Megatron1999 Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 Hi. I know this is a 'Long-Shot' but : Does anyone know where or if it is still postible to get Powertran Cortex PCBs to build your own TMS9995 system ?? Are their schematics or PCB layouts to get them manufactured ?? Or Any other TMS9900/TMS9995 system PCB to build a TMS microcomputer myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Ksarul Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 I have a set of the Powertran Cortex PCBs, actually (though they are not for sale). I plan to use them to make a new PCB layout at some point in time (and in the midst of all of the other things I am working on). The schematics , build instructions, newsletters, manuals, and a lot of Cortex software are readily available on the WHT FTP site and also on the Powertran Cortex site http://powertrancortex.com/ as a result of the efforts of a few of us over on the VintageComputerForum to document and preserve the system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 A batch of blank Cortex PCBs came up on eBay a few years ago but they all got snapped up. The Cortex schematics are available (www.powertrancortex.com) as well as decent photos of both sides of a blank PCB, so remanufacture is perfectly possible but you'll have to lay everything out. They're quite big PCBs as well so will be relatively pricey. I've got a design for a simple TMS9995 system (http://www.avjd51.dsl.pipex.com/tms9995_breadboard/tms9995_breadboard.htm) and there's a chap in Australia who has had a PCB for that manufactured, if that is of interest? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megatron1999 Posted January 24, 2015 Author Share Posted January 24, 2015 It would be great to have a NEW batch of Powertran Cortex kits.. though my PCB layout skills are practically non-existant ! ** The Simple TMS9995 does sound interesting .. any photos ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megatron1999 Posted January 24, 2015 Author Share Posted January 24, 2015 Your Breadboard Design 32K ROM, 32K RAM + TMS9995 sounds perfect for the beginner... Is the chap in Australia going to sell some PCBs ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killbot2000 Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 A batch of blank Cortex PCBs came up on eBay a few years ago but they all got snapped up. The Cortex schematics are available (www.powertrancortex.com) as well as decent photos of both sides of a blank PCB, so remanufacture is perfectly possible but you'll have to lay everything out. They're quite big PCBs as well so will be relatively pricey. I've got a design for a simple TMS9995 system (http://www.avjd51.dsl.pipex.com/tms9995_breadboard/tms9995_breadboard.htm) and there's a chap in Australia who has had a PCB for that manufactured, if that is of interest? The Simple TMS9995 PCB really sounds interesting ... where can you get one and how much are they ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 I don't think the chap who done the PCB is interested in selling them, but I can probably get the files and have a small run made. Price is around $25 per PCB plus postage. I'll try to get some more details and post them here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killbot2000 Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 I don't think the chap who done the PCB is interested in selling them, but I can probably get the files and have a small run made. Price is around $25 per PCB plus postage. I'll try to get some more details and post them here. Hi. is there any pics of a finished / assembled unit ?? Do they have any sort of expansion to add video card etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 I'll try to get a photo. I'm sure I had one but can't find it. No expansion other than the processor signals being brought out to an (optional) connector. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willsy Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 I don't think the chap who done the PCB is interested in selling them, but I can probably get the files and have a small run made. Price is around $25 per PCB plus postage. I'll try to get some more details and post them here. I'd be interested. Particularly if it had some sort of storage interface like an SD card etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bad robot Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Does anyone have the Schematics/PCB layout in CAD form (Eagle etc) for either the Powertran or the small PCB described above ..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 OK, the PCB for my TMS9995 breadboard project - http://www.avjd51.dsl.pipex.com/tms9995_breadboard/tms9995_breadboard.htm. Photo below. The board is obviously only partially built in this photo, but it has been completed and works. There are a few additions/changes to my original design: -- Addition of a power LED. -- Addition of an expansion connector. This has the same pinout as the 9995 itself, with the exception of the oscillator pins. This is provided merely as a convenience should you want to tinker with the hardware yourself. -- Set of jumper pins to connect/disconnect the pullup resistors for some of the unused processor control signals. Pullup resistor can be disconnected if the signal is to be driven through the expansion connector. -- The RS-232 connector is some sort of rectangular connector, not the usual D-type connector, and has a different pinout. If you want to use a D-type connector, you'll have to do a little bit of hard-wiring to it (only 3 wires needed). -- You'll have to sort out your own +5V power supply and a reset button. Board cost is UK£15 for the bare PCB, plus postage from the UK to wherever you are in the world. You'll need to source the components, connectors and IC sockets yourself. If you can't program your own EPROMs, I can supply the BASIC and/or Forth EPROMs for you with the board. These will be around UK£5 each. If you're interested, let me know. Stuart. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bad robot Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Looks Good ... are you taking orders immediately via the email on your website ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon ti99 Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Has Stuart got plans to put more of his Breadboard projects onto a PCBs ?? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Looks Good ... are you taking orders immediately via the email on your website ? Send me a PM. I'll get 5 boards made which will take ~ 2 weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stuart Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Has Stuart got plans to put more of his Breadboard projects onto a PCBs ?? Not at the moment. But I'm tinkering with the idea of a more complex TMS9995 board with CF card, socket for F18A, and more flexible memory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willsy Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 Not at the moment. But I'm tinkering with the idea of a more complex TMS9995 board with CF card, socket for F18A, and more flexible memory. Now THAT'S what I'm talking about! Any idea as to when you are thinking about doing this? I'm looking for something that I can as a dedicated Forth system (no operating system at underneath it, Forth will be the OS). Your earlier board can do that, and even has a Forth for it, which is really cool, but I really want a method of storing code/data, so a CF (preferably SD) reader is exactly what I'm looking for. I personally am not too bothered about it supporting F18A or not (hey, the more the merrier, though, so why not) as I would probably interact with it via a serial port. Have you thought about any kind of spec? I could do with two serial ports, and an expansion connector/interface for add-on boards (A/Ds, Digital inputs). The second serial port could probably go on the expansion connecter. No particular need to make special provision for it? Very interested in this. I'm tempted to get one of the boards above, but without persistant storage it would be of limited use so probably would get used! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Megatron1999 Posted January 29, 2015 Author Share Posted January 29, 2015 Hi. One expansion connector is somewhat limiting. If Stuart's Design was modified to have say four (4) expansion sockets, then it would be flexible enough to act as a intelligent backplane, allowing homebrew cards to be fitted. video Card, I/O Keyboard Card, CF, IDE Card etc etc .. It wouldn't take much work to change the design ?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simon ti99 Posted January 29, 2015 Share Posted January 29, 2015 (edited) More connectors/expansion sockets would be good, as well as a TMS9901 PIO ? And a true 9 pin D-type connector ? Someone with good CAD/PCB skills could modify it in a couple of hours , or even a weekend ?? Edited January 29, 2015 by simon ti99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+retroclouds Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 (edited) OK, the PCB for my TMS9995 breadboard project - http://www.avjd51.dsl.pipex.com/tms9995_breadboard/tms9995_breadboard.htm. Photo below. The board is obviously only partially built in this photo, but it has been completed and works. boardpartasbld.jpg There are a few additions/changes to my original design: -- Addition of a power LED. -- Addition of an expansion connector. This has the same pinout as the 9995 itself, with the exception of the oscillator pins. This is provided merely as a convenience should you want to tinker with the hardware yourself. -- Set of jumper pins to connect/disconnect the pullup resistors for some of the unused processor control signals. Pullup resistor can be disconnected if the signal is to be driven through the expansion connector. -- The RS-232 connector is some sort of rectangular connector, not the usual D-type connector, and has a different pinout. If you want to use a D-type connector, you'll have to do a little bit of hard-wiring to it (only 3 wires needed). -- You'll have to sort out your own +5V power supply and a reset button. Board cost is UK£15 for the bare PCB, plus postage from the UK to wherever you are in the world. You'll need to source the components, connectors and IC sockets yourself. If you can't program your own EPROMs, I can supply the BASIC and/or Forth EPROMs for you with the board. These will be around UK£5 each. If you're interested, let me know. Stuart. What would it take to create a 9995 based game console PCB, something along the lines of a Tomy Tutor Pyuuta Jr. http://ultimateconsoledatabase.com/classics/tomy_puta_jr.htm Thinking about the below components: 9995 CPU TMS9901 CRU SN76489 sound chip Socket for a F18A VDP (so no need for VDP ram on the PCB) 1 or 2 joystick ports cartridge port connector (as used in the TI-99/4A) Socket for a 8K ROM that would contain a bare-bone OS Some RAM (8K or perhaps 32K?) And if one wants to go fancy: TMS5220 speech synth chip (not sure if that would be worth the effort) The above configuration could perhaps keep component count to a minimum? Existing TI-99/4a Jon Guidry based PCB's could be used for storing the game ROM. Obviously I'm not thinking about TI-99/4A compatibility. A small OS could be enough to initialize machine state, initialize RAM, etc. Hardware wise, what would be the challenge considering component availability? EDIT: Could it be physically possible to build a PCB like that fits in a raspberry pi box? Yes, game software would need to be written, but that's part of the game Edited January 31, 2015 by retroclouds Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jens-eike Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 There is some info on Tomy Tutor (Pyuuta) hardware here: http://www.floodgap.com/retrobits/tomy/hardware.html More detailed schematics: http://www43.tok2.com/home/cmpslv/Pyuuta/EnrPt.htm (Japanese text) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killbot2000 Posted February 2, 2015 Share Posted February 2, 2015 The PCB looks great.... and it's certainly a start ! It could even 'Evolve' into a full blow Ti-99/4A /Tomy Tutor one day ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chessdoger Posted March 25, 2015 Share Posted March 25, 2015 Hi Mike here (from OZ) Re PCB yes ... I did the design.. Staurt and myself have the boards if someone wants to build them See my website .. https://sites.google.com/site/gogleoops/ I still have few boards (if you are in this part of the world) and if you are in Europe region ..try to see if Stuart can supply them. There is expansion circuit for the board I did.. that has 2 TMS9901 chips (breadboard stage at this point)..circuit is there .. will make a pcb for that expansion .. and will be free on the site .. I use diptrace software for schematics and pcb's If some people are interested have few other micro's info on the website too all the best Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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