[sdiy] Art of electronics computer

[Steve Carter]

Wow - the 1802 processor mentioned!! Does anyone remember Dr Anthony Berk's Edukit from around 1980? It was a trainer uP board which helped a lot of analogue electronics guys in the UK get into digital. It was based on the COSMAC 1802 and had low quality push buttons that weren't debounced, making inputing hex a tortuous task! I still have one somewhere - must dig it out and take a trip down memory lane.

Steve



On 9 Jan 2012, at 14:43, Tim Daugard wrote:

> From: "Dan Snazelle" <subjectivity at hotmail.com>
> 
>> Anyone here built this computer OR similar to learn about computers,logic, memory, etc???
> 
> I built a full computer using an 1802 processor chip and the RCA manual for the chip. I had a one year remote tour of duty in Iceland. I decided I would build some of the things I had stacked up. I had the popular electronics articles also, but I don't think they were much help.
> 
> I used a Radio Shack 44 pin edge connector proto board for the processor circuit. Another matching proto board for the memory. I have a third board with an old hex + 4 button circuit a built for a previos computer that I still have to adapt. The final board was a non-edge connector board for the front panel DMA programming, Display and control circuitry.
> 
>> I am considering learning about logic , memory, and computers by following along with the labs in the art of electronics student handbook.
>> They have full schematics and most parts i know where to get.
> 
> Building a computer will definitely improve logic skills. Build a computer with a random selection of logic chips picked up in a bag full at a hamfest will REALY make you figure out ways to implement logic. (First project in Iceland was sorting, identifying and testing maybe a hundred logic ICs. I still have about 10 left that I never figured out.
> 
>> However, there are some parts which seem hard to find
> 
> Figure out what they do and figure out a subsistute logic.
> 
> My latest computer exploits entail learning:
> 
> http://www.ti.com/tool/msp-exp430g2
> 
> $4.30 for the entire programming kit directly from TI. It includes to 14 pin DIP Microprocessors. One of the projects for this chip is to create a boot loader for the 1802 computer. I'm currently working on a Mouser order so I can interface this 3v chip to the 5V logic of the 1802 system.
> 
> Tim Daugard
> AG4GZ 30.4078N 86.6227W Alt: 12 feet above MSL
> http://members.cox.net/synthfred/h_toctop.htm (Fred's online edition)
>