There is zero shame in buying preassembled boards, modules, jacks with presoldered wires attached or anything like that. Or kits with all the surface mount work done for you.

There's a lot of great options for constructing things from modules and cable harnesses out there these days, and if it's the easiest way to build the project you're envisioning, go for it!

This is especially true if you are unable to solder or do fine detail work well!

At the end of the day, you still made something, and it's yours.

(Also, if you think I solder all of my own connectors and surface mount stuff, you'd be wrong)

Yes, this is a subtoot based on DMs and conversations that have happened over the past few months where folks have commented to me that they don't feel like they're doing real hardware hacking because they're not designing their own PCBs or soldering every wire or something.

Just go out there and make things!

@Stormgren thank you.

Your message is important to say no matter what, but was especially relevant to me, since my non-profit just sold out of an SMD pre-soldered QRP HF kit.

Recipients do all the through-hole parts and wind the toroids.

Enough with refusing to leverage modern manufacturing techniques?

I don't expect people to sew all their own clothes.

We received no complaints about this hybrid kit. On the contrary, there were a lot of happy people thst coukd skip SMD.

@abraxas3d Hmmm, TruSDX kit run? 😀​

I spend a lot of time contemplating how to make things more accessible and blowing out the gatekeeping. Part of that is you have to meet people on their ability level, and maybe that'll trigger a deeper wanting to go learn more. I find quite often it does. And for those who it doesn't, hey, they still made a thing they can point at and say that they did it.

One thing I'm trying very hard to do as a result of all of this is try to pull the term "appliance operator" out of my vocabulary, because it's problematic as hell in #HamRadio, and I'm realizing that it does not help build DIY spirit whatsoever.

@Stormgren RFBitBanger kit. Class E amplifier and SCAMP digital mode native. Can do any FSK mode, including FT8 et al. Was very well received. Main boards will arrive tomorrow and get kitted up here in San Diego.

We tell people "you do not have to be an expert to join, you just have to be willing to become more of one along the way".

100% agree with your sentiment regarding appliance operation.

@Stormgren @recursive @abraxas3d This is where I'm at with uwaves. I built a 10 GHz amp from a kit a while back and that was a good learning experience at the next level down. One barrier is having the right lab gear for hacking on uwave circuits. It's a significant investment in older tech (or very expensive new tech), and gaining specialized knowledge to use it. Slowly but surely...

@Stormgren totally agreed, and there is simply not enough time for a normal person to do everything from scratch.

@recursive @abraxas3d @Stormgren There are also hacker spaces with mills and CNC gear, and people there who may happy to do machining for others.

@abraxas3d Any plans for another run of #RFBitBanger kits?

@kb6nu @abraxas3d Yes, please! 😊

@kr1st @kb6nu yes, and very soon. We talked it over this week while ORI CFO was in town.

@Stormgren @abraxas3d Neat. Looking forward to batch 2.

@anisian @Stormgren

Just published the campaign at https://us.commitchange.com/ca/san-diego/open-research-institute/campaigns/rfbitbanger-solstice-special