Schneiderware Uni-PIO

The Schneiderware Uni-PIO is a general purpose I/O port with 48 input/output signals, published by german magazine CPC Schneider International as part of their Schneiderware DIY series. The plain PCB, or the fully assembled board were also available via mail-order.

The ECB Bus connector of the board is intended to be plugged into the Schneiderware Basisplatine, but it could be also wired directly to the CPCs Expansion Port.

I/O Ports

Default I/O Addresses are F8E8h-F8EFh, optionally a second or third Uni-PIO card can be jumpered to F8F0h-F8F7h and F8F8h-F8F8h, giving a total of 144 I/O lines when using three cards.

Address (default)	Address (alternate)	Usage
F8E8h	F8F0h,F8F8h	Schneiderware Uni-PIO 8255 PPI chip #1 Port A (without pull-ups, with red LEDs)
F8E9h	F8F1h,F8F9h	Schneiderware Uni-PIO 8255 PPI chip #1 Port B (with pull-ups and green LEDs)
F8EAh	F8F2h,F8FAh	Schneiderware Uni-PIO 8255 PPI chip #1 Port C (lower 4bit without pull-ups and red LEDs, upper 4bit with pull-ups and green LEDs)
F8EBh	F8F3h,F8FBh	Schneiderware Uni-PIO 8255 PPI chip #1 Control
F8ECh	F8F4h,F8FCh	Schneiderware Uni-PIO 8255 PPI chip #2 Port A (without pull-ups or LEDs)
F8EDh	F8F5h,F8FDh	Schneiderware Uni-PIO 8255 PPI chip #2 Port B (without pull-ups or LEDs)
F8EEh	F8F6h,F8FEh	Schneiderware Uni-PIO 8255 PPI chip #2 Port C (without pull-ups or LEDs)
F8EFh	F8F7h,F8FFh	Schneiderware Uni-PIO 8255 PPI chip #2 Control

Cautions - Port F8F0h-F8F3h were also used as alternate address of the Schneiderware Centronics Port, recommended work-around is to modify the Centronics card. On the PCBs, two PPI #1 Port C signals are accidently exchanged with each other (wired to the wrong pins on the 50-pin connector, and to the wrong LEDs).

Pictures

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  Uni-PIO Schematic

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  Uni-PIO (component side)

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  Uni-PIO (solder side)

Article

• Schneiderware #6 Uni-PIO (48 I/O lines) (12/1986 pages 124-130, correction on 5/1987 page 12)