Welcome back to the 6309 Unleashed DIY retro computer series! In this episode, we: - Wire up clean power, reset, and clock signals - Add buffers so the 6309 doesn’t fight every chip on the bus - Show how a reset supervisor IC keeps things sane - Use an Arduino Mega as a test bench to simulate signals, stress-test ideas, and set the stage for the PLDs in upcoming episodes This isn’t just “blink an LED” — it’s real 80s-style computer engineering with modern twists, corny humor, and lots of lessons along the way. If you’re into retro computing, 6809/6309 CPUs, homebrew systems, this series is for you. Series Playlist: [Add link to your playlist once you have it] Episode 0 (My return): https://youtu.be/3oLY7V2u65Q Episode 1 (Roadmap): https://youtu.be/pSqKW4V6c6g 📣 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and ring the bell — or your soldering iron will go cold at the worst possible moment. https://YouTube.com/@microhobbyist 👉 Downloads, parts lists, and notes (as they’re ready): https://github.com/microhobbyist/6309-Unleashed-2.0 👉 Want to know more about NitrOS-9? https://lcurtisboyle.com/nitros9/nitros9.html 👉 My Patreon https://www.patreon.com/cw/MicroHobbyist 👉 My website and other links (ever evolving site): https://microhobbyist.com/ 👉 Sponsored by PCBWay: https://pcbway.com/g/qxGmFr 👍 Like this video? Drop ideas (and sanity checks) below—yes, even you, Sam from Vancouver. #6309 #SBC #retro #DIY

Episode 1: Breadboard to NitrOS-9 — The Roadmap to a 6309 DIY Computer

 🚀 Episode 1 is Here!

The wait is over: Episode 1 of 6309 Unleashed has just dropped!

In this episode, I lay out the roadmap for building a fully featured retro computer around the Hitachi 6309 CPU. From the early hurdles (power, reset, clocks, and buffers) to the big milestones (NitrOS-9 Level 1 and Level 2), this is where the adventure really begins.

Expect a mix of technical deep dives, a dash of retro humor, and the occasional detour into “what was I thinking?” territory. If you’re into blinking LEDs, bus buffers, or just want to see how far one can push an 8-bit CPU with 16-bit muscles, this is for you.

Episode 0 has also been remastered and reuploaded — so if you missed the intro, or just want the cleaner cut, you can catch up there too.

👉 Watch Episode 1 here: https://youtu.be/pSqKW4V6c6g
👉 Redux of Episode 0 here: https://youtu.be/3oLY7V2u65Q

As always, feedback is welcome. Drop a comment, share your thoughts, and let me know what you’d like to see covered as this project unfolds.

Stay tuned — the rabbit hole just got deeper. 🐇💾

The Return of the Hobbyist – Rebooting My 6309 Retro Computer Project

🧠 The Return of the Hobbyist: Rebooting My 6309 Retro Computer Project

After an extended break filled with life changes, renovations, and more than a few misplaced multimeters, I’m officially back at the bench. Welcome to Episode 0 of my revived series: 6309 Unleashed.

This isn’t just a return to form — it’s a full system reboot.

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💍 What Happened While I Was Gone

First things first: I got married! 🎉
Between building a life with my amazing wife and tearing apart half the house for renovations, my electronics workspace had to go into deep hibernation. For months, my only "bench" was a cramped corner desk with barely enough room for a datasheet, let alone a soldering iron.

Needless to say, the 6309 project was put on hold — but not forgotten.

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🧰 A New Lab, A New Start

With renovations finally done (and the drywall dust mostly gone), I’ve rebuilt my electronics bench better than ever: more storage, better lighting, and a proper setup for soldering, testing, and development. And yes — the retro tech is back in full force.

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🔄 Reworking the 6309 Design

While the soldering iron was cold, my brain was on fire.

I’ve taken the time to re-evaluate my homebrew 6309-based computer, rethink some of the original architecture, and let’s be honest… add way too many new features. You know how it goes — insomnia, feature creep, and a drawer full of PLDs tend to lead to new schematics at 3AM.

The result? A smarter, faster, and far more ridiculous machine than I originally set out to build.

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💾 Why the 6309?

For those new to the project: the Hitachi 6309 is a powerful, enhanced version of the classic Motorola 6809, beloved in systems like the TRS-80 Color Computer 3. Faster, more efficient, and with extended instructions, the 6309 is the perfect CPU for a homebrew computer that straddles vintage design and modern flexibility.

And yes, I’ve also dabbled with the 6502 and Z80, and I’ll probably keep jumping between all three like a kid in an 8-bit candy store.

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👨‍🏭 What’s Coming Next

The next episode will dive into the roadmap for the revised system — covering memory mapping, clock selection, PLD logic (WinCUPL, ATF22V10C, ATF750C), and how I’m handling I/O without drowning in glue logic.

Expect deep dives into:

• Address decoding and memory segmentation

• Software-selectable clock speeds

• Shadow ROM and boot logic

• Interrupt control with maskable priority logic

• And possibly... RGB LEDs doing dumb but delightful things

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🧠 Keywords for Search (because yes, this helps):

6309, 6809, 6502, Z80, homebrew computer, retrocomputing, DIY SBC, 8-bit CPU design, PLD logic, WinCUPL, ATF22V10, ATF750, vintage electronics, soldering bench, retro computer project, MicroHobbyist, TRS-80 CoCo clone

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🎥 Watch Episode 0 on YouTube

👉 Watch the full video on YouTube

Be sure to like, subscribe, comment, and drop your ideas for what to call the “Mail Bag” segment. Your input shapes this series as much as my resistor-stuffed drawers do.

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Thanks for reading — and for being part of the retro renaissance.
More chips. More smoke. More fun.

— Frédéric / MicroHobbyist

Exciting News: PCBWay is Now Sponsoring MicroHobbyist!

I'm thrilled to announce that PCBWay is now an official sponsor of my YouTube channel, @microhobbyist! If you've been following my projects, you know that quality PCB manufacturing is crucial for bringing innovative ideas to life. Over the years, I've worked with different manufacturers, but I’ve noticed a decline in quality from some competitors. That’s why I’m making the switch to PCBWay— a company known for its top-notch PCB fabrication, rapid prototyping, and excellent customer service.

What sets PCBWay apart? They offer high-quality PCB manufacturing, CNC machining, 3D printing, and even custom aluminum plates, making them the perfect partner for my next big project— a custom keyboard with a custom aluminum plate for my 6309-Unleashed computer build. With rigorous quality control, fast turnaround times, and a community-driven platform, PCBWay ensures that every board meets the highest standards. If you’re an electronics hobbyist, maker, or engineer, I highly recommend checking them out at PCBWay.com.

Another huge advantage of PCBWay is their full support and seamless integration with KiCad. As a KiCad user myself, this makes publishing Gerber files incredibly easy, along with supporting files like BOMs and position files, should you want PCBWay to handle PCB assembly for you. Their streamlined process ensures that your designs transition smoothly from concept to reality with minimal hassle.

Stay tuned for upcoming videos where I'll showcase PCBWay's work in action!

Fred

6309 Unleashed: Quick intro to upcoming content

Welcome to 6309 Unleashed

Thank you for stopping by! This blog will soon be filled with exciting updates, tutorials, and insights from my retro homebrew computer project and micro-electronics experiments.

While I’m preparing the first post, feel free to explore my YouTube channel for videos and content that dive into the same passion for electronics and retro computing: youtube.com/@microhobbyist.

Stay tuned—great things are coming soon!