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A desktop computer's hardware and OS is so complex today that it's difficult to fully understand it; using an 8 bit microcontroller directly driving low-level hardware allows for a better understanding of how things work.
I have a few spare 32 pin zif sockets. If you add jumpers you can configure it to lots of ROMS I am guessing. I like the idea of the zif socket as I have a few of them on hand, and they are made by 3M Jaycar was selling each one for like $4.50 cents each. The zif would be gentle on the legs of the older ROMS.
I totally would buy one if I didn't have to fiddle with the jumpers and trim pot. I would like to use it in an educational setting, but that means I should be able to select the EEPROM in the programming tool and have confidence that all settings on the programmer are good. I still like your design from a hobby perspective ☺
Considering it would always require some end user soldering, it's certainly an educational thing. I could have made it without the configurability or used a few more transistors but it quickly costs some of the universal nature :) For 28 pin EPROMs/EEPROMs that just need 12V/14V, the jumpers and pot is a "set and forget" kind of thing.
Do you have an extra arduino analogue pin left? It would be nice to have voltage sensing built into the device, by having the programming voltage be fed back to the arduino analogue input pin via a resistive divider. Otherwise i suppose one can just hardwire one of those cheap panel voltmeter modules so one doesn't have to break out a multimeter. I prefer not probing live circuits whenever i don't have to because sometimes very rarely probes slip and undesirable things happen :D
You are absolutely correct. I'm slightly biased because the 65uino I'm prototyping it for doesn't have any analog pins - I thought about adding an ADC but I was too late with the thought to actually throw in a resistor divider for an Arduino's "A2" for instance. Super easy fix for next revision :) Actually it doesn't take much to hack on a resistor divider as A0 and A1 is already right next to "VPE" and GND is everywhere.
@@AndersNielsenAA Hmm, the 6532 provides dio and a timer, and the 65duino doesn't have a monitor and keyboard. I think the late 70's early 80's definition of microcomputer includes a video monitor, kb, and mass storage?
Join the free clubhouse on Discord: discord.gg/kmhbxAjQc3
Let's chat about what you like best about old chips, electronics, breadboards and hacking all sorts of things!
A desktop computer's hardware and OS is so complex today that it's difficult to fully understand it; using an 8 bit microcontroller directly driving low-level hardware allows for a better understanding of how things work.
@@soupwizard Indeed 😊
I have a few spare 32 pin zif sockets. If you add jumpers you can configure it to lots of ROMS I am guessing. I like the idea of the zif socket as I have a few of them on hand, and they are made by 3M Jaycar was selling each one for like $4.50 cents each. The zif would be gentle on the legs of the older ROMS.
I totally would buy one if I didn't have to fiddle with the jumpers and trim pot. I would like to use it in an educational setting, but that means I should be able to select the EEPROM in the programming tool and have confidence that all settings on the programmer are good.
I still like your design from a hobby perspective ☺
Considering it would always require some end user soldering, it's certainly an educational thing.
I could have made it without the configurability or used a few more transistors but it quickly costs some of the universal nature :)
For 28 pin EPROMs/EEPROMs that just need 12V/14V, the jumpers and pot is a "set and forget" kind of thing.
Do you have an extra arduino analogue pin left? It would be nice to have voltage sensing built into the device, by having the programming voltage be fed back to the arduino analogue input pin via a resistive divider. Otherwise i suppose one can just hardwire one of those cheap panel voltmeter modules so one doesn't have to break out a multimeter. I prefer not probing live circuits whenever i don't have to because sometimes very rarely probes slip and undesirable things happen :D
You are absolutely correct. I'm slightly biased because the 65uino I'm prototyping it for doesn't have any analog pins - I thought about adding an ADC but I was too late with the thought to actually throw in a resistor divider for an Arduino's "A2" for instance. Super easy fix for next revision :) Actually it doesn't take much to hack on a resistor divider as A0 and A1 is already right next to "VPE" and GND is everywhere.
you should try program a microcontroller
Can you elaborate on that? :)
technically the rom programmer plugs into an 8bit microcontroller board - it's just not a one-chip microcontroller.
Well, technically technically it plugs into an 8 bit micro*computer* board. I guess I'll get to making an 8051 version eventually :)
@@AndersNielsenAA Hmm, the 6532 provides dio and a timer, and the 65duino doesn't have a monitor and keyboard. I think the late 70's early 80's definition of microcomputer includes a video monitor, kb, and mass storage?
@@soupwizard The Altair 8800 would take great offence with that definition :)