Z80 LED Matrix Message Display

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  • čas přidán 29. 08. 2024
  • A nostalgic look at my Z80-based LED message display from the 90s
    More details about this project in Brett's video:
    • Retro Electronics Proj...

Komentáře • 203

  • @garydunken7934
    @garydunken7934 Před 7 lety +9

    Almost 25years, but that windowed EEPROM kept its program; amazing. My few year old dish washer packed up without any warning.
    Seriously, technology has come a long way in the last 20 years. Thanks for the video.

    • @donpalmera
      @donpalmera Před 7 lety +1

      G Yogaraja a single eeprom Vs a complex system consisting of mechanical, electromechanical and electrical assemblies.

  • @LukeDrumm
    @LukeDrumm Před 7 lety +17

    I noticed the most important built-in message is available:
    1. MY HOVERCRAFT IS FULL OF EELS
    Good work.

    • @jamesellis5445
      @jamesellis5445 Před 5 lety

      @Luke Drumm ...MEIN HOVERCRAFT IST VOLL VON EELS

    • @retroand
      @retroand Před 4 lety

      14. ABANDON HOPE ALL YE ENTER HERE!

  • @dennissyre8827
    @dennissyre8827 Před 7 lety +64

    In any other country this eprom would have been erased by uv light I think. Thanks to the cloudy British weather this did not happen.😜 time to put a sticker on it.

    • @KegRaider
      @KegRaider Před 6 lety +9

      In Australia, we erase the EEPROM's after 11PM, so the epoxy doesn't melt from the heat.

    • @the_eminent_Joshua_E_Hrouda
      @the_eminent_Joshua_E_Hrouda Před 5 lety +1

      Darth KegRaider no we don't! Haha. I'm from Au too. The thermosetting plastic doesn't melt in high heat, it burns

    • @the_eminent_Joshua_E_Hrouda
      @the_eminent_Joshua_E_Hrouda Před 5 lety +1

      He might've had a label on it, and it fell off recently

    • @the_eminent_Joshua_E_Hrouda
      @the_eminent_Joshua_E_Hrouda Před 5 lety +2

      🎼🎶If you like it then ya shoulda put a sticker on it!🎤🎵

  • @MindMeetMaker
    @MindMeetMaker Před 7 lety +8

    Love the hand controller for programing it nice idea.

  • @malgailany
    @malgailany Před 7 lety

    With all the built-in features and documentation, looks like a commercial product.
    Very nice,
    Thanks

    • @JulianIlett
      @JulianIlett  Před 7 lety

      +Mohammed Algailani It was a magazine published project.

  • @arifanwari3168
    @arifanwari3168 Před 6 lety

    Ahhh those good old electronics, those were the days. Very neat construction and excellent project. Now just bring the EPE fruit machine back. Thanks I enjoyed this video, thanks again Julian.

  • @jfguy9696
    @jfguy9696 Před 7 lety

    You amaze me JUlian, to be able to remember the keys used to type in letters so far back in the 90s. Heck I at times have problems remembering this morning!!

  • @illchmann
    @illchmann Před 7 lety

    And everything on single layer PCB with hand soldered bridges. This kind of projects were fun!!

  • @WalterFabian
    @WalterFabian Před 7 lety +2

    Probably you can boot the display and return 50 years later to find that is still working perfectly. Great build Mr. Ilett!

  • @nickd2084
    @nickd2084 Před 7 lety +16

    Hey Julian. I built this project when I was in TAFE. I used double sided PCBs. I also ordered the programmed ROM from you and modified it so the pound sign came up as dollar signs. I changed the buzzer for self osilate version. Small world. (I'm in Australia)

    • @JulianIlett
      @JulianIlett  Před 7 lety +8

      +Nick D Oh cool, I probably have your order letter in my loft somewhere.

  • @Educ8s
    @Educ8s Před 7 lety +24

    Fantastic! Great job Julian!

    • @VictorNoelCoryPaz
      @VictorNoelCoryPaz Před 7 lety

      educ8s.tv Big fan of you both here!

    • @Anvilshock
      @Anvilshock Před 7 lety

      Without further ado: Hi! You here, too?

    • @Educ8s
      @Educ8s Před 7 lety +1

      Hey! I am watching Julian for a long time! He is doing a great job here!

  • @mtslyh
    @mtslyh Před 7 lety

    Very cool. Brings back a lot of memories of early projects with Z80s and 8081 microcontrollers. It is amazing that we can now do all of this with a single tiny PIC microcontroller for just a couple of bucks. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

  • @battlecoder
    @battlecoder Před 6 lety

    I love Z80 projects. This one looks so well done and so carefully documented! Wonderful job.

  • @JoakimKanon
    @JoakimKanon Před 7 lety +12

    Impressive project! How on earth do you remember the key combinations on a project from the early nineties?! 😮

  • @allthegearnoidea6752
    @allthegearnoidea6752 Před 7 lety +3

    I have just started playing with Z80s for the first time so really enjoyed this as I’m thinking of building something similar. Thanks for sharing

    • @mattmoreira210
      @mattmoreira210 Před 6 lety +1

      AllTheGearNoIdea please give it some sort of eprom-based keypad when you do. Should make programming messages a lot easier.
      P.S.: please post it on CZcams so people can see it. Would be awesome!

    • @allthegearnoidea6752
      @allthegearnoidea6752 Před 6 lety

      Matheus Moreira if you have not already seen it here is 4 videos on my recent z80 kit build czcams.com/video/8ncGNQhVOQs/video.html

  • @manickn6819
    @manickn6819 Před 7 lety

    Excellent project. Quite happy you shared.
    Having seen this I like the idea. Think I will dig up some of my old projects and put them up. Immortalize them assuming CZcams does not go down.

  • @Mike_Downey
    @Mike_Downey Před 7 lety

    The 5 button keypad reminded me of the Quinkey from the 80s where, if I remember correctly, the keys for each letter were supposed to resemble the letters themselves.

  • @russellfroggatt
    @russellfroggatt Před 5 lety

    I ask myself who has downvoted this? Great project.

  • @NNNILabs
    @NNNILabs Před 6 lety

    Wow, the fan-out must be crazy!

  • @leighmillward
    @leighmillward Před 7 lety

    New video from Julian. Was going out for a jog but saw this and cracked open a tin.

  • @luisvespe
    @luisvespe Před 6 lety

    I really appreciate the tutorials on the beloved cpu Z80, I had a subject on the processor while studying electronics in the 90's, greetings from Rancagua, Chile

  • @mUbase
    @mUbase Před 6 lety

    Excellent work Julian. Thanks for sharing with us!!

  • @BloodAsp
    @BloodAsp Před 7 lety

    That was great fun watching you explain one of your early inventions!If you have any more, this is a great subject!

  • @drewduncan5774
    @drewduncan5774 Před 7 lety

    Another enjoyable video, Julnat!

  • @Slider2732
    @Slider2732 Před 7 lety +6

    ELLO - Electric LED Light Orchestra ?
    Great project and a lot of fun to see it running.

  • @mtslyh
    @mtslyh Před 7 lety +8

    "My hovercraft is full of eels!"...... Hilarious!

    • @battlecoder
      @battlecoder Před 6 lety

      Oh, yes, the infamous phrase that (as we all know) would later be adapted to the big screen as the 2006 action film "Snakes on a plane".

  • @irgski
    @irgski Před 6 lety

    maybe donate it to the Bletchley Park museum...dust and all!!
    Amazing that "0's" and "1's" didn't change over the years!

  • @TomStorey96
    @TomStorey96 Před 6 lety

    Wonderful! Amazing it still works too.

  • @davidwithnalll2987
    @davidwithnalll2987 Před 6 lety

    This is absolutely brilliant. You should have taken this on Dragon's Den, I reckon you could have made millions. I would buy one

  • @docfoot316
    @docfoot316 Před 5 lety

    Great project

  • @Ecobion
    @Ecobion Před 7 lety

    Very impressive!

  • @tahirsutube
    @tahirsutube Před 7 lety

    Great project Julian!!! Love it!!! Great Fun and it still works!!!

  • @madbstard1
    @madbstard1 Před 7 lety

    Lovely bit of work Julnat :D

  • @RWBHere
    @RWBHere Před 6 lety

    13:11 My hovercraft is full of eels! The mind boggles. Thanks for sharing a fun project, Julian.

  • @karolorszulik3154
    @karolorszulik3154 Před 7 lety

    My goodness my that's so very cool!

  • @kissingfrogs
    @kissingfrogs Před 7 lety

    that is some might fine neat work.

  • @canadianguy1969
    @canadianguy1969 Před 7 lety

    I used to love working with Zilog's Z80! Great project!

  • @JoelHudson
    @JoelHudson Před 7 lety

    👏Well programmed sir! 👏

  • @neslin99
    @neslin99 Před 7 lety +1

    Emojis from the ‘90’s, that’s awesome. :)

  • @JamesMossR33
    @JamesMossR33 Před 6 lety

    Amazing! Thanks for sharing this great project.

  • @yoknapatawpha
    @yoknapatawpha Před 7 lety

    I don't envy whoever had to drill all those PCB holes! ;)
    Cool project, thanks for sharing.

  • @BlackEpyon
    @BlackEpyon Před 6 lety

    Nothing like digging up your old project, only to have forgotten how it even works :P

  • @davidwebb2318
    @davidwebb2318 Před 7 lety

    Brought back fond memories of the Z80. Awesome job on the row and column construction, must have taken ages to solder all that lot together.

    • @JulianIlett
      @JulianIlett  Před 7 lety

      +David Webb Yeah, more than 2000 solder joints.

  • @eddiespencer1
    @eddiespencer1 Před 7 lety

    Very cool! I like it. Making a modern version might be a fun project, too.

  • @Slikx666
    @Slikx666 Před 7 lety

    Nothing wrong with that! Love how the boards are tidy.

  • @andymouse
    @andymouse Před 7 lety

    great as usual

  • @gordonspond
    @gordonspond Před 2 lety

    So cool!

  • @Laziter73
    @Laziter73 Před 7 lety +17

    Very impressive work :)

  • @750SonyP
    @750SonyP Před 4 lety

    I still have a Z80 Morse Code generator I built in the late 70's on a breadboard. I use to erase such eproms in bright sun light for a couple of days or more.

  • @davegtar
    @davegtar Před 7 lety +10

    Create an arduino code that translates keyboard keys or "type and send" through serial to button presses for easy programing! A mix of old and new technology. Just one pulse on each of the 5 switches from the arduino.

  • @kingearwig
    @kingearwig Před 7 lety +4

    Very nice. You should make it into a CZcams subscriber counter.😁

    • @JulianIlett
      @JulianIlett  Před 7 lety +5

      +Bill Mears Awesome idea. I might actually do that. Cheers Bill.

    • @cbm80amiga
      @cbm80amiga Před 7 lety

      For such application it is easier to use esp8266. I have such videos on my channel. Z80 has no WiFi so alone is useless :)

    • @leisergeist
      @leisergeist Před 7 lety

      ESP connected via the PC interface Brett showed off perhaps, or emulating that keypad?

    • @baileyharrison1030
      @baileyharrison1030 Před 5 lety

      cbm80amiga I don’t think that’s the point.

  • @AK90
    @AK90 Před 6 lety

    I just got my DSO138 Oscilloscope I ordered because of your video :D Lets get to soldering! I hope it isnt broken :P

  • @joelwaugh987
    @joelwaugh987 Před 7 lety +2

    HELHO. I don’t know why that made me laugh so much! Thank you!

  • @772pcs
    @772pcs Před 7 lety

    Awesome!

  • @EDToasty
    @EDToasty Před 6 lety

    I would love it if you tried to remake this project and see the size and functionality differences from 1993!

  • @mc_cpu
    @mc_cpu Před 7 lety +21

    Was the idea to sell them? Looks like a lot of effort went into the manual too.

  • @bluedeath996
    @bluedeath996 Před 7 lety +1

    It is important that you can display "my hovercraft is full of eels" with a search term.

  • @pcuser80
    @pcuser80 Před 7 lety +8

    Wow as a Z80 FAN this very impressive. Very nice job.
    Can you post the assembler listing please.?

  • @agentbsik
    @agentbsik Před 7 lety +7

    Hi Julian,
    what´s your professional background? Electrical Engineering?

  • @qwertykeyboard5901
    @qwertykeyboard5901 Před 5 lety

    i love the z80

  • @____________________________.x

    Time for an updated Z80 project I think, plenty of interest judging by the number of retro Z80 designs being published on the internet.
    One that came with a monitor program would be ideal. Better than that boring Raspberry Pi where everything is done for you.

    • @0xbenedikt
      @0xbenedikt Před 7 lety

      I was working on such a design a while ago, but ran out of time.
      Maybe combine a low-end FPGA (for IO interfacing) with an Z80?
      We could also use flash instead of RAM or ROM by interfacing a SPI Flash through the FPGA.

  • @pvc988
    @pvc988 Před 7 lety

    Nice display. ESP WiFi module instead of the keyboard would make nice addition.

  • @Sprengi86
    @Sprengi86 Před 7 lety

    Cool Beans, Julyan!

  • @jlucasound
    @jlucasound Před 5 lety

    That is the Company I work for! HelHo. It is deep down in the South. :-)

  • @pirateman1966
    @pirateman1966 Před 7 lety

    Very nice. You should cover it in saran wrap or something to keep it in good condition.

  • @diddyman1958
    @diddyman1958 Před 7 lety +1

    13:15 'My hovercraft is full of eels' Haha LOL

  • @bloodyl_uk
    @bloodyl_uk Před 7 lety +25

    Yay... My hovercraft is full of eels!!!!

    • @bloodyl_uk
      @bloodyl_uk Před 7 lety

      It's a pity John Cleese isn't here to see you finally deliver your killer punchline!.

    • @simontay4851
      @simontay4851 Před 7 lety +3

      My nipples explode with delight

    • @eddiespencer1
      @eddiespencer1 Před 7 lety +1

      Leave them to breed. It is their home now.

  • @Gooberslot
    @Gooberslot Před 7 lety

    I'm amazed you can remember any of the input codes. I don't think I would be able to.

  • @patprop74
    @patprop74 Před 7 lety

    fantastic project! you should do a re-visited build video with RGB lights. let us know what to order and build along with you as the videos progress

  • @MikeHoughtonasUnit8720

    very interesting

  • @DogRox
    @DogRox Před 7 lety

    A sweet retro system! :-) nice job dude :-)

  • @UltraRik
    @UltraRik Před 7 lety +1

    Ussjoy, Julnat! I enjoy your video, keep up the good work!

  • @debug9424
    @debug9424 Před 7 lety

    Julian, put something on the EPROM. The ambient UV levels will slowly erase it.

  • @rustycrowbar7609
    @rustycrowbar7609 Před 7 lety

    Nice.

  • @attilarivera
    @attilarivera Před 7 lety

    awesome.. i jad a computer based on a z80 in the early 80's.
    MSX-XPRESS 👍😆

  • @andymouse
    @andymouse Před 7 lety

    this well cool sir !!

  • @alien8r33d
    @alien8r33d Před 7 lety

    Nice. You did get it out in 2014 though (LED Matrix Displays and Non-Optimal Byte Orientation).

  • @Chriva
    @Chriva Před 7 lety

    And people are trying to patent input devices like this one. You beat them by several years :D

  • @thewhitefalcon8539
    @thewhitefalcon8539 Před 6 lety

    "No flash memory back in the 90's" - AFAIK Flash is an evolution of EEPROM, so you could say there was. (Unless you didn't have EEPROM either)

  • @gordonspond
    @gordonspond Před 2 lety

    13:15 My hovercraft is full of eels... (Where have I heard that before??? Ha ha ha)

  • @handle_and_gretel
    @handle_and_gretel Před 7 lety +1

    nice work julyan ;)

  • @grantgiesbrecht2236
    @grantgiesbrecht2236 Před 6 lety

    I love that keypad! Now I really want to see someone replace their computer's keyboard with a 5 button pad like that! 😂

  • @DoRC
    @DoRC Před 7 lety

    This would make a cool vu meter

    • @Roy_Tellason
      @Roy_Tellason Před 5 lety

      I remember using an instrument way back in 1978 that was basically an audio spectrum analyzer, used to properly set your equalization so that you didn't have any feedback. Unfortunately instead of a single large board to hold the LEDs the thing was constructed on a board for each column, which made it a real bear to work on...

  • @yusuf120581LED
    @yusuf120581LED Před 6 lety

    Awsome

  • @noggin73
    @noggin73 Před 7 lety +5

    Great stuff Julnat! I would love to know how you made the pcb back then.

    • @100Transistors
      @100Transistors Před 7 lety

      you would've etched the board at home

    • @BlackEpyon
      @BlackEpyon Před 6 lety

      Hes, that looks like home etched, since it's single sided and there's no solder mask.

  • @ClaudiupromotionSRL
    @ClaudiupromotionSRL Před 7 lety +1

    Hello,I watch your videos, them are really helpfull and as well entertaining. Can you make a video about DC Voltage Stabilizer with Adjustable Series Element? Because I can't find anything related on the internet. I need to understand the circuit diagram for my college and I'm sure you can help me and other people interested. Thank you!

  • @jamesvalentine925
    @jamesvalentine925 Před 7 lety +1

    I've got a Z80 along with ram chips and windowed rom chips which I pulled from an old large format plotter a few years back. Been wondering what to use them for (trying to ignore the obvious speccy clone).

  • @kabeza79
    @kabeza79 Před 6 lety

    How easy it looks like now and how hard it had to be 25 years ago

  • @bloodyl_uk
    @bloodyl_uk Před 7 lety

    I reckon you could have made a killing patent protecting your 5 key keyboard and the keystroke commands and licensing them.

  • @edgeeffect
    @edgeeffect Před 6 lety

    Well done on remember your keycodes... even if you do keep your old projects in the hoover bag. ;)
    My hovercrafft is full of eeels... my hovercrafft is full of eeels.

  • @UpcycleElectronics
    @UpcycleElectronics Před 5 lety

    15:30
    Helho and thanks.
    Cool etched design BTW.

  • @Tjousk
    @Tjousk Před 7 lety

    Neat!

  • @trinidad17
    @trinidad17 Před 7 lety

    Hi Julian, interesting project.
    Can you plase elaborate on how the keypad works to encode the characters and commands?

    • @reinermunch5159
      @reinermunch5159 Před 7 lety

      T Trindad have a look to the same project from Julian... czcams.com/video/Wxja2EbvZJo/video.html

  • @adrianrabbage4996
    @adrianrabbage4996 Před 6 lety

    Cool Beans! ;)

  • @_Piers_
    @_Piers_ Před 7 lety

    Did you add the blue LED at a slightly later date? I thought they weren't commercially available until '94.
    I can't remember any prices, I just remember them being upsettingly expensive at the time :D

    • @JulianIlett
      @JulianIlett  Před 7 lety +2

      +Pook365 It could have been 94 if the PCB was designed in 93. The blue LED was about £3 from Maplin if I remember correctly.

  • @droptopsalvador1864
    @droptopsalvador1864 Před 7 lety

    Fantastic work Julian! If time and money allowed it, I'd love to build something like this!
    Also, when are you planning on continuing the 8bit computer series?

  • @simontay4851
    @simontay4851 Před 7 lety

    That is VERY impressive! How did you design/build the PCB back then? There wasn't the modern CAD/simulation software we have today.

  • @DanTheMiddleagedMan
    @DanTheMiddleagedMan Před 7 lety

    such an awesome project and so well executed, could have sold these for sure. how long did it take to complete?

  • @waldsteiger
    @waldsteiger Před 7 lety

    nice project! did you etch these boards yourself? looks quite clean.

    • @JulianIlett
      @JulianIlett  Před 7 lety

      +waldsteiger Yes, I had all the PCB etching stuff back then.

    • @waldsteiger
      @waldsteiger Před 7 lety

      currently manually reading out a salvaged pc bios flash rom, inspired by your videos. thanks!

  • @mrjohhhnnnyyy5797
    @mrjohhhnnnyyy5797 Před 7 lety

    Lovely project, can't complain here :) I wonder though how you made boards back then, especially that giant display one.

    • @JulianIlett
      @JulianIlett  Před 7 lety +1

      +MrJohhhnnnyyy The display PCB was exposed using sunlight.

    • @mrjohhhnnnyyy5797
      @mrjohhhnnnyyy5797 Před 7 lety

      Julian Ilett Hmm, photoresist then. The traces look quite sharp, you must've printed the transparency for it :)