RCA CDP 1802 & SC/MP parts

From: J. Maynard Gelinas <jmg_at_iac.net>
Date: Sun Feb 22 13:44:28 1998

        Hey!
        I just landed pieces to an 1802 kit! I've got everything but
the hex keypoad and power supply (though I'm sure +12, +5, -5 would
do the trick). This is not one of those single board computers like
the ELF-II, it's made up of several boards which connect to the main
unit via ribbon cables. Here are descriptions of the boards:

        Primary board with 1802
        labled "Infinite"
        Part Number UCE100001
        dated 1976
        This board has a rather large crystal which appears to run at
135khz (if I'm reading the markings right). A large blue 3000 MFD
capacitor, some smaller disk .01 uf capacitors, and these chips:

        4) RCA 701 CD4001AE
        1) RCA 631 4049AE
        2) 2606B (I think this is the 256 bytes of RAM)

        The board also has a two sided 36 connector per side edge
card, which connects to nothing. Next to the 1802 is a red ribbon
cable which attaches to another board containing four LED readouts and
a singfle LED light (attached to the Q bit I suppose). Each LED (but
the Q light) has F9368DC 7705 - one for each LED). The second board
is listed as INFINITE 1976, UCE30004.

        On an unattached board are two LED's, four chips and a 24 pin
socket (empty - I guess for a monitor ROM). This chips are:

        2) RCA 701 CD4001AE
        1) M1-0110-5 (7649)
        1) MC14013CP (7438)

        The last unattached board contains three switches and three
buttons, with a metal faceplate labeled UC 1800. The buttons are
labeled Reset, Start/EF1, and Enter, the switched are labeled ON/OFF,
STNDBY Power, and Load Mode. This board also has four chips:

        3) MC14013CP (7438)
        1) RCA 636 CD4011AE

        Both of the unattached boards connect to the primary board via
a ribbon cable terminated by a 14 pin DIP; there are two 14 pin DIP
sockets on the primary board. It's unclear which board should be
plugged into which socket.

        I also snagged pices to an SC/MP kit, along with a bunch of
DOCS and old COMPUTE newsletters dating from 1978 or so (WOW!). Also
got a COSMAC Microprocessor Product Guide (think I could call up RCA
and order any of the things listed therein????? - HA!), and an
original RCA 1800 Users manual (WOW!), in almost pristine condition.

        As a kid I put together an ELF-II in 1980 (I was 12), so I
have some familiararity with this line of processors (could never get
over the gethi instruction yuck yuck yuck). Looks like I need to put
together a hex keypad and P/S to get this up and running. Anyone have
any ideas? Also, this things is missing the CDP 1861 video driver
which my old ELF-II used to have - what's up with this? I wonder what
happened to all those old late 70's kit manufacturers... I don't see
any FAQs out on the net for those old ELF's, KIMS, SYMS, and AIMS. Oh
well, relpies by the curious and knowledgeable would be most
appriciated.

Thanks!
J. Maynard Gelinas
Received on Sun Feb 22 1998 - 13:44:28 GMT