Uploaded February 2023 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
I wanted to build a project that used an FTDI Vinculum VDIP1 IC, but I could not find this IC in stock anywhere, and although I could find an appropriate replacement, a V2DIP1-48, I didn't want to wait. So I decided I'd try an experiment to see if I could replace the missing VDIP1 module with a raspberry pi. The goal was to make the pi function essentially like an 8-bit IO peripheral in a vintage computer system. I implemented the circuit using a pair of 74HCT574 latches, together with a 74HCT74 flipflop to handle some handshake signals. I wrote a short python program that emulate the firmware of the VDIP1 module. Then I used this together with my Heathkit H8 computer to transfer files from the raspberry pi to the H8. For more vintage computer projects, see smbaker.com
I wanted to build a project that used an FTDI Vinculum VDIP1 IC, but I could not find this IC in stock anywhere, and although I could find an appropriate replacement, a V2DIP1-48, I didn't want to wait. So I decided I'd try an experiment to see if I could replace the missing VDIP1 module with a raspberry pi. The goal was to make the pi function essentially like an 8-bit IO peripheral in a vintage computer system. I implemented the circuit using a pair of 74HCT574 latches, together with a 74HCT74 flipflop to handle some handshake signals. I wrote a short python program that emulate the firmware of the VDIP1 module. Then I used this together with my Heathkit H8 computer to transfer files from the raspberry pi to the H8. For more vintage computer projects, see smbaker.com
