What I did with mine was use it to learn Z80 assembly and have a good poke around at what a running CPU really does. And now I use that understanding to write code for more powerful Z80 machines. You’ve not lived until you’ve hand assembled a program on paper and typed it in byte by byte into the hex monitor 🥴
I built my own 8085 controlled robot with 1kb of memory back in 1979 and got 2nd place at my high school science fair. I always felt if I'd used the z80 instead I'd have got first place. #RC2014
Ask yourself what you would have done, back in the early days of home computing, if this and a serial terminal would have been your only computer. The first thing I would have done is build a tape interface to store my programs. Probably using the Kansas City standard, to share tapes with other nerds.
** GIVEAWAY NOW ENDED - NO FURTHER ENTRIES ** Winner: Andrew Hutchinson. Well done Andrew!! Please contact the shack to arrange delivery of your RC2014 Micro.
FWIW: I built a full size RC2014 with my daughter along with some choice add-in cards - lots of fun making it, and a bit of education to boot. My best advice is to think of this system as a Z80 based PC from back in the day - in it's basic form it's pretty darn useless beyond being a 'discovery' device but there is an ever growing array of add-in cards and projects for this system that allow it to be whatever you want. Have a rummage around Tindie.com for starters and use that as a jumping off point for whatever takes your fancy: -Build a full old school CP/M machine? Why not? -Add any number of sound and video updates? Ok. -Want to run Colecovision games or software for many classic home systems? Doable too. -New options are being developed all the time and this system is simple enough to grasp as a path in to designing your own hardware as a hobby. -More a software person? CP/M may be very old but it's simple while being perfectly functional. And there's a huge library of existing software.
My first computer was an Apple II, and I loved it. I drooled over the Osborne computers (Z80 CPM systems in a suitcase-type enclosure with display and floppy disks) and I was saddened by their demise. I have never owned a Z80-based system, but I looked at them a lot back in the day. I understand that CPM became MS-DOS on the early PC's. My suggestion for the RC2014 system would be to turn it into a tool, a useful one. If you give it the ability to use the plethora of Arduino compatible sensors and actuators by letting the RC2014 communicate with an Arduino you could have an interesting system. I am looking at that multi-card RC2014 and wondering if you could put a board with an Arduino Nano on that, talk to it via COM port, and fan out the Arduino's pins to whatever you want to control or measure. The RC2014 could be an inexpensive but powerful tool for control and data logging and stuff.
#RC2014 This looks like a good thing to build with my three boys, and force them to learn to program like a real person. In BASIC with a blank screen staring at them.
I went with the Classic II. Made several mistakes, some were salvageable but I did end up having to order a replacement CF reader module so I could run CP/M, after wrecking some solder pads trying to remove a socket I bent a pin on. I've learned quite a bit, like only tack it in place, then check, and only then solder the rest of the pins. That probably would have saved me the cost of a second CF reader module.
It needs a proper Baud rate generator; by not having one, it forces a 7.3728Mhz system clock with a divide of 64 for the 6850. The resulting 115,200 Baud rate limits the connectivity to things like Pis and PCs, which seems a bit incongruous to me.
I'm in the same conundrum as you. "The #RC2014 looks fun to build, but I have no idea on what to do with it! .. OH! CPM you say? I've never tried that! I want that. Just for the same reason, "it's fun and games" :) Best of luck to all of you.
As a kid I always wanted to build my own z80 computer, but never knew where to start, so great to see these kits are so well supported and easily available. The thing I cant quite help feeling though is, it just needs a good gfx card with hardware sprites (might already be one I haven't seen yet) so retro game devs can have a standard system to go to town on making great games. #RC2014
@@TheRetroShack possibly I stand corrected, seems there is an MSX compatible gfx card: www.tindie.com/products/dinotron/v9958-msx-video-board-for-rc2014/?fbclid=IwAR3jADr1iUTu20ZjdlgTlpNZ6aZa5aD0z5fBHtSX6Qvvu0OcnbWoHC9QtDc
Great to see that nod to the RM 380Z. First lines of BASIC code I ever wrote was on one of these, before our school switched to a row of BBC Micros. Can't believe that was 40 years ago (more or less). #RC2014 looks like a lot of fun.
I offloaded a Concurrent-CP/M server from a firm I used to work for - they "upgraded" to an IBM System/38 - shows you how long ago that was. The case was knackered but the motherboard; which I still have somewhere has the dimensions of a small fridge! Must be 3 feet x 3 feet wide... And I bet it's less powerful than the #RC2014 you're just built. I'll get some photos of the board once I find it...
One of the "issues" (I use the term lightly) with the RC2014 (note, no hash tag, I already have two myself) is that every "application" in and of itself is its own Operating System, per-say. A baremetal application that speaks to the hardware direct, with not intermediate APIs. One can think of CPM as such, with the CPM APIs then exposing themselves to the flat z80 .com files loaded from within. This means there's nothing stopping people modifiying their "bare metal" code to use the CF module from CPM, for example, or other storage solutions available. But it also means that whatever solution comes along (SD, USB Host to FAT formatted thumbdrives, etc.) will have to be integrated into each individual "O.S." (app, ROM image, etc.) by whoever feels so inclinded. You may enjoy a look at something called "Z80 Playground" which is (logically enough) a Z80 SBC, which uses a FAT formatted thumbdrives for its mass storage, runs a custom version CPM, and has a breadboard compatible "edge connector" to allow you to experiment, and build, your own hardware expansions. It's not RC2014 compatible, but it's a great "build a modern standards compliant CPM computer" kit since CPM itself has its own custom disk formatting, normally making trasnfer of files to, and from, the CPM system quite complex and faffy. And, finally, good luck to all the people who enter your competition. I hope they have a much fun with their RC2014 as I've had with mine. -Dx
@@TheRetroShack Oh, you definitely should get one of those! They're "more powerful" than the Z80 playground, with lots more features. If you're enjoying the RC2014 can I also suggest you also look at, as addons (some of which maybe don't work in the Mini, I can't be sure of that, sorry): 1) github.com/robdobsn/PiBusRaider - The Bus Raider, which is possible the most daft, overpowered, add-on. Turn the RC2014 into a speccy, etc. 2) github.com/fbergama/pigfx - PiGFX, still mad powerful, a graphics card for any computer that uses a serial terminal. 3) www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114388232099 - Quazar's graphical OLED for the RC2014, if you want to play with pointless programming silly fun things, this is one of my favourites :) -Dx
Personally, I think the Maximite is the more complete ‘modern’ retro computer with better colour, sound and SD card save/load straight off the bat - just turn it on and you’re away. However the RC2014 is WAY more expandable and versatile.
That thing is cool but I am in the boat of - I have no idea. I'd probably just make some flashy HUD to be up on a computer screen sitting around all day at work
You can save from basic over the serial link and pretend you're punching paper tape, like the Altair peeps did. CP/M would be cool.... but imagine if it had a copy of (or a functional clone of) the 380Z's ROM... best machine code monitor/debugger I've ever ever ever seen. #RC2014
I really enjoyed this video as it is the first time I can remember seeing something about this board. Thanks! (No hashtag because I am not entering the drawing. Good luck all.)
Other than some embedded job, like watering your plants, I could suggest trying to tackle making your own SDCard file system for Basic on your brand new #RC2014. Might make for an interesting research project. Cheers,
I've recently been giving some serious thought to buying the full kit as I began my computing life with the ZX81 and then the ZX Spectrum (for which I built an 8255 based I/O system way back in the 1980's.) #RC2014
OH my, you indeed have jog my memory!!! I still remember typing basic from magazines and then creating my own "games" in my Sinclair ZX80 membrane keyboard, and then digging into why I had no screen output while the program was running. Then dealing with the 1K of ram until my dad and his friend (both EEs) built me a 4KB upgrade all in a wirewrap board. I could have serious fun with this #RC2014
I have this kit, about half-done now, but I've taken a long break. Not a fan of the backplane connectors being on pins, especially double-row ones. What will I use it for? Mostly show-off and nostalgia. I can emulate CP/M machines just fine with my main computer, but hardware is a lot more fun.
The backplane approach really harks back to the early days of home computing. One wonders if you could store data on the attached pi, since it is already a part of the package. #RC2014
What a kind offer! It'd be interesting to expand it to handle CP/M, and then compare to my other CP/M systems (C128, Apple II, BBC Master, CPC 6128) #RC2014
I've wanted to build my own #RC2014 for a while now, but the price has always put me off (not saying it's too expensive, just too much for me). Winning one would be great ^^
Hi, I'm delevoping PiGFX, the terminal software which is running on the Pi. I just added a feature which allows you to load a basic program from a text file on the SD card in the Pi.
CP/M is a good addition. You can also run basic from CP/M and IIRC you get storage support from there; but also you get Turbo Pascal and other niceties. Definitely recommended. #RC2014
I owned one of those for a while (in latter days)... but sold it for a small fortune... I always like the idea of NOT using Basic so thanks for reminding me #RC2014
@@methanoid I'd love to build my own some day, but get rid of lots of the discrete 74 series logic and replace it with a GAL or something to keep things small.
For external storage, it wouldn't've been unusual for someone to have a serial paper tape reader/writer. :D It seems like it was common for a lot of systems to lack any actual storage before more common home computers were a thing. If they did, I imagine you would've had to use a special version of BASIC with the drivers built in, and such a thing would probably be necessary for this.
Yep - and that sort of thing is available for other 'build it yourself' computer kits so was just a little surprised it wasn't available on this, given it's been around a little while :)
I ran across the #RC2014 site a few weeks ago while I was contemplating designing and building my own simple computer. It certainly has me interested. The storage and operating system are the 2 biggest hurdles in my mind... Alas, this kit/site took away any excitement I had built up for designing my own setup - these guys already have done way more than I could hope to...
Saw one of these in the real early days (2015) though to myself, cool.. but what would I use it for....Revisiting, and I realise.... teaching my kids basic.. #RC2014
#RC2014 looks like a fun project to occupy me during lockdown (and brush up on my soldering skills ;-) ) I had no idea such a thing existed. Thanks for spreading the word!
Ooga booga #RC2014 P.S. I could be completely wrong, but I’d think your best bet to getting storage on the 32k basic would be to use the cf module that’s intended for the RC2014 pro and manually address the cf card in basic.
Figure out how to interface it (hardware and software) to run a CNC device or 3D printer. Challenging, educational and fun. Check out some of Steve Ciarcia's past work in Byte magazine or 'Circuit Cellar' books.
Hi from Malaysia, you are right it’s not really retro but the CPU is though... ha ha... I would really want to have a go.. if you fancy sending it to malaysia.. anyway nice video.. oh yes 1 suggestion would you like to try connect it tru wifi..#RC2014
Nice build! #RC2014 is a fantastic project (just wish he went with 6809 instead)! :-) Recommend getting a FORTH running on it and then you'll find it fairly easy to interface with all kinds of hardware goodies.
#RC2014 The machine starts to make sense when you add the RomWBW upgrade and some form of mass storage, the original BASIC relied on you having a paper tape device that could write and read attached to your teletype, so patching in any storage device would be a massive undertaking. I have a MBC-2, the one where an ATMega32 has IO and bootstrap duties while the Z80 runs the show, and it runs fine. Here you can just run CPM and then MBASIC from there to save and load to disk. ;)
I'd dig out old books and computer magazines about basic, type in the listings. That's how I spent my childhood with a monochrome TV and a ZX Spectrum. One of my favourites was a very crude chat bot which I never quite understood fully at the time. #RC2014
I like you can recall the RM 380Z, never realised how expensive they were! Probability why there was always a ‘Teach’ nestled near by. The #RC2014 intrigues me I must say...interesting :)
I just found your channel. I have wanted to build a z80 based computer for years and now there is a mini? Thank you for the channel and the video! #RC2014
Thanks for the video. It's a fun project! Have been dabbling with one of the Parallax processor powered graphics cards - quite good fun. #rc2014 - for the generous promotion!
I found my old undergrad text for z80 machine code the other day. "Z80 Assembly Language Programming for Students" by Roger Hutty - we used TRS-80s (I think Model II) running CPM. I did well enough to pass the module. Nice to see the Z80 is still rolling along. #RC2014
What I did with mine was use it to learn Z80 assembly and have a good poke around at what a running CPU really does. And now I use that understanding to write code for more powerful Z80 machines. You’ve not lived until you’ve hand assembled a program on paper and typed it in byte by byte into the hex monitor 🥴
Oddly, I agree! :)
Dude this is EXACTLY what I was going to say. I was gonna say something like "make a Pac-Man game/clone in assembly language". Live the dream.
I built my own 8085 controlled robot with 1kb of memory back in 1979 and got 2nd place at my high school science fair. I always felt if I'd used the z80 instead I'd have got first place. #RC2014
Nice! Thanks for watching and good luck!
Out of interest, what project received first place?
Ask yourself what you would have done, back in the early days of home computing, if this and a serial terminal would have been your only computer. The first thing I would have done is build a tape interface to store my programs. Probably using the Kansas City standard, to share tapes with other nerds.
Sounds like another project :) :)
** GIVEAWAY NOW ENDED - NO FURTHER ENTRIES **
Winner: Andrew Hutchinson. Well done Andrew!! Please contact the shack to arrange delivery of your RC2014 Micro.
FWIW: I built a full size RC2014 with my daughter along with some choice add-in cards - lots of fun making it, and a bit of education to boot.
My best advice is to think of this system as a Z80 based PC from back in the day - in it's basic form it's pretty darn useless beyond being a 'discovery' device but there is an ever growing array of add-in cards and projects for this system that allow it to be whatever you want.
Have a rummage around Tindie.com for starters and use that as a jumping off point for whatever takes your fancy:
-Build a full old school CP/M machine? Why not?
-Add any number of sound and video updates? Ok.
-Want to run Colecovision games or software for many classic home systems? Doable too.
-New options are being developed all the time and this system is simple enough to grasp as a path in to designing your own hardware as a hobby.
-More a software person? CP/M may be very old but it's simple while being perfectly functional. And there's a huge library of existing software.
Rummage around Tindie? I practically live on there :) :) Thanks for watching!
My first computer was an Apple II, and I loved it. I drooled over the Osborne computers (Z80 CPM systems in a suitcase-type enclosure with display and floppy disks) and I was saddened by their demise. I have never owned a Z80-based system, but I looked at them a lot back in the day. I understand that CPM became MS-DOS on the early PC's.
My suggestion for the RC2014 system would be to turn it into a tool, a useful one. If you give it the ability to use the plethora of Arduino compatible sensors and actuators by letting the RC2014 communicate with an Arduino you could have an interesting system. I am looking at that multi-card RC2014 and wondering if you could put a board with an Arduino Nano on that, talk to it via COM port, and fan out the Arduino's pins to whatever you want to control or measure. The RC2014 could be an inexpensive but powerful tool for control and data logging and stuff.
Well certainly some food for thought there - thanks very much!
I still look back with fondness learning Z80 assembly on a ZX81, I could have serious fun with this #RC2014
Thanks for watching and good luck!
I have thought about buying one of these as well, cutting my teeth on CP/M and BASIC I do miss those days. This looks like a lot of fun. #RC2014
Thanks for watching and good luck!
Job one is add a video card. You can have endless fun experimenting with various video-out solutions, especially ones from OTHER z80 period micros.
Job One for me - get some storage on this thing :) :)
#RC2014 This looks like a good thing to build with my three boys, and force them to learn to program like a real person. In BASIC with a blank screen staring at them.
Exactly! Nothing like a blank screen to get your imagination going!!! Thanks for watching and good luck!
I went with the Classic II.
Made several mistakes, some were salvageable but I did end up having to order a replacement CF reader module so I could run CP/M, after wrecking some solder pads trying to remove a socket I bent a pin on. I've learned quite a bit, like only tack it in place, then check, and only then solder the rest of the pins. That probably would have saved me the cost of a second CF reader module.
The idea of the CP/M upgrade is really cool.
My first micro computer was an IMSAI 8080 with a Z80 cpu upgrade and two 8 inch floppy disks.
Forgot the #RC2014
Thanks for watching, and good luck!
I'd love a #RC2014 to relive those memories of playing with Z80 computers as a kid!
Thanks for watching, and good luck!
It needs a proper Baud rate generator; by not having one, it forces a 7.3728Mhz system clock with a divide of 64 for the 6850.
The resulting 115,200 Baud rate limits the connectivity to things like Pis and PCs, which seems a bit incongruous to me.
Bet someone out there could create one? Go Community! :)
I'm in the same conundrum as you. "The #RC2014 looks fun to build, but I have no idea on what to do with it! .. OH! CPM you say? I've never tried that! I want that. Just for the same reason, "it's fun and games" :)
Best of luck to all of you.
No better reason :) Thanks for watching, and good luck!
I had a zx81 as a kid and I miss it I’d love to build my own.
Keep watching ;)
Awesome little machine, brings back some memories of college and a good old Z80 learning to program. #RC2014
Yes indeed! Thanks for watching and good luck!
Really enjoyed this video, didn't realise the #RC2014 could do colour.
Me either! :) Thanks for watching and good luck!
The #RC2014 looks like a nice little project, though if you've already got a pi, it's very definitely for those who want to play with Z80s.
I do :) Thanks for watching, and good luck!
As a kid I always wanted to build my own z80 computer, but never knew where to start, so great to see these kits are so well supported and easily available. The thing I cant quite help feeling though is, it just needs a good gfx card with hardware sprites (might already be one I haven't seen yet) so retro game devs can have a standard system to go to town on making great games. #RC2014
There's a SID chip module... ;) Thanks for watching and good luck!
@@TheRetroShack possibly I stand corrected, seems there is an MSX compatible gfx card: www.tindie.com/products/dinotron/v9958-msx-video-board-for-rc2014/?fbclid=IwAR3jADr1iUTu20ZjdlgTlpNZ6aZa5aD0z5fBHtSX6Qvvu0OcnbWoHC9QtDc
having said that, out of stock and not a cheap option lol
My first computer was a ZX81 build it yourself kit, it gave me hours of fun and education. #RC2014
Thanks for watching and good luck!
For the ultimate 8-bit experience I doubt I will find a more flexible kit. Superb video #RC2014 rocks!
Thanks for watching and good luck!
Great to see that nod to the RM 380Z. First lines of BASIC code I ever wrote was on one of these, before our school switched to a row of BBC Micros. Can't believe that was 40 years ago (more or less). #RC2014 looks like a lot of fun.
Makes me feel old too! Thanks for watching and good luck!
I offloaded a Concurrent-CP/M server from a firm I used to work for - they "upgraded" to an IBM System/38 - shows you how long ago that was. The case was knackered but the motherboard; which I still have somewhere has the dimensions of a small fridge! Must be 3 feet x 3 feet wide... And I bet it's less powerful than the #RC2014 you're just built. I'll get some photos of the board once I find it...
That would be really interesting! Thanks for watching and good luck!
Really interesting, thx for the video! Lots of things to try out with the #RC2014 and the add-on boards!
Thanks a lot :) Thanks for watching, and good luck!
#RC2014 is more then enough retro for my taste.
Thanks for watching and good luck!
One of the "issues" (I use the term lightly) with the RC2014 (note, no hash tag, I already have two myself) is that every "application" in and of itself is its own Operating System, per-say. A baremetal application that speaks to the hardware direct, with not intermediate APIs. One can think of CPM as such, with the CPM APIs then exposing themselves to the flat z80 .com files loaded from within.
This means there's nothing stopping people modifiying their "bare metal" code to use the CF module from CPM, for example, or other storage solutions available. But it also means that whatever solution comes along (SD, USB Host to FAT formatted thumbdrives, etc.) will have to be integrated into each individual "O.S." (app, ROM image, etc.) by whoever feels so inclinded.
You may enjoy a look at something called "Z80 Playground" which is (logically enough) a Z80 SBC, which uses a FAT formatted thumbdrives for its mass storage, runs a custom version CPM, and has a breadboard compatible "edge connector" to allow you to experiment, and build, your own hardware expansions. It's not RC2014 compatible, but it's a great "build a modern standards compliant CPM computer" kit since CPM itself has its own custom disk formatting, normally making trasnfer of files to, and from, the CPM system quite complex and faffy.
And, finally, good luck to all the people who enter your competition. I hope they have a much fun with their RC2014 as I've had with mine.
-Dx
I'm already sold on the CP/M kit :)
@@TheRetroShack Oh, you definitely should get one of those! They're "more powerful" than the Z80 playground, with lots more features.
If you're enjoying the RC2014 can I also suggest you also look at, as addons (some of which maybe don't work in the Mini, I can't be sure of that, sorry):
1) github.com/robdobsn/PiBusRaider - The Bus Raider, which is possible the most daft, overpowered, add-on. Turn the RC2014 into a speccy, etc.
2) github.com/fbergama/pigfx - PiGFX, still mad powerful, a graphics card for any computer that uses a serial terminal.
3) www.ebay.co.uk/itm/114388232099 - Quazar's graphical OLED for the RC2014, if you want to play with pointless programming silly fun things, this is one of my favourites :)
-Dx
i can finally finish learning cobol in cpm yes i am a glutton for punishment #RC2014
Can never learn too much :) Thanks for watching, and good luck!
#rc2014 What a cool lil system. The cp/m upgrade would make this the perfect tiny computer.
I think I have to do it :) Thanks for watching, and good luck!
The #RC2014 looks like a good base to do some Z80 Assembler programming.
Thanks for watching and good luck!
Neat little system I have been watching myself. I think the MSX kit or Coleco kits are quite cool.
It sure is!
CPM was quite a nice OS back in the days, go for it (not sure how many apps are freely available)
Think I'll be finding out soon enough - got to do the CP/M Upgrade :)
This channel is great. Not sure if I should get this or the Color Maximite to learn Basic,
Personally, I think the Maximite is the more complete ‘modern’ retro computer with better colour, sound and SD card save/load straight off the bat - just turn it on and you’re away. However the RC2014 is WAY more expandable and versatile.
That thing is cool but I am in the boat of - I have no idea. I'd probably just make some flashy HUD to be up on a computer screen sitting around all day at work
get the esp and get it mining! Since that's the new cool thing to do
Thanks for watching, and good luck!
You can save from basic over the serial link and pretend you're punching paper tape, like the Altair peeps did.
CP/M would be cool.... but imagine if it had a copy of (or a functional clone of) the 380Z's ROM... best machine code monitor/debugger I've ever ever ever seen.
#RC2014
I'm feeling inspired already :) Thanks for watching and good luck!
Yeah, looking at an #RC2014 at some point, is on my to-do list.
Thanks for watching and good luck!
#RC2014 I've been looking at one of these for a while. I too don't know what to do with it besides build and have fun.
That's enough :) Thanks for watching, and good luck!
I had never heard of this #RC2014 so thankyou. So I am off to read what it can do.
You're welcome! Thanks for watching and good luck!
CP/M was the first OS I encountered as a kid. Time to brush of the dust and relearn it again. #RC2014
Thanks for watching and good luck!
#RC2014 looks fun. Excellent Vid, thanks for making it :)
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching and good luck!
I really enjoyed this video as it is the first time I can remember seeing something about this board. Thanks! (No hashtag because I am not entering the drawing. Good luck all.)
Glad you enjoyed it!
#RC2014 looks like something that can help with the lockdown boredom :)
Thanks for watching and good luck!
Other than some embedded job, like watering your plants, I could suggest trying to tackle making your own SDCard file system for Basic on your brand new #RC2014. Might make for an interesting research project.
Cheers,
Indeed! Thanks for watching and good luck!
I've recently been giving some serious thought to buying the full kit as I began my computing life with the ZX81 and then the ZX Spectrum (for which I built an 8255 based I/O system way back in the 1980's.) #RC2014
You should go for it - but wait to see if you win this first! Thanks for watching and good luck!
#RC2014 would be an amazing toy to play with :)
Thanks for watching and good luck!
#RC2014 mini is half the price of classic version. You're tempting me!
Sorry ;) Thanks for watching and good luck!
OH my, you indeed have jog my memory!!! I still remember typing basic from magazines and then creating my own "games" in my Sinclair ZX80 membrane keyboard, and then digging into why I had no screen output while the program was running. Then dealing with the 1K of ram until my dad and his friend (both EEs) built me a 4KB upgrade all in a wirewrap board. I could have serious fun with this #RC2014
Glad you had all the nostalgia feels! Thanks for watching and good luck!
@@TheRetroShack thanks to you for the great content!!
Retro brings back good memories. #RC2014
Thanks for watching and good luck!
I have this kit, about half-done now, but I've taken a long break. Not a fan of the backplane connectors being on pins, especially double-row ones. What will I use it for? Mostly show-off and nostalgia. I can emulate CP/M machines just fine with my main computer, but hardware is a lot more fun.
Yep, nothing like a box that you built yourself :)
Just the thing to put my newfound soldering skills to work! Fun video too. #RC2014
Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching and good luck!
#RC2014 kit reminds me of the days when Heathkit was available - so much fun to build.
Thanks for watching and good luck!
Great intro to the #RC2014 - thanks!
You're welcome! Thanks for watching and good luck!
#RC2014. May the 4th be with me!
Thanks for watching and good luck!
The Z80 Is an awesome chip! I would love to build the #rc2014 to try and control a Prophet-5 synthesizer Clone with it!
Go for it! Thanks for watching and good luck!
The backplane approach really harks back to the early days of home computing. One wonders if you could store data on the attached pi, since it is already a part of the package. #RC2014
Not yet... But someone will figure it out no doubt :). Thanks for watching, and good luck!
What a kind offer! It'd be interesting to expand it to handle CP/M, and then compare to my other CP/M systems (C128, Apple II, BBC Master, CPC 6128) #RC2014
Thanks for watching, and good luck!
#rc2014 looks good, like these new retro computers.
Thanks for watching and good luck!
I've wanted to build my own #RC2014 for a while now, but the price has always put me off (not saying it's too expensive, just too much for me). Winning one would be great ^^
Thanks for watching, and good luck!
Hi, I'm delevoping PiGFX, the terminal software which is running on the Pi. I just added a feature which allows you to load a basic program from a text file on the SD card in the Pi.
Drop us a line at the Shack and I'll be happy to test that out :)
Made the IMSAI8080 Replica and now this looks like fun as well. #RC2014
Thanks for watching and good luck!
Neat gadget. I'm old enough to remember using CP/M for work #RC2014
Thanks for watching and good luck!
CP/M is a good addition. You can also run basic from CP/M and IIRC you get storage support from there; but also you get Turbo Pascal and other niceties. Definitely recommended. #RC2014
CP/M looks like the way to go - Thanks for watching and good luck!
What's be cool is something like this, but more like an enhanced Jupiter Ace. #RC2014
I owned one of those for a while (in latter days)... but sold it for a small fortune... I always like the idea of NOT using Basic so thanks for reminding me #RC2014
Agreed :) Thanks for watching, and good luck!
@@methanoid I'd love to build my own some day, but get rid of lots of the discrete 74 series logic and replace it with a GAL or something to keep things small.
Oh, I'd love to build this kit with my kids, then set them loose with a 1001 Basic Programs book... #RC2014
Thanks for watching, and good luck!
Looks like a fun project with the kids! #RC2014
Definitely! Thanks for watching and good luck!
For external storage, it wouldn't've been unusual for someone to have a serial paper tape reader/writer. :D It seems like it was common for a lot of systems to lack any actual storage before more common home computers were a thing. If they did, I imagine you would've had to use a special version of BASIC with the drivers built in, and such a thing would probably be necessary for this.
Yep - and that sort of thing is available for other 'build it yourself' computer kits so was just a little surprised it wasn't available on this, given it's been around a little while :)
Excellent video! Not many new videos on #RC2014. It looks like a lot of fun to build and play with. Looking forward to your next video. Cheers!
Coming soon! :) Thanks for watching, and good luck!
I ran across the #RC2014 site a few weeks ago while I was contemplating designing and building my own simple computer. It certainly has me interested. The storage and operating system are the 2 biggest hurdles in my mind... Alas, this kit/site took away any excitement I had built up for designing my own setup - these guys already have done way more than I could hope to...
I know what you mean! Thanks for watching, and good luck!
Saw one of these in the real early days (2015) though to myself, cool.. but what would I use it for....Revisiting, and I realise.... teaching my kids basic.. #RC2014
I'm late to the project too, but so glad I found it! Thanks for watching and good luck!
#RC2014 - gotta be in it to win it!
Thanks for watching, and good luck!
I've been looking at the #RC2014 for a while , because it does look like fun putting it together.
It is :) Thanks for watching and good luck!
#RC2014 looks like a fun project to occupy me during lockdown (and brush up on my soldering skills ;-) ) I had no idea such a thing existed. Thanks for spreading the word!
Glad to help! :) Thanks for watching, and good luck!
Ooga booga #RC2014
P.S. I could be completely wrong, but I’d think your best bet to getting storage on the 32k basic would be to use the cf module that’s intended for the RC2014 pro and manually address the cf card in basic.
*whispers* I'll look into that :) Thanks for watching, and good luck!
Figure out how to interface it (hardware and software) to run a CNC device or 3D printer. Challenging, educational and fun. Check out some of Steve Ciarcia's past work in Byte magazine or 'Circuit Cellar' books.
Hi from Malaysia, you are right it’s not really retro but the CPU is though... ha ha... I would really want to have a go.. if you fancy sending it to malaysia.. anyway nice video.. oh yes 1 suggestion would you like to try connect it tru wifi..#RC2014
Wifi is calling me :) Thanks for watching, and good luck!
Thanks for a great summary of the #RC2014 platform and it's capabilities.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and good luck!
Build my first 6809 microcomputer in 1981 at school. I think #RC2014 would be a nice follow-up 😊
Me too! Thanks for watching, and good luck!
Nice build! #RC2014 is a fantastic project (just wish he went with 6809 instead)! :-) Recommend getting a FORTH running on it and then you'll find it fairly easy to interface with all kinds of hardware goodies.
Thanks for the tip! Thanks for watching and good luck!
There is some alternative CPU boards for the #rc2014 - worth checking in case the 6809 is likely to happen.
#RC2014
The machine starts to make sense when you add the RomWBW upgrade and some form of mass storage, the original BASIC relied on you having a paper tape device that could write and read attached to your teletype, so patching in any storage device would be a massive undertaking.
I have a MBC-2, the one where an ATMega32 has IO and bootstrap duties while the Z80 runs the show, and it runs fine. Here you can just run CPM and then MBASIC from there to save and load to disk. ;)
I'll check out RomWBW - thanks! Thanks for watching and good luck!
Coo! Never played with a Z80, I was a 6502 weenie myself. Here's hoping #RC2014
Thanks for watching and good luck!
Wow! fantastic! It is so hard to find good projects and parts here in Brazil. I hope I get lucky... #RC2014
Thanks for watching, and good luck!
Shame there is no save option, but it would still take me back to the days when I used to assemble ZX81's and Atoms for friends #RC2014
Thanks for watching, and good luck!
#RC2014 this looks so fun to put together.
It was fun :) Thanks for watching and good luck!
Great video #RC2014 I also using Grant Searle's MultiComp FPGA board which is a great way to run a UK101 6205, CPM/M Z80 or FORTH 6809 system
Thanks for the tip! Thanks for watching and good luck!
Just today I was contemplating purchasing an MSX computer. Building one (with additional capabilities) would be preferred! #RC2014
Thanks for watching and good luck!
I'd dig out old books and computer magazines about basic, type in the listings. That's how I spent my childhood with a monochrome TV and a ZX Spectrum. One of my favourites was a very crude chat bot which I never quite understood fully at the time. #RC2014
That's my life already :) :) Thanks for watching and good luck!
I like you can recall the RM 380Z, never realised how expensive they were! Probability why there was always a ‘Teach’ nestled near by. The #RC2014 intrigues me I must say...interesting :)
Thanks for watching and good luck!
An SD card reader does feel like just something you expect there days. #RC2014
Yep - we're all just spoilt :) Thanks for watching and good luck!
#RC2014 Great video. I hope you do CP/M upgrade. I would love to see it!
Coming soon! Thanks for watching and good luck!
I just found your channel. I have wanted to build a z80 based computer for years and now there is a mini? Thank you for the channel and the video!
#RC2014
Welcome aboard! Thanks for watching and good luck!
As a beginner in the field of electronics, I'd absolutely love to get my hands on one of these. #RC2014
Entered! Thanks for watching, and good luck!
@@TheRetroShack Thanks :)
Thanks for the video. It's a fun project! Have been dabbling with one of the Parallax processor powered graphics cards - quite good fun. #rc2014 - for the generous promotion!
Thanks for watching and good luck!
Thanks for the video. I was building Ben Eater breadboard computers during lockdown (one with 6502). This #RC2014 looks like an interesting device.
Thanks for watching and good luck!Very cool!
Good chance to exercise some soldering #RC2014
Yes, definitely :) Thanks for watching and good luck!
Is there any assembler toolchain for the #RC2014? Emulator available for windows? And will there be a #RC2020 coming soon? :-)
Both good questions! I'll look into the first one, but Spencer may have to answer the second! :) Thanks for watching and good luck!
I run cp/m on my rc2014 pro, I play text adventure games, and am learning Forth.
Thanks for watching and good luck!
#RC2014 looks like a fun project!. Thank you for sharing.
It is :) Thanks for watching, and good luck!
Can't you load and save programs via the terminal, so oud don't need local storage on the RC2014? #RC2014
Yep, you can save/load (I loaded programs over serial in the video ) but SD card would be nicer :) Thanks for watching and good luck!
I found my old undergrad text for z80 machine code the other day. "Z80 Assembly Language Programming for Students" by Roger Hutty - we used TRS-80s (I think Model II) running CPM. I did well enough to pass the module. Nice to see the Z80 is still rolling along. #RC2014
z80 forever! :) Thanks for watching and good luck!
Fun is the best reason! #RC2014
You know it! Thanks for watching and good luck!