mattkubaMar 5
hkz

I reconstructed this computer from board scans and schematics found in an Italian magazine from the '80s.

I fixed some of its design flaws and patched its ROMs.

I designed a keyboard for it.

I soldered every single PCB you see connected to it (and the mainboard too).

All so that I could use it to telnet into a #BBS without using the PC I have 50cms on the right.

I'm a totally stable person.

Mar 5 at 7:37pmWeb
Show threadAlex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UKMar 5
@hkz what CPU does it use?
Show threadhkzMar 5
@vfrmedia it's an Italian clone of the Apple //e. The original project asked for a 6502, mine has a 65C02: https://codeberg.org/hkzlab/NE_Delta_Schematics
NE_Delta_Schematics

Reconstructed DELTA computer (Apple IIe clone) by Nuova Elettronica

Codeberg.org
Show threadAlex@rtnVFRmedia Suffolk UKMar 5
@hkz ah, I did think it looked vaguely like an Apple II !
Show threadhkzMar 5
@vfrmedia Yup, and uses the same expansion cards!
Show threadMad EngineeringMar 5
@hkz This is called full stack engineer, and it's in really high demand right now.
Show threadHoubaMar 5

@hkz

Sure, if you define stable as 'on a random cardboard box'

Show threadhkzMar 5

@houba When I level up my builds, I screw them onto random pieces of plywood.

Still need to upgrade this one.

Show threadJoachim ZiebsMar 5
@hkz This is impressive. Totally nuts, but impressive nonetheless.
Show threadD2Mar 5
@hkz (looks at desk) iz we a club? Can we get tee-shirts or stickerz or a sekrit handshake?
Show threadhkzMar 5

@InkomTech We really should.

I vote for the tshirt, so I can throw it on a chair behind something and totally forget about it for MONTHS.

That's a wonderful S100 board, I have built several by John!

Show threadD2Mar 5
@hkz the perverse thing is, this runs slowly enough (9MHz) that I can hook cheap test / hacking toys to it and Really Learn circuit stuff I previously glossed over.
Show threadD2Mar 5
@hkz per above comments, note mine has a state of the art Amazon prime box panel (5 ply corrugated) as backplane and to stabilize input wires. Haters =🖕
Show threadhkzMar 5
@InkomTech who needs a case when we have cardboard.
Show threadMike FraserMar 5
@hkz Disappointed you didn't build a CRT display...
Show threadhkzMar 5

@mike :(

But i do have a tube slightly on the left of this. Hidden behind a stack of... other hardware.

Show threadD2Mar 5
@mike @hkz behind me, in my pending/soon projects are Fred Konapaska’s XY vector kit and some enameled wire. All the weird pointlessness of 8-bit computing, but at kV voltages!!!
Show threadhkzMar 5
@InkomTech @mike oh, this I don't know about, will look it up!
Show threadD2Mar 5

@hkz @mike

Step 1: take a retro CRT. Not a trini or similar.
Step 2: Replace the raster coils with custom ones. Get zigzag and uppy-downy near each other. *
Step 3: circuits to control high voltages for these. *
Step 4: turn x/y/brightness commands into defined movements. *
Use for Asteroids, Tempest, spacewar, etc.

* me, muttering under my breath: ‘don’t die’

Show threaddiana 🏳️‍⚧️🦋🌱Mar 5

@hkz

That is a nice keyboard 👾

Show threadhkzMar 5
@dianea thanks! If I had to remake it, I'd do without the "repeat" button (proved to be useless, in the end I just hardwired it to always enabled), and I'd slightly move the button closer together.
Show threadCyMar 5
You're a totally stable person, with much more dextrous hands than I'll ever have!
Show threadKeith NasmanMar 5
@hkz Damn nice work! We need more people with your skills!
Show threadWoozle HypertwinMar 6

@hkz I'm just jealous of the amount of sustained focus it takes to do something like that.

(The act itself is entirely normal, however; it's just the done thing.)

Show threadDavid GearyMar 6
@hkz So *that's* why it takes so long for you to reply to messages :-)
Show threadhkzMar 6
@zudnick yeah I have to build hardware for every reply!
Show threadXenotarMar 6
@hkz Excellent! I wish I could do that with professor Horowitz's 68008 project in The Art of Electronics