I have 3 kits put together like I sold in 2020, I’ll have 2 more avalable when I get more LED displays in a few days. For now, I’ll sell these for $60 plus shipping (probably about $5-$7 in the US). I can include the 3D printed front faceplate with a smoked acryllic insert for another $12 – I’ll include the 8 screws needed to mount the LED to the bezel/front panel and 4 to mount it to the enclosure. You can find the enclosure I used that this panel fits on Amazon here. I also have 2 fully built kits available at $135 each. For both the kit and built kit, you will need the cables to attach it to your radio – RCA patch cords (use video cables made for higher frequencies – not audio cables) and a power cable to supply 12V either from the TS-520S or an adapter.
I also have added 3 files to LED Github page. They are the 3D front plate should you want to print your own, and two dxf files that you can use with a laser engraver to position the PCB in the case, and to mark the cut outs for the back plate. Details at the bottom of the LED build page
SO, I am hoping to have 5 kits and 2 fully prebuilt “kits” ready to ship this week. Based on how these sell I’ll be able to order more parts for more shipments. Not sure if I’ll be able maintain the prices – we’ll see.
I am going to reach out to those who posted interest first via e-mail.
In From 2014 thru 2020, I sold the blank PCB for $8. In 2020, a kit including the LED display, PCB, and all the parts that were needed to be loaded on the PCB and a jumper to connect the two sold for $45. This included a preprogrammed (by me) ATmega328P and color printed instructions. Some of these were sold on eBay, for example, and there was 10% or so charges from them (don’t remember exactly) plus the PayPal fees, so I probably took in $38ish?
Today, just the parts I can get from Mouser – not including the LED display, jumper or PCB is almost $30 – $37.10 with shipping. Below is a sample of the price changes:
I’m not trying to make money with these kits, but I have to cover my costs, obviously. I am not ordering up one kit worth of parts at a time either, but now I am spending a couple of hundred dollars to make 8-10 kits. And I “make” them – count out the parts, load chips onto anti-static foam, load the parts in anti-static bags, program the microcontroller, etc.
I am probably looking at $60+ for a kit like the one I shipped in 2020 for $45. There’s an individual on eBay selling my design and building the same kit I described above (it’s open source after all) from the Netherlands for about $61 USD, about $75 shipped to the US. This is for a built PCB and display – not mounted in a case, but still – where does a $60 kit fit in here?
The extruded case from Amazon that I am using for my fully prebuilt kit is about $17, then I 3D print the front panel, cut out a piece of smoked acrylic to fit, hand tap and assemble the front panel. The back panel takes careful drilling with a small drill press, painting, engraving, filing – plus the time to build the PCB! Forgot drilling and mounting the PCB to the chassis with spacers, testing, etc. And the one I put up on eBay to “see what it’s worth” just sold for $102.51, shipping included. I can’t do that moving forward.
I am going to try selling a few kits like I did in 2020, with the option of the 3D printed front panel, and a few fully built kits as well…. we’ll see how this goes!
