Memory / Peripherals for Sharp PC-1600?

[Tinue]

Given the recent announcements of newly developed hardware for the Sharp PC-1500, I thought I'll ask here: Is anyone aware of available periphery or memory modules for the Sharp PC-1600? I would already be happy when I can find a cassette interface, but I can't even find building instructions for soldering a new one. Thanks!

[charger73]

Hello Tinue,

The PC1600 has a genuine RS232 interface. This can be connected to a PC via FTDI USB.

Here is a good guide:
https://forum.silicium.org/viewtopic.php?t=42285

The pitch of 1.27mm is very small for soldering. But I will try it now. Perhaps I'll find an adapter from 1.27 to 2.54mm.

Of course, one could also attach an Arduino to the serial interface and then backup the programs to an SD card... Interesting project :-)

Best regards,
Tobie

[Tinue]

(04-15-2024 05:42 AM)charger73 Wrote:  The pitch of 1.27mm is very small for soldering.

Thanks, that's exactly the problem. First I need to find some sort of connector with this pitch, and then I need to solder it. I can't just plug the connector into a breadboard, I would have to produce (or find) a small adapter board, which I have never done before.

Regards, Martin

[charger73]

   

[Tinue]

I also found this: https://manib.bplaced.net/blog/?page_id=655

[charger73]

Looks good. We also need a solderer with good eyes here :-)
I'll go ahead and order the adapter, give it a try, and report back here.

[KeithB]

That would be me. With 8 diopters of nearsightedness in my left eye, I have really good close up vision without my glasses.

[vaklaff]

(04-15-2024 01:50 PM)KeithB Wrote:  That would be me. With 8 diopters of nearsightedness in my left eye, I have really good close up vision without my glasses.

:-) You made my day, sir!

I'm in about the same situation and I have become my wife's reading device for fine print. Well, now it's almost any print... Sometimes I wonder which is worse, my life-time long nearsightedness or her age-related farsightedness. But I digress, sorry.

[KeithB]

That's OK, it wouldn't be a community without some banter!

I have both! I need to use reading glasses when I have my contact lenses on.

[badaze]

(04-15-2024 05:42 AM)charger73 Wrote:  Hello Tinue,

The PC1600 has a genuine RS232 interface. This can be connected to a PC via FTDI USB.

Here is a good guide:
https://forum.silicium.org/viewtopic.php?t=42285

The pitch of 1.27mm is very small for soldering. But I will try it now. Perhaps I'll find an adapter from 1.27 to 2.54mm.

Of course, one could also attach an Arduino to the serial interface and then backup the programs to an SD card... Interesting project :-)

Best regards,
Tobie

The same user has made a batch of 30 USB Stick interface module for Sharp PC-1600. Obviously, the 30 devices have been sold.

https://forum.silicium.org/viewtopic.php?t=47982 (in French and English).

Some pictures.

   

   

   

   

[Tinue]

I got some parts, but I am still stuck. Even if I could solder the rather thick cables, I would still need to isolate them with a shrink tube. If this all works, I can plug in the cable, but I'll never be able to unplug it without it getting destroyed in the process.

So I also need some sort of 1.27mm prototype board, which seems to be impossible to get. It's not easy, unfortunately.

Quite some projects seem to have been done in the late 2010s, and unfortunately not one of them is still alive.

   
   

Edit: I ordered the adapter shown further up. Hopefully I can solder the pins to the adapter, and then use the adapter to plug/unplug the entire thing without breaking it. Also, I don't need shrink tubes this way. The adapter is only 12 pins, and not 15, but luckily the pins that one needs to connect are less than 12 pins apart.