MicroChicken

MicroChicken (yeah you read that right!)

Way back in 1985 Daniel Metzger published a book called '22 Micro-Computer Projects to Build, Use and Learn'
This takes the reader through all the steps to end up building a small microcomputer based on the 6802 CPU

This has to be one of the strangest computer builds I have done. (mainly due to its name!)

Ordered the PCB's back in June 2025 but did not get to build it until now (February 2026)
Between then and now I gradually collected the parts needed, was missing the 6802 and 6821.

First step was to install all the sockets and passives.
Power up the boards without any IC's installed to check for power rail shorts, etc.
Individually tested as many of the IC's as possible in the 'Retro Chip tester Pro'
At this stage the only 2 IC's untested were the 6802 and the 6821.
Programmed the 28C64 with the monitor image
Installed all the minor IC's and power tested
Installed the 6802 and checked: reset, clock, address, data activity - all ok

Installed the 6821 & EEPROM and connected the UI board and fully powered up

!IT WORKS!

I built the backplane to allow for expansion, and most of the 'Serial Chicken' board, but have not populated with the 6850 ACIA as these can be expensive. Added a small cage to hold all this in place and provided numerous standoffs, washers, etc. to allow the other boards to plug in, though the CPU and UI board can just be run together without the backplane.

I noticed that the 6802 was running hot (65 degrees), now, there was not going to be enough space between the CPU and the UI board mounted above it. So, I added copper plates to the top in the hope it would distribute the heat better, it did have some effect bringing the temperature down to 56 degrees.

Next: the system now has 2 barrel jack power inputs, one at 5v and the other can take up to 12v fed to a regulator...
Several things wrong with this, should someone plug a 12v supply into the 5v socket then all would be lost. Plus, the regulator (even fitted with a small heatsink) was running at 76 degrees, too hot for my taste. I decided to remove the regulator and this way both barrel jacks can be supplied with just 5v.

What I was left with at the end was a set of other expansion boards; an IC tester, a Beep Chaser and an external keyboard pcb, plus for some reason (an error) I had JLCPCB make up 5 cassette boards even though the CPU board already has cassette capability. These boards may be for either a future expansion or for a future owner.