• Universal ITX Backplane
  • Universal ITX Backplane
  • Universal ITX Backplane
  • Universal ITX Backplane
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innoelement

Universal ITX Backplane

Universal ITX Backplane

$16.00 USD
$16.00 USD
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What is it?

This compact Apple II floppy disk emulator lets an Apple II, Apple II Plus, or Apple IIe load disk images from an SD card instead of relying on aging 5.25-inch floppy disks. It includes the STM32F411 BlackPill controller board and SD card interface needed for the emulator itself.

What's in the box?

Package includes: 1x Apple II floppy disk emulator board assembly, 1x installed STM32F411 / BlackPill controller board, 1x OLED display and four-button interface, 1x prepared SD card / microSD card, and 1x ribbon cable for the Apple II floppy interface. Apple II computer, Disk II controller/interface card, and copyrighted disk images are not included.

Installation

Connect the emulator to the Apple II floppy interface using the included ribbon cable, insert the prepared SD card, then power on and use the OLED screen and four buttons to choose a disk image. Basic Apple II hardware knowledge is recommended.

Warranty

Hardware is tested before shipping whenever stock is available. The product includes a 1-year non-transferable warranty covering manufacturing defects. If compatibility or setup issues occur, contact support before requesting a return.

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Technical details

Description, documents, and source code.

What is it?

This backplane is initially intended to be used with Sergey Kiselev's Micro8088 or xi8088 PC clones, among others system powered by x86 architecture. However, other old systems could also…

What is it?

This backplane is initially intended to be used with Sergey Kiselev's Micro8088 or xi8088 PC clones, among others system powered by x86 architecture. However, other old systems could also be developed using FPGAs built or adapted to ISA or PC / 104 type slots, plus other accessories based on these. Open Source Hardware project, Kicad project files provided across on my GitHub account.

Notice: The project is still in the prototype phase, the first version has been tested and has an identified fault, although easily fixable.

Why did you make it?

Like the other project I have developed, called MonochromeVGA, you can select green, amber or B&W as monochromatic color, among others at the VGA output. Change color to monochrome or vice versa easily.

Fix needed

At the moment, the only problem found is related to the on/off system. The 2n3904 transistor footprint had the Emitter and Base pins swapped due to a mistake of mine copying it from another design with another transistor:

Without this fix, the boot button would not work.

Options

Due to the state of the project, and some difficulties appreciated to fit it in Mini-ITX cases with ISA video cards, I have decided not to continue it. For the same reason, I offer different options with a more adjusted price.

If you do not use a Mini-ITX comercial case, or if you adapt or create one conveniently (in 3D for example), this board can be adjusted to your needs.

The sale options that I offer are the following:

PCB only, it is 4 layers.

In Kit for assembly, which includes three 16-bit industrial quality ISA connectors and 16-bit PC / 104 connector.

Fully assembled, which includes three 16-bit industrial quality ISA connectors and 16-bit PC / 104 connector.

Videos

Original product page: https://www.tindie.com/products/johnson/universal-itx-backplane/

Documentation