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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><div><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>To me if the board is laid out for hand assembly and using larger (0805, 1206) parts it's easier/quicker to build than through hole. No lead bending and flopping the board over and over which takes time. Also have no problem with daughter boards or connectors. You have to be smarter on how you solder and good tools are real important.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>I have work with electronics a lot over a very long time. Most the stuff I've seen for DIY is pretty trivial from what I have to deal with at work. I think the only thing I've seen so far that I would buy verses build is the SMR. Some of the Mutable Instruments stuff gets a bit challenging but is doable.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Biggest issue is just crappy board layout. There is a lot of stuff out there that is done pretty poorly. Especially when it comes to proper power layout and ground planes. Another big issue is people not paying attention to part size and having parts kludged on a board.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Jay S.<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div></body></html>