Hi,
If there are any builders who would like to participate in the MC68040 SBC
project please let me know.
We are working on an intermediate project at the moment based on the MC68360
which is the integrating glue for the MC68040 SBC. The MC68360 is the
all-important piece that has to work well before even considering the
MC68040 CPU since it is a standalone processor by itself.
There are some spare MC68360 P1 PCBs remaining (see the excerpted status
update below) and the basic board seems to be working. It is booting from
the ROM and partially initializing. More work is underway to further
initialize the MC68360 chip subsystems like timers, UARTs, etc.
The plan is to integrate a Propeller based IO subsystem (VGA display, PS/2
keyboard, microSD mass storage), DRAM, and Flash memories to the final SBC.
This is an ambitious project and will take quite a bit of time so if there
are any experienced MC68040/MC68360 builders that would like to contribute
your help would be greatly appreciated. Additional information is posted
below.
http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/w/browse/#view=ViewFolder¶m=68040%20SBChttp://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/w/browse/#view=ViewFolder¶m=MC68360%20P1
Similar to other N8VEM home brew computing project boards these are
free/open source designs including hardware, software, and other related
information.
Please contact me at LYNCHAJ at YAHOO.COM if interested.
Thanks and have a nice day!
Andrew Lynch
-----Original Message-----
[snip]
To: Andrew Lynch
Subject: Re: 68360 - status
Hi Andrew!
I have made quite a bit of progress - if you look at the steps on 9-13
through 9-16 of the User Manual I am at step 11 so I only have a few steps
left.
[snip]
BTW - I have I think 4 extra boards (the other place sent me boards anyways)
so if people want to join in the fun, I can forward you the boards. We are
also going to have to chat on how we proceed from here - looking at the
stuff Alan sent and other errata - the 68040 is not going to be a "glue
less" implementation and will require some GALS or a CPLD.
[snip]
Hi
Recently there has been a bit of renewed interest and an uptick in activity
in the N8VEM SCSI to IDE/SD bridge board project.
http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/w/browse/#view=ViewFolder
<http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/w/browse/#view=ViewFolder¶m=SCSI%20to%20ID
E%2FSD%20prototypes> ¶m=SCSI%20to%20IDE%2FSD%20prototypes
There are still some prototype boards available in case anyone would like to
help bring this project to completion.
The prototype boards do work in that they are booting the debug monitor
(Zapple) and the IO subsystems are checking out.
What we need is the programming to make the Z53C80 SCSI controller work in
target mode with the SCSI host mode controller.
This board project will be free/open source with software, hardware, and
other design information posted to the public.
Please contact me if you are interested in helping out at LYNCHAJ at YAHOO.COM
I realize there are many ways to accomplish this task and the Z80 based
embedded controller board is but one. There may be other valid approaches
however none are free/open source projects AFAIK. Please post a link if I
am mistaken.
Any lessons learned and/or design information from this project could be
readily applied to a follow-on project potentially using different
technologies. However I think it is important to get this first step
working before moving on to another design. I am willing to support a
follow-on design once we get this one working properly.
I believe with a quick Z80 (8 MHz or greater) there should be sufficient
through put for most SCSI-1 applications. It will never be a "speed demon"
but the older vintage/classic/hobbyist SCSI-1 machines probably don't need
one either. Many of the aging SCSI-1 machines are going to go "offline"
forever if the supply of SCSI-1 drives dries up.
Thanks in advance for your consideration. Have a nice day!
Andrew Lynch
Looking to test/service/align a number (10 or so) of double-sided
double-density 3.25 floppy drives and hoping there is someone here in
Canada who has the alignment discs that I could borrow/buy.
These are for setting up some of my older computerized microprocessor
test gear (Fluke mostly)...
Suggestions on aligning are also greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
John :-#)#
Since I don't have hardsectored floppies, I would hope that someone here could help out ?
I am located in Switzerland,costs will be covered .
Jos Dreesen
Since I don't have hardsectored floppies, I would hope that someone here could help out ?
I am located in Switzerland,costs will be covered .
Jos Dreesen
Hi
A quick status of N8VEM and S100computers.com S-100 board PCB
New S-100 LAVA PCBs are on their way and should be here in a week or less.
http://s100computers.com/My%20System%20Pages/Lava-10%20Board/LAVA-10%20Board
.htm
Reordered respin S-100 Console IO PCBs should be here in mid to late Jan
2013
http://s100computers.com/My%20System%20Pages/Console%20IO%20Board/Console%20
IO%20Board.htm
Reordered S-100 regular prototyping boards (just PTH area, no additional
circuitry) will be ordered mid-Jan 2013 with estimated delivery early to mid
Feb 2013
http://n8vem-sbc.pbworks.com/w/browse/#view=ViewFolder¶m=S-100%20regular
%20prototyping%20board
Finally, a couple of new S-100 PCBs are in work and my plan is to order them
in Feb 2013 starting with the S-100 68K CPU board. Please note the V3
version of the S-100 68K has the chips in horizontal layout and has a
completely different appearance than the prototype boards on the webpage.
http://s100computers.com/My%20System%20Pages/68000%20Board/68K%20CPU%20Board
.htm
Immediately followed by the S-100 80286 CPU board (Don't be scared of the
prototype board images since the final board has all the fixes and is clean)
http://s100computers.com/My%20System%20Pages/80286%20Board/80286%20CPU%20Boa
rd.htm
If you are interested in any of the above boards please contact me at
LYNCHAJ at YAHOO.COM
Please note this is a hobbyist project and purely for
entertainment/educational purposes.
By getting these PCBs you are participating in their development at the
N8VEM home brew computing project.
Thanks and have a nice day!
Andrew Lynch
PS, there are a couple of S-100 board projects that are languishing "on the
back burner" and would like any ideas, comments, thoughts, and/or questions
as to what to do with them. The S-100 VDP V2 (V9938 and AY-3-8910 color
graphics and sound generator) and the S-100 uPD7220 GDC (accelerated
graphics VGA monitor compatible - not register compatible - 640x480 or
800x600 at 16 colors - 4 bit planes).
Hi
Things have slowed down a bit on the N8VEM home brew computing project
lately.
I'd like to clear some boards off the shelf to free up some hobby funds and
make room for new projects.
To help move things along a bit I am having the first ever multiple ECB
board "free shipping special"
So far it has been pretty popular. Please see the note on the mini-68000
ECB system though regarding the minimum system.
More information here:
http://groups.google.com/group/n8vem/browse_thread/thread/f240fa29ece4cfae
Thanks and have a nice day!
Andrew Lynch
My Commodore VIC-20 (and the VIC-20 in general) is discussed in this
YouTube video (see link). This will be the last video for a while as I
return to work on Monday after the Xmas break (bummer).
http://youtu.be/hyHNdAhWVmM
Terry (Tez)
Hi all --
Picked up an interesting old "laptop" -- a GRiDCase 1537E. This is a
Tempest-hardened devicewith (I believe) a 386 processor. Also looks to
have an electroluminescent display. Inside there isn't a single exposed
wire or circuit board, so any debugging I might need to dowill be a fun
prospect. At any rate, I didn't get the AC adapter with this thing and
it's got an odd connector that I'm not familiar with. See here:
http://yahozna.dyndns.org/scratch/gridcase/1537/power.png
The connector's abit over 1cm in diameter with three oddly-spaced pins.
I'dlike to build areplacement assuming I can work out the pinouts (and
find/fabricate a mating connector). Anyone know anything about this
machine?Any ideas where to find such a connector?
Thanks,
Josh
