Category Archives: Apple II

About Early Apple II computers

Brain Board Update

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I have shipped several Beta kits to some Mimeo builders who also have Apple IIs. Once I incorporate any feedback from the Beta Testers, I’ll open up for ordering. Hopefully this will take only a couple of weeks. My own testing of the production board has revealed no bugs.

In some ways, this is the most complex retro-project I have yet attempted. There was a pretty decent blue print for the Apple 1 and Apple II projects. The complexity involved making sure I didn’t overlook any of the content in the blue print and filling in a few blank pages. The Brain Board project involves creating a way to map the blue print from one fairly complex architecture into another. It also involves mapping the software systems along with the hardware systems. With the motherboard projects, the software was a given. A similar project was the PS/2 to ASCII keyboard adapter, but that mapping is much more constrained.

Several folks have suggested I take pre-orders for this project. Though demand on this project is hard to estimate, I think I have enough parts on hand to supply immediate demand and pre-orders are not necessary.

I have decided to classify this kit as a level 1 kit – it is very easy to build. If you can figure out which end of a chip has pin 1 and have a decent soldering iron, you should be able to build it. Here is a list of projects that I have offered with their skill levels.

1) Apple Cassette Interface (stocked), Brain Board (shipping soon)
2) PS/2 keyboard adapter (stocked)
3)
4) Apple 1 (stocked), Apple 2 rev 0 (discontinued)
5) Datanetics keyboard (several PCBs left)

Brain Board PCBs shipped from vendor

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Should have them in about a week. I’ll immediately do a quick checkout to make sure they behave like my proto and get Beta started.

If everything goes smoothly I’ll be shipping by end of March.

I’m really excited about this project, it’s really a wicked neat little personality board for your Apple II – kind of like giving it a lobotomy. I’ll be posting more details about the design once I get closer to shipping.

Brain Board/Wozanium Pack Specs

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When running Wozanium Pack Firmware on the BrainBoard, here is the system specs.

Microprocessor Clock Frequency: 1.023 MHz – same as the original Apple 1
Effective Cycle Frequency: 1.0205 versus the original’s 0.960 MHz

VIDEO OUTPUT: Composite positive video – same as original
Format: 40 characters/line. 24 lines; with automatic scrolling – same as original
Character Matrix: 5 x 7 – same as original

RAM MEMORY: 16K located at 0x0 – standard configuration with the original had 4k at 0x0 and another 4k at 0xE000. Several original systems were modified with the bank of memory at 0x0 expanded to 16K

BASIC: 4K at location 0xE000 contains Basic in PROM – With the original, BASIC was loaded into the 4K DRAM bank at location 0xE000 using the Apple Casssette Interface (ACI)

APPLE CASSETTE INTERFACE: built in – ACI was an option on the original

Mind Blowing Update #2

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less blur

less blur

After much delay mostly do to distractions with other projects, the software is done with no known open issues and the prototype board is working great. The production PCBs are order and will arrive in about 5 weeks. I thought I could get quick turn PCBs made, but this wasn’t to be, hence the long lead time. Here is timeline for future announcements and release.

1) I hope to have time to put together a video podcast showing a demo of prototype, so everyone can finally see what this is about. I hope to be able to post this sometime next weekend. I’ll also announce target pricing at that time.

2) The rest of the parts for the first production run will be ordered.

3) After taking a day or two to assemble and check one of the production boards for myself, I have two Beta testers lined up and they will get a few weeks to check out the board.

4) A web page will be created with downloadable instruction manual.

5) Assuming all goes well, I hope to be shipping in about 8 weeks.

Mind Blowing Apple Add On Update

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This “Apple Add On” project is nearly complete. I have a prototype working, but need to tweak the software a bit. If I had pushed it. and put the Datanetics project aside, I could have completed it prior to Christmas. However, I have a bit of money tied up in the Datanetics PCBs and wanted to recoup at least some of it, before proceeding with another project that included a PCB build. That Datanetics PCB build is one project of mine that will never pay for itself, so don’t expect a rebuild in the future.

I have purchased a few of the more expensive components for the “Apple Add On”, along with some Datanetics parts that I needed. However, I’m not proceeding with the rest of component purchases or PCB build until the remaining 3 Datanetics PCBs are sold. If I can’t sell the remaining Datanetics PCBs via my my blog by the end of the month, I’ll go the eBay route. If you are thinking of waiting for the eBay sale, keep in mind that I will probably raise the price for the eBay sale, to account for added eBay costs. Selling these boards will free up enough “hobby” money to allow me to move on the “Mind Blowing Add On” PCB build.

radial blur

radial blur

I’m anxious to get moving on this, as I think it is a pretty nifty project that will sell for well under a hundred bucks and a lot of Apple enthusiasts will get a kick out of.

Possible A2 Hobby Board Project

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Here is another project that I am considering.

A2 Hobbyboard Layout

This is the beginnings of a layout replicating an original Apple 2 Hobbyboard.  This is a prototyping board intended for creating your own Apple II expansion card.

I’m thinking of building a batch of  either exact replicas or possibly modified with some improvements that I have in mind. This board layout is ideal for wirewrap applications, but I’ve moved beyond wirewrap a few years ago, so I’m likely to modify it for point to point wiring.

I’m also thinking of putting together some project kits that could be implemented on this board.  Projects I have done already that could be easily adapted, include my shutter tester and the improved firmware card.   I have other ideas like a spectrum analyzer for audio frequencies.

Let me know what you think and if you have ideas for projects for this hobby board.  Also if you have ideas for what features you would like to see in a prototyping board, let me know.