Thanks. I have to keep the costs right down, I'm doing only two layers and the minimum board size for my purpose, I don't think I can afford to use gold, is this a really expensive option?
At the end of the Sparkfun product video for the ISP pogo adapter I mentioned above, the guy demonstrates using the pogo pins on some boards, one is just onto bare vias and the other seems to be onto standard header pin holes. Is there a common practice for this?
The issue I have with the solder paste appearing on the copper pads seems to be due to vias not being through the pad. Here is a screen shot of the ICSP pads on my board viewed in this gerber viewer. The only pad that does not have solder paste on it is the one I have put a via though. Please someone advise what's going on. I'm new to all of this so please forgive my confusion.
