Build your own PDP-8!

From: Mail List <mail.list_at_analog-and-digital-solutions.com>
Date: Sun Aug 31 21:54:00 2003

Bob, Jim, Steve ...

You guys have done an incredible job on that. That stuff looks so professional.

One neat thing to do might be to assimilate, and host online, a program library
so that a user could download a program via their internet connected PC and
write it to a CF and then plug it in to the SBC6120 and run it. Develop and
support
a user base that way.

Best Regards





At 04:19 PM 8/31/03 -0700, you wrote:
> If you're one of those people who wants a PDP-8 but can't find one, don't
>despair - you can always build your own! The SBC6120 is a complete PDP-8
>built around the venerable Harris HD6120 CPU and modern programmable logic
>devices. All parts used except the 6120 are contemporary, easily available
>devices.
>
> The entire system fits on a PC board 6.2" by 4.2" and has approximately the
>same footprint as a 3.5" hard disk. The SBC6120 has 64KW RAM, 32KW EPROM,
>a true KL8/E compatible console terminal interface, and a standard IDE/ATA
>disk interface. OS/8 device handlers are available for IDE interface, and
>the system will run standard OS/8 V3D. There's even an expansion bus so you
>can design and build your own daughter cards to plug into it.
>
> To find out more, visit the SBC6120 web page at
>
> http://www.SpareTimeGizmos.com/Hardware/SBC6120-2.htm
>
> Last fall, a group of about 30 people got together to order parts and
>PC boards for the SBC6120, and the results were better than I ever hoped.
>So far as I know, every one who assembled their SBC6120 got it working
>(a few people still have theirs on the shelf, unassembled, I'm afraid!).
>Some people even designed peripherals for it, such as Jim Kearney's cool
>I/O board which allows you to use a standard VGA monitor and PS/2 keyboard
>as a VT-52 substitute.
>
> http://www.jkearney.com/sbc6120/iob6120.htm
>
> And perhaps the best of all, we're now beta testing a real lights and
>switches front panel for the SBC6120. Visit
>
> http://www.sparetimegizmos.com/Hardware/SBC6120_Front_Panel.htm
>
>for a preview!
>
> Even now I still get enough inquiries about the SBC6120 that I have decided
>to purchase another run of PC boards and 6120 CPU chips. There's a fully
>assembled unit available on eBay now,
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2750838322
>
>and Spare Time Gizmos is now selling bare PC boards, two different partial
>kits, and a complete kit at
>
> http://www.sparetimegizmos.com/Hardware/SBC6120_Orders.htm
>
>If you wanted to have your own PDP-8, then here's your chance!
>
>Thanks,
>Bob Armstrong
Received on Sun Aug 31 2003 - 21:54:00 BST

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