Sunday 24 September 2023

Minstrel and Mini PET Kit Updates

The full range of Minstrel 2 and 3 and Mini PET A and B kits are now available for sale again.

I have spent much of the last few weeks packing kits again, for the first time in quite a while.

And whenever I pack kits I like to build one of each to make sure everything is correct.

Z80KITS.COM

I'll start with the big news, Minstrel 2 and Minstrel 3 kits are now available from Z80kits.com.

This is the website setup by the creator of the RC2014 system to sell RC2014 modules and kits, so I think the Minstrel kits will be a good compliment to those. They also have better international shipping options that I can offer, so I hope that will help my international customers.

These are the full kits of the Minstrel 2 and 3, which can be fitted in a ZX81 case, or used stand alone with your own keyboard or the optional detachable tact switch keyboard.

Sell My Retro

I have also updated the range on SellMyRetro to include a range of options for each version. Yes, there are lots of options, I try to cater for all the different combinations that have been requested. If I don't have the combination you require, let me know and I will see what I can do.

Minstrel 2

The Minstrel 2 is a ZX80 compatible Z80 based computer with 16K of RAM and jumper selectable 4K integer BASIC or 8K floating point BASIC. The later is compatible with the ZX81 with the exception of SLOW mode, which is not supported by the ZX80 hardware (which mean most ZX81 games will not run).

The Minstrel 2 and 3 main boards are ZX81 sized, so can be fitted in a ZX81 case as a drop in replacement.

The detachable tact switch keyboard is optionally available if you want to run it stand alone, and can also be shared between the Minstrel 2 and 3.

I have recently started making more use of the detachable element to swap between versions with keywords for the 4K and 8K BASIC on the Minstrel 2.

To that end, I am now offering that in built and kit form with dual keyboards that you can swap as easily as you change the jumper from the 4K ROM to 8K ROM.

Minstrel 2 on Sell My Retro:

Minstrel 3

The Minstrel 3 is a ZX81 compatible Z80 based computer with 32K of RAM and 8K floating point BASIC. It does support slow mode, and several high resolution mechanisms, so the majority of ZX81 games will run fine.

As with the Minstrel 2, this is available in a variety of forms, including ZX81 case and standalone with tact switch keyboard.

Minstrel 3 on Sell My Retro:

Minstrel ZXpand

Add an SD card and joystick to your Minstrel 3. (no, this will not work on a real ZX81 before anyone asks)

Minstrel ZXpand on Sell My Retro:

Mini PET A

The Mini PET is a Commodore PET compatible 6502 based computer with 32K of RAM and a choice of PET BASIC 1,2 or 4, or Mini PET BASIC 4.0.

This is the stand alone version that can be used with one of my keyboards or another aftermarket PET keyboard (normal / graphics layout recommended for better compatibility than the business keyboard).

Mini PET A on SellMyRetro

Mini PET B

The B variant is designed as a drop in replacement for a PET motherboard. No keyboard options are provided, as you are expected to use the PETs original keyboard.

In addition to the DC power and composite video output of the A, the Mini PET B can use the PET power supply (5 pin or 9 pin) and drive a PET 9" or 12" monitor.

Mini PET B at SellMyRetro:

Mini PET Extras

I have also listed for the first time a few extra boards I designed to go with the Mini PET.

SD2PET Power TAP

This is an adapter which can be plugged into the rear datasette port on a Commodore PET or Mini PET to provide power to an SD2PET whilst still providing a connection for a datasette drive.

SD2PET power tap on SellMyRetro:

PET Datasette interface.

This is a PCB which provides an interface to a Commodore datasette edge connector. The internal connection is a 6 way 0.1" connector (7 pin with 1 pin missing for polarisation).

This can be used to add the second datasette port to a Mini PET kit A, or for various extending one of the Mini PET datasette ports or for any other datasette interfacing projects.

PET datasette interface PCB on SellMyRetro:

PET Power Interface

Finally, something which was used with the original versions of the Mini PET. I later designed the B kit which integrated this board into the main board. It may still be useful for other things. It can be used to tap 9V DC from a PET power supply to power a Mini PET or other project inside a PET case.

PET Power Interface on SellMyRetro:


PET Dual Userport Joystick

I have recently revived the PET dual userport joystick, as a through hole version, available as PCB, kit or assembled.

PET Dual Userport Joystick on SellMyRetro:


Patreon

You can support me via Patreon, and get access to advance previews of posts like this and behind the scenes updates. These are often in more detail than I can fit in here, and some of these posts contain bits from several Patreon posts. 

This also includes access to my Patreon only Discord server for even more regular updates. I have been spamming the Discord with these new listings as they have been added over the last few weeks, to make sure they had first chance to get some of these things.

https://www.patreon.com/tynemouthsoftware

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