DCTransistor logo: A version of the DC flag designed to look like it is printed on PCB. Each of the two bars has three 'LEDs' on it, one for each metro line, with copper traces connecting the LEDs.

Preorder

Preorders closed. Shipping from the United States in early April.

Thank you to everyone who purchased a board during the pre-order! Based on production and shipping estimates, I should receive the boards in late March / early April and be able to immediately start shipping them and accepting new orders.

Before ordering, be sure to read and understand the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Importantly, a power supply is not included.

Pay What You Can Pricing

All DCTransistor Boards are currently pay-what-you-can so that everyone who wants a board can get one, with a range of $50-$250. I’ve set a recommended price of $75 which I believe fairly covers my costs, keeps the boards accessibly priced, and lets me share my love of DC with my neighbors. All purchases above $150 will go directly to a DC-based mutual aid or other community organization.

Price Breakdown

For context, each board will cost around $22 to make and ship to me, another $1 or so to ship to you, and $2.48 to have your payment processed. In addition, I’ve put about $900 into board prototypes, supplies, and other up-front costs, so $9 from each board in my first batch of 100 will recoup those. At the recommended price point of $75, another $16.25 will go to taxes, leaving $24.25 to do as I please.

Of that $24.25 per board, $1.50 (2% of sales) will go to paying back the open source developers and maintainers who provided the libraries and other resources behind DCTransistor, $12 (16% of all sales) will go to DC mutual aid and other community organizations doing important on-the-ground work in the area, and the rest ($10.75 or 14.3% for a $75 purchase) will go to me.

Local Pickup

Instead of having the board shipped, you can also arrange to pick it up from me in the DC area if we’re already going to be in the same place at the same time. Basically, this is limited to 1) my friends and Columbia Heights neighbors, 2) other people regularly on the Georgetown Law Center Campus, 3) work colleagues, and 4) people at a meetup for an area group I would otherwise be attending (if this applies, I’ve posted about it in that group). Please read the terms and conditions before selecting this option.

You must email orders@dctransistor.com to arrange a pickup before selecting the option during checkout

Bi-Directional Boards Likely in Summer 2023

I know having a board with bi-directional trains would be fantastic, and I’m planning on making one. However, I probably won’t have one ready to sell until the Summer (at the earliest), and its recommended price will probably run around $100 due to higher materials costs.