SC132 SIO/0 Released

SC132 is a two channel asynchronous serial port module designed for the RC2014 bus.

This module is based on the Z80 SIO/0 chip which is currently more readily available than the usual SIO/2 chip. It is software compatible with the SIO/2 and thus with existing software.

Details here.

Pocket RomWBW System

Today, I finally received the batch of PCBs I’ve been waiting for from China since January 14.

These boards are for my prototype pocket RomWBW system.

SC131 RomWBW CP/M Computer

I’ve got a few tweaks and some testing to do and then I intend to offer it as a kit. I plan to offer a choice of case colours and a choice of front and back panel colours.

SC131 circuit board

Specifications:

• Z180 CPU running at 18.432MHz
• 512k Flash
• 512k RAM
• 2 serial ports
• MicroSD card slot
• No further expansion if possible

Next to SC126 for scale

The case is available in several colours

Viewed with top of case removed

View of back panel

Top view next to SC126 (for scale)

Terminal Module

I have recently built one of Marco Maccaferri’s VGA serial terminal modules and documented the experience.

SC130 Released

SC130 is an easy to build, low cost, Z180 RomWBW Computer. The kit comes complete with serial adapter, USB cable, and a micro SD card adapter. Just add a micro SD card for storage and a computer running terminal software, and you have a complete system able to run CP/M software.

Backplane for Z50Bus

SC128, a modular backplane for the Z50Bus, is now available. Details here.

SC129 Released

SC129 is a digital I/O module designed for the RC2014 bus.

Further details here.

SC129 was the example used in the recent “Design” series.

Design – part 4

In part 1 of this series we took a very quick tour through the whole process of designing a product. In part 2 and part 3 we designed the electronics for a digital I/O module. We will now design the circuit board.

Design – part 3

In part 2 of this series we started designing the electronics for our digital I/O interface. In this part we will complete the schematic.

Design – part 2

In part 1 of this series we took a very quick tour through the whole process of designing a product. We will now begin a much more detailed look at designing a Digital Input/Output interface for a Z80 computer.

Design – part 1

Someone recently asked me a few questions about design, which got me thinking about writing a series of posts for this website.

I hope to encourage anyone who has considered designing their own retro computer add-on, or indeed a whole system, to have a go. Getting that first professional looking PCB in the post is very rewarding and is relatively cheap.