Retrochallenge 2016 – Setting up my stall.

On the eve of ‘challenge I have retrieved my VT-180 from the “shelf of good intentions”. I have taken photos of the two main boards and powered the machine up to see what happens.

151231-IMG_20151231_112224 151231-IMG_20151231_112314The first board basically the Z80 board. The second is a VT-100 terminal (if I remember correctly) and they talk to each other over the flat ribbon cable in the second photo.

Hmmm.

At the moment I don’t have the processor board in place as I think the VT side should come up without it. However, the current state of play is less than ideal.

151231-IMG_20151231_174248Roll on Tomorrow 🙂

 

Retrochallenge 2016. Step forward VT-180.

7ed07f63f5e5d6b2074f8a85a85c287eI was given this VT-180 machine a few years ago and after a quick look, I put it on the shelf to get round to later.

Retrochallenge 2016/1 is the later it’s been waiting for.

My aim this January is to mend this rather under rated but rather splendid CP/M-80 machine and get it to live, breathe and jump again.

Quick, to the Bat Cave.

Retrochallenge 2016 – Decisions decisions.

Retrochallenge 2016 will soon be upon us. This month long chance to dust off old kit and play about a bit is always great fun and a chance to get round to stuff I’ve wanted to have a crack at for ages.

Tradition dictates that I try in all earnestness to achieve something but I don’t hit my target. I’m not sure that it matters.

So, what to go for this time around? I’m not too sure yet. I certainly have a number of loose ends to tie up. I also have a whole load of new threads to pick at.

I quite like the idea of getting a SCSI/SD card adapter working on my PDP-11. I’ve got as far as plugging it in. Could January be its month?

Last month I found out about DEC’s T11 chip. This was

"a microprocessor that implements the PDP-11 instruction set architecture (ISA) developed by Digital Equipment Corporation. The T-11 was code-named "Tiny". It was developed for embedded systems and was the first single-chip microprocessor developed by DEC."

I’ve found a few designs for systems that use it, including DEC’s own development board, and I rather like the idea of building a small single board computer based on that design. A bit like the designs that Grant Searle as published for other retro processors.

Also, I promised myself that I’d spend some time on the DEC Robin AKA VT-180 CP/M machine that’s been on the shelf of “good intentions” for a few years now.

Oh well, still a few of weeks to choose before kick-off on Jan the 1st.  Wish me luck.