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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : Quickest way to get a Maximite up & runni
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crackerjack Senior Member  Joined: 11/07/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 164 |
Hi All, I've been mostly "loitering" on the forum for a few weeks now since stumbling upon the Maximite idea on the 'net a month or so back. As a long time professional software developer and even longer term dabbler in electronics as a hobby, I must say the return to basics and simplicity of the Maximite is what has been the most attractive thing about it for me. I "cut my teeth" (like most others on this forum by the look of things) from the VIC-20, ZX-81, TRS-80 days and recall with great fondness, typing in line after line of code frequently just to play a "chunky graphics" version of space-invaders or the like. I see the Maximite as much more than just offering a return to those days though (I still have a ZX-81 in the box, so if reminiscence was all I was after, no doubt I could rummage through the shed and blow the dust off it's awkward membrane keyboard). The Maxmite seems like a really easy way to interface all sorts of external "ideas" to a computing platform for further expansion of the ideas. Yes, it can be done with a PC, a BASIC Stamp, an Arduino or any other uC options, but something about the MM just makes it "feel" right, or at any rate, more accessible - particularly as I have quite young children who use computers daily, but havent the faintest idea of how computers work and I think the MM offers a window into the workings. My only problem at this time - like many others, I guess - is that there are just no Maximites to be had at present. I have a back-order with Altronics, but this seems to be taking forever to fill. Excuse the rambling above, but my ultimate question with this post is - what is the fastest, most accessible way for a person in Melbourne to get up & running with a Maximite at present? I know Don(tronics) has (or had) some EV boards available, but I'm after something I can plug a keyboard and VGA connector into at this stage. I'm not currently geared up to do SMD soldering or etch my own intricate PCB's. Ideas, anyone? Thanks... |
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Nick Guru  Joined: 09/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 512 |
Sorry, a bit off topic but I'm just curious... By proffesional software developer, do you mean now or then? I was just wondering if you wrote commercial software for the ZX-81, VIC-20, TRS-80. If so, what did you write? Nick |
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| crackerjack Senior Member Joined: 11/07/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 164 |
Hi Nick, thanks for the interest. I never did write anything commercially for those machines - I was in my teens at the time. Closest I got was writing some demo code for one of the many ZX-81 spin-off outfits at the time - a company called ZX-Africa. These machines set me on a career course though, and I am (and have been) developing commercial software for many years now spanning the full gambit of Mainframes to web applications. By the way - I really like your very simple approach to bring colour to the world of Maximite and have been following it with interest. Cheers |
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| Nick Guru Joined: 09/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 512 |
I was just wondering if we had a famous developer in our midst. 
The colour mod is slowly taking shape. Hope to get time to bump the palette to 16 this weekend. |
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donmck Guru Joined: 09/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1313 |
Lance, check: http://www.dontronics-shop.com/maximite-sm1.html Cheers Don... https://www.dontronics.com |
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| rhamer Senior Member Joined: 06/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 174 |
Your absolutely right about the supply problem, I have had a few emails from people who wanted a Maximite, but ended up buying something else because of the wait. I know it is probably not soon enough, but I will have stock of the Maximite on the 15th august. Still a while off, but an option. Cheers Rohan Rohan Hamer HAMFIELD Software & Hardware Solutions Makers of the Maximite Expander. http://www.hamfield.com.au |
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sparkey Senior Member Joined: 15/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 819 |
try plugging it in...to a screen then ..a usb.pwr or supply p/pack and kb... technicians do it with least resistance |
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trippyben Regular Member  Joined: 26/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 91 |
Crackerjack - i currently have blank maximite PCB's available, but you still need to solder on the PIC yourself. It's not really that hard if your moderately capable with a soldering iron. I can get PIC's and solder them on for you, but probably about a week's waiting still. and you would still need to source and load the through hole stuff. Ben |
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| crackerjack Senior Member Joined: 11/07/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 164 |
Thanks all for the replies and suggestions. I'll weigh up the options. I guess it's about time I got over the "fear" of SMD soldering too. Cheers. |
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stuarts Senior Member Joined: 15/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 199 |
Crackerjack, if you can find a 10x magnifier, you will be able to solder the PIC on with ease. It takes a little to position the PIC correctly as you have to align it in 2 axes and the pins are veeeerrrry close together. A little solder flux will help hold it in place. Have a look at Geoff's website at the SMD soldering section. There are links to some videos that really show how easy it is. The hard bit right now is accessing any PIC32MX chips as Microchip say that they are out of stock until October sometime. Stuart Time is nature's way of keeping everything from happening all at once. |
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