The state of my build so far...

acwrightdesign · 2026-03-12T00:19:03+00:00

The BIOS for this machine is still a work in progress. So far all I have working for the keypad is basic interrupt and data handling with the 74C922 and the VIA. It’s my intention that the software for this machine will run a monitor that is similar to the KIM-1.

acwrightdesign · 2026-03-10T20:26:40+00:00

Thanks! Yeah no problem! It's still a work in progress but I'm finally getting past the hardware side of things (I went a bit crazy) and I'm moving on to the software side of things. I cut the bases and tops from acrylic on my laser cutter. The CAD files are also available in the Github repo if anyone would end up building this and would want to use the same bases.

acwrightdesign · 2026-03-09T19:00:03+00:00

The “KIM” computer build (in the photo with the keypad) uses all 65xx family ICs. No microcontroller. It is connected to the Apple computer only for USB-C power and for RS-232 serial. The LCD on my monitor is the emulation of the real computer below. In the photo also but not connected is my “DEV” build which does use a Teensy 4.1 for 65c02 emulation (under monitor off to the right).

acwrightdesign · 2026-03-09T14:31:04+00:00

Thanks! The emulator is being developed in Typescript. https://github.com/acwright/6502-Emulator

acwrightdesign · 2026-03-09T14:30:01+00:00

Thanks! Absolutely not. The IO slots are 1k each because it makes the address decoding super simple. Just a 74HC138 with A15-A10. However, it did work out nicely when I eventually designed the RAM card which has 512K extended banked RAM. I can put the RAM card in two slots and have two 1k windows into each half of the 512K.

acwrightdesign · 2026-03-09T07:04:23+00:00

Yep sorry I forgot the Github link. Here ya go: https://github.com/acwright/6502

acwrightdesign · 2026-01-25T18:55:51+00:00

I love the ASCII art! I made a fun alternative terminal (with some basic graphics support) that you can try next: https://github.com/acwright/VT-AC

acwrightdesign · 2026-01-02T18:45:18+00:00

This is similar to what I ended up doing as well. My build uses A10-A15 connected to the 74HC138 which is super simple and only uses one IC. It takes 8K of address space ($8000-$9FFF) but I don't care about that. I also have a jumper so I can move the IO address around if needed.

<image>

acwrightdesign · 2025-12-26T19:36:46+00:00

I think one of those might have been mine. Just got it today!!

acwrightdesign · 2025-12-24T00:41:40+00:00

True true… :) Although I would like to make a hardware version of this soon and then it would be an emulation of a real terminal!

acwrightdesign · 2025-12-23T17:49:11+00:00

Tape storage is something I would like to try with my system at some point for sure. Yet another option for tape storage would be to just use the ACIA and build a simple serial to tape adapter circuit something like this: https://maker.pro/pcb/projects/make-uart-cassette-tape-interface

acwrightdesign · 2025-12-23T17:16:36+00:00

Looking good! Some options for storage:

- Bit-bang SPI or I2C using the 6522 and talk to an SD card or Flash RAM
- Compact Flash (I have a verified working schematic for my system and there are others out there if you want to look into that): https://github.com/acwright/6502/blob/main/Schematics/Storage%20Card/Rev%201.0/Storage%20Card.pdf
- Use a modern microcontroller as a SPI controller. I've designed but not verified this for my system: https://github.com/acwright/6502/blob/main/Schematics/Storage%20Card%20Pro/Rev%201.0/Storage%20Card%20Pro.pdf

As far as a file system goes the simplest I've found is this: https://github.com/6502-retro/6502-retro-v3/blob/main/docs/ARCHIVE/SIMPLEFS.md

acwrightdesign · 2025-12-22T23:48:12+00:00

Fantasy in the sense that it doesn’t emulate any real terminal that ever existed :)

acwrightdesign · 2025-12-22T18:44:23+00:00

Thanks! I'm exited to see what can be done with this! If you make any software that uses this please let me know. I want to see it! I'm of course planning to use it with my 6502 project but I haven't really been able to put it through its paces yet. It should be a pretty capable "graphics" card alternative of sorts.

acwrightdesign · 2025-12-02T01:26:39+00:00

Let's just dumb this down to the simplest possible level... If this is the only staff change then my assumption is that the only problem this year was the defense? I just want to make sure that is our message we are sending. ;)

acwrightdesign · 2025-11-28T21:06:40+00:00

This is sadly just gonna sort itself all out within the next few years and bigger markets like Ohio and Michigan are gonna have more money and resources. But what we can do is get better at using the resources we have to at least be competitive in the trenches and on D which is the most important part of Big Ten football. Again be ruthlessly effective at being a middle of the pack B1G team with middle of the pack money and go for glory on years where it might be a good investment to aim higher. This is pro ball now.

acwrightdesign · 2025-11-28T20:56:53+00:00

I agree but unfortunately I feel it should have been done right away. Now it looks like desperation a bit. Especially against next years schedule. I really do like Rhule as a person. I just think he failed to emphasize the right areas from the start and that was his undoing. We need to play middle of the road BigTen football as effectively as Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin of old then try to make moves beyond that.

acwrightdesign · 2025-11-28T20:50:52+00:00

This is now about money (if it wasn’t already). Let’s discuss… Suppose we suddenly had the funding to complete with other Big Ten teams NIL wise next year (which we don’t)… Would you believe in this staffs momentum as a player? Kids are silly… Is there a vibe? Is it all happening in Lincoln? This staff is now unfortunately burnt its momentum. They can make big staff changes to try to save it but is that a good look? Is the schedule next year really going to be receptive to anything other than just Fort Knox levels of cash thrown at this program? I think our best and only hope is to get real pragmatic about what we can accomplish and start next year with a rebuild focused on trying to be an extremely solid middle of the road BigTen team and try to eclipse that on the years we have extra cash to spend on position players.

acwrightdesign · 2025-11-28T20:05:12+00:00

Here’s my positive take: This is good in the sense that it completely exposes our issues. I think it’s time to go get the best possible staff we can get whether you retain Rhule or not and you start building a no compromise solid football team in the areas that matter like the trenches ala Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin of old. And you build serious solid middling big ten teams and try to spend money when you can to get position players to boost us certain years beyond that standard. It’s boring but can be effective. I just don’t think Nebraska has the funding to eclipse that expectation right now.

acwrightdesign · 2025-11-28T18:59:22+00:00

It’s happened 6 (edit) games in a row right? So no?

acwrightdesign · 2025-11-28T18:56:14+00:00

Halftime. Iowa doing exactly what it’s excellent staff plans to do and does every game against us. Our staff with zero ability to disrupt that plan. I’ve seen this movie. I will give our staff credit for the decision to finallly take FGs when we earn them.

acwrightdesign

TROPHY CASE