This page is about my interest in retro 8-bit small computer systems computing and electronics. And the role of Dutch electronic magazines like Elektuur and Radio Bulletin in the eighties of the 20th century. Also the Dutch users club, called KIM Gebruikersclub, which I joined in 1978 and contributed to as member of the board and as chief editor of the magazine issue 11 to 25.
The retro computing pages are documenting my experiences with 8-bit systems like the KIM-1 and its relatives such as the Apple 1 and the Junior. And various small Z80 and other systems.
I set up this archive as my personal archive of what I research on the subject. If it is of any use for others, fine, enjoy!
- Home
- Sitemap
- Contact
- News
- My sites
- 6809 Microprocessor kit
- Intel SDK-85
- MOS Technology 6502
- Radio Bulletin
- Z80
- Just for Fun MBC’s
- My retro toolchain
- Other retro articles
Magazines
In the early days of computing, magazines about popular electronics played a big role in making microprocessors available for the beginner, whether the professional or hobby electric engineer. The magazines featured here are the dutch magazines Elektuur and Radio Bulletin. From 1977 until 1996 I worked as technical editor for Radio Bulletin and published about microcomputers and more general electronics. Elektuur published also articles on these subjects, many are available here.
What is a SBC for me?
A SBC, short for Single Board Computer can be defined as a computer system, based on a microprocessor, on one printed circuit, with keyboard and display, programmable I/O ports, expansion connectors and without a casing. The ‘operating system’ is stored in a (EP)ROM, an often small amount of RAM is available to store programs and data These were the first microprocessor based computers with affordable prices for hobbyists in the late seventies of the previous century. For professionals a way of getting acquainted with the new hardware and learning the basics of programming at a (very!) low level.
Though it is a complete computer, it has a CPU, memory and I/O, it is also a very limited one. The I/O is often not more than a small keyboard with hexadecimal functions. The display is often not more than 6 or 8 seven segment LED displays, just enough to show, in hexadecimal format, addresses and data. The operating system allows entering and examining of data in memory locations, and start and stop a program. Loading and saving data is limited to either papertape readers and punches, quite common in these days, or via some modulation as data files on audio cassette recorders. Also common is the ability to attach a teletype like the ASR33.
A good example of such a SBC is the KIM-1, shown below. 2K ROM, 1K RAM, many I/O lines free, six LED displays and a keyboard with hexadecimal keys and some function keys.
Why these SBCs like the KIM-1 became so popular? One reason was the low price ($ 280 for a KIM-1, I paid 795 guilders ), so it was in the price range of the average student and hobbyist. Another is the design being open, the complete hardware description and detailed listing of the ROM was included. And it is not the frightening computer, but more a programmable piece of hardware. Because it was so easy accessible and low speed, adding and changing hardware is not hard also. Programming was not easy, but editors/assemblers that could run with some added hardware like RAM and a video terminal made that possible. The nowadays common practice of cross compiling was not available for the hobbyist then.
Besides playing with the SBC, to learn what the microprocessor is capable of, many SBCs were put to work as a sort of PLC, controlling devices in the real world.
What changed the popularity of SBCs was the wish to transfer it to a computer with a better user interface, like graphics on a video screen, a full blown keyboard, a real operating system with mass storage such as floppy drives, and a higher fun factor, a.k.a. games. Or to make it a serious computer fit for business. So SBCs became extinct fast in the mainstream hobby world when the hobbycomputer appeared on the market, like the TRS-80, PET and later the C-64, MSX etc. Even later the boring business PC killed the hobby computer, but that is another story.
It seems the SBC’s are back though: Arduino and Raspberry Pi and the availability of cheap Chinese electronic shops and cross compilation on the PC make it possible to play affordable with small programmable devices at a lower level.
This site is mostly specialized on the 6502 and Z80 SBC (Single Board Computer), small computers based on an 8 bit microprocessor. Good for learning about digital electronics and programming at a lower level. And for many the start of their career in computer science.
SBCs featured here are systems like KIM-1, Apple 1 and equivalent boards like the A-ONE, Apple 1 Replica, Micro-KIM, Elektor Junior, AIM-65, SYM-1, RC2014, TEC-1, MBC-2 and such.
Please use the Contact form to contribute to this fascinating hobby!
- Home
- Sitemap
- Contact
- News
- My sites
- 6809 Microprocessor kit
- Intel SDK-85
- MOS Technology 6502
- 6501
- 65XX IC’s
- 65XX Datasheets Manuals
- 6530-6532
- TIM 6530-004
- 6502 Microprocessor Kit
- Atari 850 interface: 6507 + 2 6532
- Andrew Jacobs 6502 pages
- Apple 1 replica’s
- Ben Eater 6502 computer
- Beta Computer SBC
- Cepac-65
- Data Handler
- Datac 1000, a TIM 6502 SBC
- DOS/65
- DOS65
- DOS65 manuals, sources, listings
- DOS65 articles in the KIM 6502 uP Kenner and CompUser
- DOS65 hardware
- Silicon hard disk Andrew Gregory
- EP: EPROM programmer for DOS65
- EPROM programmer Andrew Gregory
- DOS65, floppy emulator HxC2001, transfer files
- DOS65 floppy collection
- DOS65 programming languages
- DOS65 application: ASTRID and Viditel
- DOS65 application: Logic analyzer
- Elektor Elektuur Junior
- Junior Elektor, from base to full system
- Elektor Articles and Books
- Elektor PCB paperware and ESS services
- Elektor Junior software
- CPM-65 and Elekterminal emulator
- DIY Build a Junior
- Elektor gallery
- Musicprint kit and cassette interface
- Junior retronics articles
- Elektor 6502 clock
- Elektor Universal Terminal
- Elektor EC65
- ESCO 6502 SBC
- EMUF and MC
- Emma by L.J. Technical Systems
- John Bell Engineering SBC’s
- Jolt and Super Jolt
- KIM-1
- The story of the KIM-1
- My KIM-1
- KIM-1 manuals
- Books for the 6502: KIM-1 and more
- KIM-1 articles
- KIM-1 and 6502 in magazines
- KIM-1 ROMs
- KIM-1 revisions
- Hardware expansions
- KIM-1 Software
- KIM-1 PAL-1 KIM CLone KIM MicroKIM Reproduction resources
- Load papertape format
- KIM-1 Simulator
- PC utilities for e.g. 6502 KIM-1
- KIM-1 first clones
- My other KIM-1 systems
- KIM-1 videos
- KIM-1 6530 Replacements
- KIM-1 Diagnostic board
- KIM-1 keyboard repair
- KIM-1 emulators
- KIM-1 replica’s and clones
- Kowalski assembler simulator
- Lee Davison’s website
- Enhanced 6502 BASIC
- Some code bits
- Some very short code bits
- SIN and COS calculator
- 6502 ROM file system
- Microchess
- SYM-1 BASIC – more nostalgia
- A 6502 single board computer
- ACIA 6551
- Nop generator
- IDE bus interface circuit
- An expandable 6502 SBC
- AT keyboard interface
- I2C Bus interface
- LazyPROM
- Memory Plus: memory for your KIM SYM AIM
- Mitsubishi 740 boards
- LAB-VOLT 6502
- MDT 650 MOS Technology
- Microsoft Basic 6502
- MCS Alpha 1
- MPS-65 CT-65 CT-6502 Thaler
- My 6502 systems
- OUP/M – A 6502 CP/M Operating system
- OSI 300 Trainer
- PROMAX MI-650 Trainer
- Rockwell AIM 65 and RM65
- Synertek SYM-1 KTM
- TM76 Burr Brown 6502 terminal
- TOuCHE
- Three Chips Plus Unilab
- Radio Bulletin
- Z80
- Just for Fun MBC’s
- My retro toolchain
- Other retro articles
See also:
Filippo (shinymetal6) published an alpha version of aim65_quartus, an FPGA clone on his github resource. Forum discus...
Christian Ortner (mister-freeze at the VzEkC e. V. forum buold a SBC with expansion around a TIM IC. Here is his proje...
An AIM 65 compatible 65C02 CPU based computer, the MC-65. With a 6532, 6522, terminal I/O, cassette interface, and in th...
Mr. Nagano, from Tokyo, Japan send me photos and circuit diagram of an AIM 65 reproduction he designed an build: the AIM...