I also want to know if the emulator can be used to program a PIC18F27Q43 chip?
Another emulator I want on a PIC18F27Q43 is for the Apple II (II or II+ or II/e or IIGS etc.)
I am completely new to GCBASIC ... so I'm just starting to learn how to convert my PICAXE BASIC programs over to GCBASIC, but I also need to learn about programming the PIC18F27Q43 chips I bought with a PICKit3 and I figure if I can build myself a vintage computer emulator for those two computers I'll have some fun toys to play with as well as learning new stuff about the GCBASIC system.
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The GitHub project looks interesting. Target is an UNO (which is a mega328p running at 16 mHz). Not sure why you would port to a Q43 and you can buy an UNO and have a working solution.
I count 36 LEDs and 24 Switches one the Altair 8800. That means a minimum of 60 I/O Pins. This is why a Mega2560 was used.
It could be done with a 28 Pin PIC, some I/0 expanders and a lot of time converting the code to GCB, But why do that when the path of least resistance is an off the shelf Arduino?
This would be a very hard way to learn GCB.
I would recommend starting with something a bit easier. Maybe something like a rocket guidance and control system for manned mission to the Sun?
It could go at night time to keep from burning up.
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A uno or nano is not just an easy way to learn gcb, they're tidy controller boards in their own right.
No pickit hassle and you can use the gcb terminal with the usb lead... which is usually the power supply as well.
They are also cheap!
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You are right Stan, an Uno or Nano could be a good way to learn GCB and they do not require a special programmer.
But not for this project that requires at least 60 I/O pins. The Mega2560 would be a better choice. I have one here on my lab table. I use it to program the bootloader onto bare 328P chips and as a parallel programmer to recover bricked Atmel/AVR chips. Yes I have bricked a few by messing about with the 'fuses"
All joking aside this project could also done with a PIC that has enough I/0 Pins. Something like an 18F87K22 or 18F87K90 should work well. There are lots PIC "J" series chips as well.
(Check the Datasheets for Suitability). All these are surface mount and would require a Custom PCB as well as porting of the code to Great Cow Basic.
Alternatively it could be done with two 40 Pin PIC Chips with the second being used primarily as an I/0 expander via a serial link between the 2 chips. I would much prefer a single chip.
Bill
Last edit: William Roth 2021-08-14
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Thinking about PIC chips that have tons of PINs for larger projects, then maybe there could even be a combo-emulator program to build an emulator where the user chooses between Altair 8800, Apple II+ and maybe even another one or two vintage computers. Have it all in one chip.
Just tossing the challenge out there, since I'm new to GCBASIC and not nearly knowledgeable enough to do this myself.
OTOH, I would love to build a kit similar to the Altair-Duino that had blinking LEDs for all the emulators built into the system.
BTW, should anybody do this, I also have an idea for a PC application that would connect to the device as a vintage experience that would also be an educational experience for millennials.
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Hi, I am wondering if anybody here has assembled a working Altair 8800 emulator from the GitHub files?
https://github.com/dhansel/Altair8800
I also want to know if the emulator can be used to program a PIC18F27Q43 chip?
Another emulator I want on a PIC18F27Q43 is for the Apple II (II or II+ or II/e or IIGS etc.)
I am completely new to GCBASIC ... so I'm just starting to learn how to convert my PICAXE BASIC programs over to GCBASIC, but I also need to learn about programming the PIC18F27Q43 chips I bought with a PICKit3 and I figure if I can build myself a vintage computer emulator for those two computers I'll have some fun toys to play with as well as learning new stuff about the GCBASIC system.
The GitHub project looks interesting. Target is an UNO (which is a mega328p running at 16 mHz). Not sure why you would port to a Q43 and you can buy an UNO and have a working solution.
See https://sourceforge.net/p/gcbasic/discussion/projects%26guides/thread/a5705ad282/ for Amstrad CPC 8bit computer add-on.
An emulator is possible - just needs time to develop, :-) Obviously. :-)
I count 36 LEDs and 24 Switches one the Altair 8800. That means a minimum of 60 I/O Pins. This is why a Mega2560 was used.
It could be done with a 28 Pin PIC, some I/0 expanders and a lot of time converting the code to GCB, But why do that when the path of least resistance is an off the shelf Arduino?
This would be a very hard way to learn GCB.
I would recommend starting with something a bit easier. Maybe something like a rocket guidance and control system for manned mission to the Sun?
It could go at night time to keep from burning up.
I missed the I/O requirement. :-)
Sun mission... funny.
A uno or nano is not just an easy way to learn gcb, they're tidy controller boards in their own right.
No pickit hassle and you can use the gcb terminal with the usb lead... which is usually the power supply as well.
They are also cheap!
You are right Stan, an Uno or Nano could be a good way to learn GCB and they do not require a special programmer.
But not for this project that requires at least 60 I/O pins. The Mega2560 would be a better choice. I have one here on my lab table. I use it to program the bootloader onto bare 328P chips and as a parallel programmer to recover bricked Atmel/AVR chips. Yes I have bricked a few by messing about with the 'fuses"
All joking aside this project could also done with a PIC that has enough I/0 Pins. Something like an 18F87K22 or 18F87K90 should work well. There are lots PIC "J" series chips as well.
(Check the Datasheets for Suitability). All these are surface mount and would require a Custom PCB as well as porting of the code to Great Cow Basic.
Alternatively it could be done with two 40 Pin PIC Chips with the second being used primarily as an I/0 expander via a serial link between the 2 chips. I would much prefer a single chip.
Bill
Last edit: William Roth 2021-08-14
Seemed an odd idea, Altair.
Like getting gcb to run on rpi.
For the challenge?
Thinking about PIC chips that have tons of PINs for larger projects, then maybe there could even be a combo-emulator program to build an emulator where the user chooses between Altair 8800, Apple II+ and maybe even another one or two vintage computers. Have it all in one chip.
Just tossing the challenge out there, since I'm new to GCBASIC and not nearly knowledgeable enough to do this myself.
OTOH, I would love to build a kit similar to the Altair-Duino that had blinking LEDs for all the emulators built into the system.
BTW, should anybody do this, I also have an idea for a PC application that would connect to the device as a vintage experience that would also be an educational experience for millennials.