Blinkenlights for everybody -- follow-up (1)

Hello All, I have updated the "homebrew PDP-11" page on my website and added a page called "Action!". You can download the latest software and see the Real Console in action in 4 mpeg files. So far, I have received interest to make 10 sets ... if you're not sure what you can do with these boards, here are a few more possibilities. - You can use one output port or, say 6 bits, to drive an anlogue meter via an R/2R network (simple DAC). - Same on the input side : connect a potentiometer via a DAC. - A substitute for defective logic! One example : remove the (defective) boards from the card reader (DEC aka Documation M200) and replace it with a single Core and I/O board (+ software...) - Interface a peripheral. One person was thinking of connecting an IDE drive to in/out ports and access it under program control (no DMA). - anything you wanted to give simple intelligence !!!! Updates to the hardware design are in progress, lifting the design limit of a maximum of 2 I/O Boards to the very comfortable (theoretical) 8 I/O boards. The limit is the number of octal latches that you can connect to the buffer IC -74245 in the datapath to the I/O Boards. So, there is almost no limit to drive a large console, for example the PDP-8i (over 80 lamps), the IBM S3 .... I will keep the list posted! - Henk, PA8PDP.