Hello from Massachusetts

[Gregg140]

Hi all,
In the late 70's while I was still on college, I and a friend build a COSMAC ELF. It was based on the Popular Science articles and started out with 256 bytes of RAM. Eventually it progressed to 1k of RAM, a hex keyboard and a cassette storage system.

I remember that system fondly - and the frustrations of not being in the mainstream of micro-computer development. Meaning it was a kind of a dead end.

But these days I'm considering building another one if only to show my grandkids how computers work deep down. They are 7 and 9 and already have iPads so they are already above and beyond basic computer operation.

My challenge now is to find a suitable and simple backplane, edge connectors and prototyping cards.

Anyway it's good to be a member of this group.

Thanks

 

[mR_Slug]

Not familiar with the COSMAC ELF. Often the dead-ends are the most interesting. Good you want to teach your grandchildren. Welcome.

 

[Gregg140]

Not familiar with the COSMAC ELF. Often the dead-ends are the most interesting. Good you want to teach your grandchildren. Welcome.

Thanks for the Welcome. The COSMAC ELF was based upon the RCA 1802 CPU.

http://exemark.com/Microcontrollers/PopularElecwebc.pdf

 

[bsd64]

You might want to check out this 1802 kit from Lee Hart, based on the Elf, from here:

https://www.sunrise-ev.com/1802.htm

It uses the original processor, and may help you with your design. I was lucky to meet Lee Hart at the VCF NE festival in New Jersey a few years ago. Not sure if he is planning on being there next year, but he had countless little elf computers on display. He would be an great resource.

 

[daver2]

Welcome to VCFED.

I am also a member of the cosmac elf Google group. You might want to check them out as well?

Dave

 

[Gregg140]

You might want to check out this 1802 kit from Lee Hart, based on the Elf, from here:

https://www.sunrise-ev.com/1802.htm

It uses the original processor, and may help you with your design. I was lucky to meet Lee Hart at the VCF NE festival in New Jersey a few years ago. Not sure if he is planning on being there next year, but he had countless little elf computers on display. He would be an great resource.

Thanks. I've seen it. I don't want to use that system as I want to configure the system my own way.