I’ve had a pretty small response to the offer on the Datanetics PCB. Despite the small numbers of folks interested, I’m still going ahead with this as a one time deal. Before doing so, I’m going to spend the next couple of days looking for better pricing on the PCB. Ordinarily I’d stick with my current fab house, since since I have had such good luck with them. However this PCB doesn’t have a solder mask or silkscreen, so I should be able to find a cheaper place to do this board and still get good results. Since I haven’t collected money yet – if I turn up a better price, I’ll adjust the pricing.
Datanetics PCB update
November 30th, 2010The ACI Parser Bug
November 16th, 2010I 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
Datanetics Keyboard Plans
November 8th, 2010These 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.
Small Apple Cassette Interface update
November 8th, 2010I 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.
Possible A2 Hobby Board Project
October 25th, 2010Here is another project that I am considering.
A2 Hobbyboard Layout
This is the beginnings of a layout replicating an original Apple 2 Hobbyboard. This is a prototyping board intended for creating your own Apple II expansion card.
I’m thinking of building a batch of either exact replicas or possibly modified with some improvements that I have in mind. This board layout is ideal for wirewrap applications, but I’ve moved beyond wirewrap a few years ago, so I’m likely to modify it for point to point wiring.
I’m also thinking of putting together some project kits that could be implemented on this board. Projects I have done already that could be easily adapted, include my shutter tester and the improved firmware card. I have other ideas like a spectrum analyzer for audio frequencies.
Let me know what you think and if you have ideas for projects for this hobby board. Also if you have ideas for what features you would like to see in a prototyping board, let me know.
Datanetics Keyboard Replica Project Status
October 25th, 2010I’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 Status
October 25th, 2010Apple 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.
Apple Cassette Interfaces shipping Monday
October 16th, 2010I 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.
ACI bringup status
October 9th, 2010
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.
ACI PCBs arrive
October 5th, 2010So 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