I just saw the new GE864 module http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ts_id=9271
It looks like the pins are widely spaced apart (the documentation says 2.5 mm apart, so about ~0.1 inch), wide enough for hand soldering even though it’s BGA.
Could this module be reliably soldered to a two layer PCB with a grid of through-hole pads by feeding the solder through the hole from the underside? If it is possible, how does one go about verifying the integrity of these joints? Would solder paste and a hot plate be preferable in this situation?
Is there anything needed to be taken into consideration if I were to hand solder 30 gauge Kynar wire to each pad for breadboarding?
Paste and heat would be preferable. Via-in-pad may work however, though I would not suggest it.
The absolute hardest things will be aligning the module (via in pad will help, but :-/), and reballing the BGA when you mess up placement and have to pull it off again 
Designing a proper PCB for it and getting it assembled using a stencil is the sensible way to do it. Fiducials will solve the alignment problem.
Leon
Here is a link to the hardware guide:
http://www.semiconductorstore.com/pdf/n … _Guide.pdf
If you really can’t make use of the BGA package maybe you should consider the GC864-QUAD:
http://www.semiconductorstore.com/cart/ … duct=42884
Same functionality but with a simple connector interface instead of BGA package.
-B
frank26080115:
I just saw the new GE864 module http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ts_id=9271
It looks like the pins are widely spaced apart (the documentation says 2.5 mm apart, so about ~0.1 inch), wide enough for hand soldering even though it’s BGA.
Could this module be reliably soldered to a two layer PCB with a grid of through-hole pads by feeding the solder through the hole from the underside? If it is possible, how does one go about verifying the integrity of these joints? Would solder paste and a hot plate be preferable in this situation?
Is there anything needed to be taken into consideration if I were to hand solder 30 gauge Kynar wire to each pad for breadboarding?
May you use a Hot-air rework station (we use it for some smaller ICs). Or a reflow toaster like this kit http://www.sparkfun.com/commerce/produc … ucts_id=81 with Solder in paste like this http://www.mbouk.co.uk/solderpaste.htm