PREHER-816Yes, I took the idea of putting the main project on hold to start this simpler "pre-project" called PREHER/816.
Designing the PREHER-816
Quick
06/12/2009
I won't spend too much time pre-designing without testing each little part, each little approach. That's why I need to buy prototyping boards and components sooner than it were planned for Heritage/1. So now I am in the terrible task of finding good prices specially for prototyping boards.
As per the chassis, I found a 3RU rackmout frame at a very good price ($180.00) in Digi-Key but I think I would prefer to build my own. It is because of availability. As Heritage/1, this computer is planned to be multi-units so I need to assure the existence of similar frames along years of development.
Rearranging the web site for PREHER-816
06/14/2009
Since I want to focus on PREHER/816 (now that Heritage/1 is on hold) I rearranged the site putting the old content aside in a book title "The Old Book".
Control Panel Lab
06/15/2009
Today I came with the (hopefully) final idea on how to build my hardwired Instruction Decoder and Sequencer (IDS). Details in here:
index.php?branch=216
But that is only the idea. Now it needs to be tested in practice and for that I need to design the actual circuit and build it.
I've been thinking all day about how to do testing in a regular basis. Unfortunately the breadboard is not too attractive to me. Simulators are not attractive either; they are slow and one have to spend time learning how to build phanton circuits with a mouse... not a "real thing".
The idea I came with is to build some kind of Control Panels with switches and LEDs that allows me to fill into the buses (using the switches), to read from them (LEDs) and to clock it (with a push button). This would be a permanent Lab device that also provides the regulated +5V for power and connects to circuits being tested via a ribbon cable. Something like that.
The idea is to have a "bus" that I can feed and read easily. With such a equipment it would be easier for me to build and test my circuits one by one.
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