Tindie

Name: Prototype PCB for RC2014
SKU: 7650
Price: 6.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.67 (13 reviews)

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Prototype PCB for RC2014

(13 Reviews)

Quickly build prototype circuits or build one-off modules for RC2014 homebrew computer

Designed by RFC2795 Ltd in United Kingdom

2016-07-09T12:58:06.754Z-Protoboard Layout.png

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Quickly build prototype circuits or build one-off modules for RC2014 homebrew computer

What is RC2014? RC2014 is a simple 8 bit Z80 based modular computer. It is inspired by the home built computers of the late 70s and computer revolution of the early 80s. It is not a clone of anyt...

What is RC2014?

RC2014 is a simple 8 bit Z80 based modular computer. It is inspired by the home built computers of the late 70s and computer revolution of the early 80s. It is not a clone of anything specific, but there are suggestions of the ZX81, UK101, S100, Superboard II and Apple I in here. It nominally has 8K ROM, 32K RAM, runs at 7.3728MHz and communicates over serial at 115,200 baud.

As a bare minimum, you will need a CPU, ROM, RAM, Clock and Input/Output module. The RC2014 is designed in such a way that you can build your own modules to expand it. As such, if you have access to similar components, or have specific needs, you might not need all the items I have on offer.

What is this module?

This module is a single bare PCB only. It features the freedom of dot-board with the convenience of strip-board to allow you to build your own RC2014 modules. The 39 x 19 matrix of pads (716 in total)features some pre-connected pins as indicated by the silkscreen. This makes it easy to connect to all the signals on the backplane and add either narrow or wide bodied ICs along the center. You will just need your own connectors, components and ideas!

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RC2014 is a trademark of RFC2795 Ltd.

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Review Breakdown

Average Ratings

Product: (4.00)

Documentation: (4.00)

Shipping: (4.00)

Communication: (4.00)

Justin | April 9, 2021

A board for prototyping

There isn't much that you can say, about a prototype board. It has lots of through-holes and a decent sized area for DIP ICs. One fault that I find is that my failing eye-sight has a little trouble with finding the right plated hole to solder when soldering components -- everything is so shiny! :-)

There isn't much room if you want to add address-decoding logic. However, I get around that in my projects by using one board to provide address-decoded "chip-selects" down the spare (user) pins of the RC2014 bus.

I've built one up with the PSOC 5 LP CY8CKIT-059, to tinker with as a multi-functional device, and a couple other designs that are still work in progress!

Ettore | Sept. 30, 2020

buono

Card di buona qualità pronta per ospitare altre espansioni con il pettine di collegamento appropriato alla madre board.

Neil | July 15, 2020

Useful prototyping board.

I purchased a few of these boards for prototyping RC2014 designs. I'm currently prototyping separate single-channel ADC and DAC boards. Its a nice, clean, well laid-out board, with VDD and GND laid out for 0.3" wide DIP packages. Its certainly a cosmetic improvement when compared to using standard strip-board or perf-board. There's not a great deal of room if you want to use full address-decoding, but otherwise fine.

It also makes a nice tidy adaptor/plug if I want to connect up my 'scope or logic analyser to the bus.

The board really doesn't warrant any documentation so I've rated it "amazing" anyway. Pin 1 has a square pad rather than a round pad, following usual convention. Sorted! ;O)

Maurice | June 13, 2020

Perfect for learning

You can buy a CPU kit, or wire one yourself. I'm not going to lie: it was a lot of work. But the Prototype PCBs made it easy. I now can dream the pinout of the Z80!

Gerald | May 5, 2020

Great turnaround

Yet another excellent turnaround response to my order for a couple of these prototyping boards. I'm going to use one for a simple Power-on-Reset, with a delay of about 1.5 seconds, having found that I have to manually reset my RC2014 when using the Pi Zero Terminal to overcome what seems to be a sequence/race condition issue. It seems the PI wins, hands-down, on power-up and consequently reports that it's waiting for serial comms between the RC2014 configuration and the PI to commence so I'm confident that my PoR idea will hold the RC2014 a little then Reset - the PI, which will be waiting, should then see the serial comms.

Rolf | Dec. 27, 2019

Good product

Good product. Every board will need a 40 right angle header so it would have been nice if they where supplied.

Chris | June 15, 2019

The perfect substrate for my alternative CPU project

I used a prototype PCB to make a TMS9995 CPU module. It was handy to have tracks above the bus and alongside the power rails. Shame there isn't any right angle header in the kit, but Spencer assures me he'll make the description clearer on that point and sync things up between the RC2014 site and Tindie.

Adrian | May 11, 2019

Nice looking prototype boards

These boards let's you keep your own creations permanently, soldered on a board that proudly matches the style of the RC2014.

Milan | July 11, 2018

Very good!

Useful for new module prototype development...
I think my first will be 8255 or Z80 PIO module.
---
BTW - if you want CTC module, I found complete PCB here: https://easyeda.com/sccousins/sc102-z80-ctc-v1-1-for-rc2014.
What was surprising for me: obtaining of Z80 CTC chip was not problem - it is possible to buy very easy many years after 8-bits era.... Nice :-)

Jon | July 5, 2018

RC2014 Prototype PCB works well

The prototype PCB for RC2014 is a fine, high quality board that arrived quickly. As mentioned in the description, it contains 39 pins, not 40. The board is designed to allow easy wiring of dip style ICs by having some of the holes preconnected, as indicated on the PCB by the white markings, with two bus lines running the length of the board. This is great if you need to install up to three 20 pin ICs on the board, but not so good if you need to maximize the space. Overall, they are high quality, and arrived as described. Shipping was quick to the US.

The only problem I had is in finding the right-angled headers that are an EXACT match of the ones provided with the RC2014 kit. These headers are not provided with the PCB. The headers that I sourced from Digikey contain the plastic spacer on the wrong half of the header, which cause the boards to be slightly misaligned. I could not locate the EXACT header part at Mouser or Digikey. I found discussion about this problem in the forums, and people have gone with various solutions, but to my knowledge the US suppliers Digikey/Mouser do not supply an EXACT match for the headers supplied with the RC2014 kit.

In this case, it would be helpful if the Prototype PCB board came with headers that matched those included with the RC2014 kit, or if a part number for the EXACT header was listed in the description.

Daniel | Jan. 19, 2018

Good quality of pcb and parts

I was so happy when i got it as Christmas present , i have learn a lot , the computer work perfect after debugging about 2 days i recommend to improve the documentation witch exist online but is confusing and describe all the versions in one article and mix all together and the reader have to figure witch is apply for his item. Will be great to include a serial cable to connect with computer. i didn't finish yet the keyboard since i have limited time for my hobby. All in one is a great idea and i recommend to everyone witch want to better understand how computers work and how different parts is connected and work .

Tom | Sept. 3, 2017

Proto board connects to only 39 of 40 backplane signals

The board only connects to 39 of the RC2014 40 backplane signals. It is too narrow to accept the 40 pin header supplied. The missing signal connection is in the "SPAREx" signal group. So, if you do not need the last signal in this group, the board is still quite usable.

Mr C | Aug. 16, 2017

You only bought an rc2014 to tinker...

This is definitely a useful board to tidily bring out the connections you need for your own device, due to the small form factor of "standard" rc2014 boards the amount of circuitry you can get actually on this board is potentially quite limited, but never the less this is useful for your own experiments

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