Considering that the complete TCB will probbably not be available for purchase for the coming time, I would like your advice on acquiring the TCB.

At this moment I have considered two options:

1. buying a unpopulated PCB(via OSH, china or a local company) and populating it myself. my main doubt is whenether i could propperly solder the IC components.

2. Using the ArduinoMega2560 as a base and using a shield to make it compatible with the OP firmware. I know that there is such a shield on the forum, however I do not (fully)know where the arduino sheld and the TCB differ and what capabilities are un-available on the shield option.

what is at the current moment the better option?