When Soviets tried to build an Arduino...

Today, we will take a look at this legendary device: an educational microprocessor lab created at the VEF factory in Latvia in 1988. It served as a tool for studying the architecture and operations of the Soviet clone of the Intel 8080 processor, the KR580VM80A. In a certain sense, it shared similarities with the famous MITS Altair computer. When equipped with expansion cards, it has extensive capabilities for building microprocessor-driven devices — somewhat like the modern Arduino.

What you will find in this episode:
00:00 – Introduction
01:20 – An episode about SKALA is coming!
01:44 – KR580VM80A processor
02:11 – Controls, buttons, and LEDs
04:30 – What is inside?
08:36 – Restoration
10:00 – Entering the test program
11:07 – Test run of the Hello World program
12:06 – Outro and future plans

Support our work:

[ReverendJasper]

I can imagine that the notes were left inside to assist with the repairs. The repair service was probably shared amongst some of the same workers who did the assembly. The quota for units shipped gets made, and the metrics for repairs looks good as the "damaged in shipping" units get diagnosed incredibly quickly...

[yorgle]

I love the look of the older vintage red LEDs... That ruby red color, and the hot spot in the frosting... so nice.

[KeritechElectronics]

2:30 there it is, the Garden of Eden Creation Kit... LOL
Thing of beauty, joy for ever.

[emlo]

Great video.
As a Latvian it is my obligation to randomly comment after my nation gets mentioned, VEF was a very prolific electronics and vehicle manufacturer, that was made before the occupation of Latvia they also built the smallest spy camera at the time

[Karthickபரையர்]

Waiting for more interesting videos like this. So subbed. 👍

[youreale]

I love history, software and hardware and your content is just amazing! can't wait for the next episode. Thank you guys and keep going!

[AppliedCryogenics]

What a beautiful machine. Thanks to you (and your generous viewer!) for showing it to us!

[minombredepila]

Astounding machine. Thanks for sharing. It reminds me of the hp 5036A Microprocessor Lab, with its differences. Your material deserves a museum. Hope that you could found one at the end 🙂

[michalp.]

There was a similar machine at one of Poland's techinical universities in '90s. Only much bigger, built in rack cabinet, with displays for each register, etc. I learned the 8080 assembler on it and understood the operation of that processor. Thanks to it, I also understood the assembler of the x86 family and the operation of microprocessor hardware in general.

[thiagozanolomainente]

I love this channel and I love this accent. Keep going! Greetings form Brazil.

[AttilaSVK]

This reminds me of the Tesla PMI80 and the TEMS 80-03, which also came in a suitcase. Both were built around the MHB8080A CPU, Tesla's clone of the Intel 8080. Engineers liked the CPU (or just had to use it because it was available), so many systems were available based on the 8080: the Tesla PMD85 series (and its clones Didaktik Alfa, Didaktik Beta, and Maťo - the compatibility of the clones wasn't 100% though), SMEP PP01 by ZVT Banska Bystrica, IQ151 by ZPA Novy Bor, etc.

[douro]

There were speakers VEF made in the 1980s which reminded of cheap speakers on the outside but were anything but on the inside, actually rivaling the performance of many of the better Western hi-fi speakers.

[edgeeffect]

I used to do 8080 assembly language on CP/M... I would have LOVED one of these.

[henrypile]

The wire wrap technology was widely used in the 70‘s up to the 90‘s for computer prototyping, giving you a fast way of connecting pins together w/o the need to etch and manufacture a pcb. Pre-drilled PCBs, IC and other sockets were available with the necessary long pins to wrap the wire around. The wire wrap „pistol“ was driven manually by pressing the handle to rotate the shaft, and some models could even strip and cut the excess wire during the wrapping process, resulting in an enhanced working speed.

[leopiipponen]

Wire wrap are one of best reliably connector types and look very nice :)

[MrWaalkman]

Very cool! I have a couple Fox MT-80Z trainers, a MicroProfessor MPF-1 Plus, and a Lab-Volt 6502 trainer. As well as some of the modern ones.

But yours is one of the coolest ones out there. :)

[TheMamosians]

Greetings from the UK. I’m new to your channel. Such great work your doing! I love it. Thanks so much 🎉

[bobwatson]

Evening Alex. That is quite an attractive unit, pretty decent to learn a bit of assembly. If not far off what one of my mates to learnt on. He was several years older than me and got something simliar to this. I learned on a bbc and later on dec vax. It looks as though its been repaired. Its great its been saved from the shelf.

[antikarch]

Bggg!
I studied at USURT from 2000 to 2006.
There i was writing for 3 years lot of course works for students (for money) using exactly this device.

[HyroDaily]

Man, you guys get some really cool stuff.