I'd be interested in the $25 option. Even in kit form (with the Altera chip soldered on) to save you some time

I'd be interested too, with reservations about programming and soldering the Altera chip.
Would you sell a "bare board" with programmed Altera attached, and the serial PROM as well?
How difficult is it to find a suitable DRAM SIMM to work with the board?
Roger

I'll get tired of building boards eventually, but since this is a new design, I want to build and test more of them to make sure the design is sound.

I need to install the resistor R13 and header P2 because they are needed to program the Altera EPM7128.

ab0tj,
I took a nap and woke up realizing perhaps I missed the point of your request, that you prefer a kit of unassembled parts instead of an assembled/tested board. That was the whole point of Heathkit which I dearly loved growing up. So I'll offer two types of kits:

Quote:

I need to install the resistor R13 and header P2 because they are needed to program the Altera EPM7128.

I think you'll find that header P2 is optional and not really required since it is only used once or perhaps a few more times. I've programmed many dozens of CPLD and PIC-based boards without soldering headers and have never had a programming failure. The header is put into the socket of the programmer or cable and then inserted into the board without solder. For the few seconds that the board is powered on during programming, slight pressure is applied at the top of the header on it's long side to twist it in the holes. Think about twisting the pins so they touch the top of the hole on one side and the bottom of the hole on the other side. Works 100% of the time for me ... so far.

... keep it simple stupid is the best way.

OK, Bill,
Put me in for the $8 partial assembly. I have plenty of PDIP 68000's and PDIP 68681's (and oscillators), but I might need to buy one of your 16MB SIMMS.
Have to look in the "junk box" to see if I have any here.
Thanks.
Roger

Hi Bill,
I would love to get the Kit #2 with the SMDs soldered and all the other parts included. I am in the middle of saving up for a major repair and refit of my main TOWER PC computer. Will you still be selling these kits in January 2018? I definitely will be getting 1 should they still be available then.

I'd like Kit #2, if you still have any PCBs left. I'm in Norway, so shipping would obviously be more expensive.

It's intriguing that this little board is significantly more powerful than the Sage II (or IV) from 1983: faster processor, significantly more memory and faster and higher capacity mass storage.

And would be interested in the built one to the UK as well.

Hi Bill,
Please put me on the list for Kit #1 All SMDs are soldered and Programmed. I should have the rest of the parts on hand or can get them when I can. Thanks a bunch.
There is a PLCC version of the EPM7128 that I'm thinking seriously of entering into Eagle so I can see what I can do on the Through hole version of your Tiny68K as an exercise and teaching aid to me. When I figure this board out, I'm let you see a pdf of it. I'd like to see what you think.

Bill -- This looks like a fun system. If you still have boards, one Kit#2 with chips programmed and SMT devices soldered for me to NY State, USA. Thanks!

In Linux at least if your CF card is just a raw CP/M image from the start of the card with nothing strange going on you can do

dd if=image.cpm of=/dev/sdwhatever

(just don't get the wrong device!

For Windows I believe rawrite32 will do the same job (it's intended for making things like BSD or Linux boot images)

If you are borrowing a partition type for CP/M the way Will did for socz80 then you need to do slightly more work.

Hi Bill,
Thank you for reserving me a Kit #2. I appreciate it very much. I was very excited to see a PLCC EPM7128, but I shortly figured out that it was not the same pin number nor I/O pin count of the 100 pin device you used in Tiny68K. Oh Shucks. Thanks for all who pointed that out.
I have not been online lately since I was attacked by Fire Ants inside the front door of our house. I found out cars aren't the only things with panic buttons! OUCH! OUCH! OUCH! OUCH! OUCH! I've seen the Doc and I'm doing much better now as long as I'm on my medicine.
Bill, Thanks for giving me the go ahead to reproduce your designs. I appreciate that very much. Feel free to send me all your designs when you have a few moments and I will enter them as soon as I can. The only part giving me trouble so far on Tiny68K is the EPM7128. Your pdf of the schematic has NO PIN NUMBERS anywhere. Would it be possible to put pin numbers on all the parts or at least the CPLD? In an effort to help with this, attached is an unfinished pdf of my Eagle Schematic for Tiny68K that I have created so far. The board lay out is of course a work in progress as well. You will notice a slight change. The PLCC version of the 68000 goes all the way up to 20MHZ, so I took the liberty of replacing the DIP version of the 68000. Of course, this is your design so I will do as you ask. Remember folks, this is an UNFINISHED Tiny68K board being transferred to Eagle so Do NOT USE, yet! Bill, Please let me know if I am anywhere near the right track as it were with this circuit board. When I saw your message, I felt like I needed to respond even though I'm not finished yet. Thanks for everyone's efforts and assistance. Take care my friends.

... I'd like to know if it's possible to change the EPM7128 for XC95144XL, I know they have different pin outs and packages but would the XC95144XL work from an electrical point of view?