Subj : Computer Kits To : All From : Jeff Date : Thu Jan 06 2022 22:01:34 If you're interested in exploring older computer technology, there are a few options available: Emulation: These systems are software-based and require no soldering. 1. Hercules System/370 emulator. You can run this on a Raspberry Pi. MVS 3.8j (circa 1980) is the latest IBM OS that can be legally run at no cost. On YouTube, user Moshix has a wealth of information on installing, configuring and running your very own mainframe system. No soldering is required. 2. SiMH. This is an emulator for a number of older computers, including the DEC PDP series and can be easily run on a Raspberry Pi. No soldering is required. Emulation Kits: These kits require some soldering skill, but the amount of soldering required is not as much as the full-blown kits. 3. PiDP-8. This is a SiMH PDP-8 emulator running on a Raspberry Pi, the difference being that it's a hardware kit that allows the Pi to blink LEDs and monitor switches on the 1/3-scale front panel. Just like a real DEC PDP-8, the many lights represent the internal status of the various registers and the switches are used to start and stop the processor, deposit into or examine memory locations, etc. Also like a real PDP-8, it supports telnet connections, serial connections, even teletype connection if you so wish. Soldering is required, for both electrical connections and structural support. 4. PiDP-11. Like the PiDP-8, this is a Pi-powered SiMH emulator running with a custom 1/3-scale display panel, this time for a DEC PDP-11. The PDP-11 was the birthplace of UNIX, and there are early versions of UNIX included with the software that accompanies the kit, as well as other PDP-11 OSs of the era. Soldering is required, for both electrical connections and structural support. Full-blown Kits: These kits require soldering every socket, transistor, diode, resistor, capacitor, and connector onto the supplied boards. 5. Z80 Membership Card. This is a Z80-based computer that fits inside of an Altoids tin. Like the PiDP kits, it is programmable from the front panel but you can also connect it to a computer via USB and access a text-based interface providing an assembly language monitor and BASIC. There's no mass storage available, but if you can capture and resend your BASIC listing with whatever serial terminal you're using, you can save your programs (and output) that way. It also supports uploading and downloading assembly language files. 6. Altaid 8800. This is a clone of the iconic Altair 8800 that fits into an Altoids tin. It's somewhat similar to the Z80 Membership card with the exceptions that it has PDP-like LED arrays versus the Z80 MC's 7-segment display, and it uses an Intel 8080 processor instead of a Zilog Z80. 7. 1802 Membership Card. This kit is similar to the Z80 MC and Altaid 8800, but has an LED display like the Altair 8800, physical switches rather than buttons, uses an RCA 1802 processor instead of an Intel or Zilog one, and comminucates with the outside world via a DB25 serial connection rather than USB. 8. Harlequin ZX Spectrum clone. This option is the closest in look and feel to the earliest commercial home computers. It's a 100% compatible ZX Spectrum clone that has a built-in rubber keyboard and connects to a television set. I do not sell any of these, but can help you find them if you have difficulty. I've personally used Hercules and SiMH and built the PiDP-8, PiDP-11, Z80 Membership Card, and several Harlequins. I have Altaid 8800 and 1802 MC kits waiting to be built. Jeff. --- Mystic BBS v1.12 A46 2020/08/26 (Raspberry Pi/32) * Origin: Cold War Computing BBS (21:1/180) .