[Elecraft] SMT - Was Re: Wayne on KNBx

[Larry Phipps]

Even though I have used SMT parts in my personal projects Craig, I agree 
with most of what you have said, and avoid them in projects aimed at kit 
builders. I will take exception, however, with your last statement. We 
are well past the point where every variety of IC is available in both 
SMT and DIP format. Almost all new parts are available only in SMT, or 
even dies, especially in the communications market. This is because the 
designs are driven mainly by the wireless/cellular market where size is 
paramount.

It should be noted also that performance generally suffers with leaded 
parts in RF circuits. Parasitic strays in bypass caps, chokes, resistors 
and other simple parts are far lower in SMT parts. This may not matter 
much in HF gear, although even in HF gear it is often important to have 
unconditional stability into the UHF range.

73,
Larry N8LP
www.telepostinc.com
 

Craig Rairdin wrote:

>Surface-mount technology has been in practical use for a very long time and
>hasn't yet supplanted leaded parts. I can imagine there could come a time
>when it won't be financially practical to manufacture every variety of IC in
>both SMT and DIP formats, I'm having a harder time imagining leadless
>resistors and capacitors replacing their leaded counterparts.
>
>Write back in ten years and we'll see how it turned out. :-)
>
>Craig
>NZ0R
>K1 #1966
>K2 #4941
>
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