Revitalizing a Relic: Modernizing the KIM-1 Microcomputer
2025-07-28
The author connects a 1976 KIM-1 microcomputer to a modern terminal. The KIM-1 uses an obsolete current loop interface, requiring a simple circuit modification. By modifying a readily available USB-to-RS-232 adapter, the author successfully enables communication between the KIM-1 and a modern computer, allowing program uploads using minicom and even emulating punched tape loading. The process vividly demonstrates the charm of combining hardware restoration with innovation.