Build or Buy?

[Steve Baldwin]

It really depends on where you get your most satisfaction. If you get
more "I built that" feelings from going through the schematic capture ->
PCB -> smoke test, then you should persue it. That's my opinion, anyway.
After all, it's supposed to be a hobby.
If you are more interested in getting something going or writing
software then you can compare the time to design your own board with the
time that the car still isn't on the road.

If you are a bit reluctant about the hardware side, I would try to get
on the EFI332 bandwagon if it's not too late. That way you get a PCB
already made and you only have to solder bits on. You also have other
people at a similar stage in development with varying areas of expertise
all on a mailing list.

If you decide to do your own board, you are pretty safe with something
around the speed of the 8051 but if you intend going to something
faster, a guiding hand can be very helpful if it's newto you.
A rough guide for proto PCB's is about NZ$200 (these days about the same
in AU$ :-) for an A4 glass board with plated holes plus another $50 or
so for plotting. That's without solder mask or silkscreen, BTW.

Steve.