Re: [avr-chat] ATmega644 : dual USART... or not dual usart.. that, is the question !

[David Kelly]

On Feb 7, 2009, at 3:17 PM, Joerg Wunsch wrote:

> Robert L Cochran <address@hidden> wrote:
>
> > Well, why not just give surface mount parts a try?
>
> I second this.  Generally, all those parts down to about 0.8 mm pitch
> are pretty easy to handle.  Making your own PCBs for them is not
> problematic, and if you buy one of those cheap hot-air soldering tools
> (around EUR 70 approximately), unsoldering a TQFP-44 device will be
> fun, much unlike the horror of unsoldering a DIP-40 package.

Am guessing the PCB is a big step for Vincent. We have sources in the  
USA where one can get 5 double sided PCBs with plated through holes,  
silkscreen on top, soldermask top and bottom, for under $100 in 5 days.

When prototypes dropped to under $500 a number of years ago I  
successfully argued to my bosses and business partner that we should  
*start* with a PCB. We have an awfully good idea what it needs to be  
and where we expect to tweak. Make allowances for that on the PCB. And  
chop the heck out of it making it into what we eventually want. Then  
send that out for more PCBs. The result is faster and cheaper than  
wire wrap.

--
David Kelly N4HHE, address@hidden
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Whom computers would destroy, they must first drive mad.