1977 was a momentous year for the home computer industry. The Apple II, Commodore PET, and Atari VCS were all introduced. They became the founders of three revolutionary microcomputer companies that changed the world. Interestingly, the "brain" inside each of them was the same MOS Technology 6502 microprocessor.
The 6502 was designed by Chuck Peddle of MOS Technology in 1975, at the dawn of the microcomputer revolution. It was an elegant design; simple, yet powerful. Its simplicity made it the cheapest 8-bit microprocessor on the market, endearing it to bean counters everywhere. And its power quickly captured the hearts of design engineers. By 1977, Steve Wozniak designed it into the Apple II. Nolan Bushnell had it designed into his Atari VCS video computer system. And Chuck Peddle designed it into the Commodore PET.
It's common to have some kind of "badge" for computer shows and hacker conventions. There are even Vintage Computer Festivals (VCFs) for fans of classic computers, held in various cities around the world. 2017 was the 40th anniversary of these amazing machines, so we thought it would be appropriate to make a badge for VCF shows using a vintage microcomputer.
The badge is a complete working 6502 computer, with RAM, ROM, LED display, serial port, and on-board BASIC. It's built entirely with vintage technology; no modern or surface-mount parts. Connect it to a terminal or computer, load a message, and the badge scrolls it across the LED display. Or, show off your BASIC or machine language expertise by writing your own programs to do something truly spectacular!
It was 40 years ago today
That computers taught the kids to play
With chips to make a new kind of game
And the world has never been the same
So let me introduce to you
The micro called the 6502!
(...my apologies to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely
Hearts Club Band and the Beatles...)
We ordered a bushel of boards, and a passel of parts. Now YOU can have a real working 6502 computer, just like the pioneers of the microcomputer industry. Prices were kept low by scrounging for surplus and mining our junkboxes for parts.
Sep 2017: Showtime! The badge was a hit at the year's VCFMW show. We sold every kit we had in the first hour. We had more boards, so were madly ordering parts, kitting them up, and sending them out as fast as we could. Over 500 were sold at VCFMW and various other VCF shows around the world.
Aug 2018: Alas, the 6502 badges are sold out! I ran out of the 7-digit 7-segment LED displays. To make more, I'll have to find a new source, or modify the design for a different display.
Sep 2019: Mike Lee found a new source for the 7-digit 7-segment LED displays! So we ran off a new batch of 6502 Badge boards, in time for VCFMW 14. Come join us and get your very own Badge boards and kits.
March 2020: We made up some more badge boards and kits for the VCF-East show. They weren't needed, as it's been cancelled due to the corona virus. So for a limited time only they are available again online! To order, click on the Paypal buttons above.
September 2021: News Flash: The VCFMW show is ON for Sept 11-12 in Chicago IL. We made up a new batch of 6502 badge kits, so you can get yours at the show! Or of course, order it from us with the Paypal buttons above.
What (if any) changes should we make for a 6502 Badge version 2? Looking at the comments, the most common requests have been for a) more memory, b) a better display, and c) buttons so a PC isn't required to enter data. This will be tough to do without raising the price, or "cheating" with modern technology. But let's try...
We need a "theme". Well, this the 30th anniversary of the Nintendo GameBoy. And VCFMW is put on by the Chicago Commodore Computer Club, whose members are big on the 6502 and gaming. So how about a 6502 Nameboy!
The circuit is designed, the PCB is laid out, and I just got my first prototypes. Keycaps for the tactile switches "pop-out" from the main PCB. The new software is (mostly) working, but we are still bug-hunting and want to develop some applications to put the new features to work. Stay tuned for further information!
Created 6/2/2017 by Lee Hart. Last update 12/6/2023.
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