Planning ranges — final pricing confirmed November 2026.
Review & Recovery
Pre-fab schematic review
$1,500 fixed. A fixed-price check of one board's schematic before you order fabrication. Every finding points to a sheet, net or reference designator, and to the datasheet line or calculation behind it.
No hourly billing, no surprise invoices.
For hardware leads who want a second set of eyes on a schematic before ordering fabrication.
Start with a short project summary to engineering@1997circuits.com. A named engineer replies with a fit assessment and availability. No attachments needed.
What you get
Included (everything here is in the $1,500 price)
- One board, one schematic version. We review the version you send us.
- Review areas agreed in writing before we start. For example: power tree and sequencing; protection; interface connections and termination; part ratings and derating.
- A PDF report plus a findings table (CSV/XLSX), with findings ranked by severity. Each finding gives its evidence (the sheet, net or reference designator, plus the datasheet line or calculation it rests on) and our recommendation.
- One readout call of up to 60 minutes to walk through the findings with your team.
- Follow-up questions by email for 2 weeks after the readout.
- A recommendation for every finding: a recommended action, or "no action: intentional tradeoff".
- Corrections to our report, at no charge. If one of our findings is wrong, we correct the report.
Not included
- Layout review. Schematic + layout review is a separate service: from $2,500, separately scoped.
- Simulation.
- Bring-up. See Recovery below.
- Redesign work. Fixes can be quoted as separate work (see "Can you fix what you find?" below).
- Re-checking your revised design. After you change your schematic, we can examine the revised version. This is quoted separately, and your quote states whether it is included.
Severity scale used in the report
- Critical: will not work or causes damage
- Major: likely failure or reliability risk in a specified condition
- Minor: margin, compliance or robustness gap
- Note: observation, no change required
Is your design eligible?
| Your design | What we offer |
|---|---|
| Up to about 12 schematic sheets | Pre-fab schematic review, $1,500 fixed |
| Larger or denser | A scoped quote |
| You want the layout reviewed too | Schematic + layout review, from $2,500, separately scoped |
The 12-sheet figure only decides whether a design qualifies for the fixed price. The scope is the list of review areas we agree with you in writing. Anything outside those areas is out of scope, and the report says so.
What we need from you
| What to send | Needed? | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| Schematic PDF of the version you plan to release to fab | Required | Enough for the fit check and the quote. It is the version we review and cite in every finding |
| Native schematic files (Altium, KiCad or OrCAD/Allegro) or an exported netlist | Required for the review | We check connections from the netlist, not only from the drawing |
| BOM with manufacturer part numbers | Recommended | Ratings and derating are checked against the exact part you will build with |
| Key datasheets | Helpful | Especially for custom parts or a specific datasheet revision |
| Block diagram | Helpful | Shows how the board fits into your system |
| Requirements and power budget | Helpful | Input range, loads and operating conditions set the limits we check against |
Your files
- NDA: We can sign your NDA, or send ours, before you send any files. Say so in your first email.
- Who sees them: Vetted engineers who assist on a review work under a signed confidentiality agreement at least as protective as your NDA.
- How to send them: By a secure share link (Google Drive, OneDrive or Dropbox) or as email attachments. We can sign your NDA first.
- After the review: We keep project files for 12 months after delivery for follow-up questions, then delete them. We delete them earlier on request and confirm in writing.
How it works
- Send a short project summaryboard or module, stage, the concrete problem, the timing you need, which files you have; no attachments yet
- A named engineer repliesa fit assessment (whether this review suits your design, or a different engagement does), our availability and the next step
- You get a bounded proposalreview areas in writing, price, start window, milestones, dependencies (what we need from you, and when), acceptance criteria; you approve it before we start
- You send files; we review and reportsecure share link or email; PDF report plus findings table
- Readout callup to 60 minutes; email follow-up for 2 weeks
The proposal states whether a re-check of your revised design is included. If you need an NDA, we sign yours or send ours before you send files. You decide what to change; if you later want us to examine your revised design, or to make changes, we quote that separately.
Recovery: scoped bring-up debug
For a board that is already built and stuck in bring-up. This is planned work by appointment, not an emergency or round-the-clock troubleshooting service.
How it is quoted
- Quoted separately, only after we have access to the schematic, layout and BOM
- The first reply states our availability and the next step
- We are accountable for the tests named in the quote; we don't guarantee results beyond them
Every debug quote names
- Who owns the software: your team or your software partner
- The inputs we need: boot image or BSP build, tools, fixtures, boards on the bench
- The software versions supported
- The hardware acceptance tests, each with a pass criterion
Not included
- BSP and firmware work: we do not sell it
- Debug beyond the agreed tests (quoted as a change package)
Questions
Which file formats do you accept?
A schematic PDF of the version you plan to release is enough for the fit check and the quote. The review itself needs the PDF plus native files (Altium, KiCad or OrCAD/Allegro) or an exported netlist. Add the BOM with manufacturer part numbers, and any datasheets, block diagram, requirements or power budget you have.
Will you sign our NDA?
Yes. We can sign your NDA, or send ours, before you send any files. Mention it in your first email.
What if you don't find anything serious?
You still get the report: what we checked in each agreed area, any minor items and notes, and what we found well done. The price is fixed. It does not depend on how many findings there are.
Can you fix what you find?
Yes, as separate work with its own fixed quote. Changes to an existing design are quoted as an engineering change package, from $1,500. Each proposal states scope, price, schedule impact and required verification before work begins, and related changes can be bundled. A redesign is quoted after we assess your source files and what can be reused. New board design is priced in planning ranges: Standard $6,000–$12,000, High-speed $12,000–$24,000, Complex $24,000–$48,000. Your price is a fixed quote, issued after a scope review and approved before work starts. See Pricing.
We don't have a schematic yet. Can you review our architecture?
That is a different engagement. This review needs a schematic to check. Architecture and feasibility scoping, before a schematic exists, is quoted separately as the first stage of a design project. Send a short project summary and we'll tell you which fits.
Do you offer urgent troubleshooting?
No. Recovery work on a built board is scoped and scheduled by appointment. The first reply states our availability and the next step.
How does payment work?
50% to start and 50% when the report is delivered ($750 / $750). No hourly billing.
Who does the review?
A senior engineer leads the review and signs off the report before it is delivered. Vetted engineers and AI tools may do part of the work under NDA, with a senior review before delivery.
Want a second set of eyes?
Request a review. Send a short project summary to engineering@1997circuits.com. A named engineer replies with a fit assessment, availability and the next step. No attachments needed in the first message.
Please include
- Board or module
- Stage (for example: schematic complete, layout started, ready to order fab)
- The concrete problem or concern
- The timing you need
- Files available (schematic PDF, native files, BOM, datasheets, block diagram, requirements or power budget)
- Sheet count and schematic tool
- Whether you need us to sign an NDA first
Copy-ready request: this is the exact text
Subject: Pre-fab schematic review request Board or module: Stage (schematic complete / layout started / ready to order fab): The concrete problem or concern: Timing we need: Files available (schematic PDF, native files, BOM, datasheets, block diagram, requirements / power budget): Sheet count and schematic tool: NDA needed before files: yes / no
Nothing is sent from this page. Your email app opens with this text; you send it yourself. No files are attached. Or write it on the contact page.
Want a second set of eyes? Pre-fab schematic review, $1,500 fixed · schematic + layout review from $2,500 · custom carrier design (planning ranges, fixed quote after scope review). Fixed quote after scope review. No hourly billing, no surprise invoices. Contact: engineering@1997circuits.com