I don’t know if this is really a bug or a compromise in the design needed to get it into 256 bytes of code space.
Always enter all four characters of 16 bit hex address when entering addresses into the ACI parser. The parser doesn’t clear out preexisting addresses, so unless you enter all four address characters, you will use whatever was already present in memory mixed in with the new address.
EXAMPLE: to load Hamarabi enter the following
004A.00FFR 0400.0FFFR
These PCB boards are turning out to be very expensive to make, partly because of the need for the array of unplated vias in the encoding matrix on the upper left side of the board. These unplated holes push this project into a custom fab process pricing, which increases cost by 25%. Because of this, and the specialty nature of this project, I’m not sure how many to order. What I’ve decided to do, is to make November a pre-order month. At the end of November, I will order enough to fill the pre-orders only. There are no plans to stock or inventory any of these PCBs to sell later on. The cost of the PCB will be $79 and will include no hardware, chips or other components. I can’t even guarantee the PCB will be error free. Actually I’m reproducing a design error that was on the original, but beyond that I can only say that I’ll do the best that I can. However, if they turn out to be unusable, I’ll eat the cost and either get a new batch made or refund your money. Shipping within the lower 48 US states will be free. Add $25 for overseas shipping.
Pre-orders will the accepted through the end of November. Fabrication of the PCBs is expected to take a month, and shipment to you about a week after that. Which would put the PCB in your hands in the first half of Janurary.
send email to “mike@willegal.net” for preordering information.
PS. If one of us can find a sheet metal vendor to do the stiffeners, I’ll be glad to coordinate a batch purchase of those at cost.
I have had it confirmed from an independent source that the ACI works fine with Vince Briel’s replica 1 SE. This same person has also successfully tried a Radio Shack 14-109 (no longer sold) as well as the CTR-80A which is a cassette recorder packaged with the TRS80s.
If you have used a particular cassette recorder, successfully or not, let me know and I’ll share the information.
We have both noticed erratic operation of the LED, but I have previously reported that the LED can not be reliably used for setting playback volume.
I’m likely to be ordering Datanetics keyboard PCBs within a couple of weeks. This will most likely be a one shot deal and I’m expecting that I’ll make less than 25. I’ll sell keyboard PCBs and possibly metal stiffeners. You’ll have to find an MM5740 encoder, key switches, key caps and the rest of the parts.
Apple Cassette Interface kits for the Apple 1 are now in stock.
They cost $100 alone, or $75 if combined with the purchase of a Mimeo 1 kit.
I’ve had a friend partially test with Vince Briel’s Replica 1. So far so good, but he has only tried reading from an iPod. Writes and reads from a regular cassette recorder still need to be tested with the Replica 1. I’ll provide an update when that is accomplished.
I have a small stack of packages almost ready to go out. I just sent an email to those with orders queued up. If you think you have an order queued up and don’t receive an email, contact me.
Replica Appe Cassette Interface Board
All parts have arrived. First board is built and successfully reading and writing. No problems found, though I’ve had to remind myself about the sensitivity to cassette volume control setting, before I could get reads to work well off of a cassette recorder. Reading off an iPod is much more forgiving. I need to do some further checkout, but at this point, things are looking good. I also need to print some bring-up guides and burn some PROMs before I’ll be able to ship these units to those who pre-ordered.
So far, so good. I populated a board with ICs and I can run the software off of the onboard PROMS. I’ll be getting resistors and the rest of the parts over the next week. So by sometime next week, I’ll be able to complete the checkout. After that I’ll need to verify operation with a Replica 1 and then I’ll be in business.
replica ACI
Just added the first version of an early Apple keyboard page. This details some of the changes that went into early Datanetics and Apple keyboards. There are more keyboards to be added, but I figured that I had enough interesting stuff written up to put up this link.
http://www.willegal.net/appleii/early-a2-keyboards.htm
keyboard page
My ebay A2 rev 0 replica motherboard closeout on ebay is done. I successfully sold 4 kits for an average price of a bit under $300. Subtracting ebay fees, paypal charges, the net take was similar to the cost of putting these kits together.
However since my motivation was to bring in some cash, so I could move some other projects ahead, I consider the sale a success. The money is earmarked to make my Datanetics keyboard replica project a reality.
The ebay sales indicate that the current fair market price of the these kits is just under $300. Given that the cost of putting together kits is nearly as much, it is just not economically feasible to sell these kits. Maybe someday in the future things will change, but that is how it looks to me at the moment.
Here are some facts about the A2 rev 0 project.
Motherboard laid out 1st half of 2007
First board brought up summer, 2007
Last kit shipped fall, 2010
Production run:
2 batches total of 18 boards
1st batch 6 boards (glossy solder mask)
2nd batch 12 boards (matt solder mask)
Kits sold – 14
Bare boards sold -1
Build and tested motherboards sold – 1
Built and kept -2 (one from each batch)
I was hoping that the profit from this effort would be enough to pay for an original rev 0 or perhaps one of Grant’s Altair kits (no longer available). Though, financially, I did just a bit better than break even, the main profit came in other forms. I had a great time with this project. I made some great friends. I learned a ton about PCB layout and working with various suppliers. Also, I don’t think I could have done the more difficult Mimeo PCB as well as I did, without taking on this project, first.
Finally for those of you interested in the Mimeo kits, don’t worry, I will continue to produce and sell these kits as long as there is continuing interest and components available.