What is it?

Note: The base option for this product includes the bare PCB only - Additional options are selectable via the drop downs above.

Expand your rosco-m68k with up to four expansion boards with the rosco-m68k local-bus backplane. This board connects to your rosco-m68k via a short 64-way ribbon cable (supplied optionally) and gives you four expansion connectors in place of the one on the original board.

Ideal if you want to connect more than one expansion to your rosco-m68k and also useful for prototyping your own boards thanks to handy pin-labelling of the connectors, the backplane can also optionally supply power to your rosco_m68k, with a range of power input options - screw terminals and DC jack for 5V (9-12V with the optional regulator) or Micro USB connector. The power section also includes an old-school toggle switch for retro styling goodness!

The expansion connectors are 100% compatible with the built-in expansion connector on the main board so this is ideal if you already have e.g. a RAM expansion connected and now want to connect more expansions - with a RAM expansion already available and range of expansions currently in development from video cards to storage, you're sure to want to connect multiple things to your computer!

Features

• Connect up to four expansion boards to your rosco-m68k
• Connects via standard ribbon cable and IDC connectors (option at checkout)
• Supports multiple types of power input for your rosco-m68k (option at checkout)
• Easily prototype your own expansions by connecting to breadboard
• EXT BUS connectors available for your own use

Who can build this?

Just like the rosco_m68k itself, this is designed to be easy to solder, and no special skills or equipment are needed! Simply grab a regular (ideally temperature-controlled) soldering iron, some solder (we like lead-free .6mm diameter) and have at it!

There are some slightly trickier bits on this board than on the main one (specifically, the optional Micro USB connector), but with a little patience you'll be fine, especially if you already soldered the main board.

Where supplied, all components are brand new and of the very highest-quality we can get our hands on.

Notes

Note 1: This product does not include the main board, RAM expansion and rubber "feet" on the expansion board - these are show in the photos for illustration only.

Note 2: The power section is completely optional - you can continue to power your rosco-m68k in the usual way while using this.

Note 3: If you choose the Regulator option at checkout and want to power your board at 9-12VDC, do note that the regulator will become hot during use and this is normal. Where the regulator is supplied we also supply a small heat-sink for reliable operation.

Note 4: The EXT bus is not standardized and does not connect directly to the J5 connector on the rosco-m68k (though you can choose to connect it there if you wish). It is provided to aid in prototyping your own boards and may in future be used to support advanced expansions.