Manufacturing FUNcube Dongles

Building FUNcube Dongles. After a setback with delivery from a manufacturer, I am having to make over 100 by hand. That's 10,000 manually placed parts in total, almost all under the microscope. As you can see it's rather time consuming - it takes a full day to do ten. At 13:15 is the reflow oven, and the solder melts around 13:45-13:55.(Background audio track is what was on the TV at the time, starts off with Dr Who). See www.FUNcubeDongle.com for more details.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• reflow
• solder
• amateur
• radio
• satellite

[GB7YD]

wow. do they all work? syrg.net

[nezbrun]

@GB7YD All except one where I accidentally lifted a track on a QFN while replacing it. This pretty much rendered it a writeoff.

[makrisj]

Simply WOW.

All by hand?

[nezbrun]

@makrisj Yes. I have constructed over 100 of these devices all by hand.

[why2012dec]

so Dr Who helps you locate the "dilec"trics

[JomppisZ]

@trinolota This "dongle" is SDR. (software defined radio).

[trinolota]

I never knew about dongles before. So it is a device that you just made ! After you insert it into the computer it will enable the copy-protected software ?> :D That is so awesomely fantabulous thing !!!

[murrij]

You sir, are not only very patient, but an asset to the community. Having done a few surface mount projects, I can *almost* appreciate the work you've put into this project. I'm glad you videoed this so people can see how huge of an undertaking it is (or has been). I ordered my dongle two days ago. After 15 yrs of putting off taking the Tech exam, this project is what got me off of my hind end. Going General and Extra 2nd week of November. Thank u! KK4ETK

[poikaa3]

I'm for one of these! Like to build it myself.... Built an ATS-3 but soldered every component by hand, not reflow! Fun stuff!

[clintzoto]

LOL. DR Who.

[Exit04]

Did you use a stencil to apply the solder paste.. and do you have any good uk suppliers for smd's for small scale proto-typing..?

[jeffpicks]

You must be smoking a lot of weed to have the patience to stuff a SM board by hand! Hope you've got on your wrist strap!