dreamwatcher

From one engineer to another , you do not sound very professional in that post. Quality and specifications of components most certainly matter and as an engineer you should know that. The difference between using cheapest carbon resistors one can find that may or may not be in tolerance even at 5% compared to using metal film 1% tolerance resistors from a reputable dealer/manufacturer is important. Yes, all capacitor quality matters. Atari learned this with field change order 1A for the Atari 2600/2600A. Why use a $0.25 regulator when for a bit more you could use an "A" series which has tighter tolerance on the output voltage. The whole reason for replacing it on the 2600 is because the stock regulator will heat up, especially with the added load from the longhorn mod, and effect the color output after a period of time. Any old chip? There can be differences between revisions that can change the performance of the mod. Not any "fool" can professionally mount the mod and harnesses in a clean professional way, unless your definition is something along the lines of hot snotting it wherever it is convenient. What about wiring? Any old cheap cabling? What about proper shielding to ensure a clean signal especially with video signals? Soldering quality is a big deal. Is both the through hole and SMD soldering done correctly and clean. How many mods have we seen that had the crappiest soldering without even minimal effort to clean up the excess flux? $20 for 10 air shipped PCB in a market that is not high volume? Maybe if you are talking about an order much larger then 10 boards and are dividing out the cost. I know, I know..All "marketing" talk right? You did not "strike a nerve". This type of work is only one part of my business and not even a main part. I just cringe at some of the hack job mods/repairs I have seen and in some cases had to fix. This did teach me one thing: Not to even bother. Don't worry, I wont bother you anymore with what you call "marketing terms", in the end none of this effects either of us. Enjoy whatever victory you think you have won.

People are not paying a wad of money for $3 worth of parts. Which is low balling it, unless you are using the cheapest crap components possible and snot soldering the whole thing on a garbage non-plated prototype board. I guess anybody can grab a woodworker, plumbers or other soldering iron they have lying around and hack a mod into a system. Maybe they will get lucky and it will work...sort of What people pay for is a professionally made/installed mod with quality components and a PCB specifically for the mod (this generally throws your $3 figure out right there). When I install a mod, I also check to make sure all the other components in the system are good, change out troublesome components (Like replacing the 7805 regulator in an Atari 2600 when installing a longhorn mod to a newer 1.5A regulator), make sure any field change orders are done, and professionally mount the mod to ensure it stays in place and remains cool. The service is preformed in a static safe environment with the right tools for the job by somebody who understands the electronics/systems involved. It is like saying anybody can cheaply spray paint their car verse's going to an automotive paint shop to have it done right. In response to the OP: To me, generally a board becomes a donor when more then 2 traces are cut/lifted, unless it is part of a mod.

NTSC- Sears Serial # 19392T MFG Location: Sunnyvale I am the Owner SIngle Channel Functional : Yes Switchboard: C010462 REV: 5 Motherboard: CO10433 REV B RIOT: (ST) 7805D C010750-03 MCP: (ST) 78055 C010745-3 TIA: (AMI) 78021A C010444-01 C2740 Bought off Ebay as a non-working unit. The power switch needed cleaning and repair. There was what appeared as a botched repair attempt and a crude stranded wire was used as a jumper to short the regulator output to ground !! Main filter cap was tested and within tolerance. Voltage regulator output is at 5.073 Volts. I have not decided if I am going to keep or sell this young lady. If I sell, I will offer the option of adding the SVideo and Pause mods. I add the mods in such a way that they are completely reversable and the unit can be returned to original condition.