SC131 Self-Isolation Therapy Kit

[Richard Deane]

Hi Steve,

Any hints in the availability of SC131 (cased sbc)?

Hope stock levels will be high enough :)

Richard

[Steve Cousins]

Hi Richard

Don't forget to isolate all electronic kits for two weeks before assembly :)

Version 1.0 PCBs are on the way from China and expected around mid-week. I'll build a couple and test them.

Today I intend to order stock of case parts and electronic components for a batch of kits.

If all goes well with testing I should be able to offer 8 kits by the end of the week. The first batch will have green front and back panels. Yet to work out the kit price. I'll also make the PCBs available to buy from Tindie and the PCB designs available at EasyEDA.

Also, as soon as I have checked out v1.0, I'll order a larger quantity of boards and other parts. This will include a range of front and back panel colour options. This should give me a good stock in about 2 weeks... if all goes to plan.

There is a chance the v1.0 PCBs will not be right, especially the mechanical alignment issues on the front and back panels.

I've started the documentation and this is live on my website.

Steve

[Steve Cousins]

I've submitted to product to Tinde for approval.

Steve

[Steve Cousins]

Well that was quick, it has been approved already.

Steve

[Richard Deane]

Purchased already  :)

Richard

[Steve Cousins]

Well, that was quick too. All four kits have gone already.

I had planned to offer 8 kits this week but there was a problem with the supply of the standoffs - of all the things to not get. I may have one more pair of standoffs so I might be able to offer another kit soon.

I also only got a batch of 10 PCBs so it will be a week or so before I can offer many more kits.

Steve

[Tadeusz Pycio]

Hi, Steve

Maybe the 3D printed parts solved this problem? It is always worth considering.

[Myklhn]

Is this the pocket sized ROMWBW you mentioned earlier? If so, darn, I wanted one.

Michael

[Steve Cousins]

Hi Micheal,

Yes, this is indeed the previously mentioned pocket sized RomWBW system.

I'll have a few more kits available as soon as I can source some more standoffs. 

I've just ordered more PCBs and other parts so hopefully I'll have enough stock in a week or so to supply anyone who wants a kit.

Steve

[Tom Szolyga]

Hi Steve,

How about an option to add the Micro SD Adapter to the options menu?  It might be hard to find one that has the same hole pattern to match the MB.

Thanks,

Tom

P.S. Ready to buy when back in stock.

[Steve Cousins]

Hi Tom,

The "components" pack includes the Micro SD adapter.

Drat, just notice my carefully arranged photo of all the optional parts does not include the Micro SD adapter. I guess that maybe what led you to the comment.

... just photo editing an SD card adapter into the picture :)

Steve

[Richard Deane]

I've built my sc131 Elite (green/grey) kit and it is working smoothly, upgraded by flashing rom in situ with latest romwbw 292-p37.

I've tested and it is definitely pocket size. Runs xm happily at 115200.

As ever, the documentation was superb.

Richard

[Steve Cousins]

Just to let you know I now have stock of SC131 (Z180 pocket-sized RomWBW CP/M computer) including 4 different colour panels to choose from as well as three different colour case shells.

I have also produced a batch of front panels with "0.018 GHz" in large letters - just to showcase the incredible speed of retro computers.

I hope no one thinks it is inappropriate that I promote my kits here???

Steve

[Richard Deane]

Kermit is also running well on Port B

I use kerm411.com built for cpm22  at 57600 (using mode com1:57600 before launching kermit). 

In kermit (as kermit client) I run "SET PORT PTR", then use "remote cd", "remote dir", and "get" command.

For simplicity I have temporarily assigned chmod 777 to Downloads on PI, and just do CR within kermit under cp/m when prompted for password on remote CD command. I expect there is a more secure way to do it, and will update it later.

On the other end I run c-kermit 9 on Raspberry Pi (invoked as kermit)

set line /dev/ttyUSB0

set speed 57600

set handshake none

set carrier-watch off

server

[Tom Szolyga]

Hi Steve,

Just purchased one on Tindie.  I'm glad they are available before I go stir-crazy.

Tom

P.S. May have to venture out for more coffee.

[Peter Willard]

"I hope no one thinks it is inappropriate that I promote my kits here???"

 I don't mind a bit.

Pete

[Chris Odorjan]

On Thursday, 19 March 2020 12:13:00 UTC-4, Steve Cousins wrote:

Just to let you know I now have stock of SC131 (Z180 pocket-sized RomWBW CP/M computer) including 4 different colour panels to choose from as well as three different colour case shells. 

I like the modularity of my RC2014 system and being able to quickly try out different combinations of hardware. I've been thinking of getting a second backplane for a while now and building a Z180-based system on it.

But I also like the idea of a standalone system that looks cool and I can leave sitting on my desk and not worry about it being exposed to the elements.

So naturally, I ordered both :-)

--

Chris Odorjan

[Interocitor Steve]

Just ordered a kit in BLUE!  Looks very nice.  =Steve.

[Karl Albert Brokstad]

Very exciting.

I got my self-isolation therphy kit yesterday.

The box it came in was very small. I havnt opened it yet.

Karl

[Karl Albert Brokstad]

[Karl Albert Brokstad]

Have just finished assembling the self-isolation kit.

worked after 1st reset. as expected.

good job steve

karl

[Phillip Stevens]

On Thursday, 12 March 2020 09:05:11 UTC+11, Steve Cousins wrote:

Well, that was quick too. All four kits have gone already.

Because of TZ, I was lucky enough to see the announcement and managed to get one of the first four kits.

I've been sitting on it waiting for the right relaxing afternoon in Self Iisolation to build it. Also, been distracted by another software project.

Today I built my "version" of the SC131.

The documentation is great. I kind of just looked at the pictures, because they're so descriptive.

Whilst it is a small neat package, I thought I could make the SC131 a bit neater and "robust" by a bit of tweaking.

Essentially, I put the FTDI adapter inside the case, so that all that leaves the case is a USB pigtail with a male A Connector.

Then nothing at all can go wrong. It can plug directly into any computer. And there's nothing to break off.

First, a saw cut through the back panel to let the USB cable out.

In hindsight, I'd probably do it through the right edge of the panel so as not to obliterate the screen printing.

In fact, I might even purchase another back panel and do it again (to make my result prettier).

Assemble the PCB, but leave the SD Card adaptor and FTDI Serial adaptor headers off the PCB.

Mount the SD Card adaptor on its standoffs, then the header pins will just protrude (or be just inside the PCB).

Solder from the back side, but let solder flow through the holes a little.

Then with the FTDI Serial adaptor straighten the pins, and solder it in the same manner as the SD Card adaptor, with the pins just protruding (or just inside the PCB).

Again, solder from the back side of the PCB, and let a little extra solder flow through.

Assemble the PCB inside the case. The four screws need to go on the right four holes.

Use wrap a cable tie as a strain relief on the USB Cable. Leave a little slack to enable the cable to be unplugged while inside the case.

Trim back the connector on the USB cable to allow the case standoffs to align. Quite a bit of plastic needs to be removed.

As per the documentation, on the case top not just 1 but 3 PCB pillars need to be removed from the case top to enable the case to close.

These are the pillars that collide with the SD Card adaptor, the FTDI Serial adaptor, and the USB cable.

And finally, examine the handiwork. A SC131 that is simplified even further.

Worked on first boot. Now running the latest FreeRTOS enabled RomWBW pre-release at 36.864MHz, 1 Memory Wait State.

Thanks for developing and selling a great kit Steve.

P.

[Steve Cousins]

Hi Phillip

That's a nice alternative build. 

I like the way you have mounted the SD adapter. It also has the benefits of increased reliability and avoids the need to cut the pins. However, it would not be as easy to remove should the need arise.

I did consider including the USB-serial adapter in the case but opted to keep the flexibility of the 5-volt serial pins instead. The USB-serial adpater does not have mounting holes like the SD card adapter or I might have gone for the internal fitting. I'd not considered making the cable an internal connection. 

The back panel PCB design is available at EasyEDA if you fancy making a custom panel to better match your modified serial design.

I also note you used the LED mounting strip slightly differently. I'll have to try that and see how it compares to my method.

Thanks for sharing your build with us.

Steve

[Phillip Stevens]

Steve Cousins wrote:

I like the way you have mounted the SD adapter. It also has the benefits of increased reliability and avoids the need to cut the pins. However, it would not be as easy to remove should the need arise.

I also soldered the 74xx devices "naked" too. Just running the risk, to make everything as robust as possible. Close the lid, and forget.

 

I did consider including the USB-serial adapter in the case but opted to keep the flexibility of the 5-volt serial pins instead. The USB-serial adapter does not have mounting holes like the SD card adapter or I might have gone for the internal fitting. 

I'd not considered making the cable an internal connection.

It would be good to have a USB connector on the back panel, but as you point out there are no support holes.

I thought putting the connector inside and using a cable relief (cable tie) was the best option available.

I've done another inside photo with the cable running down the edge of the case the way I prefer.

 

The back panel PCB design is available at EasyEDA if you fancy making a custom panel to better match your modified serial design.

Thanks I will make a new one with just a small hole for the cable to exit. Where did you get the PCBs done?

 

I also note you used the LED mounting strip slightly differently. I'll have to try that and see how it compares to my method.

TBH I didn't know I'd done it differently. I guess now you mention it, sliding the pins through the plastic stand-off before bending them was "novel".

Another picture specifically of the LEDs.

The SC131 will definitely be my go-to portable device. Can just plug into a Laptop and develop for Z80 anywhere.

Having both HEX upload to HBIOS API, and CP/M XMODEM to CP/M and HBIOS API makes working code a pleasure.

I don't even bother to format a SD card for RomWBW, as everything is in ROM and ready to go.

P.

[Steve Cousins]

Phillip, I got the boards made at JLCPCB. Actually, the screen printing on that first batch of boards is not up to their usual standard. The second batch is much better. 

I can see the attraction of having the USB adapter in the case. I may give that some more thought for a future design, but I'm reluctant to lose the flexibility of the 5-volt serial pins. It would be quite simple to have both with an OR function on the receive lines.

I'm considering a similar product in a larger case. There would be room for a daughter board arrangement to allow some flexibility and expansion. One option could be a daughter board to provide a PC keyboard connector and a VGA monitor connector - in other words something like Marco's terminal module. Perhaps this is the product to include the USB-serial function. I just need a solution to mounting the adapter. The current adapter has holes down each side which could be used to provide a robust mounting and adequate positioning of the USB socket on the back panel.

Funny how there is always another project just around the corner.

Steve

On Sunday, 22 March 2020 00:31:41 UTC, Phillip Stevens wrote:

Steve Cousins wrote:

I like the way you have mounted the SD adapter. It also has the benefits of increased reliability and avoids the need to cut the pins. However, it would not be as easy to remove should the need arise.

I also soldered the 74xx devices "naked" too. Just running the risk, to make everything as robust as possible. Close the lid, and forget.

 

I did consider including the USB-serial adapter in the case but opted to keep the flexibility of the 5-volt serial pins instead. The USB-serial adapter does not have mounting holes like the SD card adapter or I might have gone for the internal fitting. 

I'd not considered making the cable an internal connection.

It would be good to have a USB connector on the back panel, but as you point out there are no support holes.

I thought putting the connector inside and using a cable relief (cable tie) would be  the base answer available.

I've done another inside photo with the cable running the way I prefer.

[Nick Brok]

Hi Steve,

I ordered your kit today.

I hope I'll receive it soon.

Nick

[Steve Cousins]

Hi Nick

It is already packed but too late for today's post collection. It will be on its way in the morning. Your "Self-Isolation Therapy" should be with you soon.

Steve

[Phillip Stevens]

Steve Cousins wrote:

I like the way you have mounted the SD adapter. It also has the benefits of increased reliability and avoids the need to cut the pins. However, it would not be as easy to remove should the need arise.

I also soldered the 74xx devices "naked" too. Just running the risk, to make everything as robust as possible. Close the lid, and forget.

 

I did consider including the USB-serial adapter in the case but opted to keep the flexibility of the 5-volt serial pins instead. The USB-serial adapter does not have mounting holes like the SD card adapter or I might have gone for the internal fitting. 

I'd not considered making the cable an internal connection.

It would be good to have a USB connector on the back panel, but as you point out there are no support holes.

I thought putting the connector inside and using a cable relief (cable tie) was the best option available.

I've done another inside photo with the cable running down the edge of the case the way I prefer.

 

The back panel PCB design is available at EasyEDA if you fancy making a custom panel to better match your modified serial design.

So the delivery guy delivered on Sunday... and now I've new "Customline" panels for my SC131.

The SC131 will definitely be my go-to portable device. Can just plug into a Laptop and develop for Z80 anywhere.

Having both HEX upload to HBIOS API, and CP/M XMODEM to CP/M and HBIOS API makes working code a pleasure.

And Wayne has released RomWBW v3.0 which, with the HBIOS MUTEX enabled, was burned straight away.

So now I've a great platform for (robust, spill proof) multi tasking FreeRTOS portable development. Except, I'm no longer leaving the house...

P.

[Eric Matecki]

Wow that 60s car font !   Beautiful...

 

So now I've a great platform for (robust, spill proof) portable development. Except, I'm no longer leaving the house...

Bad planning :)

[Steve Cousins]

Hi Phillip

That looks very nice.

Is your plan to leave the Flash write enabled when you "Close the lid, and forget" or are you planning to stick with RomWBW v3.0 indefinitely?

Steve

[Phillip Stevens]

Steve Cousins wrote:

That looks very nice.

Thanks, I can (could) share on Easy EDA, but I don't have enough experience points to permit sharing.

Is your plan to leave the Flash write enabled when you "Close the lid, and forget" or are you planning to stick with RomWBW v3.0 indefinitely?

I'm planning to leave the lid closed, and stick with RomWBW v3.0 for at least a few months, which counts as indefinitely.

That is infinitely longer than over the past few months, where I seem to be updating almost daily.

There's another thread to open on "Z80 development rate", which seems to have really heated up since 2014/15.

Cheers, P.

[Tom Szolyga]

Hi Steve,

The SC131 kit I ordered arrived today!  That is just over 1 week shipping to Saratoga, CA.

I was so glad to see it in my mailbox.  After 2 weeks of “Stay at Home” isolation and facing another 4 weeks of it, I am overjoyed to have a new project to build/debug/program.  Also, the shipping package is AMAZING!  It is strong and rugged, arriving in perfect condition.  It is the best packaging of any product delivered to my mailbox.  GREAT job!

Best regards,

Tom

[Myklhn]

That just shows the vagaries of our postal system. Mine is now just under two weeks and hasn’t made it here, yet. No complaints, just another data point.

Michael

[Nick Brok]

Hi Steve

I received the sc131 yesterday, fast under today's circumstances. I did put it in one and a half hour together and it is working as expected. Nice design. Perhaps a software clock via the internal z180 timers (as in fuzix) could add extra functionality. Disadvantage: at every boot you must type the current time.

Thanks for the nice kit..... not needed (I develop my own Scrumpel systems ;-) ) but I want to support you by buying kits from you with development of nice kits.

Greetings,

Nick

[Wayne Warthen]

On Friday, April 3, 2020 at 9:11:20 AM UTC-7, Nick Brok wrote:

Perhaps a software clock via the internal z180 timers (as in fuzix) could add extra functionality. Disadvantage: at every boot you must type the current time.

Yeah, I have already concluded that I should implement a software clock for systems with no RTC.  This is only possible on systems that can provide a periodic timer, but many can (all Z180's can).

-Wayne

[Steve Cousins]

Hi Nick,

Thanks for your support. I was a bit surprised to see your order as I know you have designed a number of systems of your own.

Steve

[Wayne Warthen]

Received my SC131 kit in the mail today.  Got here reasonably fast considering everything going on.

Naturally, I couldn't go to bed without building it.  Went together perfectly (no surprise) and fired up on the first try. Took me a couple hours, but I was going a little slow to make sure I didn't mess up any of the physical alignment stuff.

Now upgraded to RomWBW v3 and I have placed the hd_combo.img on the microSD card.  All OSes working perfectly.  I definitely need to get a timer-based clock driver working.

I couldn't be happier.  This is a beautiful little kit and excellent quality as expected.

Thanks Steve!

-Wayne

[Jessica McIntosh]

Git my kit in the mail today and assembled it in a few hours. The best kit I've assembled yet. Great work on the packaging and the instructions. It was so easy to put this together. Great work!

I also put my LEDs in the same way Phillip Stevens did. Worked out well and sets the hight of the LEDs perfectly.

[Michael Uhlmann]

Hello, my package arrived yesterday after 15 days. I had to pick it up at the post office and pay 11 euros for customs and 6 euros for fees. Everything looks fine, thank you Steve!

regards Michael

[Pellatonian]

Since it seems to be a thing at present... I received my second SC131 kit on Friday, and the highwaymen of Swiss Customs seem to have ignored the chance of collecting 25 francs or so. I'm so used to waiting 6 weeks for things from China to come that the delivery within a week came as a complete surprise.

I shan't put the new one together for a while as I'm currently building a WIFI sidecar for the original. When I get time I'm thinking of integrating the new SC131 with a VT132 card and mounting the whole on the back of a VGA screen to make a kind of all-in-one CP/M system, similar to some from the 1980's.

Thanks Mr Cousins.

[Michael Uhlmann]

Today I have soldered the kit with minimal changes. As serial port A I used a microUSBUART module, directly soldered on the PCB. It fits exactly thru the hole in the backside. On port B I soldered a female connector. The LEDs I used are red, blue (with 10 kOhms ) and yellow, looks better to the blue front panel. I didn´t use IC sockets.

It seems all to work properly.

Now I saw, there is a RomWBW 3.0.1 available. How can I install it ? 

regards Michael

[Michael Uhlmann]

more pictures

[Richard Deane]

Download the 3.0.1 release from romwbw on github. - https://github.com/wwarthen/RomWBW/releases/download/v3.0.1/RomWBW-v3.0.1-Package.zip

This contains the sc131 rom and com file e.g. scz180_131.com, put both of these on your sc131, then you can run the .com file to verify it all works. If you are happy then you can use the flash utility to write the new rom file to your flash rom.

The advantage of the sc131 system is that the default build should work for you as you don't have any additional disk or serial devices that might require a rebuild. I sometimes do a rebuild to switch serial a and b to get hardware handshake on the appropriate terminal or peripheral port, or to get double speed on the system. There is HW handshake on only one serial port of the Z180.

Don't forget to update your SD card with the new build files. I use hd_combo.img. Good idea to sort out a file based backup / restore before losing any previous files. 

The romwbw documentation is good and does explain it all.

Richard

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