I met
Bob Grieb
via the NJ computer museum
located at the Infoage science center
(formerly Camp Evans)
where we rejuvinated several Z80 projects, such as exploring the Z80 emulator.
Bob reverse engineered the Nicolet Z80 NICE emulator, discovering
several undocumented things such as
It MUST replace the socketed CPU.
The NICE ICE (In Circuit Emulator) contains its own internal CPU
from which it may disconnect CPU signals (such as IRQ)
or assert signals (for refresh, memory access).
It CANNOT be clipped on over the CPU like a logic analyzer.
There's a minimum clock speed of approximately 500 kHz or it works erratically
(seen as inconsistent memory dumps).
The bottom of the Nicolet Z80 NICE has machine SOCKETS
on the bottom in a 40 pin .6" DIP pattern
so there are 2 ways to connect the box
via the pin-to-pin DIP-header
so the box plugs directly into the CPU socket
via the pin-to-pin ribbon cable, which uses 2 different connectors
so the left/right sides are swapped correctly
(pin 1 is clearly marked on the connectors).
