6502.org

I'm an embedded software engineer and hardware engineer. I want to start working with the 6502 and would like to buy a kit to get started.

Are there any good kits that are readily available to buy? I want something I can try running some code on and then start building up with peripherals and my own additions. Something like the KIM-1 but a bit more modern, e.g. with a serial bootloader.

WDC have a few dev boards. I'm not sure if they feature a bootloader(unless you count a monitor), but they do all seem to have a USB interface to talk to a PC and derive power.
I'd recommend something based on the '816 or '265, so that you can use the 16-bit math and bigger address space if you want to.

For programming, I wouldn't bother with TIDE unless it's required in some way; I couldn't figure out how to use it sensibly. I'd go for some other assembler instead, such as ca65.

Of course, there is also the option to build your own, and I haven't looked, but I'm sure there are some other hobbyists who have made theirs available.

Daryl Rictor (8BIT here on the forum) has various one he sells. He has not been pushing them, but I expect he still has stock to sell. See http://sbc.rictor.org/

Unfortunately, according to this page: http://sbc.rictor.org/sale.html he doesn't have any excess stock and doesn't plan to get any more.

My own SBC has issues that make me not want to sell the spare boards I have, or I'd offer. I'm sorry, I'm not being very helpful.

Might be worth searching for Grant Searle's projects (hardware) and Jeff Tranter's blog (software) and build your own simple system using their designs.
http://searle.hostei.com/grant/6502/Simple6502.html
http://jefftranter.blogspot.com

Thanks everyone. Maybe I should just make my own, it doesn't look too hard to get a basic system up and running.

My idea is to use an AVR with USB port to generate a clock for the 6502 and to copy firmware into SRAM when it isn't running. Working mostly with microcontrollers I tend to write code on a PC and then download it.

Another way maybe to just scan ebay for an Apple II or BBC Micro (depending on country, and how much you're willing to pay!) Other 6502 systems of the era tend to go for a lot more though. In-general, if they work, then they'll keep on working - the thing to watch out for in those 2 systems is the power supply X2 capacitors which tend to go bang, although they are easy to fix if you'r handy with a soldering iron (and drill to remove the pop-rivets in some Apple PSUs)

Or just use an emulator. I've used the Symon one in the past but there are many others.

-Gordon
Ps. Be aware that collecting/fixing/using real old hardware can become (a) addictive and (b) expensive!!!

That's a good idea. The BBC in particular is not too hard to get here and well documented. I do enjoy restoring old machines too!

If you go that route, be sure to go through the 6502 primer at http://wilsonminesco.com/6502primer/ .

I have some of my boards available if you're interested. Search for Potpourri6502 on this forum.

My board has proven reliable up to 8 Mhz but was designed for 1-4 MHz. It has four "slots" and was inspired by the 6502 Primer computer.

I'll send you the board for free. You just need to supply your own parts. But it's really simplistic. Stock, it is a 65C02, 32KiB ROM, 16KiB RAM and two glue chips. Plus, it has on-board support for a 65C22. You'll need to wire up you own ACIA or serial port but you can easily do that with one of the slots. I built a crude ACIA 6551 card myself using cheapo perf board.

There are a couple issues. The biggest one is the 7805 voltage regulator doesn't fit (I used the wrong package size). But, you can get around that by soldering three wires into the holes.

In fact, I can probably attach the 7805 for you if you want.

Just let me know.

If you're outside the US, I may ask for shipping but otherwise, the board is free.

Thanks cbmeeks, that's very generous of you! I'll PM you.

Just another quick mention - I'm in the process of making my own system too - from the "how hard can it be" department - however I do have prior experience, even if it was almsot 30 years back

I'm keeping a (slow) running blog of it all here: https://projects.drogon.net/6502-ruby/ which may be useful.

Cheers,

-Gordon

I really like the way you used the ATmega with shared RAM, that's a nice implementation.

Part of my goal is to learn some FPGA programming, but being able to start out with an MCU is a nice option to have. The way you do the bootloader in particular is great.

I also have a couple of new projects that might be of interest. One you can have the PCB for the price of shipping. It's a real simple and tiny design with an expansion bus that can be used in a solderless breadboard and other configurations. It has performed well up to 19+ MHz, uses only 5 chips and fits in the palm of you hand. Here are some shots of it in various projects that are underway.


The other is a motherboard type design, but uses a 4-layer board so I'd be a bit hard pressed to give it away. It runs at 16 MHz and through a memory register can address 128K ROM.



PM me if you are interested in either.

Edit: First board corrected to 19+ MHz! Not 291MHz.
Edit-2: mHz corrected to MHz - I'm special....

That Jaguar sure is a beauty, Bill! (... and I think you meant MHz, not mHz ...