I seem to have hit a nerve. The response to my post (both publicly and privately) has been significant. I think that the fact that the respondents read the SI list means something all by itself. It's also nice to see that two of the companies I've been talking to (Optimum Design and Hytek Services) are included in that set. I appreciate the fact that some who felt inclined to offer a negative opinion of a service provider decided to do so privately. That's the only correct way to do it. In terms of advertising. I think that if it is relevant and in response to a post there's nothing wrong with a short post that says "we do that well, contact us for further info". More on topic. My perspective is unique (so I think) in that I don't have an extensive engineering support structure. I don't have the RF layout expertise, so I have to rely on the layout service using their expertise along with chip-vendor app notes in order to produce a working piece of hardware. When the stuffed boards come back, I need to know that, if they don't work it is because of problems with my FGPA or uC and not have to second-guess electrical performance. I have no way to test gigahertz range electronics ... perhaps that's another topic: Are there houses that specialize in electrical testing of this sort? Thanks for all the feedback, =============================== Martin Euredjian eCinema Systems, Inc. voice: 661-305-9320 fax: 661-775-4876 martin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx www.ecinemasys.com =============================== ------------------------------------------------------------------ To unsubscribe from si-list: si-list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'unsubscribe' in the Subject field or to administer your membership from a web page, go to: //www.freelists.org/webpage/si-list For help: si-list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'help' in the Subject field List archives are viewable at: //www.freelists.org/archives/si-list or at our remote archives: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/si-list/messages Old (prior to June 6, 2001) list archives are viewable at: http://www.qsl.net/wb6tpu