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CB2 micro computer KIT

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sv3ora:
Hi!

I present you my latest project, my CB2 micro computer KIT.
It is a very cheap and very easy and quick to build microcomputer programmed in BASIC.

Website of the KIT: http://cb2.qrp.gr

Features:

* Standalone, no need for a PC to program and display.
* 16 foreground and background colors on TV SCART (PAL/NTSC), pseudographics and composite B/W. HDMI/VGA support with external adapters.
* Sound with envelope and volume adjustment.
* PS/2 keyboard (or USB with adapter), RS232, 2x serial TTL, LPT, 8x A/D inputs and I2C, all BASIC controlled.
* Tiny-BASIC with featured embedded editor, Chip8, SCHIP, 8080 and AVR-native binaries supported.
* 8 programs storage in internal flash, cross programs calls, external flash and EEPROM options.
* Terminal program, color terminal, X-modem transfer, PC connectivity.
* Games, applications and libraries available. Automatic program execute option on boot.
* Easy to assemble, through hole components and cheap!
And much much more to discover yourself...
Just hook up your TV and a keyboard and you are ready to go!

I hope you enjoy it, just as I do!
There are a few KIT pieces left.
Visit http://cb2.qrp.gr

Best regards
KOS

sv3ora:
Two of my prototypes running my screen saver programs and networked through their RS-232.
A retro net cafe? ;)

granzeier:
Nice.

Many years ago, Byte had an article about using serial ports for networking ("Ultra-Low-Cost Network for Personal Computers" Byte, Oct 1981, https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1981-10, page 50.) This network used as little as two resistors and a diode and RS-232 connector for each port, but could be expanded to provide more speed and more nodes. This could easily give you the "net" part for your cafe.

Also, many years ago, a co-worker (in my USAF computer repair shop) had an idea of using many identical video game machines, which were networked together. These machines would be tied to a server, and could download any game for play. The player could walk up to any machine and request any game, rather than waiting in line for the most popular arcade game machine. No more wasted money, or space, on games which lost their popularity. This could also allow for multi-player games ("Multimachine Games" Byte, Dec 1980, https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1980-12, page 24,) something never seen back in the early 1980s.

I think that you are on to something. Can video arcades make a come back?  :-//  :D

sv3ora:

--- Quote from: granzeier on November 09, 2019, 09:43:01 am ---Nice.

Many years ago, Byte had an article about using serial ports for networking ("Ultra-Low-Cost Network for Personal Computers" Byte, Oct 1981, https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1981-10, page 50.) This network used as little as two resistors and a diode and RS-232 connector for each port, but could be expanded to provide more speed and more nodes. This could easily give you the "net" part for your cafe.

Also, many years ago, a co-worker (in my USAF computer repair shop) had an idea of using many identical video game machines, which were networked together. These machines would be tied to a server, and could download any game for play. The player could walk up to any machine and request any game, rather than waiting in line for the most popular arcade game machine. No more wasted money, or space, on games which lost their popularity. This could also allow for multi-player games ("Multimachine Games" Byte, Dec 1980, https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1980-12, page 24,) something never seen back in the early 1980s.

I think that you are on to something. Can video arcades make a come back?  :-//  :D

--- End quote ---

Oh man, what a wonderful article! Thank you so much for digging this out. I can't hold myself back not to try it and if it works, I will add it to the board. I am not sure which of the versions though. A limitation is the voltage levels. The RS-232 port on the CB2 micro uses +-5v or something similar. I think the ULCNET can be made to work with these voltage levels. Well these won't be pure RS-232 but they will be compatible (after all the CB2 micro can communicate to PCs through RS-232).
What can I say, a great thanks!

In Greece, arcades were dissapeared within a few days following a regulation. It was so weird, one day you had arcades, the next don't!

sv3ora:
Regarding the networked games, I have already done that. I have written the protocol for a server-client communication.
Both the server and the client are BASIC programs. The Server is your Game or it can be a BBS or any other service. The client is the Colterm program and it is designed to interact with the server in different ways. The user only has to write the server to do what he wants to do with the clients.
All comms are serial.
See here to find out how I did it http://cb2.qrp.gr/usermanual/#10_The_communication_program_Colterm

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