My new Amplifier Board 'PCB 12 Ver. 3c 8/2013' has been revised so that all of the chips except the Ethernet controller are SMD's. There is only one DIP socket in the kit. When I reached the point where I was supposed to install the DIP sockets for the op-amps, I was confused until I saw that I had already mounted these SMD chips directly to the PCB. Fortunately these chips were left after the first 4 SMD's were installed via the instructions, and I just soldered them on knowing they were all alike before I realized that the instructions called for DIP socket installation in these locations. I even made a note in the documentation that you 'omitted IC's 1, 3, 5, and 7' in the SMD section. Then I couldn't find the DIP sockets nor could I locate anywhere on the board to mount them! It was then that I finally saw how this board differed from my original red amplifier build and these instructions.
![d'oh! #-o](https://www.wxforum.net/Smileys/default/eusa_doh.gif)
The build instructions for the amplifier board are excellent regarding parts inventory and construction checklist, however the order might need some attention. From previous experience I installed everything as listed
up to the electrolytic capacitors. Instead I next went to inductors L1-L4, the mini-USB connector, the reset button, the RN1 resistor network, the potentiometer P1, the Ethernet controller DIP socket, the LED's, the Out-A and Out-B test pins, the inductor L5, the antenna connector, penultimately the electrolytic capacitors C15, C30, C33, and C34, and lastly the RJ45 Ethernet connector. This assembly order requires minimal to no support of components from below while soldering them from the bottom of the board.
The board successfully powered up alone on the first try, but I have yet to test it otherwise because we're currently in the midst of local thunderstorm activity with numerous nearby strikes. I think I'll plug it antennaeless into the Controller's second amplifier socket and see what happens...