zhahai (04/08/83)
I am starting to look for a small "full time" home computer, ie: one that can
run 24 hours per day. I have an old IMSAI which heats the hous nicely in the
winter, makes lots of noise, and wouldn't last too long in such a mode. I want
someday to get a real 16 bit hard disk home computer, but I probably won't want
it on all the time either; how about an auxilliary machine?
What: monitor telephone (smart answering machine, dialer, etc.)
handle telecom (answer w/modem, autobaud, while powering up main system)
weather recording (via Heath digital weather station)
indoor temperature control/monitoring
power line monitoring (lost power)
device control (BSR X-10 remote units)
nightime mail transfer (after 11pm)
How: battery backup, perhaps for many hours of continued operation
reliable (reasonable mtbf, no heat death)
time of day clock with Xtal timebase (not powerline)
good interrupt capability
8 K EPROM, 32K RAM, 8 bit uP? CMOS?
rs-232 for human and computer access/control
dead-man timer and reset/autoboot
easy to get/build interfaces to serial/parellel TTL/electronic levels
easy ... to simple switches & relays (electromechanical world)
other interfaces: BSR, phone, touchtone send/rcv, modem, voice ...)
not terribly expensive (I still have to get the big one too)
non volatile mass storage, say 100 KBytes or more (mini floppy running on
battery & powered up only on use? bubble? cheap ram & big battery?)
Any ideas on:
What YOU would (like to) use such a machine for
What such a machine needs and how to get same
What machines on the market could best serve as a base for such
As usual, use your judgement on replying to me, or to the newsgroup.
Zhahai Stewart {allegra | ucbvax}!nbivax!zhahai