Retro Project – 8-Bit ISA Ethernet Card (isa8_eth)

Last Updated on 21 June 2026 by Suffocation

8-Bit Ethernet ISA card with space for an SST39SF040 Flash EEPROM. There are two options for settings. Either via DIP switches or via the configuration software.

Link to the project

GitHub – skiselev/isa8_eth: ISA 8-Bit Ethernet Controller

Series contributions

ISA 8-bit 8088 Board – The main processor board with 8088 or V20

ISA 8-bit Backplane – Motherboard with ISA slots for the built ISA cards

ISA 8-Bit Super VGA Card – Card based on Trident TVGA9000i chip

ISA 8-bit Ethernet Card – Modern network card based on the Realtek 8019 chip

Views

8Bit ISA Ethernet Card – Front
8Bit ISA Ethernet Card – Rear View

Facts

  • XT/AT, RTL8019, NE2000 Compatible
  • 10BaseT Full Duplex
  • 10 Mbit Full Duplex Data Transfer
  • 8-Bit ISA Port
  • RJ45 connector
  • EEPROM socket
  • External storage interface.

Circuit diagrams

ISA8_Ethernet-Schematic-1.0Download

Documentation

https://github.com/skiselev/isa8_eth

Assembly

Record

DescriptionWorth
Gerber available Yes
Gerber fileLink
Ordered whereJLCPCB
Piece10
Price~15€
Special featuresLead-free, colour blue
PCB order data

This Gerber file is archived, but it's better to look for the latest version in the GitHub project.

isa8_eth_gerberDownload

Components

I ordered the components from the speedy Ali, the price per unit was about €6.

ComponentSizeNumberDescriptionPrice €WE
U11Realtek RTL8019AS Ethernet Controller3,00E
U2512 KiB, 32 pin DIP1
(optional) SST39SF040 – 512 KiB Flash ROM, 32 pin DIP – As Boot ROM		1,30E
U3SOIC193C46 – 1 Kbit EEPROM, 4 pin SOIC0,17E
Year 120 MHz, 18pF20 MHz, 18pF, HC-49U Crystal0,19E
SW1, SW22 POS2DIP switch, 2 position, SPST0,30E
SW34-Poster1DIP switch, 4 position, SPST0,15E
SW45Pos1DIP switch, 5 position, SPST0,17E
C1, C210 picofarads, 0603210pF MLCC capacitor, 0603 SMT0,12E
C3, C40.01µF (10nF), 060320.01uF MLCC capacitor, 0603 SMT0,12E
C5 – C80.1uF (100nF), 0603,40.1uF MLCC Capacitor, 0603 SMT0,24E
C9, C1022µF, 1210 222µF Tantalum Capacitor, 1210 SMT0,12E
R1200R, 06031200 Ohm resistor, 0603 SMT0,02E
R2, R3470R, 06032470 Ohm resistor, 0603 SMT0,04E
R627,000, 0603127 kOhm resistor, 0603 SMT0,02E
R71M, 060311 MOhm resistor, 0603 SMT0,02E
RN1 – RN44x10k, 0603410 kOhm x 4 Resistor Array, 0603 SMT0,08E
U232 Pin132-pin DIP IC socket0,23E
J1RJMG1BD3B8K1ANRNetwork socket3,50E
Summer9,79€
Bill of materials

Structure

Variations

Not known.

Order

  1. Solder the Realtek chip, use plenty of flux so that the pins separate.
  2. Resistance networks
  3. 93C46 and remaining SMD components
  4. Quartz
  5. Socket for EEProm
  6. DIP switch
  7. Network socket
  8. I've omitted the pins.

Commissioning

Firmware

The EPROM U3 still requires settings for the RT chip. These can be loaded using the DOS tool PG8019.exe.

https://github.com/skiselev/isa8_eth/tree/main/software/PG8019

Here the tool is preserved, please check the Github page to see if there is a newer version.

PG8019Download

Driver

https://github.com/skiselev/isa8_eth/tree/main/software/driver

Here is the preserved driver, please check the GitHub page to see if there is a newer version.

ISA8_ETH_driverDownload

Add drivers to AUTOEXEC.BAT

:: Autoexec.BAT Driver Package
:: IRQ 3, Addr 0x260, ID 0x60 for package driver
ne2000.com 0x60 3 0x260

Configuration

South WestOFF ON
SW1-1Software configurationDIP switch
SW1-2PNP offPNP and
8Bit ISA Ethernet Card – DIP Switch 1 Configuration
IRQSW2-1 SW2-2
2AustraliaAustralia
3An Australia
4AustraliaAn
5AnAn
8Bit ISA Ethernet Card – DIP Switch 2 IRQ Settings
AddressSW3-1SW3-2SW3-3SW3-4
0x200AustraliaAustraliaAnAustralia
0x220AnAustraliaAnAustralia
0x240AustraliaAnAnAustralia
0x260AnAnAnAustralia
0x280AustraliaAustraliaAnAn
42AnAustraliaAnAn
0x2C0AustraliaAnAnAn
0x2E0AnAnAnAn
0x300AustraliaAustraliaAustraliaAustralia
0x320AnAustraliaAustraliaAustralia
0x340AustraliaAnAustraliaAustralia
0x360AnAnAustraliaAustralia
0x380AustraliaAustraliaAustraliaAn
0x3A0AnAustraliaAustraliaAn
0x3C0AustraliaAnAustraliaAn
0x3E0AnAnAustraliaAn
8Bit ISA Ethernet Card – DIP Switch 3 Card Address
AddressSizeSW4-1SW4-2SW4-3SW4-4Years 10-11
ROM Disabled––––AustraliaAustralia
0xC00016KBAustraliaAustraliaAustraliaAustraliaAn
0xC40016KBAnAustraliaAustraliaAustraliaAn
0xC80016KBAustraliaAnAustraliaAustraliaAn
0xCC0016KBAnAnAustraliaAustraliaAn
0xD00016KBAustraliaAustraliaAnAustraliaAn
0xD40016KBAnAustraliaAnAustraliaAn
0xD80016KBAustraliaAnAnAustraliaAn
0xDC0016KBAnAnAnAustraliaAn
0xC00032 kilobytesAustraliaAustraliaAustraliaAnAustralia
0xC80032 kilobytesAnAustraliaAustraliaAnAustralia
0xD00032 kilobytesAustraliaAnAustraliaAnAustralia
0xD80032 kilobytesAnAnAustraliaAnAustralia
0xC00064 kilobytesAustraliaAustraliaAnAnAustralia
0xD00064 kilobytesAnAustraliaAnAnAustralia
8Bit ISA Ethernet Card – DIP Switch 4 ROM Address

Miscellaneous

Data sheets

Realtek RTL8019AS

RTL8019ASDownload

Source: https://www.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/download/1134598/REALTEK/RTL8019AS.html

SST39SF040

20005022CDownload

Source: https://www.mouser.de/datasheet/3/282/1/20005022C.pdf

General Tips

Soldering points

Check the solder joints on the ICs again carefully, preferably with a microscope or magnifying glass, for short circuits and contact. Measure with a multimeter or continuity tester.

For small solder joints on through-hole components, use flux if possible; it makes life easier and increases the quality of the connection.

Problems

Conclusion

DescriptionWorth
SuccessfulYes
Price per piece~12 €
Soldering time1 hour
FunctionGood
Conclusion to the project

Related Posts

Sources

To the project

GitHub Link

Parts list

Gerber files

Retro pages

https://archive.org – Old software, magazines, manuals, and much more.

https://theretroweb.com – PC Hardware Directory.

https://www.winhistory.de/index.php – DOS, Windows Version Descriptions.

Win 3.1x Tools and Tricks

Retro Forensics

https://forum.classic-computing.de/forum – German/English forum with many retro computer enthusiasts.

https://www.vogons.org – I have found many tips on hardware here, they also have a driver directory.

https://www.dosforum.de – Forum with strict rules and very helpful regarding DOS, Windows questions are not welcome.

https://dosreloaded.de – DOS, hardware repairs, BIOS files and more.

https://www.winhistory-forum.net DOS and Windows history.

Retro Shops

https://ram-co-shop.de - PC parts, including newer ones, have ordered a lot from there and it's always worked.

http://www.amoretro.de – Sold on eBay and has a nice directory of old hardware

https://retroreiz.de – Atari, Nintendo, Sega and others.

https://www.retroworld.info/de – Stickers, signs and more.

https://retesa-nb.de – Older PC hardware

https://www.retro8bitshop.com – C64 tricky

Log

DateDescription
08.03.2025Post Created
02.04.2025Ordered PCBs from JLC
12.04.2025PCBs received. Parts ordered.
02.05.2025Things are trickling in here slowly.
22.08.2025The box has been opened again and surprise, almost everything is there.
23.08.2025SMD, quartz and socket soldered, network socket measured doesn't fit. New one ordered.
25.08.2025The expensive network sockets from Mouser have arrived.
26.08.2025Soldered socket
22.09.2025I've added a few details to the post.
22.05.2026A few corrections made, network card tested and working. DIP switch settings included. Translated
Revision history