Path: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu!bloom-beacon.mit.edu!news.mathworks.com!newsgate.duke.edu!news.eff.org!news.umbc.edu!not-for-mail From: msokos1@gl.umbc.edu (Mark Sokos) Newsgroups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt,alt.answers,news.answers Subject: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt FAQ Version 16 (modified 5/3/96) Followup-To: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt Date: 17 Jun 1996 18:20:55 -0400 Organization: University of Maryland, Baltimore County Lines: 1689 Sender: msokos1@umbc.edu Approved: news-answers-request@MIT.EDU Expires: Mon, 1 July 1996 00:00:00 GMT Message-ID: <4q4lo7$sp4@umbc9.umbc.edu> Reply-To: msokos1@gl.umbc.edu (Mark Sokos) NNTP-Posting-Host: umbc9.umbc.edu NNTP-Posting-User: msokos1 Summary: This posting contains a list of Frequently Asked Questions (with answers), general information, and resources associated with homebuilt computers. It should be read by anyone who wishes to post to the alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt newsgroup. Xref: senator-bedfellow.mit.edu alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt:22431 alt.answers:18547 news.answers:74587 Archive-name: homebuilt-comp-FAQ Posting-Frequency: Every two weeks WELCOME TO ALT.COMP.HARDWARE.HOMEBUILT (v.16 Modified 5/3/96) This file contains frequently asked questions (FAQ) and general information pertaining to the newsgroup alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt. It is maintained by Mark Sokos (msokos1@gl.umbc.edu). It is posted every two weeks to the newsgroup alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt. The latest version may also be obtained by sending an e-mail request to the above address. This file is also available via FTP from rtfm.mit.edu in the /pub/usenet/alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt directory A DOS text version is available from Dave Baldwin's FTP site: ftp.netcom.com /pub/di/dibald/ An HTML version, maintained by Hai Pham, is available online at: http://www.qucis.queensu.ca/home/pham/homebuilt/achh.faq.html This file is copyright 1996 by Mark Sokos. It may be freely copied and distributed as long as this notice remains intact and the file is not modified, and no fee is charged for its duplication. Contents: 1.0 What the group is about 2.0 Questions 2.1 Can I post ads on the newsgroup? 2.2 Can I post questions involving hardware problems? 2.3 What's this about a new homebuilt newsgroup? 2.4 What is a "Wally" (and other terms specific to this newsgroup) 2.5 Where can I get more information about [x]? 2.6 Where can I get an EPROM/PLD programmer? 2.7 How can I make my own SIMMS? 2.8 Where are the pinouts for [IBM clone port] 2.9 How do I interface to [port/bus] 2.10 Where can I get hard drive specs and interfacing info? 2.11 How can I make my own circuit boards? 2.12 What is the Net Station? 2.13 How do I homebrew an LCD controller? 2.14 How do I make good front panels/cover plates? 2.15 Is there a CD ROM covering semiconductors? 2.16 Where can I get technical information about Game Boy? 2.17 How can I build a POST code reader for my PC? 2.18 Where can I find information on IR standards? 2.19 How can I make a mouse serial/ps2 or ps2/serial adapter? 2.20 How can I convert VGA to TV? 2.21 Misc. 3.0 Where to get more information 3.1 Vendors 3.2 Internet Resources 3.3 BBS Numbers 3.4 Book/Magazine List 3.5 Other 4.0 Misc. 1.0 What the group is about This group was formed for the discussion of homebuilt computer hardware, as the name implies. The term "homebuilt" or alternately, "homebrew", refers to the hobby of building electronics at home, generally with a soldering iron or wire wrap. No knowledge or experience is required for posting to this group. Postings may deal with real hardware, or absract concepts, and are not restricted to any specific cpu or architecture. Topics may also include homebuilt peripherals added to existing off the shelf systems, or hardware hacks to existing systems/accessories. Please note: Unfortunately, the term "homebuilt" causes a great deal of confusion amongst IBM clone builders, which leads to a large number of inappropriate posts on this newsgroup. This group, as a general rule, is not for discussion of IBM related hardware, unless there is some aspect of home built electronics involved, such as connecting your own device to an IBM serial/parallel/game port, etc. or using IBM clone hardware as part of a homebuilt design (non-IBM design). Common IBM clone hardware hacks, such as overclocking and changing the UART chip, are best discussed in one of the IBM related newsgroups. An IBM clone hardware questions pointer is posted frequently on news.answers, and due to its length the information within it will not be repeated here. Warning: Any post that may be considered an "alt.fix.my.pc" post is likely to draw flames or intentionally misleading advice from the regulars at a.c.h.h. Following such advice for a "fix my PC" type post may be damaging to your computer. You have been warned. 2.0 Questions Answers to specific questions are included in this section. Many of the answers are only pointers to more information, so that large volumes of information are not duplicated unnecessarily. 2.1 Can I post ads on the newsgroup? As a general rule, alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt is not a forsale group and thus does not allow advertising. An exception is made for advertising that is directed specifically for electronics homebuilders, and is not otherwise available on the net in general. Examples of this are device programmers and electronics parts. Trading between homebuilders is encouraged. Items that fit well into other existing forsale newsgroups should not be advertised here. PC related advertising, such as hard drives, motherboards, and other standard PC clone parts, is not permitted. While CPU advertisements in general are permitted, CPU advertisements for the common PC clone CPU's (such as 486 and Pentium chips) are not permitted because of the existing PC clone forsale groups that already provide plenty of coverage for these parts. 2.2 Can I post questions involving hardware problems? This question was asked to the group in general, and the overwhelming response was NO! The only exception would be if you are having a hardware problem with your homebuilt hardware, not pre-fab hardware. As Andrew noted in an early version of the FAQ: "Since EVERY SINGLE ONE of the replies I got re: the FAQ said "no, this is not the appropriate place for questiongs about PC building and pre-made parts and compatibility between them, the answer obviously is a very strong NO. This is not to say that you should not post questions, but only post questions about homebuilt computers, not computers built from pre-made parts. The difference should be very clear. If you post here about your hard drive that you want to slave, i doubt if people will have much mercy. It is getting on peoples nerves." Replies to PC hardware problems are also strongly discouraged. Such replies should either be posted on the appropriate groups or should be done via private e-mail. 2.3 What's this about a new homebuilt newsgroup? It has been suggested at times (often sarcastically) that a new newsgroup should be made up with some name other than alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt, so that the group would not be plagued with off topic pc-clone related posts. A newsgroup specifically for "homebuilding" in the PC clone sense of the word (alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt) has been created. All PC questions should go to that newsgroup. alt.comp.hardware.homedesigned was created in an attempt to provide a low noise alternative to this group. It has since been abandoned. 2.4 What is a "Wally" (and other terms specific to this newsgroup) ALU - Arithmetic Logic Unit Basic Stamp - a processor that is programmed using Basic, manufactured by Parallax. BCD - Binary Coded Decimal (E)EPROM - (Electrically) Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory FP - Floating Point FPGA - Field Programmable Gate Array Homebrew - referes to the art of designing and building electronics at home, and has nothing at all to do with alcohol (usually). LCD - Liquid Crystal Display Midnight Engineering - refers to designing and building devices at home. Anyone who has stayed up till the wee hours of the morning trying to get something to work knows the origins of this term all too well. MMU - Memory Management Unit PC - On this newsgroup, this generally refers to Program Counter. May occasionally refer to an IBM PC (or clone). PEEL - Programmable Electrically-Erasable Logic (ICT, inc) PIC - a microcontroller, manufactured by Microchip. PLA - Programmable Logic Array PLD - Programmable Logic Device RAM - Random Access Memory ROM - Read Only Memory SBC - Single Board Computer Wally - someone who posts off topic noise to the group. No offense to real persons named Wally is intended (the term apparantly comes from the TV show "Leave It To Beaver"). "Getting rid of the wallies" is a common thread on the newsgroup. 2.5 Where can I get more info about [x]? Acapella http://www.acapella.co.uk e-mail: oconell@acapella.co.uk Actel: http://www.actel.com Adaptec: http://www.adaptec.com Advanced Hardware Architectures (AHA): http://www.aha.com Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) http://www.amd.com Literature distribution by Telephone is at 800-222-9323 which is also a fax-back number, or at Tel. 408-749-5703. 408-732-2400 Facts-On-Demand. 1-800-222-9323 Option #1 Advanced RISC Machines (ARM): http://www.arm.com e-mail: info@armltd.co.uk AKM Semiconductor: http://www.akm.com Altera (800) 5-ALTERA http://www.altera.com ftp.altera.com e-mail: lit_req@altera.com Literature Dept: 408-894-7144 BBS: 408-954-0104 AMCC: http://www.amcc.com Analog Devices: http://www.analog.com Austria Mikro Systeme (AMS): http://www.ams.co.at Advanced RISC Machines (ARM): http://www.arm.com Altera: http://www.altera.com Atmel 1-800-365-3375 Fax 408-436-4300 Faxback: 1-800-292-8635 email: tanagnos@atmel.com AT&T Microelectronics: http://www.att.com/micro Benchmarq: http://www.benchmarq.com Brooktree: http://www.brooktree.com Chips and Technologies http://www.chips.com ftp.chips.com /pub/pdf 2950 Zanker Road, San Jose, CA 95134 (408) 434-0600 Chrontel: http://www.docwriter.com/chrontel/prod.html Cirrus Logic: http://www.cirrus.com Cypress Semiconductor: http://www.cypress.com 3901 North First Street, San Jose, CA 95134 Cyrix: http://www.cyrix.com Dallas Semiconductor: http://www.dalsemi.com e-mail: micro.support@dalsemi.com FTP archive is at ftp.dalsemi.com Fax-Back (214) 450-0441 Digital Equipment Corp. 1-800-332-2717 http://www.digital.com, ftp.dec.com Elantec: http://www.elantec.com EXAR: http://www.exar.com Fujitsu Microelectronics, IC Division http://www.fujitsu.com 1-800-642-7616, fax 408-954-0616. Harris Semiconductor http://www.semi.harris.com e-mail: centapp@harris.com (407) 729-4984, fax (407) 729-5321. Hewlett Packard: http://www.hp.com Hitachi Semiconductor: http://www.hitachi.com IBM Semiconductor Division: http://www.chips.ibm.com Integrated Circuit Systems (ICS): http://www.icsinc.com ICT, Inc: http://www.ictpld.com 2123 Ringwood Avenue, San Jose, CA 95131 (408) 434-0678 Integrated Device Technology, Inc.: http://www.idt.com Intel: http://www.intel.com 800-548-4725, 800-468-8118. Fax 800-628-2283, 916-356-3105. PO Box 58130, Santa Clara CA 95052-8130 Lansdale Semiconductor: http://www.syspac.com/~lansdale Latice: http://www.latice.com Linear Technology: http://www.linear-tech.com Logic Devices: http://www.logicdevices.com LSI Logic: http://www.lsilogic.com Matsushita Electric: http://www.mei.co.jp Maxim: http://www.maxim-ic.com Microchip Technology http://www.ultranet.com/biz/mchip http://www.mchip.com/microchip Micro Linear: http://memec.com/selector/MicroLinear Micron: http://www.micron.com Mips Technologies, Inc.: http://www.mips.com 800-998-6477, 415-933-6477. Fax back: 800-446-6477, 415-688-4321. Mitel Semiconductor: http://www.semicon.mitel.com Mitsubishi Electronics America: 408-730-5900 Mosel Vitelic: http://www.moselvitelic.com Motorola 1-512-928-6800, 1-800-441-2447 Motorola Literature Distribution PO Box 20912, Phoenix, AZ 85036 automatic fax-back information: 602/244-6609 regular fax: 602/994-6430 BBS: 512-891-3733 9600 V32 8N1 European Literature Center, 88 Tanners Drive Blakelands, Milton Keynes, MK14 5BP, England http://www.mot.com Music Semiconductors: http://www.music.com National Semiconductor 1-408-721-5000 2900 Semiconductor Drive, PO Box 58090 Santa Clara, CA 95052 http://www.natsemi.com http://www.nsc.com NEC 1-415-960-6000 401 Ellis St, PO Box 7241, Moutain View CA 94039 http://www.nec.com http://www.nectech.com Oki Semiconductor, Inc.: http://www.oki.com 408-720-1900, 800-654-6388 Fax: 408-720-1918. Orbit Semiconductor: http://www.orbitsemi.com Paradigm: http://www.gist-erd.com/PRDGM.site/Product.html Pericom Semiconductor: http://www.pericom.com Philips Semiconductor http://www.semiconductors.philips.com/ps 800-447-1500, Fax.708-635-8493 Faxback 800-282-2000. Ramtron: http://www.csn.net/ramtron Samsung: http://www.samsung.com SGS-Thomson Microelectronics: http://www.inmos.co.uk 602-867-6100, Fax 602-867-6200 Sharp: http://www.sharpmeg.com/products.html Siemens AG: http://www.siemens.de Silicon Engineering, Inc (SEI): http://www.sei.com Simtek: http://www.csn.net/simtek SMC: http://www.smc.com Synergy Semiconductor: http://www.synergysemi.com TEMIC Semiconductors, Inc. 408-988-8000, 800-554-5565 Faxback. 408-970-5600. Texas Instruments, Inc. 800-477-8924. PO Box 655012 MS 308, Dallas TX 75265 http://www.ti.com, ftp.ti.com Product Info Ctr: (214) 644-5580 Toshiba: http://www.toshiba.com 714-455-2000. USAR systems: http://www.usar.com Via Systems: http://www.via.com Western Digital: http://www.wdc.com/products/iop The Western Design Center, Inc. TEL:602-962-4545 FAX:602-835-6442 EMAIL:wdesignc@indirect.com http://www.eg3.com/wdcxwwwx.htm Winbond: http://www.winbond.com.tw Xicor http://www.xicor.com e-mail: info@smtpgate.xicor.com e-mail: literature@smtpgate.xicor.com Tel. 408-432-8888, Fax. 408-432-0640 Faxback. 408-954-1627, BBS. 800-258-8864, 408-943-0655. Xilinx: http://www.xilinx.com Zilog: http://www.zilog.com e-mail: info@zilog.com 1-408-370-8000, Fax 408-370-8056. technical center 1-215-653-0230 Links to manufacturer's data sheets: http://www.crhc.uiuc.edu/~dburke/databookshelf.html 2.6 Where can I get an EPROM/PLD programmer? Advin Systems 1050-L East Duane St. Sunnyvale, CA 94086 1-408-736-2503 Andromeda Research, PO Box 222, Milford, OH 45150 1-513-831-9708 BP Microsystems DATA I/0 (http://www.data-io.com) Dataman Programmers (http://www.dataman.com) Digikey 1-800-344-4539 http://www.digikey.com General Device Instruments, (408) 241-7376 408-241-7376 Sales 408-241-6375 FAX 408-983-1234 BBS All software to demo free internet ICDEVICE@ix.netcom.com Intronics, 612 Newton Street, Edwardsville, Kansas 66111 (913) 422-2094 1-800-339-5152 (sales only) http://www.intronics.com Jason-Ranheim Company, 3105 Gayle Lane, Auburn, California 95603. (916) 823-3284 Technical Support (916) 823-3285 & Outside The USA (800) 421-7731 Orders Toll Free (800) 421-7748 From California JDR Microdevices Orders: 1-800-538-5000 Cust. Service: 1-800-538-5001 1850 South 10th Street, San Hose CA 95112-4108 Logical Devices, 130 Capitol Drive, Golden, CO 80401 1-303-279-6868 1-800-315-7766, tech support (in Flordia) 1-305-428-6868 http://www.logicaldevices.com M2L Electronics 3526 Jasmine #4 Los Angeles, CA 90034 310 837-7818 (9am-1pm) BBS: 310 837 7818 (all other hours) m2l.electronics@f526.n102.z1.fidonet.org Microchip Technology Inc 602 786 7200 2355 W Chandler Blvd, Chandler AZ 85224 http://www.ultranet.com/biz/mchip/ Mouser Electronics 1-800-346-6873 http://www.mouser.com Needham's Electronics 1-916-924-8037 Fax: (916) 924-8065 4630 Beloit Drive, Suite #20, Sacramento, CA 95838 BBS: (916) 924-8094 ftp://ftp.quiknet.com/users/needhams http://www.quiknet.com/~needhams Stag Micro Systems. 1600 Wyatt Dr., Santa Clara, CA 95054 1-408-988-1118 System General XELTEK unipro Universl Programmer that programs: Eproms, EEProms, Bipolar, Epld, Flash, Gal, Pal, and some Microcontrollers. Also tests TTL, CMOS, DRAM & SRAMS. 3563 Ryder St. Santa Clara, CA 95051 (408) 524-1929 (voice) (408) 245-7084 (fax) (408) 245-7082 (bbs) http://www.xeltek.com/ Plans for making your own can be found at: FTP sites: - ftp.paranoia.com/pub/users/defiant - ftp.cistron.nl/pub/hacking - ftp://ftp.cs.indiana.edu/pub/goo/PLD/ - ftp://ftp.funet.fi/pub/cae/ - ftp://ftp.ix.de/pub/elrad/060/ WWW pages: - http://www.globalxs.nl/home/s/stegen/files/eprog.zip - http://www.gpl.net/paulmax/ - http://www.paranoia.com/~defiant/ - http://www.paranoia.com/~filipg/HTML/FAQ/BODY/F_Eprom_pr.html - http://www.paranoia.com/~filipg/HTML/LINK/F_pal_gal.html - http://www.cs.ucla.edu/csd-grads-gs3/loving/www/m2l.html EZ-EP info (cheap, easy eprom programmer) - http://hertz.njit.edu/~rxy5310/picb.html - PIC Blaster (simplePIC programmer, schematics and software) - http://www.cs.ucla.edu/csd-grads-gs3/loving/www/m2l.html A simple eprom emulator circuit & DOS software can be found at http://fly.hiwaay.net/~jfrohwei/ Popular Electronics, in the July 1982 issue "Build This PLD Programmer" by Robert G. Brown Electronics Now (magazine), May 1994 Various kits and software are available from R.G. Brown, 30 Wicks Road, E. Northport, NY 17731 "Project: GAL programmer" by Manfred Nosswitz. Elektor Electronics (magazine), May 1992 "Project: GAL Programmer Upgrade" by M. Nosswitz Elektor Electronics, June 1993 The software and PC boards are available through the Elektor publishers/franchises in various countries. Old Colony Sound Lab P.O. Box 243, Peterborough, NH 03458 (603) 924-6371 or -6526 Fax (603) 924-9467 In the UK Elektor Electronics (Publishing) P. O. Box 1414, Dorchester DT2 8YH, England "Generic Array Logic (GAL)" D. Gembris Elektor Electronics, April 1992 "EPLD programmer design" John Cromie Electronics & Wireless World, February 1989 "Create Your Own IC's", Bill Green Popular Electronics, January 1990 "A PAL Programmer" and "Getting Started with PALS" , Robert A. Freedman Byte, January 1987 2.7 How can I make my own SIMMS? September 1995 issue of "Electronics Now" starting on page 35 has plans for 30 pin SIMMs SIMM blanks may be obtained from: In the US: AutoTime Corporation 6605 SW MacAdam Avenue, Portland, OR 97201 (503) 452-8577 Memory Conversion Products 503-753-7918 428 NW 9th Street, Corvillis Oregon 97330 JMS Technologies, 4217C S Mellen Dr. Mountain Home, ID 83648 FAX (208) 832-7897 In Germany: eMedia GmbH, Postbox 61 01 06, 30601 Hannover, Germany http://www.linefeed.com/linefeed/hcs/index.html There are several versions of blank SIMM boards available from the UK including 1x1 ZIP, 1x1 DIP, 1x4 SOJ and 1x1 SOJ. http://www.dircon.co.uk/linefeed/hcs/mempcb.html Web page offering a number of unpopulated PCBs for making 30 and 72 pin SIMMs. SIMM pinouts are available at www.cistron.nl/~nctnico Motorola's data book - Dynamic RAMs and Memory Modules 2.8 Where are the pinouts for [IBM clone port] See the comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.* FAQ (posted on news.answers and comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.misc, available via ftp from rtfm.mit.edu). ISA pinouts can be found at http://www.cistron.nl/~nctnico/index.htm 2.9 How do I interface to [port/bus] IBM: Parallel Port: ftp://ftp.ee.ualberta.ca/pub/cookbook/comp/ibm/pport094.doc.Z ftp.armory.com /pub/user/rstevew the filenames are: *lpt.faq; ibmlpt.faq, tomlpt.faq, and krislpt.faq each meets different skill levels and needs. PC Magazine,. Oct 27, 1992 pages 367-376 http://www.mailbag.com/users/jaxelson/parport.htm http://www.fapo.com/ieee1284.htm http://weber.u.washington.edu/~pfloyd/ee/text/para-port.html ISA bus: You might also want to look into the book: AT BUS DESIGN, IEEE P996 Compatible, by Edward Solari ISBN 0-929392-08-6 AT Keyboard: Articles about XT and AT type keyboards can be found in April/May 1995 issues of Circuit Cellar Ink. An early copy of Micro Cornucopia ( March-April 1990 ) has all the details about standards, interface chips etc The "pc-hardware-faq" from "comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.*" by Willie Lim and Ralph Valentino also has a great deal of information in it. http://cal003109.student.utwente.nl/stefan has info on various ports (parallel, serial, keyboard, etc.) Information on IDE and parallel port interfacing: ftp://iglou.com/members/ITU/pc-int. See the ATAr4c.txt and ide-tech.txt files for more info. IBM, Technical Reference, Personal Computer AT, 1984 "The IBM Personal Computer, from the Inside Out" by Sargent and Shoemaker (published by Addison-Wesley) provides a lot of information about interfacing an IBM type PC to various things. Official standard for the EISA bus are available from BCPR services (Texas) Tel: 1-713-251-4770 Standards for the EISA bus are available from Global Engineering Documents, Englewood, Colorado USA at phone: (800)854-7179, fax:(303)397-7935 PCI Special Interest Group (SIG) P.O. Box 14070, Portland, OR 97214 (800) 433-5177 (503) 797-4207 FAX: 234-6762 (503) 797 4297 "Using a serial port for discrete I/O operations" September/October issue of MicroComputer Journal. MAC: Brian A. Cole's (tuc@cs.wisc.edu) Repository of Macintosh Information http://www.cs.wisc.edu/~tuc/mac/ ftp.support.apple.com or www.apple.com (Hardware Descriptions and Technical Notes) The VMEbus FAQ is at http://www.ee.ualberta.ca/archive/vmefaq.html or http://www.oritools.com/info The I2C FAQ is available from: ftp.uni.paderborn.de/elrad Universal Serial Bus home page: http://www.teleport.com/~USB MIDI interface: http://daemon.apana.org.au/~ghansper/MidiAxis.html http://harmony-central.mit.edu http://louie.udel.edu/pub/midi/software/mac/mac-midi ftp://cher.media.mit.edu/pub/mainboard/mac Talking to a floppy control from NC4000: ftp://ftp.hal.com/pub/elvey/floppy.txt Using a non-DOS machine to talk to a DOS disk ftp://ftp.hal.com/pub/elvey/disk.txt 2.10 Where can I get hard drive specs and interfacing info? For jumper settings, etc. consult the appropriate newsgroup. Information on ATA 1,2,3 can be found at ftp.symbios.com in the /pub/standards/io directory. Technical information about Seagate drives may be found at http://www.seagate.com. Western Digital technical support 1-800-275-4932 "Yet Another Enhanced IDE/Fast-ATA/ATA-2 FAQ" is posted on comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage and .misc. It is also available, together with related material, by FTP from ftp.aimnet.com:/pub/users/clau/ide_ata/ ftp.rahul.net:/pub/lps/hard-disk/ ftp.wi.leidenuniv.nl:/pub/faqs/ and by WWW from: http://www.wi.leidenuniv.nl/ata/ http://www.seagate.com/techsuppt/faq/faqlist.html For a complete treatment of IDE interfacing to 8-bit CPUs (particularly the Z80 family), check out issues 56, 63, 64, and 66 of The Computer Journal. There is a simple IDE interface for the Z80 called GIDE (Generic IDE). It should be possible to adapt it to other 8-bit processors. There is an article about it on the TCJ Web Page. Click on 'GIDE'. Connecting IDE devices to 8 bit machines: http://http.tamu.edu:8000/~jdb8042/SmallSys/8bitIDE.html SCSI2 interface specs: http://www.symbios.com/ftp/pub/standards/io/scsi2 http://www.abekrd.co.uk/SCSI2/SCSI2-index.html 2.11 How do I make my own circuit boards? There are several methods available. Most involve etching, where a mask is drawn or transferred onto copper clad board, and the board is immersed or sprayed by an etching solution. Boards and etchant can be purchased at most electronics hobby stores, and various manufacturers products are available via mail order. Some methods use iron-on transfers, and others use a photo-etching process. There is even a method using conductive ink and laser printers. Some people have reported good results using Vector wire and Verowire (UK). These methods are more similar to wire wrapping than PCB fabrication. PCB FAQ written by Vincent Himpe (vincent.himpe@ping.be) at http://www.ping.be/~ping0751 PCB FAQ: http://cal003109.student.utwente.nl/stefan/el in the PCB section. Toner Transfer System- (laser printer) DynaArt Designs, 3535 Stillmeadow Lane, Lancaster, CA 93536 Electrolube : Photo Resist, developer, Lacquer , Nickel spray, Etchant Electrolube Limited,Blakes Road,Wargrave,Berkshire,RG10 8AW U.K. Tel. +44 1734 404031 Fax + 44 1734 403084 Isel: Etchant ,plating solution etching equipment etc... Isel Automation, 6419 Eiterfeld 1,Germany Sifco : Plating Pen, 5708 Schaaf Rd. Cleveland OH 44131 USA Tel +1 216 524 0099 Fax +1 216 524 6331 Vero Electronics can be contacted in the US on 1-800-242-2863. Circuit Works Conductive Pen is available from Ocean State Electronics, (800) 866-6626. The catalog number is CW2200 Niche Software's PCB Designer (Windows based PCB CAD program) A fully-functional (except for printout) demo is available from ftp.demon.co.uk/pub/ibmpc/win3/apps/pcbdemo/pcbdemo.zip Windraft from Ivex (shareware CAD schematic editor) and Winboard (PC board layout tool) Both can be obtained at ftp.ivex.com. Ivex also has a webpage at http://www.ivex.com There is also some free pcb layout software out there offered by Protel. at ftp.protel.com. 2.12 What is the Net Station? The Net Station was a project whose goal was to create a computer architecture and operating system that would be freely distributed on the net. An agreement on the architecture, etc. was never reached, and the project seems to have been abandoned. The thread does see occasional revival, but little practical progress has been reported lately (to the group, at least). There are unconfirmed reports that the project is still being worked on, but details are presently unavailable. 2.13 How do I homebrew an LCD controller? LCD FAQs can be found at the following locations: http://cal003109.student.utwente.nl/stefan or http://cal003102.student.utwente.nl An LCD FAQ is in the misc section, file lcd_faq.htm http://www.paranoia.com/~filipg ftp.ee.ualberta.ca pub/cookbook http://livewire.ee.latrobe.edu.au/~sjm/tools/lcd.faq 2.14 How do I make good front panels/cover plates? "K-SUN"'s "Letter Quick" Electronic Lettering and Labeling System. American Draftsource, 1152 Marina Blvd. San Leandro, CA 94577 (510) 352-8688 Toner Transfer System by DynaArt Designs is a wet method for transferring laser prints for making printed circuit boards. The maker claims it can also be used for decals and faceplates. This material can be obtained from All Electronics, (818) 904-0524. "Copi-Tak" is a peel and stick plastic sheet that you first print on with a laser printer. You can cut it to fit your panel shape and then peel & stick. Fidelity Products Co. 5601 Intl. Prkwy. P.O. Box 155 Minneapolis, Mn. 55440-0155 3M Dynamark II system uses a photo-sensitive label material is exposed to UV light - through your negative - in much the same way as you produce prototype PCB's. It is then developed and produces a very nice professional label. 3M House, 28 Great Jackson Street, MANCHESTER. M15 4PA. Tel: 0161-237-6142 Fax: 0181-237-9320 3M Specialty Marking Systems Project St. Paul, MN 55144-1000 2.15 Is there a CD ROM covering semiconductors? CD -ROM from D.A.T.A. Digest 1-303-799-0381 1-800-447-4666 fax 1-303-700-4082 Over 1.25 million active devices from more than 1000 manufacturers. These cover trnasistors, linear, diodes, optoelectronics, digital and microprocessors. CD dedicated to microcontrollers - Equinox Technologies sales@equintec.demon.co.uk Tel: 01204 491110 2.16 Where can I get technical information about Game Boy? Jeff Frohwein's Gameboy technical page, http://fly.hiwaay.net/~jfrohwei/ Follow the links for Technical Information and Gameboy. 2.17 How can I build a POST code reader for my PC? Aug. 1993 Electronics Now magazine, page 31 "Post Code Reader For Your PC". It is idendical to the JDR card. July 1993 issue of Popular Electronics 2.18 Where can I find information on IR standards? http://falcon.arts.cornell.edu/~dnegro/IR/IR.html 2.19 How can I make a mouse serial/ps2 or ps2/serial adapter? Serial mice and ps2 mice do not use the same type of communication. Some mice can detect which type of port they are connected to, and adapters for these are not standard. Consult your specific mouse manufacturer to find out if an adapter is possible, and the necessary pinouts. 2.20 How can I convert VGA to TV? http://www.hut.fi/~then/circuits/vga2rgbs.html It has the schematic and drivers for VGA to TV adapter. That adapter is for TVs which have RGB inputs, but can be connected to an external RGB-NTSC chip. 2.21 Misc. Miscellaneous stuff that did not fit well into other sections: Hilary D. Jones, Building a Computer from Scratch, BYTE, Nov. 1977. Intel's FTP site has information on the intel SMP spec, in the event that you would wish to build a multi-processor computer that is compatible with this specificiation. (ftp.intel.com) Ingo Cyliax from Indiana University made a good project wich mixes a 68030 and a VGA card on a ISA bus. Schematics and info are at: http://www.cs.indiana.edu/hyplan/cyliax/ws030.html Annabooks sell a 'bioskit' that is a complete BIOS, written mostly in C, with source. A free MC68K hardware/software design is available (they also sell the computers complete) For further information send mail to walter@mct.mct.de 3.0 Where to get more information 3.1 Vendor List Electronics Resource Center: http://www.digitalmarket.com/resource.html (links to distributers and manufacturers web pages) US: Active Electronics 11 Cummings Park, Woburn MA 01801 237 Hymus Blvd, Pointe Claire, Quebec H9R 5C7 1-800-677-8899 (US/Canada) 1-514-630-7410 (International) All Electronics 1-800-826-5432 PO Box 567 Van Nuys, CA 91408 E-mail: allcorp@allcorp.com http://www.allcorp.com/allcorp Allied Electronics 1-800-433-5700 1-817-595-3500 FAX: 1-817-595-6444 Modem: 1-800-433-5003 http://www.allied.avnet.com 7410 Pebble Drive, Fort Worth, TX 76118 Alltronics 1-408-943-9773 2300 Zanker Road, San Jose CA 95131 http://www.alltronics.com AM Research http://www.amresearch.com SBC's, parts, embedded controllers, software American Science and Surplus 1-708-982-0870. 3605 Howard Street, Skokie, IL 60076 Arrow Electronics 1-800-93 ARROW 1860 Smithtown Ave, Ronkonkoma NY 11779 Catalog Division: 25 Hub Drive, Melville, NY 11747-9828 B.G.Micro 800/276-2206, FAX 214/271-2462 P.O.Box 280298, Dallas, TX, U.S.A. 75228 bgmicro@ix.netcom.com. Circuit Specialists Inc 1-800-528-1417 1-602-464-2485 PO Box 3047 Scottsdale AZ 85271 http://www.cir.com Computer Component Source 1-800-356-1227. Dalbani 1-800-325-2264 Fax: 1-305-594-6588. Int. Voice: 1-305-716-0947. Int. Fax: 1-305-716-9719. DC Electronics 1-800-423-0070 (orders) 1-602-945-7736 PO Box 3203 Scottsdale AZ 85271 Digi-Key 1-800-344-4539 (1-800-DIGI-KEY) 701 Brooks Ave South, Thief River Falls, MN 56701 http:\\www.digikey.com Electronic Goldmine (602) 451-7454 PO Box 5408, Scottsdale AZ 85261 Eric Electronics (408) 432-1111 2210 Lundy Ave, San Jose, CA 95131 http://www.ericnet.com e-mail: ee@ericnet.com Fry's Electronics (310) 364-3797 3600 Sepulveda Blvd, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 Gateway Electronics 1-800-669-5810 http://www.gatewayelex.com Gateway Products Corp. (954) 974-6864 PO Box 93-6397, Margate FL 33093 Heath (Heathkit) 1-616-925-5899 Benton Harbor, MI 49022 1-800-253-0570 1-800-44-HEATH (US/Canada) 1-800-444-3284 (Canada) H&R Company 1-800-848-8001, 1-215-788-5583 18 Canal Street, PO Box 122, Bristol PA 19007-0122 Hosfelt Electronics 1-800-524-6464. 2700 Sunset Blvd, Stuebenville, OH 43952 Images Company (718) 698-8305 International Components Corp 1-800-325-0101 US/CANADA, 1-503-336-4400 1803 W. Lincoln Way, Toledo OR 97391 Intronics Box 13723/612 Newton St, Edwardsville, KS 66113 ITU Technologies (513) 574-7523 E-Mail: sales@itutech.com OR itutec@aol.com ftp:\\itutech.com http:\\www.itutech.com kits and electronic products J&M Microtek, Inc. (201) 325-1892 83 Seaman Rd, W Orange, NJ 07052 PIC programmers, 68hc11 dev. systems, eprom emulators, etc. Jameco (components) 1-800-831-4242 Fax 1-800-237-6948 1355 Shoreway Road, Belmont, CA 94002-4100 Jason-Ranheim Company, 3105 Gayle Lane, Auburn, California 95603. Jason-Ranheim, 1805 Industrial Drive, Auburn, Ca. 95603 (916) 823-3284 Technical Support (916) 823-3285 & Outside The USA (800) 421-7731 Orders Toll Free (800) 421-7748 From California JDR Microdevices Orders: 1-800-538-5000 Cust. Service: 1-800-538-5001 1850 South 10th Street, San Hose CA 95112-4108 http://www.jdr.com International Sales 1-408-494-1400 Kelvin Electronics 1-800-645-9212, 1-516-349-7620 7 Fairchild Ave, Plainsview NY 11803 Marshall Industries 1-818-307-6000 Fax: 1-818-307-6187 9320 Telstar Ave, El Monte, CA 91731-2895 www.marshall.com MCM Electronics 1-800-543-4330, 1-800-824-TECH 650 Congress Park Drive, Centersville OH 45459 MECI (Mendelson's Electronics) 1-800-344-4465 340 E. First St. Dayton, OH 45402 http://www.meci.com Mouser Electronics 1-800-346-6873, 1-800-992-9943 958 N. Main Street, Mansfield TX 76063 http://www.mouser.com Newark Electronics 1-312-784-5100 4801 N.Ravenswood Ave, Chicago IL 60640 (Attn: Catalog Dept) Canada: 1625 Trinity Drive, Mississuaga, Ont L5T 1K4 (800) 463-9275 International: Export Dept, 500 North Pulaski Rd, Chicago IL 60624 1-416-673-7799 1-312-784-5100 NTE Electronics, Inc 201-748-5089 44 Farand St. Bloomfield, NJ 07003 Ocean State Electronics 1-800-866-6626 (orders), 1-401-596-3080 PO Box 1458, Westerly RI 02891 Parallax, Inc., 3805 Atherton Rd. 102, Rocklin, CA 95765 (916)624-8333 Fax: (916)624-8003 BBS: (916)624-7101 email: info@parallaxinc.com (Basic Stamp) Parts Express 1-800-338-0531, 1-513-222-0173 340 E. First St, Dayton OH 45402 Powell Electronics 1-800-235-7800 (Call for local office) http://www.powell.com e-mail: info@powell.com Small Parts, Inc 1-305-557-8222 orders 1-305-558-1255 catalog 13980 NW 58th Court, PO Box 4650, Miami Lakes, FL 33014 Mechanical parts - good for the home builder Technological Arts voice & fax number is: (416) 963-8996 (Toronto) 309 Aragona Blvd. Suite 102-418, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 1644 Bayview Ave. Suite 1704, Toronto, Ontario, M4G 3C2 http://www.io.org/~techart/ email address is: techart@io.org Microcontroller modules, socket adapters, other products The Electronic Source Book is a publication that lists component manufactures by brand names, and type, their original locations, and their local sources. The book is regional, you purchase one for your region in U.S. or Canada. It is published by Interec, at (800) 217-3372, or (913) 967-1719. Canada: Accelerated Data http://www.wpg.ramp.net/~acceldat/product.html Active Electronic 800-363-7601 Canada outside Quebec 800-363-6592 in Quebec Global Semiconductors 800-668-8776 tel 800-387-6980 gax ECG Canada Inc. 1928 St. Regis Boulevard Dorval, Quebec H9P 1H6 (in USA known as Phillips ECG) sorry no phone, try 411 or white page. They have regional offices. Electrosonic 416-494-1555 order desk 416-494-1666 general office 416-496-3030 fax Future Electronics 237 Hymus Blvd, Montreal (Pointe Claire) Quebec H9R 5C7 Powell Electronics Canada 3100 Guenette Street, St Laurent, Quebec H4S 1W5 http://www.powell.com UK: Anzac Components Ltd., 822 Yeovil Road, Slough, SL1 4JA. Tel. 01628 604411. Fax 01628 660662. Arrow Electronics (UK) Ltd, Cambridge Road, Bedford, MK42 0LH. Tel. 01234 270027. Fax 01234 214674. B.E.C. Distribution (used to be called BONEX) 12 Elder Way, Langley Business Park, SLOUGH. Berks SL3 6EP Tel: (01753) 549502 Fax: (01753) 543812 Bull Electrical, 250 Portland Road, Hove, Sussex, BN3 5QT Tel 01273 203500. Fax 01273 323077 http://www.pavilion.co.uk/bull-electical/ Chelmer Valve Company, 130 New London Road, Chelmsford, Essex. CM2 0RG. Tel. 01245 355296 or 265865. Fax 01245 490064. Valves (Vacuum tubes), RF power transistor specialists. Colomor Electronics Ltd., 170 Goldhawk Road, London, W12 8HJ. Tel. 0181 743 0899. Fax 0181 749 3934. Valves (vacuum tubes) and semiconductor specialists. The CR Supply Co., 127 Chesterfield Rd., Sheffield S8 0RN. Tel. 0114 255 7771 Cirkit Distribution Ltd., Park Lane, Broxbourne, Herts. EN10 7NQ Tel 01992 448899 (Sales Desk); 01992 444111 (Schools, colleges, account holders). Fax 01992 471314. CPC plc, Component House, Faraday Drive, Fulwood, Preston, Lancs. PR2 4PP. Tel. 01772 654455. Cricklewood Electronics Ltd., 40-42 Cricklewood Broadway, LONDON NW2 3ET Tel. 0181 450 0995 and 0181 452 0161. Fax 0181 208 1441 Display Electronics, 32 Biggin Way, Upper Norwood, LONDON SE19 3XF Tel 0181 679 4414. Fax 0181 679 1927 Dubilier, Hewgate House, Rabands Lane, Aylesbury, Bucks. HP19 3RT. Tel. 01296 393233Yorks.HG2 8QT Tel 01423 879787. Fax 01423 879030 Distributors of new and surplus electronic components. ElectroValue Ltd., Unit 3, Central Trading Estate, Staines, TW18 4UX. Tel 01784 442253 Fax 01784 460320 Suppliers of quality components to industry & constructors since 1965. Exceptional range of SIEMENS inductors and ferrites, also test equipment, tools and other components. Shops in Manchester and Egham, Surrey. Electromail Ltd., P.O. Box 33, Corby, Northants. NN17 9EL. Tel. 01536 204555. Fax 01536 405555. ElectroSpeed Ltd. Boyatt Wood, Eastleigh, Hants. SO50 4ZY. Tel. 01703 644555 (Sales). 01703 641111 (Technical). Fax 01703 610282. ESR Electronic Components, Station Road, Cullercoats, North Shields, Tyne & Wear NE30 4PQ Tel. 0191 251 4363. Fax 0191 252 2296. Variety of discrete components, i.c.s, transistors, p.c.b. materials etc. Farnell Electronic Components Ltd., Canal Road, Leeds, LS12 2TU. Tel. 0113 263 6311 (sales); 0113 279 9123 (Technical Support); 0113 231 0160 (Data line). Fax 0113 263 3411 Flint Distribution, Walker Road, Bardon Hill, Coalville, Leics. LE67 1TU. Tel. 01530 510333. Fax 0153 051 0275. Large range of surface mount components. GMS Sperry-Sun (UK) Limited Phone:+44-1242/265534-544 Fax : +44-1242/221336 E-mail:aiaccarino@sperry-sun.co.uk Gothic Crellon Ltd., 3, The Business Centre, Molly Millars Lane, Wokingham, Berks. RG11 2EY. Tel. 01734 787848. Fax 01734 776095. Genalog Ltd.,Gills Green, Cranbrook, TN18 5ET. Tel. 01580 753754. Greenweld Electronic Components Ltd., 27D Park Road, Southampton, SO15 3UQ. Tel 01703 236363 (Sales & General Enquiries). Fax 01703 236307 Surplus electronic boards, new components, test equipment, video & audio accessories etc. http://www.herald.co.uk/clients/G/Greenweld/greenweld.html HB Electronics, Lever Street, Bolton, Lancs. BL3 6BJ. Tel. 01204 525544. Fax 01204 384911. IQD (01460) 74433, Fax: (01460) 72578. John Birkitt +44 522 520767 1, The Strait, Lincoln Keytronics, P.O. Box 634, Bishop's Stortford, Herts. CM23 2RX. Tel. 01279 505543. Fax 01279 757656. The Macro Group, Burnham Lane, Slough, SL1 6LN. Tel. 01628 604383. Fax 01628 666873/ 668071. Magenta Electronics Ltd., 135 Hunter Street, Burton-on-Trent, Staffs. DE14 2ST. Tel. 01283 565435. Fax 01283 546932. Well known range of kits from UK magazine projects, also other kits, test equipment etc. Maplin Electronic Supplies Ltd., P.O. Box 3, Rayleigh, Essex SS6 8LR Tel. 01702 554161 (Sales Orders); +44 1702 554000 (International Enquiries & Orders); 01702 552911 (Non-Technical Enquiries); 01702 556001 (Technical Enquiries, p.m. only); Fax 01702 553935. MPS Electronics, P.O. Box 777, Rayleigh, Essex. SS6 8LU. Maplin Professional Supplies - bulk discounts and accounts for professional users. Tel 01702 554171 N R Bardwell +44 742 552886 Abbeydale Road, Sheffield Omni Electronics, 174, Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, EH16 5DX. Tel. 0131 667 2611 A wide range of components aimed at the hobbyist constructor. Polar Electronics Ltd., Cherrycourt Way, Leighton Buzzard, Beds. LU7 8YY. Tel.01525 377093. Fax 01525 378367. Franchised component distributors. Famed for its Microchip PIC Owner's Club. Rapid Electronics, Heckworth Close, Severalls Industrial Estate, Colchester, Essex, CO4 4TB. Tel. 01206 751166. Fax 01206 751188. RS Components Ltd., P.O. Box 99, Corby, Northants, NN17 9RS. Tel. 01536 201201 (National orders). 01536-402888 (Technical help). Cash with Order or credit card customers should refer to Electromail Ltd. Tandy (UK) Ltd., Head Office, 5, Bilston Road, Wednesbury, W. Midlands, WS10 7JL. Tel. 0121 556 0786. Verospeed: (01703) 644555 Other: Farnell Components 72 Ferndale Street, Chester Hill, NSW 2162, Australia Tel (02) 645 8888 RS Components GmbH - Nordenstrasse 72-76, Postfacht 1365, 64528 Morfelden- Walldorf - Germany Phone 061 05 401 234 Fax 061 05 401 RS Components A/S Rugvaenget 21 , 2630 Tastrup, Denmark phone 38 33 33 11 fax 38 34 22 32 3.2 Internet Resources FTP Sites: - ftp.ee.ualberta.ca - U of Alberta (Canada) Electrical Engineering archive, (electronics cookbook, m68k FAQ, etc) - cherupakha.media.mit.edu (cher.media.mit.edu) - E&L FTP server robotics, Mini-Board, and other projects - freeware.aus.sps.mot.com - Motorola, fuzzy, risc, etc. - ftp.armory.com /pub/user/rstevew - FAQ's, Tutorials, Great Internet IC Masterbator (GIICM), PIC, Basic Stamp - ftp.funet.fi - Microprocessor, PIC info - ftp://gaitlab1.uwaterloo.ca/pub/circuits/ -Circuit Search Database - ftp.industry.net/pub/sharewar/circuits -IndustryNet FTP Archive - ftp.intel.com - Intel's FTP site - ftp://itutech.com - ITU Technologies - ftp.mv.com /pub/ddj - Dr. Dobbs Journal FTP site - ftp.natinst.com - National Instruments - ftp.netcom.com /pub/di/dibald/ or ftp://ftp.netcom.com/pub/di/dibald/ Dave Baldwin's (dibald@netcom.com) ftp site for schematics for simple basic circuits. Single 'A' size pages and in GIF format. Various FAQs and information about The Computer Journal are also included. - ftp.oak.oakland.edu - SimTel mirror site - ftp.parallaxinc.com - ftp site of Parallax (Basic Stamp) - ftp.picarefy.com/pub/Sun-Hardware-Ref Information about Sun parts, etc. - ftp.sics.se /pub/mchipsoft contains numerous .zip files - ftp.syd.dit.csiro.au/pub/ken/zcc095.zip - Small C (subset of C) developement system for Z80 microprocessors - ftp.texas.net/pub/users/diana/electron/ - ftp.ti.com - Texas Instruments FTP site - ftp.zilker.net /pub/philips - Philips "mini ftp site" set up by Phil Wood of Philips, 8051, i2c FAQs - gaitlab1.uwaterloo.ca/pub/circuits/ -Circuit Search Database - iglou.com/members/ITU - nctuccca.edu.tw - mirror of ftp.intel.com - nyquist.ee.ualberta.ca - U of Alberta EE archive m68k, spice, cookbook (schematics) - rtfm.mit.edu - Usenet FAQs - wpi.wpi.edu - basic stamp information WEB Pages: - http://cal003109.student.utwente.nl/stefan (circuits, info, apps) - http://dvt07.fagmed.uit.no/electronics.html Electronic related WWW-Page - http://einstein.et.tudelft.nl/~offerman/chiplist.html Aad Offerman's chip list comparing different CPU's. - http://fly.hiwaay.net/~jfrohwei/ Jeff Frohwein's web page Technical information, links to various sites - http://freeware.aus.sps.mot.com/freeweb/index.html Motorola Microcontroller Web page - http://freeware.aus.sps.mot.com/index.html (Motorola) Motorola's microcontroller WWW page - http://fulton.seas.virginia.edu/~ty2n/aimspice.html AIM-Spice (student version available free) - http://http.tamu.edu:8000/~jdb8042/SmallSys/8bitIDE.html Connecting IDE devices to 8 bit machines: - http://infopad.eecs.berkeley.edu/CIC/ - CPU Info Center - http://members.aol.com/slapinskas/wxnotes.html Weather Instrument Notes Web Page - http://motserv.indirect.com (Motorola) Motorola's semiconductor WWW page, Master Selection Guide, etc - http://ssi.syspac.com/~lansdale - Lansdale Semiconductor - http://users1.ee.net/brey/ - Barry Brey's Microprocessor Textbooks - http://weber.u.washington.edu:80/pfloyd/ee/ "The electrical Engineering Circuits Archive" - http://www.acs.oakland.edu/oak/SimTel/msdos/crossasm.html Cross assemblers (SimTel site) - http://www.actel.com - Actel - http://www.analog.com - Analog Devices - http://www.allcorp.com/allcorp - All Electronics - http://www.allied.avnet.com - Allied Electronics - http://www.alltronics.com - Alltronics - http://www.altera.com - Altera - http://www.amd.com - AMD - http://www.annabooks.com/store.html - http://www.arm.com - Advanced RISC Machines (ARM) - http://www.atmel.com - Atmel - http://www.ba-karlsruhe.de/automation/FAQ - microcontroller FAQs - http://www.ba-karlsruhe.de/automation/home.html Home Page Automation and Process Control: - http://www.benchmarq.com - Benchmarq Technology - http://www.brooktree.com - Brooktree - http://www.burr-brown.com - Burr-Brown - http://www.cera2.com - CERA home page, embedded, DSP, Industrial Computing, Microcontroller-Microprocessor index - http://www.chips.ibm.com - IBM Microelectronics - http://www.cir.com - Circuit Specialists, Inc. - http://www.circellar.com - the Computer Applications Journal, from Circuit Cellar INK - http://www.cirrus.com - Cirrus Logic - http://www.cistron.nl/~nctnico - Electronics WWW page - http://www.comlab.ox.ac.uk/archive/cards.html Microprocessor Instruction Set Cards - http://www.crhc.uiuc.edu/~dburke/databookshelf.html Links to manufacturer's data sheets - http://www.cs.uiowa.edu/~jones/step/ Stepper Motor Home Page - http://www.cs.uwa.edu.au:80/~mafm/robot/index.html Hobby robot web page - http://www.csn.net/ramtron - Ramtron - http://www.csn.net/simtek - Simtek - http://www.cypress.com - Cypress Semiconductor - http://www.cyrix.com - Cyrix - http://www.dalsemi.com - Dallas Semiconductor - http://www.ddj.com - Dr. Dobbs Journal web page - http://www.dec.com - Digital Equipment Corp. - http://www.digikey.com - Digikey - http://www.ee.surrey.ac.uk/Contrib/WorldTV Worldwide TV Standards - A Web Guide - http://www.ecn.uoknor.edu/~jspatric/ee-info.html Electrical Engineering FAQs and Info Home Page - http://www.e2w3.com/ - Electrical Engineering on the World Wide Web - http://www.exar.com - Exar - http://www.fujitsu.com - Fujitsu - http://www.harris.com - Harris Semiconductor - http://www.hitachi.co.jp - Hitachi - http://www.hea.com - Hyundai - http://www.hometeam.com - Home Team (automation) - http://www.hth.com - High Tech Horizon (Swedish) Basic Stamp - http://www.idt.com - Integrated Device Technology - http://www.iglou.com/ITU - http://www.inmos.co.uk - SGS-Thomson & Inmos - http://www.intel.com - Intel - http://www.io.com/~guccione/HW_list.html info. on computers built from FPGAs - http://www.io.org/~techart - Technological Arts - http://www.infras.com/semico.htm - Infrastructures Semiconductor Index - http://www.isd.com - Information Storage Devices - http://www.itutech.com - ITU Technologies - http://www.ivex.com - Ivex web page (schematic capture, PCB layout tools, etc) - http://www.jdr.com - JDR Microdevices - http://www.labyrinth.net.au/~donmck - DonTronics (PIC, I/O boards, z80 dev system, etc) - http://www.latticesemi.com - Lattice Semiconductor - http://www.logicaldevices.com - Logical Devices - http://www.lsilogic.com - LSI Logic - http://156.147.220.63:8080/LGSemicon.html LG Semicon (aka Lucky Goldstar) - http://www.marshall.com - Marshall Industries - http://www.marshall.com/pub/chips/chipmenu.htm Semiconductor Desk Reference (monthly) from Marshall - http://www.mchip.com/microchip - Microchip web page - http://www.meci.com - Mendelson's Electronics & Surplus. - http://www.micron.com - Micron Technology - http://www.mouser.com - Mouser Electronics - http://www.mxim.com - Maxim - http://www.natinst.com - National Instruments - http://www.natsemi.com/ - National Semiconductor - http://www.nec.com - NEC - http://www.nectech.com - NEC - http://www.nexgen.com - NexGen, Inc. - http://www.nsc.com - National Semiconductor (old site name, but still active) - http://www.oki.com - OKI Semiconductor - http:/www.oritools.com - Orion Instruments home page - http://www.parallaxinc.com - Parallax Inc. web page - http://www.paranoia.com/~filipg Home-made PAL/GAL Programmers, LCD FAQs, links to other FAQs - http://www.paranoia.com/~filipg/HTML/cgi-bin/giicm_form.html Online searchable version of "The Giant Internet IC Masturbator" - http://www.ping.be/~ping0751 - Electronics Homeworld - http://www.rambus.com - Rambus - http://www.rockwell.com - Rockwell - http://www.samsung.com - Samsung - http://www.sci.siemens.com - http://www.seagate.com - Seagate home page - http://www.semicon.mitel.com - Mitel Semiconductor - http://www.semiconductors.philips.com/ps - Philips Semiconductor - http://www.siemens.de - http://www.smarthome.com/smarthome - Home Automation Systems - http://www.srmc.com/seeq - SEEQ Technology - http://www.smos.com - S-MOS Systems - http://www.ssi1.com - Silicon Systems - http://www.synergysemi.com - Synergy Semiconductor - http://www.system.com - Advanced Risc Machines (ARM) - http://www.texas.net/~diana/electro.htm- Diana's Electronic Information Files - http://www.ti.com - Texas Instruments home page - http://www.toshiba.com - Toshiba - http://www.tu-chemnitz.de/~fachat/csa - OS/A65 (operating system and 6502 based computer by Andre Fachat) - http://www.ultranet.com/biz/mchip - Microchip Technology - http://www.vita.com/ - The VME Bus International Trade Association - http://www.wdc.com - Western Digital - http://www.worldaccess.nl/~bema - The Electronic Guide Semiconductor manufacturers adresses, Newsgroups, Mailing lists Software site for microcontroller applications (MCS51, 68HC11 and PIC) Employment - http://www.xess.com - X Engineering Software Systems (XESS) FPGA/Elastic Computing products, etc. - http://www.xicor.com - Xicor - http://www.xilinx.com - Xilinx, Inc. - http://www.xs4all.nl/~falstaff/giicm.html - GIICM (Giant Internet IC Masturbator) - http://www.xs4all.nl/~ganswijk/chipdir (Chip Directory) or http://bbs.cc.uniud.it/chipdir (Mirror site) Chip Directory, compiled by Jaap van Ganswijk - http://www.yahoo.com/Business_and_Economy/Companies/ Semiconductors/Resellers (all on one line) - http://www.yahoo.com/Computers/Hardware/Microprocessors Yahoo Microcontrollers Hot List - http://www.zilog.com - Zilog home page - http://www2.psyber.com/~tcj/ The Computer Journal (TCJ) Web page Mailing Lists, E-Mail, etc: - http://www.neosoft.com/internet/paml - Index of Publicly Accessable Mailing Lists - Homebuilt-L has been established as a new outlet for the alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt. This is a forum for the exchange of ideas, opinions and information among computer builders interested in the above subject. To subscribe to homebuilt-l, send the following in the body (not the subject line) of an email message to "Majordomo@teleport.com": "subscribe homebuilt-l" If you wish to subscribe another address instead (such as a local redistribution list), you can use a command of the form: "subscribe homebuilt-l other-address@your_site.your_net" (Without the quotes, of course) - "Hotwired" mailing list: (information courtesy of John West) Hotwired (the name is not my fault) is a mailing list for people interested in home-built processors - anything from software simulations to piles of TTL to FPGAs to custom silicon. The address is listserv@gu.uwa.edu.au and the message to send to it is: subscribe hotwired - http://www.eece.unm.edu/staff/ahvezda/hardware/hotwired.html archive of mail to the hotwired mailing list. - PIC mailing list Administrative requests should go the the listserver at address "listserv@mitvma.mit.edu". You may join the list at any time by sending a "SUB PICLIST" command via e-mail to the above address. - The PIC-1 mailing list is available to all users and other interested parties of ITU Technologies' low-cost PIC-1 programmer for the Microchip PIC16C6x/7x/8x family of microcontrollers. This list is designed to keep users up-to-date on issues relating to the PIC-1 programmer and PIC microcontrollers, such as new software revision notices, web and ftp site updates, application examples, and new product announcements. To sign yourself up to the PIC-1 mailing list, simply send a message to: PIC-1-list-request@itutech.com To remove yourself from the PIC-1 mailing list, simply send a message to: PIC-1-list-remove@itutech.com - info@circellar.com - Email (not ftp) send Email to get information file on services available All Circuit Cellar INK and BYTE related files available 3.3 BBS Numbers Circuit Cellar, Inc. (203) 871-1988 Diamond's BBS: (408) 325-7080 (2400bps) (408) 325-7175 (9600+bps) EDN magazine (617) 558-4241 Electronics Now (516) 293-2283 General Device Instruments (408) 983-1234 Intel American Marketing Applications Support Bulletin Board System (916) 356-3600 Intel's BBS +44-(0)1793-496340 2400,n,8,1 Parallax Inc. (916) 624-7101 Motorola (Austin Texas) BBS (512) 891-3733 (Austin, Texas) - Munich, Germany: 49-89-92103-111 (2400 baud) - Stuttgart, Germany: 49-7031-275496 (19200 baud) - San Diego, California: (619) 279-3907 - Toronto, Ontario, Canada: (416) 497-8989 Philips Semiconductor (parent company of Signetics) (800) 451-6644 or (408) 991-2406 Netherlands: +31-40-721102 3.4 Recommended books/magazines Books: - "AT Bus Design", By Ed Solari, Published by Annabooks ISBN 0-929392-08-6 - "The Art of Digital Design" by Prosser & Winkel - "The Art of Electronics, 2nd ed." by Horowitz and Hill. ISBN 0-521-37095-7 (Also, "Student Manual for The Art of Electronics," by Thomas C. Hayes and Paul Horowitz ISBN 0-521-37709-9) - "A Beginner's Guide to Computers and Microprocessors - with projects" by Charles K. Adams, from TAB books - 'The Best of Ciarcia's Circuit Cellar" ISBN 0-07-011025-5 - "Best of Interface Age, Volume 1: Software in BASIC" Carl D. Warren (ed.), dilithium Press, 1979, ISBN 0-918398-36-3 - "Bit Slice Microprocessor Design" by Mick and Brick - "Build Your Own Low-Cost Data Acquisition and Display Devices" by Jeffrey H. Johnson - "Build you own Universal Computer Interface" Covers a lot about serial interfacing and designing circuitry. ISBN #: 0-8306-3122-4 - "Build Your Own Z80 Computer: Design Guidelines and Application Notes" by Steve Ciarcia. ISBN 0-07-010962-1. - "Computer Architecture, a Quantitative Approach" by Hennessy and Patterson - "Computer Structures: Readings and Examples" by Bell and Newell - "Controlling the world with your parallel port" Jamco Electronics - "Controlling the World with your PC" by Paul Bergsman - "Design of oscillator and other harmonic oscillators " by Benjamin Parzen (Published by John Wiley and Sons) ISBN 0-471-08819-6 - "The Design and Drafting of printed circuits," Darryl Lindsey; Bishop Graphics, Inc. - "Designing Cards and Drivers for Macintosh II and Macintosh SE" ISBN 0-201-19256-X. - "Designing with Programmable Array Logic", Tech. Staff of Monolithic Memories, McGraw-Hill, 1981 - "Design with Microcontrollers", John B. Peatman - "Digital Design with Standard MSI and LSI, 2nd ed." by T. R. Blakeslee. - "Digital Design Principles and Practices" by John F. Wakerly Published by Prentice Hall ISBN 0-13-212838 - "Electronic Drafting and Printed Circuit Board Design," 2nd ed., by James M. Kirkpatrick; Delmar Publishers - "Electronic Prototype Construction," Kasten, Stephen D. Originally published by Howard W. Sams, Inc. - "Encyclopedia of Electronic Circuits" - "Handbook of software and hardware interfacing for IBM PCs", By Jeffrey P. Royer, Published by Prentice Hall, ISBN 0-13-381849-7 - "High Frequency Switching Power Suplies:Theory and Design" by George Chryssis. - "How to Design, Build & Program Your Own Working Computer System" Robert P. Haviland, 1979, TAB Books, ISBN 0-8306-9810-8 (0-8306-1111-8 paperback) - "How to program the Z80" by Rodnay Zaks - "The IBM Personal Computer, from the Inside Out" by Sargent and Shoemaker (published by Addison-Wesley) provides a lot of information about interfacing an IBM type PC to various things. ISBN 0-201-06918-0 - "The Indispensable PC Hardware Book". - "Inside the EISA Computers", By Tony Dowden - "Interfacing to the IBM PC" by Lewis C. Eggebrecht. Signals, timing diagrams, example circuits, etc. ISBN 0-672-22722-3 - "Interfacing to the PowerPC Microprocessor" Ron Rahmel and Don Rahmel, SAMS Publishing - "ISA & EISA: Theory and Operation" by Edward Solari (great info and timing of the bus hardware -- essential for HW design) - "Making Printed Circuit Boards" by Jan Axelson, Tab Books, 1993 ISBN 0-8306-3950-0 (hard) 0-8306-3951-9 (paper) - "The Microcomputer Builder's Bible" by Chris Johnston, Tab Books, 1982 (hard back cover) - "Microcontrolers. Architecture, Implementation, & Programming" by Kenneth Hintz and Daniel Tabak ISBN 0-07-028977-8 - "The Microcontroller Idea Book" Jan Axelson - "Microelectronic Circuits" by Sedra and Smith - "Microprogramming" by Husson - "Microprocessor Based Design" by Michael Slater, Prentice Hall, 1989 - "Microprocessor Systems Design" (68000 Hardware, Software, and Interfacing) by Alan Clements. ISBN 0-87150-095-7 - "Musical Applications of Microprocessors" by Hal Chamberlin ISBN 0-8104-5753-9 - "Noise Reduction Techniques in Electronic systems" Ott, Henry W. ISBN 0-471-65726-3 - "PC Programmer's Handbook" by Sanchez and Canton (code examples of programming the DMA chip) - "PCI, Hardware and Software" Edward Solari,George Wilson ISBN 0-929392-28-0 - "The PCI Handbook," Brian Dipert ISBN 0-929392-25-6 - "The PowerPC Architecture" IBM book number SR28-5124-00 - "Programmer's Problem Solver for the IBM PC, XT and AT", By Robert Jourdain, Brady Book, ISBN 0-89303-787-7 info on timer, keyboard, video, disk, parallel and serial port hardware resources, and software interfacing. - "PS/2 and PC BIOS Interface Technical Reference: Second Edition" - "Single- and Multiple-Chip Microcomputer Interfacing" G.J. Lipovski ISBN 0-13-810557-X (Prentice-Hall Edition) ISBN 0-13-810573-1 (Motorola Edition) - "The Book of SCSI" by Peter M. Ridge ISBN: 1-886411-02-6 - "The SCSI Bus and IDE Interface" by Friedhelm Schmidt. ISBN 0-201-42284-0 - "Stack Computers, the new wave" by Philip J. Koopman Jr. Published by John Wiley (Halstead Press) ISBN 0-470-21467-8 - "The XT-AT Handbook" by Choisser and Foster - "Z-80 Microcomputer Design Projects" by William Barden Jr. ISBN 0-672-21682-5, published by Howard W. Sams & Co. Inc Magazines: - The Computer Applications Journal (Circuit Cellar Ink) PO Box 7694, Riverton, NJ 08077-8784 (609) 786-0409 http://www.circellar.com - The Computer Journal (916) 722-4970 1-800-424-8825 FAX: 916-722-7480 BBS: 916-722-5799 P.O. Box 3900, Citrus Heights, CA 95611-3900 tcj@psyber.com http://www.psyber.com/~tcj/ - Computer Design (508) 692-0700 One Technology Park Drive, P.O. Box 990, Westford, MA 01886 - Dr. Dobbs Journal (415) 358-9500 411 Borel Ave., San Mateo, CA 94402 ftp site - ftp.mv.com /pub/ddj www site - http://www.ddj.com BBS - 415-358-8857 - EE Times (516) 562-5000 600 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY 11030 - Electronic Engineering Times (516) 293-3000 500-B Bi-County Boulevard, Farmingdale, NY 11735 - Electronics Now (computer/electonics/hobbyists magazine) 800-999-7139 Reader Service Dept PO Box 5192 Pittsfield MA 01203-9989 - Elektor Electronics (603) 924-6371, 924-6526 Old Colony Sound Lab, P.O. Box 243, Peterborough, NH 03458 World Wide Subscription Service Ltd Unit 4, Gibbs Reed Farm, Pashley Road, Ticehurst TN5 7HE, England - Everyday With Practical Electronics +44 1202 881749 EPE Subscrptions Department, Wimborne Publishing Ltd. Allen House, East Borough, Wimborne, Dorset, BH21 1PF - Historically Brewed Historical Computer Society, 10928 Ted Williams Place El Paso, TX 79934 - Microcomputer Journal (formerly Computer Craft) 76 N. Broadway, Hicksville, NY 11801 - Nuts and Volts 1-800-783-4624, 909-371-8497 fax 909-371-3052 - Popular Electronics (800) 435 - 0715 Subscription Dept, PO Box 338, Mt. Morris, IL 61054-9935 3.5 Other CD -ROM from D.A.T.A. Digest 1-303-799-0381 1-800-447-4666 fax 1-303-700-4082 Over 1.25 million active devices from more than 1000 manufacturers. These cover trnasistors, linear, diodes, optoelectronics, digital and microprocessors. 4.0 Misc. Special thanks to Andrew for the first version of this FAQ. Thanks also to the following for numerous corrections and additional information (in no particular order): Robert Boys, Todd Parker, Howard Matthews, David Wilkie xian the desk lisard, Sandy Harris, Hai Pham, Alan Winstanley, Dwight Elvey, Gareth Attrill, Gilad Barak, Jan-Derk Bakker and Dave Baldwin. (and my sincere apologies if anyone was accidentally left off this list). I attempt to make sure that all information in this FAQ is current and correct, but I'm only human. If you find a mistake, please let me know. Your comments/suggestions/contributions are welcome. E-mail to msokos1@gl.umbc.edu Version 16 (modified 5/3/96)