HackerBox 0108: Newstalgia

Welcome to HackerBox 0108. Configure the PICOboot RP2040 Development Board to emulate an original 128K Macintosh. Generate Monochrome VGA video output at 640x480 pixels. Support USB interfaces for keyboard and mouse input. Provide rewritable disk storage using a MicroSD flash card. Assemble the Pico Micro Mac Kit using a Custom Full-Color PCB from PCBWay. Consider various video conversion solutions for modern usage of retro computing and retro gaming platforms. Leverage reusable adhesive putty as helping hands white soldering.

There is a wealth of information for current and prospective members in the HackerBoxes FAQ. Almost all of the non-technical support emails that we receive are already answered there, so we'd really appreciate it if you can take a few minutes to read the FAQ.

This Instructable contains information for getting started with HackerBox 0108. The full box contents are listed on the product page for HackerBox 0108 where the box is also available for purchase while supplies last. If you would like to automatically receive a HackerBox like this right in your mailbox each month, you can subscribe at HackerBoxes.com and join the party. Subscription members save at least $15 every month and automatically receive each new HackerBox shipped immediately off the production line.

A soldering iron, solder, and basic assembly tools are generally needed to work on the monthly HackerBox. A computer for running software tools is also required. Have a look at the HackerBox Workshops for tools and supplies along with a wide array of introductory activities and experiments.

The most import thing you will need is a sense of adventure, hacker spirit, patience, and curiosity. Building and experimenting with electronics, while very rewarding, can be tricky, challenging, and even frustrating at times. The goal is progress, not perfection. When you persist and enjoy the adventure, a great deal of satisfaction can be derived from this hobby. Take each step slowly, mind the details, and don't be afraid to ask for help.

WEAR SAFETY GLASSES WHEN SOLDERING, WHEN TRIMMING WIRE LEADS, OR WHEN CUTTING, DRILLING, ETC.

This kit implements the amazing Pico Micro Mac project from Matt Evans. He managed to embed his umac Mac 128K emulator into a Raspberry Pi RP2040 (Pico) microcontroller. Features include:

1. Monochrome VGA video output of 640x480 pixels at 60Hz
2. USB HID keyboard and mouse
3. Rewritable disc storage on an SPI-attached SD card
4. Mac 128K functionality boosted to 208K of memory (Mac 208K?)

The Special "HackerBox Edition" Pico Micro Mac Kit includes:

1. A Custom Full-Color PCB from PCBWay
2. PICOboot RP2040 Development Board
3. MicroSD Card Module
4. Right Angle 1x6 Pin Header
5. Female DB15HD VGA Connector
6. Two (2) 68 Ohm SMD 2512 Resistors
7. 100 Ohm SMD 2512 Resistor
8. Two (2) Slow Flashing RGB LEDs SMD 0807
9. SMD Slide Switch

This cool board was designed to serve as an IPL (Initial Program Loader) replacement modchip for the Nintendo GameCube. The IPL of the GameCube is basically its BIOS or Boot ROM. Bypassing the factory IPL allows hijinks to ensue (hackers gonna hack). With the PICOboot RP2040 Dev Board, the modchip bypass is performed by code running on a RP2040 chip. The RP2040 chip is the same Raspberry Pi chip found on the Raspberry Pi Pico.

Origin story aside, we're just going to use the PICOboot RP2040 Dev Board as a fancier Raspberry Pi Pico featuring the correct USB port <cough, cough>. After all, it has been told that the "C" in USB-C stands for "correct".

Before Soldering the PICOboot RP2040 Dev Board

Connect it to you computer using a USB-C cable.

The Green LED should light up.

Browse to PicoMicroMac UF2 Creator

Download the link "Firmware for Pico with SD Card Hat"

Your browser may try to protect you, so use tricks like "save link as", select "Keep", etc.

The downloaded file will be called something like picomac-0.2-2040-sd.uf2

On the dev board, hold the bootsel button and hit the reset button

Your computer should now have a new "drive" called RPI-SP2

Copy the UF2 firmware file to that new drive

The dev board will reboot with the green LED flashing

Now, we solder...

All of the components and modules mount onto the black-and-white (back side) of the PCB.

The colorful front side of the PCB just says "hello"

1. Place the two 68 Ohm resistors at locations R1 & R2
2. they are marked "680" and can be oriented in either direction
3. Place the 100 Ohm resistor at location R3
4. it is marked "101" and can be oriented in either direction
5. Place the two LEDs at the upper corners of the PCB
6. note the green arrow on the bottom of each LED
7. orient the arrow to point into the three-sided black outline on the PCB
8. this means that the green arrows point toward the corners of the PCB
9. Place the SMD slide switch in either orientation
10. Install the Micro SD Card Module
11. Option 1 (suggested)
12. no header is used in this option
13. melt some solder into each of the six holes of the module
14. place the module on the PCB
15. melt solder onto one of the rectangular pads of the PCB
16. heat that pad gently until you see the solder flow in the corresponding hole
17. repeat the last two steps for the remaining five pads/holes
18. Option 2 (sounds less scary, but is actually more difficult)
19. position the right angle 1x6 header as shown
20. be sure the black insulator is on the vertical portion (not touching the PCB)
21. solder the header to the PCB pads
22. remove the black insulator
23. place the module onto the vertical pins as shown
24. solder the pins to the module
25. take care not to de-solder the pin from the PCB
26. Solder the PICOboot RP2040 Development Board
27. orient the USB connector toward the edge of the PCB
28. new to soldering castellated modules: review this SparkFun tutorial
29. Pop the VGA connector into place (minding the pins)
30. solder the 15 pins as well as the two larger lugs

Connect a VGA monitor and power up the Pico Micro Mac. The monitor should display a beautiful, retro, black-and-white Macintosh desktop.

FYI, the kit works fine without the two LEDs and their associated power switch. The LEDs just provide some colorful ambient lighting. They are totally optional.

Connect the GL850G-Based USB HUB Module using the USB-C OTG Cable as shown.

1. Into one of the USB HUB ports, connect a keyboard
2. Into one of the USB HUB ports, connect a mouse
3. Into one of the USB HUB ports, connect a power source

Suggestions on the Power Source

1. Use a wall wart style power adapter - not a computer or hub
2. If wart has USB-A, use an A-to-C cable with a C-to-A adapter
3. like the cable and the C-to-A adapter from HackerBox 0106
4. If wart has USB-C, use an A-to-C cable backwards

Disk Storage Using a Micro SD Card

1. Browse back to the PicoMicroMac UF2 Creator
2. Download the link "umac0.img"
3. Again, use download tricks like "save link as", select "Keep", etc.
4. Format your SD card as FAT32
5. Copy the umac0.img disk image into the root of the SD card
6. Power down the Pico Micro Mac and insert the SD card

The umac0.img disk image will serve as a 32 MB drive demonstrating a number of classic wares and games for the Mac 128K. Contents of the umac0.img file can be modified by mounting the image in Mini vMac or Basilisk II.

The VGA video output of the Pico Micro Mac can be converted to HDMI for use with most modern televisions and computer monitors. You might already have the VGA-to-HDMI video conversion kit included in HackerBox 0094.

The various video conversion solutions presented by HackerBoxes over the years are useful tools for any hardware hacker, hobbyist, or retro computing enthusiast to have on hand.

VGA/Audio to HDMI Conversion: a VGA-to-HDMI conversion box was featured in HackerBox 0094. As presented in the associated box guide, the VGA-to-HDMI conversion box features the Macro Silicon MS9288A chip.

HDMI to Audio/Video Conversion: an HDMI2AV conversion box was featured in HackerBox 0092. As presented in the associated box guide, the HDMI2AV conversion box features the Macro Silicon MS1836S chip.

Audio/Video to HDMI Conversion: an AV2HDMI conversion box was featured in HackerBox 0075. As presented in the associated box guide, the AV2HDMI conversion box features the Macro Silicon MS1858E chip.

Audio/Video to PC (via USB): a USB Audio/Video Capture device was featured in HackerBox 0061. As presented in the associated box guide, the USB A/V Capture device features the Macro Silicon MS2106 chip.

We were first introduced to holding solder work with reusable adhesive putty about four years ago by MG in this video when HackerBox 0056 featured the DemonSeed.

As we can see, adhesive putty is a versatile tool. A lot of folks find it especially useful to hold down tiny SMT parts for soldering. A great little trick to have in your hacker utility belt.

"Technology has a purpose. The purpose is to do good and to share." -Woz

We hope you are enjoying this month's HackerBox adventures into electronics, computer technology, and hacker culture. We aim to curate a challenging and rewarding experience of learning through experimentation and exploration. Thank you for joining us on this journey.

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