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  • Author Author: tariq.ahmad
  • Date Created: Date Created
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Altair 8800 Replica -- Episode 377

 

 

Matt longs to relive the "glory days" of hobby computing, but he can't decide which direction he wants to go to fill the retrocomputer-shaped hole in his heart. After seeking some inspiration from his muse, William Shatner, he decides to go all the way back to the beginning of the microcomputer revolution by building a working replica of the O.G. personal computer: the MITS Altair 8800. In this Arduino-based build, he'll put his love for LEDs and toggle switches to the test during marathon soldering sessions getting all of the external functions of the Altair working accurately so he can play a few rounds of "Kill The Bit" on the front panel.

 

Supplemental Content:

 

Bill of Material:

 

PartManufacturerQuantityBuy Kit

Arduino Due, AT91SAM3X8E MCU, 54 3.3V I/O, 12 Analogue Inputs, With Headers

ARDUINO1Buy Now

Premium Female/Male 'Extension' Jumper Wires, 40 x 3" (75mm)

ADAFRUIT1Buy Now
Bipolar (BJT) Single Transistor, NPN, 40 V, 300 MHz, 625 mW, 600 mA, 35 hFEON SEMICONDUCTOR/FAIRCHILD36Buy Now
LED, Red, Through Hole, T-1 3/4 (5mm), 10 mA, 2.1 V, 650 nmMULTICOMP36Buy Now
LED Spacer, 11.4 mm, 5.1 mm, To Be AdvisedBIVAR36Buy Now
Through Hole Resistor, 10 kohm, LR Series, 250 mW, ± 1%, Axial Leaded, 200 VTE CONNECTIVITY36Buy Now
Through Hole Resistor, 150 ohm, MCMF0W4 Series, 250 mW, ± 1%, Axial Leaded, 250 VMULTICOMP36Buy Now
Toggle Switch, On-On, SPDT, Non Illuminated, 1MS Series, 5 A, Panel MountMULTICOMP17Buy Now
Toggle Switch, (On)-Off-(On), SPDT, Non Illuminated, 1MS4T1B1M1 Series, 5 A, Through HoleMULTICOMP8Buy Now
DC Power Connector, Plug, 4 A, Cable Mount, ScrewVELLEMAN SA1Buy Now
DC Power Connector, Socket, 4 A, Cable Mount, ScrewVELLEMAN SA1Buy Now
Stripboard, Single Sided, Thermoplastic, 1.57mm, 117mm x 368mmMULTICOMP2Buy Now

 

Additional Parts:

 

Product Name

Laser-cut acrylic

Custom screen-printed front panel

RJ232 Serial adapter

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