techav
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techav
@techav.net
A recovering art major with over a decade in IT and half a lifetime building and programming tech projects.
PikaPC had me chasing my tail for a while, but it's up and running again.
techav.net/post/8056400...
techav.net
January 13, 2026 at 5:39 PM
I can't believe how much I actually accomplished in 2025. I built things that I already look at and wonder how I pulled it off, like porting NetBSD to my 68030 homebrew computer and building a functional PowerPC homebrew computer.
techav.net/post/8050060...
techav
techav 2025 Recap: I had quite a year! I worked on some great projects and accomplished far more than I ever could have imagined. Blog Stats• 50 original posts & 6 reblogged posts • 18 photo dump...
techav.net
January 6, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Reposted by techav
It's fascinating to see the changes in one company's logo over the years.
January 3, 2026 at 2:47 AM
I got my peripheral bus rewired and the logic updated. It booted up just fine … until it didn't.
techav.net/post/8043718...
techav
Slow GoingI needed to rework my peripheral data bus to be able to steer the most significant 8 bits of the PPC403 data bus to any of the four bytes of the VL Bus to properly read back data registers.....
techav.net
December 30, 2025 at 3:45 PM
I was finally able to get the ViRGE chip to initialize and start outputting a valid video sync signal, but I missed some important details for translating the PPC403 bus to VLB.
techav.net/post/8037375...
techav
Just Read the Datasheet It was staring me right in the face. ALTI had run into a roadblock and had no idea where to look next. After sleeping on it, I came back with fresh eyes to look over some logic...
techav.net
December 23, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Wire wrap is great because it can be undone by just twisting the opposite direction. But the layers of wires add up quickly and it can be difficult to fish out a wire to remove it.
December 21, 2025 at 9:45 AM
I haven't gotten the PikaPC communicating with the ViRGE chip yet. I've made some progress, but had some surprises.
techav.net/post/8031033...
techav
ViRGE TroubleshootingA big fear of mine when making major additions to a project, such as the work I just completed for wiring video to my PikaPC project, is that the additions will break what I’ve...
techav.net
December 16, 2025 at 3:38 PM
Finally finished wiring video for PikaPC!
Just need to start testing & debugging ...
techav.net/post/8024692...
techav
So Many Tiny Wires ALTI’ve just finished the wiring to add an S3 ViRGE video chip to PikaPC, my PowerPC homebrew computer project. It required hundreds of 30 gauge wires wrapped around hundreds of...
techav.net
December 9, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Working out keyboard & mouse input for PikaPC, my PowerPC homebrew project:
techav.net/post/8018351...
techav
ALTNeed Input I’m working on adding peripherals to PikaPC, my homebrew PowerPC computer project. I have plans for adding support for video, SD card, and keyboard & mouse. I’m still waiting for some...
techav.net
December 2, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Reposted by techav
Excited to get things rolling for VCF Southwest 2026, May 29-31! Hotel room block is open now! Here’s the newsletter announcing the show and all the details #VCFSW #VCF

vcfsw.org/so/32PaQjm_j...
Get ready for #VCFSW 2026!
It seems like just yesterday we were wrapping up our amazing 2025 show. This year, our attendance grew 50% to over 1,800 visitors, plus over 100 exhibitors. On behalf of the organizing team, a huge TH...
vcfsw.org
November 25, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Handling bus translation for PikaPC
techav.net/post/8012009...
techav.net
November 25, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Reposted by techav
Who coulda seen that coming.... 🙄
November 20, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Project goals for PikaPC, my PowerPC homebrew computer:
techav.net/post/8005666...
techav
PikaPC Project Goals I’m planning on taking a different approach to my PikaPC project. For Wrap030, my 68030 homebrew computer, my end goal was always to build something capable of running a proper...
techav.net
November 18, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Rendering Mandelbrot fractals in Forth on PikaPC, my PowerPC homebrew computer:
techav.net/post/7999325...
techav.net
November 11, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Running code on PikaPC, my PowerPC homebrew computer.
techav.net/post/7992983...
techav
ALTPikaPC Runs First CodeI’ve finished wiring the essentials on my PikaPC homebrew computer project. As it sits currently, it has the PowerPC 403GA CPU clocked at 24MHz, 512kB of flash ROM on an 8-bit...
techav.net
November 4, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I've started a new homebrew computer project, this time using a PowerPC 403GA as the CPU.
techav.net/post/7986604...
techav
ALTPikaPC Homebrew ComputerI’ve started a new project. I even gave it a proper name this time! I’m calling it PikaPC, named after the adorable screaming lagomorphs. My last big homebrew project was...
techav.net
October 28, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Sure sounds like a good idea to me!
If I’m not careful I’m going to convince myself that writing an OpenFirmware implementation is a good idea.
September 29, 2025 at 1:10 AM
8-bit Home Computers at VCF Southwest 2025
techav.net/post/7955158...
techav
8-Bit Home Computers at VCF Southwest 2025ALT
techav.net
September 23, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Portable Computers at VCF Southwest 2025
techav.net/post/7936095...
techav
Portable Computers at VCF Southwest 2025
techav.net
September 2, 2025 at 8:53 PM
@vcfkyle.bsky.social exhibit celebrating 40 years of Gateway computers at VCFSW 2025
techav.net/post/7923449...
techav
40th Anniversary of Gateway at VCF Southwest 2025ALT
techav.net
August 20, 2025 at 6:55 PM