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ScuzzBlog: Diaries April 2018

Entry 28th April 2018: Post: 1


BBC MICRO : Part 1 - Master System

Heavy bit of kit this and quite big when assembled. Uses the CUB
from MicroVitec and the Akhter MD802DM double floppy drive.

Incredibly the whole package, that is computer, drives and the
monitor came ready assembled in a single box all the way from
Scotland. Bewilders me how it got here literally in one piece.

The Master System is an enhanced version of the Model B.

Last year I spent some time replacing the battery in this computer
as the system had fallen over. I had great help from the BBC
Acorn forum to which I owe a debt of gratitude.

When using the computer it is useful to remember that there is
BASIC and then there is MOS. To act on MOS commands such as COPY
and FORMAT and selecting DRIVE you add the asterix to your
command so COPY say is *COPY 0 3 FILE to copy a file from DRIVE 0
to DRIVE 3. But to SAVE and RUN and LIST you enter as a BASIC
without the Asterix.

The unit has two drives but with the choice of 40 and 80 TRKS this
gives the choice of four drives. And so to select an active drive
you simply type in *DRIVE 1 say and then a *CAT command will give
the contents of that drive.

To FORMAT you start by typing in *FORM 80 or *FORM 40 and then the
computer asks which DRIVE you want to FORMAT. Easy really.

BBC MASTER SERIES manufactured by Acorn Computers in the UK
Originally produced in 1986 though I suspect this machine is 1988
Uses the BBC BASIC IV with the OS as MOS
Full stroke 93 keys keyboard and numeric
The CPU is a 65C102 running at 2MHz
The RAM on this is 128KB with the ROM expandable at 128KB
etc etc

This is the battery replacement from last year....

The replacement battery arrived for the BBC Master

It really is wonderful that folk still make the kit

The inside of the BBC Master

The original battery pack removed


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Last updated 29/04/2018

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scuzzscink 2018