Hi! I don't know if there are any S-100 enthusiasts who are on SED but on the chance you are here...
I've designed a home brew S-100 backplane project. I have several PCBs available for testing and am looking for experienced S-100 hobbyists for the initial evaluation. The PCBs are $32 each with $2 shipping in the US if you are interested in participating. Please contact me offline if interested.
formatting link
Please note this is a purely amateur volunteer home brew project and totally noncommercial. Thanks and have a nice day!
Very retro. And nostalgic, too. I understand there are still Commodore
64 groups around, too.
Within the last twelve months, I actually threw out an eight socket S-100 backplane, an S-100 specifications manual, and a handful of breadboard PCBs. Gone forever.
I cut my teeth on S-100 about 1978, helping a technician in my group assemble memory and !/O boards when I needed a break from the paperwork. They used more power than an arc welder, but they worked.
Hi Bill! If you find any more stuff like that please contact me. Especially wire wrap supplies or parts. I use them all the time and it breaks my heart to see them tossed in the garbage. I will use them or find someone who will appreciate them.
Hi! I updated the N8VEM S-100 wiki folder with the latest schematics and PCB layout. I made some minor clean up changes but nothing of consequence. Also added an S-100 board "blank template" for designing S-100 board using KiCAD.
I made a quick and dirty S-100 prototyping board if anyone is interested they can review that. All comments, questions, and/or suggestions welcome. If there is enough interest in the S-100 prototyping board I may do a PCB manufacturing run. Please let me know offline. I am guessing the PCBs would be about $25 each or so due to small numbers.
I used wirewrap wire almost exclusively for prototyping, and solder-tag sockets. I filed the rivet off a WSU-30M cutter blade, and clamped the blade into an X-acto handle; I could make pre-stripped daisy chain wires. ;-)
Hi! Just a quick update on the N8VEM home brew computing project specifically the S-100 PCBs. The N8VEM S-100 backplane PCBs are all sent to the testers and the results so far have been positive. There were some "clean up" issues with the documentation but no "show stoppers" identified. If anyone would like to get their own N8VEM S-100 backplane PCB please contact me and I will place you on the waiting list for the next batch.
Based on the feedback I've gotten so far there does not appear to be a need for an N8VEM S-100 linear power supply PCB. Builders can use commercial SMPSUs or repurposed SMPSUs which is what I do. If you are interested in an N8VEM S-100 linear power supply PCB please contact me off list to discuss. I'll offer one if there is sufficient interest to warrant a manufacturing run of prototype LPSU PCBs. Of course you could make your own S-100 LPSU or use a legacy LPSU.
Today Fedex attempted to deliver my first batch of the N8VEM S-100 prototyping boards. They will be available tomorrow for $25 each plus shipping which is typically $2 in the US and $5 overseas. With the S-100 backplane, an SMPSU, and an S-100 prototyping board you have enough to make your own S-100 home brew computer. There is additional information on the N8VEM S-100 prototyping board at the N8VEM wiki in the S100 folder.
I am considering making some additional S-100 boards such as an 8080A CPU board, SRAM board, and serial IO board but have no firm plans at the moment. If you are interested in cooperating with me on an S-100 home brew project please contact me off list. Most likely most people in SED will not be interested in S-100 home brew computing so this should probably be continued on comp.os.cpm or at the N8VEM mailing list.
Thanks and have a nice day!
Andrew Lynch
PS, please join us on the N8VEM mailing list and wiki. There are several N8VEM home brew computing PCBs available.
The N8VEM S-100 prototyping board PCBs arrived today. I built one and it works great. Fits just fine and all the voltages are correct and in the right places. The PCBs turned out very nice. Please contact me off list if interested in getting one or more. I posted some photos on the N8VEM wiki in the S100 folder.
ElectronDepot website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.
All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.