STEM / Hobby

Hobby Electronics

My main hobby is electronics and computing. I like to fix things and make things. Over the past few years, I have become more interested in microcontrollers and embedded programming, with platforms such as: Arduino, BBC Micro:bit, ESP8266/32 and STM32.

Here's a board I designed for working with Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) - chips that can be fully programmed to perform specific logic functions.

Grant Searle published a design for a multi-purpose computing platform called the MultiComp. The aim of the design was to allow a low-cost Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) board to be set-up to emulate one of a number of classic vintage computers.

Grant published the bare schematics for his design, but did not cover any specific form of construction for a finished MultiComp. My Multicomper circuit board design holds the FPGA board and the additional components required to complete the platform ready to be setup with Grant's FPGA code:

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I also enjoy repairing and restoring vintage computers. Here's a fixed Acorn System One - Acorn's first commercial computer before they developed the BBC Micro:

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STEM Work

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Future Fest was a STEM event organised by the University of Chichester. Over 900 visitors attended. I was part of the Bognor Regis Raspberry Jam team, showing off various Raspberry Pi projects and supporting visitors completing code and maker challenges.

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STEM

STEM Ambassadors are a free resource for schools. Individuals volunteer to help inspire young people to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

I am very proud to be a STEM ambassador. I have supported local schools and STEM events to help with electronics and computing projects, career advice and mock interviews.

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For more information on the STEM Ambassador programme, click the logo.

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A Commodore 64 motherboard fitted with a modern replacement for the SID sound chip. The SID chip is well-known for failing with age.

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A modular, portable Meshtastic radio with GPS tracking.

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A modern version of a Z80-based computer, running CP/M from a solid state disk module. Based on the RC2014 ecosystem.

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A virtual coding session.

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Testing a home-brew flash disk board for the RC2014 Z80 computer.

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