Compukit UK101 core

[danielb]

Hi all,

This is a Mister core based on Grant Searle's UK101 project. It is a reconstruction of a kit computer from the late 1970s, which was based on a 6502 processor.

The original project is here: http://searle.x10host.com/uk101FPGA/ind ... reDownload

I also used a VGA interface by someone who goes by the name of Cray Ze Ape, which is available here:

https://github.com/douggilliland/MultiC ... A_CraZeApe

I am a total noob at FPGA programming, so this very simple computer seemed to be a good starting point. I included some enhancements which Grant added to his own project, such as the 64x32 display, and I expanded the RAM to 32K. Saving and loading of Basic programs can be done via the UART, at 9600 baud. This is exactly the way that Grant wrote it. Ideally, I would like to save and load via the ADC, but I don't yet know what this entails.

The manual for the system is available here: http://uk101.sourceforge.net/docs/pdf/manual.pdf. If you want to save or load anything, you will need it

I am publishing the core here, because there doesn't seem to be a core based on this computer.

I will share the (probably quite inept) source code after I've cleaned it up a bit over the weekend. Since I am such a noob, I would very much appreciate any feedback, but please be gentle...

Hope you enjoy it,

Daniel

[kathleen]

Hello Daniel,

Thank you for the core and for the manual which helps a lot to understand this computer kit.
I've just tested it on my mister (128mb) and it runs fine. Typed a couple of lines and ran as it should, congratulation for your work, it is always a great pleasure to discover unknown computers.

To me, It would be really nice if the ADC could be used for loading and saving basic programs in addition to the UART. At least it will be easier for those who have the ADC add-on card.

[tontonkaloun]

Thank you for this new core

[EeDee]

Thanks, nice to see it. Hope it can be developed a little more

[Ripper61]

I had a friend who bought and built his own UK101 back in 1979-80. On his recommendation I bought myself a Nascom 2 instead.

It looks like someone is working on creating a FPGA version of the Nascom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JwadOlg9jQ

[danielb]

I had a friend who bought and built his own UK101 back in 1979-80. On his recommendation I bought myself a Nascom 2 instead.

It looks like someone is working on creating a FPGA version of the Nascom https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JwadOlg9jQ

This was a bit before my time. I bought my first computer in the early 80s.

D.

[RedskullDC]

Hi Danielb,

Thanks for uploading!

-----

Few years ago I ported Grant's code to the Terasic DE0-CV board, and added 64x32 screen, colour and OSI C4P mode support:

C4Pa.jpg (234.74 KiB) Viewed 22684 times

Source: http://www.crisis.com.au/images/OSI_Searle_Q17.zip

More info here:
https://www.osiweb.org/osiforum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=343


Was recently thinking of porting the project across to the Mister, so your release is very timely

I look forward to taking a look at your source code.

Cheers,
Red

[danielb]

Hi Danielb,

Thanks for uploading!

-----

Few years ago I ported Grant's code to the Terasic DE0-CV board, and added 64x32 screen, colour and OSI C4P mode support:

Source: http://www.crisis.com.au/images/OSI_Searle_Q17.zip

More info here:
https://www.osiweb.org/osiforum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=343


Was recently thinking of porting the project across to the Mister, so your release is very timely

I look forward to taking a look at your source code.

Cheers,
Red

Hi,

I will be sharing the source as soon as I've cleaned it up. It's not quite fit for public scrutiny at the moment.

Before porting the core to Mister, I ported it to an AliExpress Cyclone IV board that I am using to learn FPGA programming. Once I had it running in that, it was relatively simple to port it to Mister.

Thanks to everyone for the feedback. I am happy to see that the core seems to be working for everyone.

As for future developments, I am looking forward to attempting to get saving and loading via ADC working. Not sure what else I can add to it ..

Daniel

[kathleen]

As for future developments, I am looking forward to attempting to get saving and loading via ADC working. Not sure what else I can add to it ..

Daniel

Hello Daniel,

If you permit me to propose something as improvement, I'd say :

* Add the Scrandoubler FX option.
* Add An option at the OSD to enable or disable the pass-trough in order to hear via the audio out, the Play/record sound/signal while the tape is running.

Thanks again for your hard work.

[danielb]

As for future developments, I am looking forward to attempting to get saving and loading via ADC working. Not sure what else I can add to it ..

Daniel

Hello Daniel,

If you permit me to propose something as improvement, I'd say :

* Add the Scrandoubler FX option.
* Add An option at the OSD to enable or disable the pass-trough in order to hear via the audio out, the Play/record sound/signal while the tape is running.

Thanks again for your hard work.

Hi Kathleen,

Both of those are good suggestions, and I will add them, hopefully.

D.

[iainjh]

danielb, thanks for releasing this! back in 'tday I used to ride my bike to east barnet Compshop to stare through the window hoping I could buy one. Thanks to you I finally have a UK101!

cheers

[EeDee]

Daniel you've done a great job and, if possible, looking forward to loading and saving.
Would it be possible to make screen colour changeable? My eyes are finding white on blue difficult to read

Thanks again

[danielb]

Daniel you've done a great job and, if possible, looking forward to loading and saving.
Would it be possible to make screen colour changeable? My eyes are finding white on blue difficult to read

Thanks again

Hi,

Thanks. I'll see if I can make the screen colour selectable.

Meanwhile, here is a new version. It's functionally almost identical to the previous one. The main differences are:

- I updated the project to the latest framework.
- I fixed the OSD menu so that it shows the correct core name.

I also cleaned up the code as much as I could, and I plan to share the source tomorrow.

That's it.

D.

[EeDee]

Came across a post of yours (Danielb) in a TI 99/A thread where you stated you knew nothing about FPGA programming. What a difference a year (almost) makes.
Thanks for the update

[danielb]

Came across a post of yours (Danielb) in a TI 99/A thread where you stated you knew nothing about FPGA programming. What a difference a year (almost) makes.
Thanks for the update

I still don't know much about it...

D.

[EeDee]

More than I do

[danielb]

Hi all,

The source code for the project is here:

https://github.com/danielb0/UK101_Mister.

[danielb]

Hi all,

This is a new version with colour schemes selectable from the menu.

D.

[EeDee]

Many thanks for the colour update.
My eyes would like to thank you also

[danielb]

Glad you like it

D.

[Moondandy]

Good effort, never even heard of this one before. Will you be adding into Main soon?

[danielb]

Good effort, never even heard of this one before. Will you be adding into Main soon?

Thanks,

I had also never heard of it before I came across Grant Searle's project.

As for adding it to Main, I've no idea how I would go about it...

D.

[EeDee]

Doesn't appear to connect to UART

[danielb]

Hi,

It does for me.

Login to your Mister's Linux via the USB serial port. Run Minicom, set it to 9600 8N1 with hardware flow control. This is the default setting, except for the speed.

In the UK101, write "save". At this point, anything you type on the Mister will be mirrored in the terminal. If you type "list" it will list your program to he terminal. Type "load", then space and then return to stop the mirroring.

If you type "load", then anything you type on the terminal will appear in the UK101. You can upload a saved program or whatever. Cancel this with space and then return on the UK101.

You couldn't make this stuff up...


D.

[EeDee]

I could... Aha!
Thanks

[Moondandy]

Hopefully one of the Devs will reach out and help you get the core released officially. Are you using the latest version of the MiSTer framework, and is the core free of any copyright material i.e. BIOS files?

[danielb]

Hi all,

The core has now "gone official".

Latest sources are at https://github.com/MiSTer-devel/UK101_MiSTer.

The rbf is downloaded by the update script

D.

[danielb]

Hi all,

I managed to load and run a game on the core

The game is written in Basic. Machine code games can also be loaded, via the monitor (press M at the start-up screen. L loads files), but I have not tried it yet. Some games are written for enhanced UK101s (it is a kit computer after all) and so may not run on the core. The core itself is enhanced (64x32 screen, extra memory), which enables this particular game to run.

The biggest TODO for this core is to be able to load as many games as possible, as conveniently as possible, and this is what I intend to work on.

Am I allowed to post a download link for the games?

D.

[danielb]

Space Invaders on the UK101 core - this is a machine code game loaded through the Monitor program.

D

[Alkadian]

Space Invaders on the UK101 core - this is a machine code game loaded through the Monitor program.

D

Simply awesome, so fascinating! I can't wait to try a few games as well if/when games will become available to download. Thanks!