rej@cornell.UUCP (06/13/83)
I would like to use a microprocessor as a communications controller. A typical configuration would be a Z-80 with 128K bank-switched RAM, 32K ROM, 4 SIOs (total of 8 ports, synchronous and asynchronous) with CTCs for baud rate generation and a PIO for reading switches and the like. I have found various S-100 bus based configurations for $2000 and up, but it seems to me that it should be much cheaper to build something like this. The cost of the ICs is less than $300, and I have seen CP/M based boards with 128K RAM, disk controller, and graphics for $700. They are not expandable, of course, or I would not be writing this note. I would appreciate hearing from anybody who knows of an inexpensive system that would meet my needs (under $2000 is inexpensive). Any microprocessor is fine, since I will program in a high level language. So, if you have a neighbor who is selling a system from his/her garage, or if you have seen ads for a comparable system, I would greatly appreciate a reference. A related problem is how to answer these type of questions in general. Where does one go to find info on the thousands of products being produced by small companies around the country? I can go to the Engineering Library at Cornell and can look through lot of engineering magazines, but they do not seem to help. For example, EDN had a list of single board computers, but I know of many interesting systems that are not on their list. Ralph Johnson - decvax!cornell!rej (usenet) - rej@cornell (ARPANET)