Like many people on this group, I'd HATE to mention
the stuff I had 25 years ago, but I specialize in
(well, actually, make) "homebrew" early micro's from
the beginning of the micro era. I've scratch built and
programmed several 8008's and 8080's, and a 4004 I'm
just now getting around to program. Recently, I've
been starting work on "larger" machines: a 6800
capable of running SWTPC and Motorola software; an
8008 based somewhere between a Mark-8 and a Scelbi 8H
capable of running SCELBAL, a BASIC-like language (for
the 8008!); and an 8080. All are wire-wrapped,
including the 8080, with 256 2102 RAMS (uh...that's
slowed me down a bit, and I'll never do it again). All
are made with NOS or surplus/scrounged components of
proper technological and/or date code vintage. I am
getting increasingly concerned about the smaller
supply and higher prices of prototyping supplies. In
most modern surface mount stuff, things can get
simulated on computer and go right to PCB, so, who
prototypes. But I find prototypes to be almost an art
form - a dying art form. I don't have a lot of space;
some of my computers actually hang on the wall mounted
on plaques!
I've been sidetracked recently with a project that is
based on the SBC6120 at www.sparetimegizmos.com; a
PDP-8/e clone. Here, I'm using a laptop drive, so the
whole thing should run on +5 at 1.2 A or so.
My test equipment is also vintage; a Tek 464, an HP
Nixie-display crystal oven freq counter, and a loaded
Tek 1230 logic analyzer. I couldn't even dream of
owning this stuff when it was new, and now I even have
entire spare units for parts, and I did it all for
considerably less than the cost of a single new
low-end scope. Bargains can be had on eBay if you are
patient and don't lose your head!
I want complete, operational systems capable of doing
something demonstratably interesting with none of this
modern "disc drive" stuff; for peripherals, I have a
DSI paper/mylar tape punch/reader, and a similar
punch-only model. I have a DATA I/O paper tape reader
and a high speed reel to reel Decitek/GE reader. Got
lots of paper and Mylar tape for em, too. A restored
w/new CRT ADM-3A is my primary display; on and off,
I'm working on a modern PIC/UBICOM micro driven 32
character by 16 line vector based display. My
godmother was a top-tier servicer of Teletype model
28's and 33's at Western Electric's mighty Hawthorne
works plant; I'd be in the market for a Teletype but
she's scared me with her statement that "half of what
you need to know was never written down", and she's
getting kind of old...I can't repeat her opinion of
the Model 33 here. I knew one of the engineers who
developed this model, and HE said it was garbage.
I will probably get one or two more vintage CRT
terminals when I find the right ones (like a Televideo
91X, or an ADM-5). I would consider donating a kidney
for a Qwint telprinter, working or not (I wrote and
have the service manual so I could probably fix it).
http://8080geek.freeservers.com (sorry about the
popups)
http://sloboyko.home.mindspring.com/adm3a.htm
http://sloboyko.home.mindspring.com/ptfun.htm
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Received on Tue Feb 05 2002 - 23:46:23 GMT