Just wanted to say “Thank you” to Eric from www.pc-1500.info for supporting my efforts to create a new USB interface by sending me a TRS-80 PC-2. As a gift!
Not only that, he also sent me a CE-158 serial interface manual (here shown below my interface). Really thanks a lot! 🙂 And Merry Christmas!
For debugging purposes (and also for playing around with memory chips on a bread board) I’ve created little breakout boards for the cartridge slot on the bottom of Sharp PC-1500s/1600s.
I’ve added a layer of foam (not visible on the photo) on the bottom side of the cartridge to prevent the pin ends from scratching on the case.
Typing on the PC while having cables connected to the cartridge is a bit annoying as I tend to pull off the cables when turning the PC around. I’m currently figuring out a better solution by using ribbon cables instead of the pins. I will update the post as soon I’ve managed to make photos of the modified version.
Just a little update for all readers interested in Sharp 1500/1600 PCs: for hacking around with the Sharp Pocket Computers I’m using a self-made breakout board that allows easy access to all 60 pins of the interface connector.
The 60-pin connector is a simple 1.27*2.54 60-pin male header (I’ve bought mine here).
Two LEDs indicate battery or power connection, and on/off state. (In most cases power lights up as soon as the board is attached to a Sharp PC.)
