The chip shortage has got me again. Ordering more of my 4-bit trainers is not feasible right now. So I did not want to leave you wanting to learn about assembly language programming with no option, so I ported the software to the SMART Response XE device.

I have run all of the programs in my curriculum and they all work perfectly. There are a few advantages to this device:

• 1) It is battery powered and rugged!
• 2) It allows you to save 10 individual programs instead of 2.
• 3) If you ever get bored with it, it is highly hackable.

On the device LCD, you can see that I simulate the 8x2 LCD display of my original unit. You can use the keyboard to enter hexadecimal values (0-F), and I use the soft keys next to the display to cover the special purpose key from the original design.

You will notice that I charge a little more for this than I do the 8-bit. That is because I add a speaker to the device to offer the same functionality as the original. This requires extra parts and is no small task labor-wise. You just try to get one of these things open ;)

FOR ANYONE TRYING TO ADD A SPEAKER TO THIS DEVICE SEE BELOW

When you crack open the device (not an easy task in itself), you will notice a spot on the PCB to mount a speaker. It is clear that they intended this unit to make sound originally. There is a place to mount a speaker and a transistor and other supporting resistors and capacitors. However, if you trace out the circuit, you will see that the transistor emitter to collector path is reversed. There is no transistor that will make this device work as designed. That is probably why they didn't include a speaker in the final unit. You need to mount a SMD transistor using the flip and rotate method, or (what I choose to do) mount a through hole transistor and line up the legs correctly.

This unit comes with the pre-programmed SMART Response device with the 4-bit trainer software and a card with all of the instructions listed. The unit takes 4 AAA batteries (not included). The powered unit takes very little power (about 5mA) so the batteries last a long time.

Follow the source code link to get the curriculum for this trainer and start programming this computer like it's 1970 again.