Oscar
Experienced Member
Hi,
I just finished the first prototype of my PDP-8/I replica, in time for the VCFeX... Based on SimH running on a Raspberry Pi, it will not be everyone's cup of tea - not Real Stuff after all. But here it is nevertheless:
I wanted to make an open-source hardware kit to get myself the PDP-8 I never had. A real one is just too expensive, and I also don't think I'm up to maintaining it responsibly...
Picture to the left: the PiDP uses a USB hub as its all-in-one peripheral. One USB slot serves as a PC8E paper tape reader/punch, two slots as RL8A disks, TU56 DECtapes, or whatever storage peripheral you want. And one USB stick acts as a disk cartridge.
The USB sticks on the photo pretend to be paper tapes with BIN Loader and FOCAL69, respectively. You make do with what you're given... but then again, the parts cost is around $120. Add a $20 Pi Model A+ and a $10 USB hub, and that's it.
Regards,
Oscar.
I just finished the first prototype of my PDP-8/I replica, in time for the VCFeX... Based on SimH running on a Raspberry Pi, it will not be everyone's cup of tea - not Real Stuff after all. But here it is nevertheless:
I wanted to make an open-source hardware kit to get myself the PDP-8 I never had. A real one is just too expensive, and I also don't think I'm up to maintaining it responsibly...
Picture to the left: the PiDP uses a USB hub as its all-in-one peripheral. One USB slot serves as a PC8E paper tape reader/punch, two slots as RL8A disks, TU56 DECtapes, or whatever storage peripheral you want. And one USB stick acts as a disk cartridge.
The USB sticks on the photo pretend to be paper tapes with BIN Loader and FOCAL69, respectively. You make do with what you're given... but then again, the parts cost is around $120. Add a $20 Pi Model A+ and a $10 USB hub, and that's it.
Regards,
Oscar.