PC Computers

Termite is an easy to use and easy to configure RS232 terminal. It uses an interface similar to that of “messenger” or “chat” programs, with a large window that contains all received data and an edit line for typing in strings to transmit.

Termite Terminal – RS232 Interfacing – CompuPhase

Plug-in interface for pre-processing or alternative views of the data, logging received data to a file, adding a toolbar to Termite, and other functionality that you may think of.

It can also do ..

• A history of commands that you typed, with auto-completion.
• Support for non-standard Baud rates (MIDI, DMX512).
• Data can be forwarded between two RS232 ports.

The free Hyperterminal seemed to be missing, Now new and better feature rich terminals are available – Here’s one from CompuPhase who are our kind of people the EE kind. This terminal ought to help serial port SBC development.

PuTTY is a client program for the SSH, Telnet and Rlogin network protocols.

Realterm is a terminal program specially designed for capturing, controlling and debugging binary and other difficult data streams.

Serial terminal program partcularly targeted at binary and difficult data 1) binary data, and debugging difficult communications problems. 2) use as a comms component for other s/w via full activeX interface Support for physical comm ports, and TCP

The first microcontroller I became fascinated with was the 8048 (and 8748). This site has a lot of info on the 8048 and Z80, including an 8048 Development System.

Coprolite Homebrew Computer Construction

“The roadside attraction of this site is the Z-80 Homebrew Computer. This was a project that I started in 1980. I moved many, many times between 1983 and 1996, and the project often was shut up in a trunk. In some cases I lost (or gave away) most of my equipment and parts.”

“The first PC that I interfaced the homebrew computer to was a Toshiba 8086 laptop. This was back when it was just on a breadboard during the summer of ’91. This was also when I built the front panel. These days, I use a uClibc GIAGD system, but there are a lot of old XTs and even newer systems that can be put to good use to control random projects like this. ”

“I use a book called 80×86 IBM PC and Compatible Computers: Assembly Language, Design, and Interfacing Volume I and II by Muhammad Ali Mazidi and Janice Gillispie Mazidi for the nitty gritty stuff on the printer ports, which is where I found the above very cool debug test. It has many details on the design and Interfacing of PCs. Another good book is Parallel Port Complete by Jan Axelson.”