OSI Superboard II repro build

[andrewh]

This thread is to document the build of an OSI 600D from Klyball's reproduction PCB as linked from https://www.osiweb.org/.

Assembly instructions - https://osiweb.org/manuals/Superboard_I ... ctions.pdf
Manual - https://osiweb.org/manuals/600revB.pdf
Diagrams - https://www.osiweb.org/manuals/600revD.pdf
Service manual - https://osi.marks-lab.com/reference/fil ... Manual.pdf
ROMS - https://github.com/jefftranter/6502/tre ... board/roms

[andrewh]

I've got all the IC sockets soldered in and was running through the tests on page 19 of the assembly instructions. It says that pins 18, 21 and 24 of U9 (one of the ROMs) should be closed circuit and all other pins open. What I'm actually seeing is pins 21 and 24 closed and 12 and 18 closed. Pin 12 is earth so it looks like CS2 (pin 18) is connected to earth instead of 5V. This is consistent across all of the ROM sockets.

[Ronin47]

Once I get my video RAM issue resolved in my TRS-80 and another project with a dead machine, I can hopefully get onto this one fairly soon.

Looking forward to building it I have to say.

[andrewh]

Looks like you also need to insert U29 before starting test procedure 5.

[Ronin47]

Looks like you also need to insert U29 before starting test procedure 5.

Oh boy, I just realised that the silk screening doesn't have the IC numbers, what an adventure!

[andrewh]

Looks like you also need to insert U29 before starting test procedure 5.

Oh boy, I just realised that the silk screening doesn't have the IC numbers, what an adventure!

And some of them are labelled incorrectly in the assembly instructions.

[Ronin47]

And some of them are labelled incorrectly in the assembly instructions.

Even more joy!!

[marcusjambler]

Is this of any help

[Ronin47]

Is this of any help

Parts Layout New.jpg

Nice.

[andrewh]

After a lot of cursing (see https://www.osiweb.org/osiforum/viewtop ... f67085a15a), I finally got it working.

[marcusjambler]

Great news Andrew... That means this pile of stuff might work

[Ronin47]

Dude, you did good!

Haven't touched mine yet as been working on a TRS-80 Model 1.

[mnc1959]

Hi all,

I'm sure this h as been asked a thousand times before, but as a noob to this forum, I will ask again.

BTW I have 40+ years experience repairing vintage hardware and consoles, with 200+ systems in my collection
I missed out on a OSI Superboard II repro board this week.

This will be a project close to my heart having used one in the late 70s early 80s.

I can see the Gerber files are available but having one board manufactured would be expensive, does anyone have a spare board for sale or know of a source for them?

Many thanks and Cheers, Martin...

[BigEd]

Welcome!

Might be worth a post in Wanted. Looks like you might be in Australia - might be worth mentioning that, as it's possible some people won't want to ship transcontinentally. Probably worth posting over on 6502.org forums too. And maybe VCFed?

[IanB]

I can see the Gerber files are available but having one board manufactured would be expensive, does anyone have a spare board for sale or know of a source for them?

I got mine from the designer Klyball
Try sending him a PM on the osiweb forum:
https://osiweb.org/osiforum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=323

BTW The gerbers have the ICs upside down on the silk screen overlay although the board I have doesn't have a silk screen anyway like the original.

[Ronin47]

Hey andrewh, I was wondering if you might be able to get some reasonably high quality pics of your assembled board for reference please?

I just haven't been able to get mine started yet for family reasons, and will probably start in the new year and need to get my components all sorted, but in the meantime I do have most of the sockets so could get moving on those.

Thanks

[multivac]

@Andrewh

Any update on your Superboard II build. I would be interested how you arranged video output.

[andrewh]

Apologies, I did not get notified of your reply. It's all working, with repro keycaps and everything. Video output was just soldered onto the last two pins of J2.

[andrewh]

If you want higher quality, please DM me.

[Ronin47]

I have also been building one of these, and this is my progress so far:

Appreciate the board very much andrewh, the build has been a fun experience so far, and I'm close to the finish line.

[SKS1]

Appreciate the board very much andrewh, the build has been a fun experience so far, and I'm close to the finish line.

Hope it gives great fun! One of these was my first personal computer (and I still have it).

Sadly many years ago one of the BASIC ROMs got one bit stuck on. Perhaps I'll get round to resurrecting it sometime.

[SKS1]

This was its power supply!

[Ronin47]

Appreciate the board very much andrewh, the build has been a fun experience so far, and I'm close to the finish line.

Hope it gives great fun! One of these was my first personal computer (and I still have it).


DSC_0174 - Superboard II.JPG

DSC_0175 - Superboard II Invoice.JPG


Sadly many years ago one of the BASIC ROMs got one bit stuck on. Perhaps I'll get round to resurrecting it sometime.

Vey nice indeed, shame about the ROM, but I reckon it would be relatively easy to fix/replace.

Also interesting that you got an OSI machine and not a UK-101, which I believe was the UK equivalent.

[Ronin47]

This was its power supply!


20210829 Superboard PSU.jpg

You can't beat a good old fashioned PSU like that. Linear I presume, and none of the modern switching stuff.

[SKS1]

Also interesting that you got an OSI machine and not a UK-101, which I believe was the UK equivalent.

Think that the UK-101 came to market a few months later? I'd had the Superboard on order for a couple of months before delivery as dealer ran out of stock between me going over for a demo and saving the last few pennies to confirm order.

[Ronin47]

Also interesting that you got an OSI machine and not a UK-101, which I believe was the UK equivalent.

Think that the UK-101 came to market a few months later? I'd had the Superboard on order for a couple of months before delivery as dealer ran out of stock between me going over for a demo and saving the last few pennies to confirm order.

I've seen an ad for the UK-101 in a magazine from 1979, but it probably took a while to get some market penetration.

[BigEd]

I think I bought my UK101 pretty sharply after seeing the advert. (I think it wasn't a very long-lived offering. Had an unlicensed copy of MS Basic...)

[Ronin47]

I think I bought my UK101 pretty sharply after seeing the advert. (I think it wasn't a very long-lived offering. Had an unlicensed copy of MS Basic...)

Wikipedia seems to suggest about 5000 UK-101's were sold as kits. I wonder how that compares to the OSI? They look almost identical.

[BigEd]

A friend had an OSI, very comparable to my UK101. As I recall, it had fewer characters per line - the display looked horrible.

[Ronin47]

A friend had an OSI, very comparable to my UK101. As I recall, it had fewer characters per line - the display looked horrible.

I'd suggest I'm going to find out what the display looks like quite soon