EEVblog #1205 - RC2014 Z80 Computer Kit Build

[EEVblog]

Sagan assembles the RC2014 Mini retro Z80 computer kit running Microsft BASIC from 1978.
But will it go to plan?

Power up, testing and troubleshooting at 23:00

[hamster_nz]

That vid got lots of smiles from me. So there is still value in an old 8-bitter.

"Just like Scratch!"

What did you think of the kit? (Sagan gave it a 10...)

[technix]

Hey that USB serial adapter that ended up working is my M180v3 review unit   

[German_EE]

A clever kid and a father spending some quality time with his son, good to see this sort of thing on the Internet once in a while.     

[D. Head]

What exactly is this red FTDI serial board?
Can a standard FTDI-cable be used?

[janoc]

Spoiled kids these days. When I was a boy ... 

Sagan solders better than a lot of people I have seen already. Especially one ex-youtuber comes to my mind. Good job there and it certainly looks like you had a ton of fun. 

[D. Head]

This is the first time that I see Dave with glasses.

[German_EE]

When I was a boy I did all of my electronics stuff on my own. My father just didn't understand technology and one day when the phone rang my mother asked him to take the stylus off the record she was listening to so she could hear the caller. My father looked at all the controls for a few seconds then pulled the power plug from the wall.

[janoc]

When I was a boy I did all of my electronics stuff on my own. My father just didn't understand technology and one day when the phone rang my mother asked him to take the stylus off the record she was listening to so she could hear the caller. My father looked at all the controls for a few seconds then pulled the power plug from the wall.

Yeah me too. Getting my dad near anything electric is courting a disaster - e.g. he has seriously tried to convince me that a breaker has to be wired between live and neutral once, going as far as actually trying it. Only after the inevitable bang (and mom screaming from the kitchen because her stove turned off when the house fuses blew) he rewired it, with some muttering about "faulty breakers" ... The number of "suicide cords" (with male plugs at both ends) that can be found at their place I have stopped counting already (and there is nothing that could convince him it is a royally stupid idea to make extension cords like that).

However, I was more referring to the fancy scope, soldering iron and what not. I could only dream about stuff like that! And having a more experienced mentor always helps - I certainly would have appreciated one back in the day. It could have saved me some burned fingers, blown components (blowing a LED or a transistor was a tragedy because you couldn't easily buy them in a small town in the Eastern bloc!).

Fingers crossed for Sagan, hopefully he keeps the interest going!

[Techoisseur]

Excellent Video!
Full marks to Dave and Sagan.
The Microsoft 8K ROM Basic Ver. 4.7 is reminiscent of my first computer, the NASCOM 2, which was also built from a kit.
Apparently the BASIC ROM for the RC2014 was a generic version developed from the NASCOM 2 ROM.
https://rc2014.co.uk/1716/basic-cp-m-romwbw-or-small-computer-monitor/
It was said the Bill Gates himself wrote the code for the BASIC Interpreter, and just managed to squeeze it into the ROM.
I eventually gave away my NASCOM 2. The RC2014 could be my next project, inspired by this video.

[wilfred]

Fingers crossed for Sagan, hopefully he keeps the interest going!

Hopefully for whom? You can't force it. All you can do is encourage, and Sagan couldn't have a better early education. Most of us just had to draw upon our own passion. The best my father could do was to subscribe to Electronics Australia for me. Sometimes he would chip in 50% for a mail order from Dick Smith Electronics. He was a good gardener though and I also enjoy gardening. So that stuck.

[EEVblog]

This is the first time that I see Dave with glasses.

Yes, haven't had them long. Don't need them for most normal stuff (except very small close work or worst, low light and small), but have been advised to use them were possible to prevent eye strain.

[German_EE]

Most guys get their first pair of spectacles on or about their 40th birthday, how old are you Dave?

[D. Head]

This is the first time that I see Dave with glasses.

Yes, haven't had them long. Don't need them for most normal stuff (except very small close work or worst, low light and small), but have been advised to use them were possible to prevent eye strain.

Make a video about it.

[barjammar]

Good effort by Sagan.  Made me go back and review the 2014 earlier one (#695) where he unboxed the two Tektronix 2465/7/A/B 'scopes. https://www.eevblog.com/forum/blog/eevblog-695-mailbag-tektronix-2465-analog-oscilloscope/