Springtime is knocking at the door, so we did some very early spring-cleaning 🧹

RC-BOX BBS, the world's first (and currently only) Bulletin Board System to run on real RC2014 hardware (Z80 based Homebrew Kit) utilizing oldie-but-goldie CP/M 2.2 has seen a minor update:

- new "read latest bulletin" prompt after login, skip the bulletin if you don't want to read it / already read it

- fixed total line count at message output

- raised max lines per message from 48 to 64 (at 64 columns per message line)

- added some essential software to the file base (for those brave enough to try x/ymodem downloads).

Visit us using your favourite terminal program. Heck, we have no ANSI so even a teletype will do!

connect to: rc2014.ddns.net on TCP port: 2014

#rc2014
#rc2014bbs
#rcbox
#bbs
#CPM80
#Zilog
#Z80

Developer creates 'Conversational AI' that can run in 64kb of RAM on 1976 Zilog Z80 CPU-powered System — features a tiny Chatbot and a 20-Question guessing Game.

The venerable Zilog Z80 CPU has been around since 1976, and it has powered everything from calculators and home computers to arcade cabinets. But the 8-bit microprocessor isn't exactly a powerful CPU compared to what we use today. That said, developer HarryR has created Z80-μLM, a working "AI" for the well-respected microprocessor.

⁉️[HarryR] confirms that it won't pass the Turing test, but it is a bit of fun. And no, the price of Z80s will not be impacted by AI.⁉️

https://github.com/HarryR/z80ai

#zilog #z80 #conversational #ai #retrocomputing #engineering #media #retro #tech #news

I'm in a most excellent mood! A long long time ago, I got a fancy #MiSTer #FPGA. For those unaware, this device emulates everything from old #Zilog #Z80 systems to low end PCs and arcade machine - or rather, it doesn't exactly emulate them - it sort of becomes the old legacy hardware itself, meaning you'll have nearly clock cycle perfect emulation.

Anyhoo, I also got a #MT32pi for it, which is a thing that emulates old #Roland #MIDI hardware that nobody back in the day could afford. Many of the early DOS titles support this, and it's an absolute joy to listen to. There's a whole sad story to the MT32-Pi project, but that's for another day.

Sadly, it never worked in my setup - until today! I had it for years and years but finally I put in the effort - a lot of measuring and some soldering and now it actually works! Delicious music in old #DOS games! I thought the thing was for sure fried, so I couldn't be happier!

Have an excellent weekend everyone! 🙂

#retrogaming #pcgaming

Any other #Nascom or #Gemini #vintagecomputing geeks out there? I inherited a rather large collection from my late dad, but so far I've only found a handful of people why are into the #Galaxy computers made by Gemini Microcomputers Ltd., and none in the Fediverse yet. The Geminis were made in #England and mostly featured the #Zilog #z80 although they very briefly ventured into Motorola 68K world before throwing in the towel.

#retrocomputing

Tudo aquilo que você precisa saber sobre a RC2014 e não tinha a quem perguntar.

https://retropolis.com.br/2025/12/29/tudo-aquilo-que-voce-precisa-saber-sobre-a-rc2014-e-nao-tinha-a-quem-perguntar/

#MundoRetro #backplane #kit #RC2014 #z80 #zilog

Dear internet,

Does anyone know of a cycle accurate #zilog #ez80 simulator? I'm looking for something that exposes all of the pins in the emulator as well, that is I need to be able to sample the address and data lines from other code in a cycle accurate way to test-drive some peripherals.

I found a core written for the TI calculators, but it seems very tied to that use, and I don't know how accurate it is either. Maybe it is very good, if anyone knows please let me know!

#retrocomputing