---
title: Tandy Radio Shack TRS 80 PC-1
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Pocket
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1980'
cpus:
- Sharp CMOS SC43177
params:
  name: TRS 80 PC-1
  image: /media/museum/photos/tandy_pc1_1.jpg
  company: /companies/tandy-radio-shack
  company_name: Tandy Radio Shack
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: TRS 80 PC-1
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Tandy Radio Shack
  - label: TYPE
    value: Pocket
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: U.S.A.
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1980'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: BASIC interpreter
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: 57 keys, QWERTY calculator type with numeric key-pad
  - label: CPU
    value: Sharp CMOS SC43177 and SC43178 (4 bits)
  - label: SPEED
    value: 256 kHz
  - label: RAM
    value: 1920 Bytes; 1424 steps / 178 memories available
  - label: ROM
    value: 11,2 kB (?)
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 1 line x 24 chars. (LCD screen)
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: None
  - label: COLORS
    value: Monochrome
  - label: SOUND
    value: CPU controlled piezo buzzer, 1 tone with fixed frequency and duration
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 175 (W) x 70 (D) x 15 (H) mm / 170 g
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: 9 pin expansion port for printer and cassette interface
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: 4 x 1,35 V button cell MR44 or similar
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: |-
      26-3503 cassette interface\
      26-3505 printer / cassette interface (mechanical dot printer)\
      CTR-80A cassette recorder (generic)
  - label: PRICE
    value: $230
  tabs:
  - photos
  - adverts
  - links
  - docs
  forum_thread: 914
  photos:
  - title: CLOSE-UP
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/tandy_pc1_larger_1.jpg
  - title: WITH MANUAL
    subtitle: ''
    text: Tandy PC-1 with user manual and soft protective case.
    image: /media/museum/photos/tandy_pc1_manual_1.jpg
  adverts:
  - title: FRENCH ADVERT (1980)
    subtitle: ''
    text: Dated december 1980
    image: /media/museum/pubs/tandy_trs80-model1_pub_grande-ouverture.gif
  links:
  - title: RadioShackCatalogs.com
    url: http://www.RadioShackCatalogs.com
    text: Here, you can actually/virtually flip-through the pages to view the content of every RadioShack catalog!
  docs:
  - title: PC-1 - OPERATION MANUAL
    url: http://www.trs-80.com/trs80-hw.htm
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/tandy_pc1_operation-manual.jpg
    text: |-
      [**PC-1 - OPERATION MANUAL**](http://www.trs-80.com/trs80-hw.htm)written by Radio Shack

       compiled/archived by Wade Fincher\
       type of document : PDF\
       size : 4 MB\
       source : [Ira Goldklang's TRS-80 Revived Site](http://www.trs-80.com)

      **... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :**
  - title: TRS-80 POCKET COMPUTER & CASSETTE INTERFACE - SERVICE MANUAL
    url: http://www.trs-80.com/trs80-hw.htm
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/tandy_pc1_service-manual.jpg
    text: |-
      [**TRS-80 POCKET COMPUTER & CASSETTE INTERFACE - SERVICE MANUAL**](http://www.trs-80.com/trs80-hw.htm)written by Radio Shack

       compiled/archived by Pete Bumgardner\
       type of document : PDF\
       size : 3 MB\
       source : [Ira Goldklang's TRS-80 Revived Site](http://www.trs-80.com)

      **... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :**
  - title: PRINTER/CASSETTE INTERFACE FOR TANDY POCKET COMPUTER
    url: http://www.trs-80.com/trs80-hw.htm
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/tandy_pc1_printer-cassette-interface.jpg
    text: |-
      [**PRINTER/CASSETTE INTERFACE FOR TANDY POCKET COMPUTER**](http://www.trs-80.com/trs80-hw.htm)written by Radio Shack

       compiled/archived by Wade Fincher\
       type of document : PDF\
       size : 495 KB\
       source : [Ira Goldklang's TRS-80 Revived Site](http://www.trs-80.com)

      **... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :**
  related:
  - /museum/tandy-radio-shack-trs-80-pc-2
  - /museum/tandy-radio-shack-trs-80-pc-4
  oc_id: 937
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230403061028/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=937
    date: '2023-04-03'
---

The "TRS-80 Pocket Computer" was the first pocket computer Tandy/Radio Shack distributed. Nowadays, it is often referred to as the TRS-80 PC-1, so as to differentiate it from its successor, the TRS-80 PC-2 (and following), which is a clone of the Sharp PC-1500.

The TRS-80 Pocket Computer was custom manufactured by Sharp Corporation, and is technically identical with the [Sharp PC-1211](/museum/sharp-pc-1210-1211-1212/) (see there for more technical information). There were some minor differences: The colour style was a bit different, with gray and black prevailing instead of brown, and of course with a Radio Shack type label; moreover, the computer came with a soft (instead of hard) protective case, and an additional Quick Reference Card.

The peripherals were - of course - the same as for the Sharp models: The cassette interface unit (Catalog Number 26-3503), and the printer and cassette interface (26-3505 ), which incorporated a single needle mechanical dot printer.

Special thanks to **Roman von Wartburg** and his [site](http://retrocomputing.ch/) for information and picture.