(tr)uSDX Forum

Hi there. Almost the first thing DL2MAN does in the assembly video is attach a surface-mount component. I've never worked with those, and I have a few questions before I try it. First, he refers to there already being some solder on the pads. I can't see it on mine (I see the color of copper, not silver). Is that solder something he put there beforehand, or does it come standard on a PCB and I'm just not seeing it with my aging eyes? If my pads don't have solder, should I be "tinning" them with solder before assembly? Any tips on how to make this connection without creating solder bridges?

Exactly which component are you referring to?

Most of the current kits don't need a surface mount component to be soldered and that the user assembly is for the through-hole components and toroids.

The assembly video does refer to a component that was not readily available when the group-buys were ongoing (before the Aliexpress and Ebay sellers were authorised), but by now this component is most likely already populating the correct location on the PCB.