My new uKenbak-1

[Flavio Villanustre]

After becoming the proud owner of a nanoKenbak-1, I decided that I couldn't stop there and pulled the trigger on a uKenbak-1. I received it yesterday and had it built in about an hour. I can say that it's amazing! Thank you very much for making the software and the kits available! 

A few initial thoughts:

1. Did you know that there are 2 shift registers of one type and 1 of the other type? I did not and didn't see that in the instructions either. Unfortunately, I didn't get to be in the 33% chance of installing them on the right sockets. That was an interesting troubleshooting experience! Now I can tell you confidently what happens when you make the same mistake :)

2. If I could just find a small 5v power bank that I would fit inside the enclosure and make it a wireless uKenbak-1, that would make it even more awesome.

3. LED #6 is a wasted opportunity for the clock, as it could be used to signal AM/PM. I may change the default program to do just that (and store it in one of the user defined banks to run by default).

4. The switch covers don't stay fully straight: they twist a bit. Imagine what that can do to an OCD like me!

5. I promptly added a "kill-the-bit" program to it, because if the Altair can have it, the Kenbak-1 must too, right?

6. I may write a "whack-a-bit" program for it (lights lit up randomly and you are supposed to toggle the corresponding switches before they go off on their own, which happens after also a random delay. It keeps count of your failures and stops after 10 failures). I thought it could be fun.

7. I'm now anxiously waiting for the Altair 8800 kits to become available again, because I can't stop with the uKenbak-1 now either. They are coming back, right, right, right? This is a disease and you got me sick :)

All in all, I haven't had this much fun in a very long time! Heartfelt thanks to everyone that made this possible!

Flavio 

[Charley Jones]

Oscar at Designed Obsolescence also makes some great Dec 8, 11, and 10 kits.  Love my Altairs though.  

I do have a spare Altair experimenters kit I really don’t need.  I had lost my altairs and bought it.  Finally found them again.

Sent from my iPhone 15pm!

Charley Jones, PMP

On Oct 11, 2024, at 11:21 AM, Flavio Villanustre <fvilla...@gmail.com> wrote:

After becoming the proud owner of a nanoKenbak-1, I decided that I couldn't stop there and pulled the trigger on a uKenbak-1. I received it yesterday and had it built in about an hour. I can say that it's amazing! Thank you very much for making the software and the kits available! 

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[Vicente González]

I created a Wac-a-Mole game last year, check the Facebook's kenbak-1 group:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/sSQes7odFkRuGTkg/

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[Flavio Villanustre]

Oh, I love it! I'll key it in tonight!

Thanks for the link!!!