Original URL : https://www.retrobrewcomputers.org/doku.php?id=boards:ecb:cassette_intf:start
 Snapshot date: 2018-11-24
 Generator    : wayback-archiver

The ECB Cassette Interface is a board used to load and store data on cassette tapes. Vintage computers commonly use cassette tape for program and data storage. The ECB Cassette Interface board uses the Kansas City Standard for encoding data. Original Cassette Interface design adapted to ECB format by Nik Brisevac.

Current Version: Rev 1

Board: ecb-cassette-interface-001-brd.pdf

Schematic: ecb-cassette-interface-001-sch.pdf

Manufacturing Files: ]] Files not present on old wiki ]]

KiCAD Files: ecb-cassette-interface-001-kicad.zip

These KiCAD files have a last-edited date of 2013 vs 2010 for the schematic/board layout .pdfs, and the KiCAD files appear to have slight differences in the silkscreen from the .pdfs. These boards have not been manufactured in some time; a schematic/layout review and post in the RBC forums to collect any feedback is recommended prior to any new fabrication.

Microtek Magazine Article on Simple Cassette Interface

Initial hand-drawn circuit diagram

KiCAD eeschema Parts List

File transfer;
To use CP/M PUN: & RDR:
convert COM files to HEX with UNLOAD.
example: UNLOAD TEST.COM <CARRIAGE RETURN>
—–> creates TEST.HEX
convert HEX back to COM file use LOAD.
example: LOAD TEST.HEX <CARRIAGE RETURN>
—–> creates TEST.COM

Playback sequence:
1.key PIP command ie. PIP TEST.HEX=RDR:[E] <CARRAIGE RETURN>
2.press play
3.Toggle play switch ON

Record sequence:
1. Toggle Record switch ON
2. Press Record on cassette player
3. Key PIP command ie. PIP PUN:=TEST.HEX[E] <CARRIAGE RETURN>

Storing large files;
files over 25K split into smaller files with notepad.
for retrieval, concatenate files with PIP.
example: PIP WHOLEFILE.HEX=1STFILE.HEX[ I ],2NDFILE.HEX

Link to reference for above commands:
''%%http://www.cpm.z80.de/randyfiles/DRI/Intro_to_CPM_Feat_and_Facilities.pdf%%''

Below are two videos demonstrating operation of the Cassette Interface: kcs_300_baud.mov - 300 baud demo

600_baud.mov - 600 baud demo

scream.bas - UART 'Scream' test program written in Microsoft BASIC

loader.com - ]]

Filename

Filesize Last modified 600_baud.mov 5.2 MiB 2016/07/06 14:49 cassette.lst 2.3 KiB 2016/07/06 14:49 ecb-cassette-interface-001-brd.pdf 728.8 KiB 2016/07/06 21:23 ecb-cassette-interface-001-kicad.zip 51.1 KiB 2016/07/06 21:23 ecb-cassette-interface-001-sch.pdf 161.2 KiB 2016/07/06 21:23 img.pdf 845.0 KiB 2016/07/06 14:49 kcs_300_baud.mov 7.9 MiB 2016/07/06 14:50 loader.com 11.8 KiB 2016/07/06 14:49 microtek_cassette_interface.pdf 2.9 MiB 2016/07/06 14:49 scream.bas 399.0 B 2016/07/06 14:49 stpkg.7z 39.4 KiB 2016/07/06 14:49 usage_notes.txt 819.0 B 2016/07/06 14:49