I’m still working on the ACI layout, but I have some more things to do.

I want to make sure that I can make operation more reliable before I make a batch of cards for consumption by hobbyists. Besides the capacitor change, I want to find a cassette recorder that works better than the vintage Radio Shack model that I’ve been using. Even with the capacitor change, operation is not the most reliable in the world with this recorder. The recorder I’m waiting to try is the Apple specified cassette tecorder. This is a Panasonic RQ-2102, which much to my surprise is still in production. This recorder was recommended and used by Apple back in the 1970s. I have a new one on order, but it’s on back order and not due to arrive for several more weeks. Used ones are often available on eBay, but I’m looking for a new one, since belts on cassette recorders tend to stretch and slip with age.

The ACI layout is largely complete, with only rounding off of the corners of the traces and final design checks remaining to be done. Though I did the initial layout in a couple of hours, I’ve spent a lot more time than I expected fine tuning the replication of the details of the original. I think that because the board is small, finer fidelity to the original is required to ensure that I capture the right look and feel on this board