Build Your Own Clone Message Board

Ok first build here, new to this! got a gift from my kid, so got to make it work
aiming for a basic setup with no mods. it doesn't make sound when turned on.

few things:
1. when turned off, signal runs through
2. when turned on, its dead quiet (MAIN ISSUE)
3. the 2 leds to the left never light up. i managed to make one of them light up at some point (right one in picture), but not again... i initially accidentally soldered them wrong direction, had to resolver them, now they are positioned as should...
4. i accidentally soldered the IC chips to the pcb, AND in wrong direction, so had to take em out (all 3), and re solder them in correct position. one of the sockets broke in te process, that's why the chip is soldered (one in bottom left corner), to the pcb
5. battery works, and 9V in, main LED turns on
6. i have checked all solder points with a multimeter, and they give signal (have not measured beyond that, new to this too).

greatly appreciate any help! hope all have a great holiday.
cheers,
David

You can't really test for bad solder joints with a multimeter. Based on your pics, I'd say your problem is probably due to poor soldering. You've got a lot of excess component lead sticking out, so you'll want to clean that up. Then you'll want to reflow all of your solder joints. You've got big blobs of solder on the back side, but no flow through to the other side, which indicates that you either didn't hold the soldering iron to the joint long enough, or you iron just isn't set hot enough, or both. So go through and thoroughly reheat all your solder joints. You may need to add a tiny touch of fresh solder to them just for the rosin to help with flow out.

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*patience is a virtue*

Please do not PM me. email is prefered. keith@buildyourownclone.com