we have to send out the PCB for Xraying to see if the ball grid joints are making contact. I have a whole box full of very expensive PCBs that can't be fixed because of those Ball Grids. I tell the engineers to FORGET even thinking about Ball grids, but sometimes that's the only package the part comes in. I remember being LAMBASTED by a Dork Supervisor for not being able to fix ball grid boards. "OK, YOU tell me how I can test under those IC's!!!"

[K8JD]

I support the ARRL but I throw away the rag when I get it. It's useless.

The first thing I read every month is the Silent Keys page to make sure my call is not in there yet.

[K8JD]

But then Technology changed where the average Ham could not build what Surface mount Robotics do so easily. The Industry has changed too, and most through-hole parts are going away. If you can't do SMT, you soon won't be able to Homebrew, unless you find some old parts in the Surplus store.

My new project I have been working on is almost entirely SMT, but still has a few old Through-hole parts since the schematic is circa 1980.
But I do this for a living. .!!!!

My latest kit was a "semi-kit" MFJ Cub with SM parts pre-installed and thru hole and nut and bolted parts left to the builder. The first one I built had a few, pre-installed tiny capacitors standing up on one end .
Since I work on hand held and mobile commercial radios I had the skill to resolder the parts in the proper position and get the rig working. It's not that difficult until you get into the flat 40 pin IC's...etc.
The next one I built had all the parts pre-installed properly.

[AG3Y]

I just HATE ball grid arrays, and they are my Achilles Heel in testing. Sometimes we have to send out the PCB for Xraying to see if the ball grid joints are making contact. I have a whole box full of very expensive PCBs that can't be fixed because of those Ball Grids. I tell the engineers to FORGET even thinking about Ball grids, but sometimes that's the only package the part comes in. I remember being LAMBASTED by a Dork Supervisor for not being able to fix ball grid boards. "OK, YOU tell me how I can test under those IC's!!!"

I worked with BGA devices just a bit. They really ARE a bear to get right! As far as the nearsightedness, I worked with an engineer who could read the codes on 0603 devices ( the transistors, primarily ) without any aid, and I could not even see the lettering on the blame things ! The big difference was, I COULD solder those things to the board, and he invariably messed things up. He would hack up a board something awful, and then give it to me to "make it work"!

I would have complained, but it was good job security !

[AB8RU]

I went to a college for Avaionics, figgured a good way for a second class phone license. Today I am about to finnish a DL course in Info Tech Mgt.

I still have backlog of projects.

[VK6ZGO]

Lesson one: Say "GOODAY"
Lesson two: Every DUDE is called "Mate"
Lesson three: Primary food is "Shrimp on the Barbie"

Sorry, VKs, just pulling your leg!

Sorry Bloke, you blew it on Lesson three

The real thing is a Prawn on the Barbie. (As in "Don't come the raw

prawn,mate!")

They modified it on the ad so Americans would know what Hogan was talking

about.

Our Tiger Prawns are anything but shrimpy!

I prefer the little chick who says " Where the b----- hell are you!

(Much easier on the eye!)


73 VK6ZGO

[KB2VXA]

Don't forget the crayfish, lobster for the Yanks. (;->) I got a chuckle out of those "how to speak Australian" ads for Foster's Lager, he couldn't even pronounce Oztralian right. What I really get a laugh out of is the US President O'Bomber!

For those who need some lessons for real: http://tankfm.hopto.org/default.asp?iId=JMHLJ Speaking of chuckles the logo is Tank FM and the callsign 2WET. Here's another for the packeteers out there, Ray Wells VK2TV the Chief Engineer and bottle washer operates APRS node/BBS VK2WET at the tank, and yes it IS a bloody tank!

I leave you with this thought, if you catch Ray's program and happen to hear a Yank in the Tank promo sound bite... it's jus' lil' ol' me. (;->)