Stephen C Cousins

3,373 orders since Sep 20, 2018

Stowmarket, Suffolk, United Kingdom

Ships from United Kingdom.

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Overall Rating:

Review Breakdown

Average Ratings

Product: (4.97)

Documentation: (4.90)

Shipping: (4.91)

Communication: (4.92)

All Reviews

David | Nov. 9, 2023

Excellent Product, excellent customer service

For SC503 Z180 Processor Card Kit for Z50Bus

Steve is very communicative and is a great help when I make a mistake on an order or otherwise need information. This particular module is fantastic. It is an iteration on a previous design that I have retired in favor of the SC500 series, generally. I have finally finished upgrading with this board and the system looks great and behaves great.

A fully populated 7-slot backplane looks amazing and has a tremendous amount of features. The SC503 can serve as a standalone SBC if you power it through ftdi and reset it at power on. An extremely capable system that I've been learning a lot from.

David | Nov. 9, 2023

Great fun and versatility!

For SC506 Digital I/O Card Kit for Z50Bus

Now I'm a person who enjoys soldering as a passtime, but even I was surprised at just how much fun the Digital I/O Card Kit is to put together. I had so much fun with it, that I ordered another for the RCBUS 80-pin standard. Not only is it fun, it's powerful, with I/O lines that could easily be used to drive a peripheral, while visualizing the traffic to and from it. This is a tremendous improvement over the buttion input of the original RC2014 Digital I/O module, which mean that input lines can't be software controlled by peripherals the way this board supports.

I can't speak on why, but so far this board was the most fun of all the builds I've done; and they've all been fun.

David | Nov. 9, 2023

True classic!

For SC133 RCBus-40pin Modular Backplane Kit for RC2014

You want the classic RC2014 experience with fewer limitations and a more robust default power supply? Look no further. This backplane is quick and easy to assemble, extraordinarily affordable when compared to the original RC2014, and well thought out. The 8-15v power supply is appreciated. The original defaulted to 5v with the option to go 8-15v, and this one just picks the higher voltage standard and rolls with it, making the power supply circuit a nice and compact little section on the board.

There are far fewer pins to solder than on a RCBus 80-pin or enhanced bus standard, making it less intimidating to newcomers, but still plenty of pins to practice on before tackling module work.

I love that this backplane looks nice with all my original RC2014 modules as well as my new Small Computer Central modules! Being able to combine the hardware from each vendor is really empowering.

David | Nov. 9, 2023

Excellent Upgrade!

For SC513 Modular Backplane Kit for Z50Bus

I upgraded to this backplane from a previous revision. This moves the reset control circuitry onto the backplane, which strikes me as a big improvement. I'm really enjoying putting these together and I am very enjoying the results. I've now populated this backplane entirely, leaving only the horizontal slot for prototyping and expansion. It's a nice desk that I can make blink!

Mike | Nov. 8, 2023

The kit worked first time.

For SC720 RCBus-80pin Z80 RomWBW CP/M Motherboard Kit

I have been looking for a CP/M computer for some time and then I discovered the RCBus project and all the kits available. This kit provides all the basics with the ability to expand it with other modules in the future. In fact, I have just ordered a real-time clock board!

The instructions are clear with a sheet identifying all the parts. Initially, my kit was missing the pre-built Compact Flash adapter. But a quick email to Stephen fixed that problem before I had even got started building the board.

It took me 2 night to build the kit. The first to fit all the components to the board other than the chips. The second night was spent testing that the power supply was working and then plugging in the chips and figuring out how to use the software.

TIP: Having an integrated circuit leg straightener tool helped a lot (lookup 'IC leg straightener tool' on Amazon or Ebay)!

I had ordered the optional USB serial boards and | recommend them since they support hardware handshaking and they directly plug into the board and worked first time. Then came booting up the board! The SCM ROM booted fine, but the RomWBW got stuck with only 2 of the long row of green LEDs lit. It turned out that although I thought I had plugged in U10 properly, pin 20 had folded up underneath and wasn't connected. After I had straightened the pin and plugged the chip back in, everything worked. I plugged in an old 1GByte Compact Flash board into the adapter and that is recognized by RomWBW and now shows up as a disk drive.

An excellent kit, highly recommended!

Jeremy | Nov. 4, 2023

SC145 on SC126

For SC145 RCBus-40pin Compact Flash Kit for RC2014

I purchased this board for my SC126 RCBus Z180 SBC. It was easy to put together and worked on the first try!

The only issue I had was that "DOWNLOAD.COM" CP/M packages were not installing properly (the command appeared to "hang"), even with hardware flow control (RTS/CTS) set and using a CF card successfully validated with the "SCM App CF_Test" application found on Small Computer Central. The solution was to replace the FTDI FT232RL adapter I was using to operate the SC126, and usage has been fine using "Tera Term Pro" on Windows or "Decisive Tactics Serial" on MacOS since replacing the FTL232RL.

David | Oct. 31, 2023

What can I say, I love it!

For SC721 RCBus-80pin 1MB Memory Module Kit

You think you're just going to get a simple memory module, but it turns out you get a versatile, page-able, multi-boot memory platform for z80. I was blown away by this design and included software.

[Update, Sept 2024]: I just bought a second one to build out the SC794 platform. This will be the single most capable rc2014 compatible I have ever owned, once it comes together, including modules from other creators to add keyboard, video, sound, and generic peripheral support.

David | Oct. 31, 2023

Another versatile design by SCC!

For SC718 RCBus-80pin Z80 CTC Module Kit

This module exposes the CTC functionality in a very usable and versatile configuration. I am still not skilled enough with this particular module to put it through the ringer, but being able to control multiple devices using different clock speeds, as well as time and count down, is already proving helpful in my development work. I am looking forward to mastering this module and it is designed to make that process easy and approachable.

Egon | Oct. 13, 2023

Absolutely excellent kit

For SC126 RCBus Z180 SBC/Motherboard Kit

First of all, i have to admit that this was the first time ever that i bought a electronics kit. Never soldered something of that complexity by myself before. But it went absolutely great, the instructions given by Steve on his homepage are excellent, there are even parts where you can choose the solder direction as per your preference - like on the serial connectors, leds and jumper blocks. To make the choice easier to you, he lines out the pros and cons of each of the options.

It worked the first time after i finished soldering.

As i'm not a pro at soldering, i followed a advice given by a colleague of mine: Use flux and when in doubt, use more flux. And it turned out that this makes your life way easier when soldering the small joints, even if you have to carefully give the board a wash when finished.

11/10 would buy again :-D

David | Oct. 12, 2023

Fully functional PIO, quick to build, excellent quality!

For SC509 Z80 PIO Card Kit for Z50Bus

Very happy with this PIO module. It's easily accessible from anywhere on a backplane and well documented, like the rest of SCC's modules.

Very satisfied with my purchases!

David | Oct. 11, 2023

Another developer's dream backplane.

For SC702 RCBus-80pin Backplane Kit

Pair this with the SC517 and any other Z50Bus backplane and you can mix and match modules between RCBus and Z50Bus. This allows you to develop, test, and use modules for both bus systems from a single SCC Computer that happens to implement both buses.

Another must-have for firmware and hardware developers building out the latest 8-bit computing ecosystems.

David | Oct. 11, 2023

Blown away!

For SC708 RCBus-80pin Z80 SBC Kit

This is an amazingly versatile SBC with pageable ram!!! I was not expecting the module to allow me to page in RAM via the standard port $38, but it does! This makes sense as it is needed to support CP/M on these devices, but I was thrilled to see it.

As an SBC, this is a surprisingly capable little device, but I bought it to save space on my main dev computer. Pairing it with the SIO/CTC module (SC725) allows me to save two full slots on a backplane.

At this point, I would only recommend the standalone modules for each if you, specifically, want overclocking.... which you should, so buy them as well!

David | Oct. 11, 2023

These components get better every iteration!

For SC514 Z80 CTC Card Kit for Z50Bus

You won't find a better dedicated CTC module for the RCBus! With a fully customizable port address and a built-in crystal oscillator, this standalone card can be used with any z50bus system, like the LiNC, to implement CTC functionality with maximum ease.

David | Oct. 11, 2023

A hardware developer's dream!

For SC724 RCBus-80pin Breakout Module Kit

I've used the previous revision of this board, the SC117, and the added prototyping space is a huge improvement. It's well thought out and could become the foundation for a permanent peripheral, or allow you to add additional logic to the board for prototyping. Imagine adding level shifters directly to the board, then having the ability to drive alternate voltage lines, as just one example.

The prototyping area is extremely well thought out, too, providing power lines in logical places and plenty of space for IC's. Another smash hit from Small Computer Central!

David | Oct. 11, 2023

Compact tooling with minimal sacrifice.

For SC725 RCBus-80pin SIO and CTC Module Kit

I've been using Small Computer Central's designs for a long time and, let me tell you, these lines of 8-bit computers are among the best ever designed. This module combines the Serial and CTC modules, sacrificing only the customizable addressing space; opting for standard, hardcoded port addresses for each device.

This is a minimal sacrifice, though, as most of us will simply set the custom address to these hard coded locations on the standalone serial and ctc modules. If you're a developer who needs to interact with a wide range of unpredictable port addresses for peripherals, you will want to invest in the standalone modules.

If, however, you are a user or firmware developer seeking to contribute to current community standards, then this module conforms to those standards. It's smartly designed such that the counters can drive the serial line clocks, or use the system clock. An optional xtal footprint makes it useful for systems where you need an isolated CTC clock line, with appropriate jumpers to perform the isolation.

I am in love with the Small Computer Central Designs. Every new module I build is a learning experience, especially since I can juxtapose the designs to their predecessors, with which I have more experience. To see the evolution, the iterative improvements, and how the current product shines today fills me with such hope for the future of modern-8-bit compute.

David | Oct. 11, 2023

THE POWER!

For SC703 RCBus-80pin Power Supply Module Kit

It's extremely nice to be able to power my systems with an 8-12v range. There are two 5v/GND output pairs on the board; increasing its versatility. I'm sure one could tap into the line to power robotics components with this power provider, given a little ingenuity.

David | Oct. 11, 2023

Another improvement over past designs!

For SC704 RCBus-80pin I2C Bus Master Module Kit

Having worked with the i2c bus masters of the past, this sucker is perfect. It is a bit-banging implementation of the protocol, but it works beautifully with well written firmware and it includes a built-in, i2c, 32kb memory module! Past iterations sold this module separately, but here it is directly on the board. Because it's socketed, it's easily replaced, and can even be upgraded (I had 64kb versions of the chip around so I upgraded it right away.)

Software support for i2c could be better, but I plan to implement my own software around this module, regardless.

David | Oct. 11, 2023

Excellent RTC Module

For SC727 RCBus-80pin Real Time Clock Module Kit

I've been looking forward to a RTC module for this bus layout and I am not disappointed! Versatile design as usual! Looking forward to more colors, gonna get a black one and a white one, too!

David | Oct. 8, 2023

Extraordinarily clever development tool.

For SC523 Z80 Firmware Developer Card Kit for Z50Bus

I knew I would like this, but once I put it together and tested, I was really blown away by the practicality and ease-of-use represented by the design. Not only will this make transferring and testing firmware and software easier, it will reduce the amount of flash-chip rewrites I need to do, saving me time _and_ money. The default firmware is built for Z80 systems, but I got it working with my z180, SC140 (Updated to SC503; essentially the same design) and I am really loving it.

Looking forward to an RCBus 80-pin revision (fingers crossed!)

David | Oct. 8, 2023

Perfect for practice!

For SC701 RCBus-80pin Backplane Kit

Are you learning to solder for the first time? Buy a backplane or computer kit from Small Computer Central. You can begin soldering a backplane with zero experience soldering and, by the time you're done with a backplane like this, you'll be able to confidently tackle the rest of the components. I learned to solder on a backplane like this. One benefit is that the connections of the backplane are quite simple, with minimal components, meaning that even serious mistakes are easy to recover from.

If you're comfortable with soldering already, these backplanes are fun and meditative projects for rainy days or weekend relaxation time.

I'm particularly happy with this model, given the versatility of the bus jumpers. These RCBus 80-pin designs can support a wide range of home computer platforms and serve as a community developed standard around which developers can build a wide range of tools.

Vassilios | Oct. 3, 2023

SC114 feedback

For SC114 RCBus-40pin Z80 SBC/Motherboard Kit

Very happy with this motherboard kit. Arrived quickly, securely packaged; excellent documentation on website and superb support by Steve. Kit easy to build and using SCM adds a lot of value to the board.

David | Oct. 1, 2023

I'm Obsessed with Small Computer Central!

For SC717 RCBus-80pin Z80 PIO Module Kit

The seller is an amazing computer architect with cutting edge designs. The kits are straight-forward, thoroughly documented, and extremely fun to solder together. I could easily spend much more on Lego and end up with no computers at the end of the project, haha.

I keep coming back for both backplanes and peripherals as previous builds lead me to deeper understanding, unlocking the skill to use new modules. The PIO module is no exception to the modernized, streamlined, and extraordinarily well thought out collection of tools represented by Small Computer Central.

The fact that I can only solder each board one time means I'll be coming back for almost every component available just for meditative solder projects; and I'm sure I'll have similarly glowing reviews for all of them, given my experience with the systems so far.

As I mentioned to the seller, the latest models in the SC700 and SC500 lines have silk screens that are pretty much completely self-documenting at this point; improving on earlier models like the SC140, an already magnificent Z180 SBC build for the Z50Bus backplanes.

David | Sept. 28, 2023

The most informative power module I've met.

For SC526 Power and Reset Card Kit for Z50Bus

With four status lights and multiple power supply options, I find myself surprised at how much information it can provide about the system. Two lights are unlit during normal operation, but may become lit in certain error situations, which is useful when debugging dense assembly language or cryptic C code. I plan to collect all of SCCs power modules as I round out my collection.

David | Sept. 28, 2023

Maximum Versatility!

For SC707 RCBus-80pin Paged Memory Kit

This is the most advanced revision of a paged memory module I've seen, with a tremendous feature set and software controllable paging ports. I am in love with SCC designs! I've been able to port my favorite CollapseOS to SCC computers using this module.

David | Sept. 28, 2023

Don't leave home without it!

For SC716 RCBus-80pin Z80 SIO/2 Serial Module Kit

The silkscreen on this board really makes it stand out, as everything you need to see is clearly labeled. There is a high level of versatility that allows you to customize if and how you want your serial device to interface with the RCBus backplane. This strikes me as useful for projects where other peripherals may need to take advantage of a serial connection.

I've used RC2014 Extended Bus SIO/2 modules in the past and, while they function the more or less the same, the extra configurability of this 80-pin model and its well thought-out jumper options really impressed me.

David | Sept. 28, 2023

My favorite standalone Z80 module design yet.

For SC706 RCBus-80pin Z80 CPU Module Kit

The included clock and optional clock footprints are very much appreciated on this otherwise simple design. Reduces the need for a dedicated clock module but still allows for the use of one. Very fun design!

David | Sept. 16, 2023

Another excellent backplane by SCC!

For SC723 RCBus-80pin Backplane Kit

I really love this little backplane. It's perfect for a compact, z180 system with a small footprint yet complete feature set. Very easy to assemble.

David | Sept. 16, 2023

Maximum Interoperability!

For SC517 Modular Backplane Kit RC2014 to Z50Bus

This backplane is a must-have if you're working with multiple designs. The Z50Bus and RCBus 80-pin standards are long-needed conventions that really empowers the community to create interoperable hardware and drivers. I am ecstatic to have this board which gives me full access to every piece of hardware I own from every modular computer I own.

Mogens | July 19, 2023

Excellent Z80 computer

For SC720 RCBus-80pin Z80 RomWBW CP/M Motherboard Kit

This kit is an excellent, classic Z80 computer! It runs lots of software, including standalone BASIC and FORTH, two machine code monitors, and the classic OS’es CP/M 2.2, Z-System, and CP/M 3 - aka CP/M Plus.

Shipping is fast, and the kit arrives neatly packaged in a very compact cardboard box/envelope. Steve’s kits are always very high quality, and this one is no exception. I have bought and built several of the SC kits before and never had any issues. I also think the price of this board makes it a very good deal.

The package includes a parts list in print, and on the website, you will find all the detailed documentation you need for building and using this kit. You must add the power supply and a Compact Flash (CF) card yourself, otherwise, everything is in the package. You can run the board without the CF, but then you have no external storage. I have successfully tested a cheap micro SD to CF card adapter on the board, so that could be an option for you too.

I would say that you need “moderate/intermediate” soldering skills to build this kit; it’s not at all difficult, but there are many solder joints to do. If you follow the detailed assembly guide carefully, step by step, you won’t get lost in the process. Also, the PCB has a very nice layout, labeled with much detail as to which part goes where which is very helpful.

I like the RCBus which is compatible with RC2014 but adds enhancements. So there are lots of expansion boards compatible with the SC720, both from Steve and other sources as well. I like the use of a voltage regulator, providing a stable power supply for the board. The small LEDs with housing are a nice detail, adding to the good looks of the board.

In terms of software, the SC720 is well supported by two user-selectable flash ROMs, one with an excellent Monitor and BASIC, and the other one with RomWBW, which is a powerful set of tools, including CP/M. This software has been around for quite some time, and is very mature, stable and high quality; everything (HW+SW) is open source, thank you - this is great work crafted by some very enthusiastic people, highly appreciated. I mostly run CP/M 3 from Compact Flash, which just happens to be my personal preference.

The SC720 hardware and software offer many features, all integrated into one motherboard. If you like computing like in the ‘70s and ‘80s this is a good buy.

Conclusion: Highly recommended, high-quality kit!

Mleo | May 12, 2023

Easy to build, well documented kit

For SC130 RCBus-40pin RomWBW CP/M Computer Kit

I've been building kits for over a half century. Started with the venerable Heathkits and continued from there. This has to be the best engineered and documented kit I've ever laid my hands on. Ships in less than two weeks from the UK to the US, thanks to reliable Royal Mail.

Points to watch.
1) Care must be taken in bending the pins of the ICs so they snap into the sockets. Not so easy when you're a senior and your hands are not as steady as they once were.
2) USB ports on some laptops may not supply enough current to power the board reliably. Some Thinkpad models are notorious for this.
3) Be careful to supply 5v and only 5v through the barrel jack. 9v or 12v will damage the ICs and render the board inoperable. I made this mistake and had to replace chips, one by one, in order to restore the board to full function.

Richard | May 5, 2023

Purchased for a Minstrel 4D

For SC129 RCBus-40pin+ Digital I/O Kit for RC2014

I bought this as an expansion module for a Minstrel 4D.

Easy to assemble and worked first time.

Usual quick delivery and high quality product for this vendor.

Ricky | April 5, 2023

Great Prototype module!

For SC115 RCBus-40pin+ Breakout Module Kit for RC2014

Very easy to assemble. This is very versatile board that allows you to learn a lot about I/O, decoding, and programming.

Fernando | March 6, 2023

Great kit and great service

For SC126 RCBus Z180 SBC/Motherboard Kit

The SC126 is one of the best kits you can get if you want to start playing with a CP/M and a Z80 in general (ok, it's a Z180 and it only makes a lot of things simpler). It has everything you could ask for and then something extra, like the 8 diagnostic LEDs. Stephen did a great job designing it, and his attention also shows in the kit itself. It was neatly packed, the PCB labels are clear and helpfull and the instructions provided in his website are clear and thorough. I am now playing with a Z80 again after 35 years and it feels great.

Braden | Feb. 28, 2023

Makes an otherwise complicated assembly easy

For SC504 Compact Flash Interface Kit for Z50Bus

This kit was well-packaged and complete. It includes the CompactFlash holder daughtercard.

It all went together very nicely, although it was a bit of a pain to have to remove the key on the CompactFlash connector. I ended up stabbing my finger with my Xacto knife.

But it's a nice slick little kit that takes the physical complexity out of dealing with the CF module. The address jumpers are nicely placed and offer nice flexiblity. And he makes a lot of nice software available online for getting going with the card.

Be sure and read Steve's notes online about high-speed CF cards.

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