So...
Just ordered first run of 10 test boards for K16.

And SDS7102 Oscilloscope ordered today too, direct from China. They tell me it'll ship by EMS so it should only be about a week to get here if all goes well.

So the way things are looking now I'll have enough to test PIC firmware in a few days. Should have parts needed for testing K1 boards when they arrive in a week, and maybe scope will be here for that. That gives me a week to play with that stuff and get kinks worked out before K16 boards come in, and then I should have everything here to get that scoped and functional.

And if the planets align that will all be just in time for the samples to start arriving, and the real fireworks happen.

To aid with inspection of test and assembled boards I'm going to order one of these USB Microscopes. It looks pretty nice for checking PCB traces and IC pins, and my eyesight is not what it was (as I realized while looking at some boards that I got yesterday). For $60 it seems like it'll be worthwhile.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2te13V_YsPU

Anyone ever use one of these?