Introduction to the 8052.com SBC

The 8052.com SBC is a single-board computer designed to be both useful and instructive in illustrating certain concepts commonly encountered in 8052-based development. Although many SBCs already exist, this SBC was designed specifically to form the basis of thorough technical discussions and tutorials consistent with those found on this website--it was also specifically designed to compliment The 8051/8052 Microcontroller Book that was authored by Craig Steiner, the webmaster of 8052.com. Nothing was included in this SBC that does not serve a specific educational purpose and implementations that would confuse or unnecessarily complicate the design were intentionally omitted in favor of easy-to-understand approaches so that the important topics could be covered without being lost in the details. Every aspect of the 8052.com SBC is completely explained in the book.

This SBC was also designed with a worldwide market in mind. Recognizing that not all parts are easily available in all parts of the world, this SBC intentionally uses common parts that should not be difficult to acquire. In some cases the use of common parts may not have been the optimum design but in these cases the efficiency was sacrificed in favor of universality.
The board was developed with the Atmel AT89S8252/AT89S8253 and Dallas DS89C420 in mind but can be used with any 40-pin 8052 pin-compatible derivative including the traditional true-blue 8052, 8051, 8032, 8031, etc.; Additionally, this SBC will work with the new Atmel AT89S8253 that has been announced to replace the AT89S8252. Its feature-set is such that the user may use the SBC simply to learn and master the 8052 microcontroller but may also subsequently use it as a base for his or her own projects and designs.