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maxidavid
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Joined: 07/03/2019
Location: Australia
Posts: 23

Posted: 01:21pm 11 Mar 2019

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Hi,

Where is the best place to buy the Micromite companion computer kit.

2019-03-11_232106_image013.jpg[/IMG]

Thanks
Edited by maxidavid 2019-03-12

Bill7300
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Joined: 05/08/2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 159

Posted: 03:00am 12 Mar 2019

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I hadn't heard of it until your post today but I suspect the developer might be the only source, see www.propellerpowered.com (Spelling now corrected)

BillEdited by Bill7300 2019-03-13

Bill

Grogster

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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 9610

Posted: 05:20am 12 Mar 2019

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I think I have one of those kits I never assembled. I will have a rummage....

Smoke makes things work. When the smoke gets out, it stops!

maxidavid
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Joined: 07/03/2019
Location: Australia
Posts: 23

Posted: 06:15am 12 Mar 2019

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Hi,

How do I contact him ?
No link on the website.

Thanks

cosmic frog
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Joined: 09/02/2012
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 302

Posted: 07:46am 12 Mar 2019

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The guy that created it was called oldbitcollector on the forums, but I don't think he is still active. He has a Twitter account - link

And a facebook page - link Edited by cosmic frog 2019-03-13

maxidavid
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Posted: 08:06am 12 Mar 2019

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unfortunately I don't have an account for facebook or twitter and don't plan on creating one.

I just want to buy the kit, why should that be difficult ?

Thanks for your reply.

Edited by maxidavid 2019-03-13

Volhout
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Joined: 05/03/2018
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 5089

Posted: 08:37am 12 Mar 2019

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Hi maxidavid,

I read on this forum that Geoff is busy updating the maximite MMBasic to become par with the micromite MMBasic.
In that case you may be served by buying a color maximite, and updating the SW.
The color Maximite seems to have similar features (SD card, VGA, Keyboard, breadboard area).

http://circuitgizmos.com/gizmo-store/CGCOLORMAX2-Color-Maximite-Retro-Computer-p53819402

Regards,

VolhoutEdited by Volhout 2019-03-13

PicomiteVGA PETSCII ROBOTS

maxidavid
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Joined: 07/03/2019
Location: Australia
Posts: 23

Posted: 08:57am 12 Mar 2019

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Hi,

I have the colour maximite and its limited to 8 colours and I believe this is a hardware limitation.
The Micromite can produce 256 colours.

Thanks

CaptainBoing

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Joined: 07/09/2016
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2170

Posted: 09:21am 12 Mar 2019

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cosmic frog said The guy that created it was called oldbitcollector on the forums, but I don't think he is still active. He has a Twitter account - link

And a facebook page - link

and a youtube channel

maxidavid
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Joined: 07/03/2019
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Posts: 23

Posted: 09:31am 12 Mar 2019

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Thanks, but I still can't contact him to order a kit.

CaptainBoing

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Joined: 07/09/2016
Location: United Kingdom
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Posted: 10:09am 12 Mar 2019

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from the memberlist on TBS:

https://www.thebackshed.com/forum/pop_up_profile.asp?PF=8557 Edited by CaptainBoing 2019-03-13

cfbsoftware
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Joined: 20/06/2012
Location: Australia
Posts: 3

Posted: 03:17am 13 Mar 2019

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Others have reported similar problems:

"Recent MMC order from Propellerpowered"

http://electronicshobby.space/forums/viewtopic.php?t=255
Edited by cfbsoftware 2019-03-14

aladdin4d
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Joined: 26/01/2019
Location: United States
Posts: 3

Posted: 05:15am 13 Mar 2019

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Unfortunately this project is currently in a coma. The original developer hasn't been heard from for quite a while now. There is a user on the Electronics Hobby forum that was involved in the development and had the gerber files for the board but wasn't able to find them when I contacted him a month or so ago. He did say he was thinking about having another batch of boards made and would contact me if and when he got that accomplished.

Details on the board are here and the contact email address is in the last post of the thread:

http://electronicshobby.space/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=4

Details on getting a kit if and when they become available again:

http://electronicshobby.space/forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=14

Last but not least, an updated build guide by the same person who posted the "Recent MMC order from Propellerpowered" thread:

http://fireheadfred.com/mmc_build_webpage/mmc_build_guide2.htm

Quazee137

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Joined: 07/08/2016
Location: United States
Posts: 593

Posted: 12:27pm 13 Mar 2019

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reading through the forum here

MMC Pboards page 4

I found this

Quote Postby roadster � Sat Feb 09, 2019 5:00 pm
I don't have any kits at this time, I can put together more with enough interest.
Here is my email contact: KarlRAlbrecht@gmail.com

robert.rozee
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Joined: 31/12/2012
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 2442

Posted: 01:29pm 13 Mar 2019

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would it be that difficult to recreate the "micromite companion" from scratch?

the propeller chip essentially provides:
1. VGA with text output and 256x192 graphics,
2. PS/2 keyboard input,
3. SD card access,
4. sound generation.

of these, the first two are largely achievable with geoff's "ASCII Video Terminal", with the proviso of being limited to 2-bit colour. SD card access can be done using an "OpenLog" board that provides an SD/fat32 to serial bridge. and lastly, the micromite does already have the ability to generate sound itself.

the ASCII Video Terminal fitted into an MX150 that had 32k ram and 128k flash. the MX170 doubles both of these. likely with the extra ram/flash it would be easy to integrate in the OpenLog functionality.

if i'm not mistaken, the micromite companion predates custom functions and the library area. so today we would be far better able to stitch together a dual-processor solution (using all through-hole parts) far more nicely.

cheers,
rob :-)
Edited by robert.rozee 2019-03-14

WhiteWizzard
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Joined: 05/04/2013
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 2944

Posted: 06:36pm 13 Mar 2019

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Hi Maxidavid,

I was a big fan of this concept back in the day and bought a kit.

Even though I have no spare kit to offer you, I could see if I can find all the Propellor files for you IF you were willing to build your own. It is not too bad to assemble if you are handy with a soldering iron.

Sorry I can't be of more help. LEt me know if you want the files!!

By the way - this will still work well with a Standard micromite or Micromite plus connected to it.

WW

maxidavid
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Joined: 07/03/2019
Location: Australia
Posts: 23

Posted: 06:54am 19 Mar 2019

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Hi,

Sorry for the late reply.
The files would be great if I can get the main chips and I could get some boards made if there is a gerber file.

Soldering is not a problem.

Thanks

David

Tinine
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Joined: 30/03/2016
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 1646

Posted: 08:04pm 20 Apr 2019

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https://forums.parallax.com/discussion/168273/new-build-guide-for-micromite-companion-v1-2

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