Table of Contents

Altair-Duino expansion boards

Background

88-ACR card

This was once available in kit form at https://adwaterandstir.com/product-category/parts/, but it has recently been unlisted from the store. Instead, we will have to source the parts ourselves based on the source files. Easiest to obtain is the PCB, which can be simply ordered from OSHPark1). A BOM is included below (carefully note package dimensions!).

Part Quantity needed
22 pF, 2.54 mm 2 DigiKey
22 nF, 2.54 mm 1 DigiKey
100 nF, 2.54 mm 6 DigiKey
150 R, 1/4 W 1 DigiKey
1 k, 1/4 W 1 DigiKey
2.2 k, 1/4 W 1 DigiKey
10 k, 1/4 W 3 DigiKey
47 k, 1/4 W 1 DigiKey
100 k, 1/4 W 1 DigiKey
1 M, 1/4 W 1 DigiKey
green LED, 2.54 mm 1 DigiKey
ATMega328P-PU, DIP-28 1 DigiKey
74HC126, DIP-14 1 DigiKey
CD4068BE, DIP-14 1 DigiKey
74HC00, DIP-14 1 DigiKey
74HC04, DIP-14 1 DigiKey
LM358, DIP-8 1 already in stock
8 MHz crystal, HC-49S 2) 1
3.5 mm audio jack 2 AliExpress
1×3 pin header 7 DigiKey
DIP-8 socket 1 DigiKey
DIP-14 socket 4 DigiKey
DIP-28 socket 1 DigiKey
SBH11-PBPC-D13-RA-BK 1 DigiKey

Assembly

As all parts are through-hole, assembly proceeded simply enough. The most complicated portion was programming the ATMega chip, something we had never done outside of Arduino programming. We used the Raspberry Pi GPIO avrdude configuration and a breadboard. The fun came when programming the fuses3). We set them incorrectly on the first attempt and were subsequently unable to interact with the chip in any way; the same happened when we tried again with another chip and the correct fuse values. This was because both settings — correct and incorrect — told the chip to expect an external oscillator as its clock source. Once we built the required oscillator network, communications functioned normally. If we are to program more AVR chips in the future, it would be a good idea to construct a target board, perhaps with sockets for support components (crystals, capacitors, etc.).

SPI/I2C card

They almost certainly didn't have these back in the day.

1)
What will we do with the extra two boards? Should we purchase enough components to fully assemble all three? Maybe someone on the mailing list would want them.
2)
might need to substitute HC-49/US
3)
See https://www.engbedded.com/fusecalc/ for an AVR fuse calculator.