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Hi There
Welcome to the RBC build page of Trick-1. There is something about computers that you can open up, design new bits for, work on and fix that I really like. It was exactly that in the form of an Apple II europlus that got me hooked on computing back in the 1980's. I have a varied background in electronics and computing. For me it is both work and occasional recreation when time permits.
The recreation aspect can be slow, glaciers move faster, and is broadly around
- The Apple II - I still have a IIe and a II europlus that I have restored and collected a variety of cards for over the years. I have also designed (opto coupled parallel I/O card) and in the process of finalising a build of a Transputer link card with modification from Das Transputer Buch.
- Transputers - I caught the transputer bug in the late 1990's and today have a modest collection of which most runs Helios.
- Building electronic things - Now this is where RetroBrewComputers has just recently come into my life
- Other computing related things such as SunOS/FreeBSD/OpenBSD/Ubuntu and Nvidia CUDA/Parallella/Intel Xeon Phi Clusters
RetroBrewComputer Build
ECB
- SBCV2 - Fully built and operational running romwbw 2.71. Currently running the Z80 at 4Mhz. Powered directly from the backplane
PSU at this stage. - 12-Slot Backplane 505-6508 - Built and 1/2 populated with connectors.
- ECB Bus Monitor - built pending proper configuration
- ECB Disk I/O V3.0 - pending 8255 and testing
- ECB cvdu - pending 82C42 and the mini din connectors remain to be installed.
- ECB propio - socketed and most components, pending PropIO, Resistor packs, mini din and SD Card
- EuroCard Rack - I got a great deal from this gumtree seller in Australia who has a range of racks/PSU/card guides, front pannel hardware etc https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/blacktown-area/other-electronics-computers/din41612-eurocard-frame-card-guides-183mm-jg1/1129976514
- 250W ATX Slimline Switch Mode Power Supply with ATX socket on breadboard and switch between the green wire and ground (sorry that's really not technical)
ECB Transputer Link Interface (aka TLI )
This is something I want to try and bring to the community. It is slow progress and maybe one day I will hopefully publish a board. I have started to design the link interface leveraging the prototype board work that is already in existence and borrowing heavily from Das Transputer Buch (yes that book really is a fantastic source of information).
The link interface would allow the connection of an ECB based system to a Transputer network. The ECB Tram Carrier Card is a candidate.
Mar/17 - Design almost finalised, just need to complete the bus connections before sending to PCBWay (http://www.pcbway.com/) for the first run.
ECB TRAM Carrier Card (aka 4TC2 )
The idea here is to create a simple ECB card that can support 1-4 INMOS TRAM's. Have started work but original design needs some revision to make it more aligned with standard practices.
Have finalised a design
- Supports 4 TRAM's
- cascade to multiple boards
- Power from EuroConnector or external standalone
- Breakout for all unused links
I sent the files to PCBway (http://www.pcbway.com/) for manufacture. Once tested will put this up in the ECB boards section with all the right gerber files.
Jan/17 - Boards arrived and have been assembled. Some minor layout, screen print and design issues to resolve but they work!
Feb/17 - Version 0.4 of the board is now confirmed fully working however a number of design modifications have been made and Version 0.5 of the board is pending.
the following is the image of the version 0.4 board with 4 INMOS TRAM's installed.
Jul/17 - Version 0.5 of the board has been finalised and sent for manufacture.
ECB Transputer CPU Card (2TC2)
This card is in initial design phase but is aiming to be
- Minimum 2x Transputer CPUs
- Minimum 1MB SRAM
- head and tail connector
- breakout of unused links
- Power from EuroConnector or external for standalone
This is ideal for those who want to put a Transputer in their system but maybe cannot get hold of a TRAM module.
ECB Manual Cross Bar Switch (MCBS)
This card has been designed but is yet to be manufactured for testing. The card allows the connection of all unused links from other boards via a single ribbon cable and then allow for the configuration to be set with jumper cables. This will allow for maximum configuration of a given set of Transputers from either 2TC2 or 4TC2.
SBC
SBC6120-rbc-edition
Thanks to Andrew the kit of parts has arrived. Looking forward to building this up.
