Apple 1 Clone, Build log

[pfuentes69]

Hello,
I'm just starting this project, so I thought I'd just put here the progress, in case is of any interest, and maybe I can get some assistance during the journey.

I'm doing this with the open source version of the board, which is not the most accurate, but it's technically correct.
For the ICs I went the easy way and got the kit from "Uncle Bernie", which hopefully should help to have it functional unless I make some terrible mistake.

So, here we are... ready to inhale lots of toxic fumes.

 

[pfuentes69]

Well... I couldn't advance much in the last days, but at least I managed to solder the sockets.

I'm waiting for a plastic ruler like this one to bend the resistors as much tidy and pretty as possible, but in the meantime I did some work in back side to add the so-called "reliability mods" suggested by Uncle Bernie, and that (hopefully) will raise the chances that this works on the first try.

 

[pfuentes69]

One more day... I received the tool to prettily bend the legs of resistors and other things, and I went ahead to solder all the components.
I had to decide to install the traditional bypass 100nF capacitors with the old stock disks or use modern replacements. I went to the traditional ones, that are less reliable, but in theory the "reliability mods" should compensate it.

Now it starts looking like an Apple 1...

I need to do some more verifications for continuity and possible shorts, and the next step will be to build the power source with the two transformers to get the +/-5V and +/-12V.

 

[pfuentes69]

Another step in the process... I built the power brick and tested the voltages.

It was a scary part, as I'm wary about working with 230V... But nothing exploded and I'm still alive.
I tested the voltages on the board and all rails (+/-5 and +/-12) look fine. I'm not very satisfied with the aesthetics, as these transformers are meant to be used in a PCB, maybe in the future I'll redo it with a more vintage-looking transformers, but at least I can power the board now.

Next step will be to populate part of the ICs and test the video output, but for that I need to receive some additional components to build the cable.

 

[pfuentes69]

I couldn't get to test the video output, as I can't build the cable yet (missing connector), but I got this nice CRT today...

It's a Sony PVM-91CE, monochrome and small (9 inches). This is from 1982, so a bit newer than it should be, but I think that it should fit nicely

 

[pfuentes69]

Well... I finally received the missing stuff to make the video cable and I could make the first test.
I populated only the video section of the board and it's not working as expected... I should see a pattern of '_@_@_@" blinking but I only get the '@' characters.

I need to figure out what could be wrong... But so far, first test was a FAIL

 

[Kai Robinson]

The test was not a failure - it was an alternative working mode! It proves that there's LIFE, JIM!

 

[pfuentes69]

The test was not a failure - it was an alternative working mode! It proves that there's LIFE, JIM!

So it happens it was just my fault... I was missing to put one chip (7410) that is also part of the video section (ARTFM!)
Now it's starting to look better.

Tomorrow I'll add the computer section and see how it goes.

 

[pfuentes69]

So here we are...

I was quite terrified at the first power up, but everything seems to work fine!

For now I'm using an adaptor to use a PS/2 keyboard, and I'll start now to build the ASCII keyboard, trying to reproduce a Datanetics one.
I'll also build the Cassette Interface and try to load some programs.

 

[pfuentes69]

Today I made the Apple Cassette Interface.
The ROM seems to work properly, but I couldn't test as I don't have an appropriate mono cable.

Hopefully soon I'll be able to load BASIC and other cool stuff

 

[pfuentes69]

So finally I could make the mono cable and try to load some programs using the iPad to reproduce the audio files.
It's a bit tricky, but setting the volume quite high it's working most of the times.
So I could load BASIC...

And some other programs that are around, like this demo done for the 30th anniversary...

Now I'll focus on trying to make an ASCII keyboard.

 

[pfuentes69]

So, next step is to try to build a matching keyboard, trying to mimic a Datanetics ASCII keyboard.

For now I placed the components and made the cable. For the switches I have decided to try with ALPS switches, because have a flat bottom, although this requires some drilling to fit the pads.
It's a bit difficult for me to find the right key caps, so I don't know how this will end. If anyone has good advice on where to find reasonably-priced ALPS key caps, it will be welcome. I know only about https://matias.ca.

 

[pfuentes69]

Some advances with the keyboard... It works!

Now the challenge would be to find appropriate Key Caps.

 

[skate323k137]

This is awesome to see!

Today I hooked my Briel replica 1 plus that I soldered recently to my Sony monitor, and messed with it a bit.

I recently got an enhancement kit for IIe not realizing that I didn't need it, so I took the 65C02 from that kit, checked the pinouts to be the same, and swapped it in for the 6502 on my Replica 1. The KRUSADER assembler in the Replica 1 ROM notes support for the 65C02 in the documentation, and it seems to work fine. I used to have occasional glitches on video output if using a cheap USB cable, but the lower power consumption of the 65C02 may very well have sorted that, as I can no longer reproduce the issue.

 

[pfuentes69]

It's been a while, but finally I could advance a bit more with the project.
I could get the key caps (white, blank) and managed to put some stickers. Not 100% satisfied, but it's functional and good enough.

The distribution is not standard, so I had to cut separately each symbol and combine appropriately so it fits the original layout.

 

[pfuentes69]

This weekend my Apple 1 was disclosed to the public in a Swiss VC festival... Quite happy to share the experience with other hobbyists

 

[pfuentes69]

Little update on my Apple 1 build...
Now I got this nice/ugly case and working to finish my project with it:

The keyboard I made is already fitted, now doing the rest.

 

[pfuentes69]

And this is the final result...

 

[davidg5678]

Little update on my Apple 1 build...
Now I got this nice/ugly case and working to finish my project with it:
View attachment 10658

The keyboard I made is already fitted, now doing the rest.

Awesome case! It looks just like the Apple 1's in old photos. Did you make the wood case yourself, or is there somewhere you can buy a replica Apple 1 case like this?

 

[pfuentes69]

Awesome case! It looks just like the Apple 1's in old photos. Did you make the wood case yourself, or is there somewhere you can buy a replica Apple 1 case like this?

Thanks!
I don’t have the skills or tools to work properly the wood…
This case was made by a guy I know in Spain that is a retrocomputing hobbyist, that happens to work as carpenter. He told me he can make others.