2024-09-01: This retroshield will work w/ Arduino Mega 2560 or Teensy 3.5 only. Unfortunately Teensy 4.1 support is too much work due to weak processor output buffers and/or incompatible port assignments on teensy 4.1 (vs 3.5). If you really need teensy 4.1 support, please contact me. Sorry for the inconvenience.

My Brain-In-A-Jar Project

Continuing Retroshield series, we present you ... drum roll... the RetroShield 8060! This retroshield is designed for the INS8060 SC/MP II chip from 1976s (about 47 years ago).

WARNING This retroshield works only w/ INS8060 chip . The first version of SC/MP chips won't work because those require multiple power supplies and have different pinouts.

You can download Arduino and Teensy code to emulate the following:

• KitBug - tiny monitor
• NIBL - tiny Basic interpreter

Note - Kitbug & NIBL use software uart routines for 1200/2400 baud so the serial interface is a bit slow compared to other mpu platforms w/ 8250 or 6551 chips. I modified both ROMs for fast TX from INS8060 side. RX is still bitbanged however. Overall it is usable.

What do you get?

You will get the following:

• Kit w/ CPU (optional assembled & tested)
• PCB w/ surface mount parts soldered
• INS8060 CPU
• 40pin machined socket
• Arduino header
• Red LED

Why did you make it?

First, I have been building SBC's with old microprocessors since high school. For every SBC, I had to spend time wire-wrapping the ROM, RAM, peripheral chips over and over again. Then it was more hassle to expand the SBC. I am now lazy; Arduino Mega is capable enough so I now do my wire-wrapping in software :)

Second, I wanted to give back to the retro community. So all hardware and software design files are open source.

What makes it special?

You can "breadboard in software" meaning you can design, change, update your hardware platform as easy as compiling and downloading a new Arduino code.