Ahhh vias in pads...what timing. In fact built a board last week that I had no idea that they put vias in the pads until the bare fab showed up. Soon as I seen it I was screaming like a banshee!! Them: What's wrong Steve? Why are you so wound-up? Me: Because there's vias in the pads!! Them: Is that really a problem? Won't the solder just fill them up? Me: Yes it will...and take all the solder away from the fillet to do it... Them: Oh it can't be that bad, the via is so small... Me: Okay, trust me on this...you'll see. Go to: http://www.stevezeva.homestead.com and tell me I was right. Luckily, this is just a pre-production build of 10 boards...I think there is going to be a redesign after this...hehehe -Steve Gregory- > This problem is never ending. I'm working now on the ugliest R/F board > imagineable. It too has all your problems. However, I have a forward > thinking engineer who understands the issues involved as you state them. We > are redesigning and he's recalculating to eliminate those issues. So, it can > be done. No, unless you redesign, you have a lost cause notwighstanding > rework adn subsequentg chip cracking due to thermal issues related trying to > solder the little mutha's. > > You can add vias in pads only as micro types or those having been plugged > and plated over. Still a redesign exists. > > On the same note, can someone recommend a good R/F and other electrical > performance tool that is relatively easy to use? Hell of a question I know, > but consider the source. > > MoonMan >