How to build the PiDP-11 'PDP-11' replica

I'm off to venture into almost prehistoric ages: The PiDP-11 kit it is a miniaturized replica of the DEC PDP-11.
Powered by a Raspberry Pi behind the scenes, this accurate replica is simple enough to build in an afternoons work, and opens an entire world of historic operating systems, even the origins of UNIX.

00:00 Intro
00:42 Initial Software Setup
01:26 Unboxing the Kit
02:14 Assembling Diodes & Resistors
03:19 Assembling the LEDs
03:56 Mounting the Raspberry Pi
04:38 Intermediate Functional Test
05:35 Assembling the Frame, Bezel and Switches
07:07 Mounting Panel Breakout Connectors
08:12 Front Panel Key Switch
08:36 Wood Work
09:57 System Serial Console
11:50 Booting 2.11BSD
12:38 Serial Ports for Emulated Serial Consoles
14:30 Final Assembly
15:48 Conclusion
16:57 Outro

Copyright @ 2022 THE PHINTAGE COLLECTOR, Gianpaolo Del Matto. All rights reserved.

Theme Music composed by Abdallah El-Ghannam.

[larsesilen]

I also have a running PiDP. The intention is to combine it with another machine Milkv duo S to run a minimal Ubuntu on Risc-V. The minimal Risc-V machine provides almost infinite storage compared to the PDP11/70 ... Both RAM and disk. There is space for several generations of Risc-V machines in the enclosure. ;)

[sylsau]

Glad someone is living my dream! Thank you for sharing.

[RN]

This is very exciting. It means that if things go very well, in 2065 it will be possible that someone will build a computer that looks and runs like a PDP-11, but behind it there will be a RPi4 emulated on a CPU made in 2062 with a few petabytes of RAM.

[johnmaxwell]

Thank you for the video. You may have inspired me to get my real PDP-11/84 and my two PDP-11/73 boxes dusted off, repaired and back into service! The 84, as I recall, needs some major power supply attention - now if only I can manufacture the time!

[hotplatelabs]

Perfect, thank you. Guess I have no excuse to wait building mine now…

[GeoffreyGrinton]

Thanks for this. I'd love to have one of these but am not sure my soldering skills are up to the mark!

[eythymiosiosifidis]

Great video! Really enjoyed it!! I have also ordered a kit from my side from Oscar and the Team. One question who may be able to help me. What would you considered the ideal Rpi model for operating the pidp-11? I was thinking that RPI 3B+ Model could be offering the best performance/power cost ratio for operating 24/7, but i would love to hear your thoughts based on your experience. Thank you!

[waaos]

Very informative video. I have the PDP11 pi kit and plan to get started assembling it soon. I also have the PDP 8 replica, the Altair and IMSAI clones as well. I worked of DEC for a number of years and having these early system clones I worked with in the past is a real hoot.
ONE QUESTION for you, which Raspberry Pi did you use and is there and advantage to going to a faster Pi like the Rev 4/
Thanks for your well done video !!

[markgarrett]

“you keep using that word, I don’t think it means what you think…” fixate is not the right word

[triggerthesound]

The transition graphic is interesting the first few times but then becomes kind of painful to endure.