Tindie

Name: #61 The Missing Module (serial & storage)
SKU: 16763
Price: 29.00 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.92 (6 reviews)

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#61 The Missing Module (serial & storage)

(6 Reviews)

Serial interface, serial/bus clock and Storage (for RC2014).

Designed by Rotten Snow in Norway

#61 The Missing Module (serial & storage) 1

#61 The Missing Module (serial & storage) 2

#61 The Missing Module (serial & storage) 3

#61 The Missing Module (serial & storage) 4

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### IMPORTANT NOTICE:Due to the current pandemic, shipment may be delayed to certain countries.

Serial interface, serial/bus clock and Storage (for RC2014).

NEW AND REVISED VERSION What's new; The functionality is the same; Serial, Clock and Storage. The design is new, hopefully making it easier to assemble and use. Also; the LEDs should now blink when...

NEW AND REVISED VERSION

What's new; The functionality is the same; Serial, Clock and Storage. The design is new, hopefully making it easier to assemble and use. Also; the LEDs should now blink when active.

A 64MB CF card is now included with the kit

All CF cards are checked before shipment, in the process, the cards are written with an image. A small label indicates the image prepared for a specific setup. A = ACIA (MC68B50P), S = Z80 SIO/2, R = ROMWBW

DESCRIPTION

It is a module which is interoperable within the RC2014 eco-system and it serves 3 functions;

1) Serial interface (MC68B50P ACIA) with an FTDI connector.
2) A Clock for the serial interface, and it may be routed as a bus clock.
3) Compact Flash Card adaptor, for storage.

This module was designed in response to a very popular module made by Steve Cousins, the SC108 which contain a Z80 CPU, 64k RAM, and 32k ROM. This module (#61) and SC108 will together form a complete Z80 based CP/M system, hence "the missing module".

This module has many benefits over similar modules. It is compact, saving slots, but also running asynchronously to the CPU, allowing the CPU to run at any speed up to 24Mhz for Z80 and 33Mhz for Z180. The serial card runs at its own clock speed, recommended at 7.3728Mhz giving a baud rate of 115200/8/N/1. In addition, it provides robust communication and storage.

RECOMMENDED SETUP

For a complete CP/M computer the following components can be used;

61c The missing Module (Serial, Clock and Storage)
SC108 Z80 CPU and Memory Module
SC116 3-slot backplane
optional is VGA Serial Terminal Kit with USB

You find more information about this and other modules at my homepage www.z80.no.

NOTES

RC2014 is a trademark of RFC2795 Ltd (www.rc2014.co.uk).
The MC6850 is rated at 1Mhz, and the MC68B50 is rated at 2Mhz but runs happily at up to 7.3Mhz.
This module will also work well with SC114 Motherboard
This is a hobby electronic kit and only intended for educational and hobby use.
The kit is provided as parts and is not assembled, some parts may be new old stock or recycled parts since they may be out of production.

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Rotten Snow Shipping Policy:

The products will be sent by regular mail at the cheapest fare.

Review Breakdown

Average Ratings

Product: (5.00)

Documentation: (5.00)

Shipping: (4.00)

Communication: (5.00)

Mark | Nov. 12, 2020

Great Module, but even Better Service

Wow, what a story... First up, I'm in Australia - on the other side of the planet from where these are shipped. I ordered various parts to make an RC2014 system but one of the key parts of it is this module that gives you Serial Communications as well as mass storage. And just to get this out of the way: The module worked first pop and works great. Really good documentation, as well.

Well a month after the order and it not turning up, I contacted Karl and he was very quick to respond and sent out another module. But that didn't arrive after another month, either. Out of total desperation, Karl sent a THIRD package via express postage. And of course, as Murphey's Law dictates, both the first and third item turned up ON THE SAME DAY! I'm sure the second will show up right about Christmas. Thanks, Covid! Luckily I have friends that also want to make an RC2014 system so I paid Karl to sell them to me and pass them on. All ends up well.

In short, this module is TRULY the Missing Module that every RC2014 system needs... Let's just hope it doesn't go missing for too long. Have patience, people; it's worth it. :)

Mogens | Sept. 18, 2020

Excellent CP/M solution for SC114

This module is a very useful addition to the SC114 Z80 Motherboard I have!
A highspeed serial port and the compact flash "disk drive" in one module is exactly what is needed to add CP/M capability to the SC114 board (and probably many other small RC2014-based systems using either RomWBW or the Small Computer Monitor).
The price is attractive too; this module and the SC114 is less than $70 for a full CP/M system - which probably was way more than $1000 back in the early 80's :-)

The board is quite easy to build. Be patient and a little careful while soldering the connector for the CF adapter - I have only little soldering experience, but it wasn't too hard anyway. Instructions are clear, and the PCB board is well marked up and has a nice layout.
The pre-formatted CF card with CP/M and several tools and utilities makes it really easy to get started. Later, you may want to format and prepare the CF card according to your own personal preferences (make sure to backup the card, so you can easily revert to the original contents).

In case you need any help or run into problems, Karl will definitely support you very well!

Niels | Sept. 16, 2020

Great Combo-Board!

The assembly instructions for this board are straightforward, and point out every detail you need to know in order to assemble the board. While soldering the CF-Card connector may look tricky at first, you don't need to worry: the space between the pins is wide enough and is quite accessible due to their position on the right side of the board.

Delivery was quick and took only a few days (less than a week). I'll recommend this module to anyone who is looking for a CF card module as the additional features (Clock and Serial) really add up to the product.

Kurt | July 24, 2020

#61 The Missing ......

Today is the show with the
# 61 The Missing Module (serial & storage) module
arrived.

Assembly guide included. No assembly problems.
Very good kit. Five stars for Karl.

I use the module with the sc114 from Stephen C Cousins. Fits very well and works.

Kurt

Miodrag | April 25, 2020

Best addition for SC114

With this module you can expand your SC114 and make it much more usable and be able to use CP/M.
Very nice instructions on Karls site and also good guide for CF formatting and creation.

Jiri | Nov. 18, 2019