Electronics
Computers
Reizen en Weesp
Welcome to my spot with personal interests. From electronics
to old hardware and software to cycling.
Working with electronics started early in my youth: The Philips Pionier Junior and the EE8 have had a huge influence in my choice of study and early career. While working for the dutch magazine Radio Bulletin as a freelance editor my interests shifted from electronics to microprocessors like the 6502 and computers. On the left you find pointers to my Philips Bouwdozen collection and the Radio Bulletin articles written by me. During the last years X10 home automation has made my house a more pleasant hi tech home.
It all started with PDP-11s in the science lab and a KIM-1 at home. A small computer collection, mostly Z80 and 6502 cpu based and Pascal articles are shown here. For the MSX computer you will find a wealth of technical information. And my first computer, the KIM-1 and its 6502 relatives gets a lot of attention too on the 6502 Info Pages.
Walking and cycling in and around my hometown is a pleasure. Please have a look at the photos of past and present, also showing some of the military past('Vestingstad').
A website dedicated to the Retro Computing, also with a forum to chat about the SBC retro computers. Now about the 6502 Apple 1, Replica 1, A-ONE, KIM-1, Micro-KIM.
A website dedicated to the photo's of my traveling. Now filled with hundred of photos of China 2007 and Venezuela 2007.
There are several Apple 1 clones made!
The Replica-1 by Vince Briel is the first to apply modern components to replace the hard to get and therefore expensive components, like the Signetics 2513 and such, with modern microprocessors emulating the terminal part. I found another one, with a dutch background, manufactured and sold by Achatz Electronics, the A-One. The design of this clone is similar: the terminal part is replaced by (this time two) microcontrollers, for video and serial interface.
All of us older computer geeks know that before selling Macs, Apple founders Steve Wozniak (the genius) and Steve Jobs (the greedy business man) had a lot of success with the Apple ][ or Apple 2 or whatever marketing tricks were done with the name of that remarkable personal computer.
The 2 in the name suggest there was a Apple 1 and yes, there were a very limited numbers of boards sold (200 or so, 50 or o survived time, so its a valuable collectible) branded Apple 1 in the 1976-77 time-frame. It has video on board and accepts input from a full size keyboard, so it is one of the first standalone hobby/personal computers based on a microprocessor, the 6502 of course, being powerful and cheap at that moment). Read more here.
Before he made the Micro-KIM, Vince Briel designed quite a complex replica of the Apple 1. Complex because of the now defunct, hard to get components. He worked around that problem beautifully with innovative modern solutions and added conventient modern connections like USB and PS/2 keyboard. The result is the Apple 1 Replica (SE). And I have one of those nice boards now! Including the slot expansion and the CFFAA1 (Compactflash mass memory) board.
Besides the Replica-1 there is another clone called the A-One. Sold by the dutch company Achatz Elecronics, in kit or assembled form. I really like the A-one Extended, with a breadboard attached and three slots.
Some differences between the two designs:
The A-one is even more compact, less IC's
Has a real Apple 1 slot instead of the pinheader on the Replica-1
No parallel keyboard interface on the A-One
Selection of NTSC or PAL on the A-One
The Replica-1 has USB also functioning as power supply as an option
The Replica-1 has an AT(X) power connector, required for the -12V of the serial Apple keyboard
The forum of Briel Computers for the Replica-1 gives good support for the community
Achatz Electronics also sells a prototype board, or a breadboard prototype board. What really made me buy the A-One also, is the A-One Extended version. The extensions on the standard A-One are a large breadboard and three Apple 1 slots. Together with the breadboard prototype board this make it quite an impressive system to develop hardware for 6502 systems.
The design of the A-One is well documented and open: see the excellent website of WISclub member San Bergmans
It is here, and fun to play with: the Micro-KIM has arrived. Read here more about how it works.
The Monacor EK-20 kit is a bit unusual. Monacor is not really known for elektronic kits, but apparantly they did produce this one. This kit has a similarity with the science fair kits as sold in the U.S.A., the labels on the boards are cleary in english, so there must be an equivalent kit. Also in the building instructions some designs are marked not to be used in Germany due to the law. Fun designs by the way like a radio transmitter.
Elektor/Elektuur Junior 1 to 4 books and Elektuur Computing specials 1 to 5 scanned Thanks to Ruud, now available: The Elektuur/Eletor 6502/Z80/65816 books. All dutch, 3 english. All articles from the Elektuur Computing specials 1 to 5 about 6502, Z80 and 65816.
Braun Lectron kit
The Braun Lectron from the 1970's, in a dutch variant. Many circuits such as radio's, amplifiers,alarms. Uses a 9 V Battery and a magnet based construction method.
See the current weather in Weesp!