REV D1 - Initial Build Notes (First Article)

[kb1lqd]

This ticket holds the inspection, build, and testing of the first PCBA to be built 100% to completion. As arrived from PCB:NG the PCBA's contain all circuitry except through hole components, GPS, and SMA connector. During inspection several key verification need to be addressed:

• Inspect all solders across the boards builds
  • Note any cold solders, suspiciously small solder fillets, etc...
• Verify electrical operation
  • CC430
    • Initial bootloader programming
  • Power Supply
  • USB/UART
  • GPS
  • CC1190
  • Antenna Output

Solder Inspection

This board booted good! Have tested basic CC430 operations, no RF. Bryce and I are inspecting for general concerns, no operational issues noted yet but noting anything that looks potentially an issue. We're use to hand soldered components so our experience with automated solder paste fillets are minimal.

• U14 (Balun) solder looks insufficient, may not have fully wetted, marginal? Concerning.
• U14 Solder ball underneath?
• X2 has solder ball underneath component
• X1 Solder ball underneath
• C5 Looks OK but might be marginal on wetting to PCB
• P1 Flux left on board, was it cleaned? Not a huge deal.
• C23 has some solder balls underneath
• U1 Is slightly skweded towards counter-clockwise, probably still in spec but noting for thoroughness
• U4 Pins 1,2,3,4 not sure if fully wetted. Likely fine but noting for thoroughness.
• Mousebites could be smoothed a bit

Soldering SMA Connector

Solder SMA connector on, looks good! Verified a quick RF test commanding a REV B1 Faraday remotely, the CC1190 and RF circuitry work! Not sure on performance but seems like a great start.

Verified RF telemetry transmissions: