Known Working Accessories

[Jim McClanahan]

I thought it might be worth a dedicated threat to share hardware and accessories known to work with the Altair 8800 clone. These might include adapters, cables, SD cards, or other items. (Maybe even things like terminal emulator software or other software tools.)

While my 8800 clone connected to my Android phone over Bluetooth, it would not connect to my Lenovo laptop. I ended up getting a new Bluetooth adapter from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009ZIILLI/

This is working under Windows 7 Enterprise using Tera Term. When pairing, you do need to enter the device key ("1234"). The USB connection from the Arduino maps to COM4 and the Bluetooth serial port maps to COM5 at 9600 baud. I have done several hours of testing with a simple basic program that prints number for several minutes and then runs a FOR:NEXT loop that does not have any output for several minutes. It repeats this cycle over an over. My thinking was that if the serial link sat unused it might experience some type of timeout on one end or the other. I also let the link set unused for roughly a half hour and ensured there was still connectivity.

Connectivity was solid through all the testing.

Thanks,

Jim

[Tom Lake]

If you switch the dongle to a different USB port on the Lenovo, do the COM port numbers remain the same? When I do that on a PC, the COM port numbers change.

[Randy]

I decided to not solder the power leads directly to the board. Instead, I used a 2.54mm (0.1in.) 2-pin header and connector. 

The ones I picked up are only 12" long (about 300mm), so they may be too short depending on where you plan on mounting the power connector in the case. Other lengths are available elsewhere I if you search.

I have tested both the Sabrent BT-USBX and the ASUS USB-BT400 Bluetooth Dongles and both work well with the HC-05 module. I did find that because the Sabrent device does not have a metal shield around the USB connector, the dongle may not stay solidly connected and secure when plugged into certain USB ports. The connection is secure on my Dell desktop, but tends to not fit correctly on my Dell laptop. This is not an issue with the ASUS device. YMMV.

Randy

[Jim McClanahan]

On the COM port numbers, I haven't switched the cables or bluetooth dongle around between reboots, but when I start things up on the weekend it doesn't matter where they are plugged in--the USB serial connection is always COM4 and the bluetooth is always COM5.

I like the power connector. I hadn't thought about that style. I thought about installing a header, but none of the ones I had around were keyed. I might order a keyed one and change it.

Thanks,

Jim

[Randy]

FYI, the Micro USB to Standard USB panel mount cable works exactly as expected. Another tested good accessory!

[Tom Lake]

I have one of those but wherever I mount it, I can't get the case closed again. Where did  you put yours?

[Randy]

I haven't yet, but plan on mounting it to the right side of the case (as seen from the front, to the right of the AUX switches, and behind the front panel PCB. There is plenty of space to mount it there. There would also be space to mount a 2nd cable if you felt a need to connect up to the Native USB port for whatever reason.

Randy

[Jim McClanahan]

It took me a while to get around to installing it, but I put in a micro SD to SD adaptor and extension cable:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01D9JIUU0/

Right now, I am using it with the original micro SD card (that was in the clone) and an adaptor--so over a foot of extension and an adapter at the card and it seems to be rock solid.

I went with a cable that had a regular sized SD card socket at the end because my laptops also have standard SD card slots on them. This will make it fairly easy to pull out the card and pop it into the PC if I want to change, update, or backup anything.

I used a pocket knife to cut a slot in the back of the case to slide the end that goes into the micro SD socket through. For now I have the (fair large) end that holds the SD card wire tied to the USB cable.

Thanks,

Jim

[Tom Devine]

This is certainly aimed at functionality and not aesthetics, but...

I bought a similar microSD to SD extension and found an old 4GB card from a camera I'm using for the same reason, fits my desktop, laptop and this with no adapters, in addition to being accessible outside the case.  (Sick of my AltairDuino living caseless on my desk and the inevitable)  The adaptive has some velcro holding it to the case and tape inside to hold the slack of the ribbon.  The zip ties were added in the sense of overbuilding while I was attaching the Pi.

Also attached an old Raspberry Pi B+ (could also use a Raspberry Pi Zero) running David Hansel's fork of PiGFX https://github.com/dhansel/pigfx (A baremetal VT100 emulator for the Pi).

Now can just plug into an HDMI TV or Monitor (or VGA with an adapter) and USB keyboard and have some fun!  No more PuTTY or other terminals!