---
title: Robotron A5105
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- Germany
years:
- '1988'
cpus:
- U880D
params:
  name: A5105
  image: /media/museum/photos/robotron_5105_system_s1.jpg
  company: /companies/robotron
  company_name: Robotron
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: A5105
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Robotron
  - label: TYPE
    value: Professional Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Germany
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1988'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: RBASIC interpreter
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Typewriter style, 69 keys with 5 function keys and arrow keys
  - label: CPU
    value: U880D (8-bit Z80 clone)
  - label: SPEED
    value: 3.75 MHz
  - label: RAM
    value: 64 KB (48 KB available with RBASIC) up to 128 KB
  - label: VRAM
    value: Unknown
  - label: ROM
    value: 40 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 40 or 80 columns x 25 lines
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 320 x 200 (16 colours) or 640 x 200 (4colours) dots
  - label: COLORS
    value: '16'
  - label: SOUND
    value: 3-voice stereo output. Built-in speaker
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: 'Keyboard: 1.8kg, main unit: 10.5kg, display: 11kg'
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: |-
      Tape drive\
      2 joysticks\
      Z80 bus connector\
      2 parallel ports\
      2 serial ports\
      audio stereo\
      RGB, TV aerial\
      Local net (500 Kbit/sec, 100 m, 16 stations)
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: 5.25'' floppy disk drive
  - label: OS
    value: SCPX-5105 (CP/M variant), RBASIC-2.0
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in Power supply unit
  - label: PRICE
    value: Unknown
  tabs:
  - photos
  - links
  photos:
  - title: LARGER VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/robotron_5105_system_s2.jpg
  links:
  - title: www.robotron-net.de
    url: http://www.robotron-net.de/
    text: Robotron dedicated website (German)
  comments:
  - author: mbx
    date: Wednesday 29th June 2016
    text: You can find an emulator for A5105 (and other robotron boxes like the KC85/3) at http://www.jens-mueller.org/jkcemu/index.html
  - author: Oxy (Germany)
    date: Wednesday 18th July 2007
    text: 'One funny notice about the system: it was able to handle 16 different colors, nevertheless it came only with a green monochrome monitor so that it was impossible to see the different colors.'
  - author: linkman (Slovak republic)
    date: Thursday 21st April 2005
    text: http://www.robotron-net.de/
  oc_id: 1071
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230530203406/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1071
    date: '2023-05-30'
---

The Robotron A-5105 was intended to be used in former Eastern Germany schools where it should replace the outdated [KC](/museum/robotron-kc-85-1-z-9001/) line of computers. Therefore, it was also called **BIC** which stands for "Bildungscomputer" ("educational computer")..

Up to 16 computers could be linked into a network which was comprised of one teacher computer and several pupil systems. Each station could access the printers and plotters.

A monochrome monitor was attached to the case but one could also connect a colour RGB monitor or a TV set.

The network software was called BICLAN. The machine ran SCPX, a special version of the CP/M operating system. The RBASIC interpreter was also in ROM.

---

Information and corrections from **Heiko Hahn** (Germany):\
Some of the information on your page is related to a different computer, the Robotron A 5120, which is a typical CP/M business system. The numbering of Robotron computers has been somewhat strange.\
Your picture of the A 5105 shows the computer and the disk drive box - in fact, the whole computer is built into the part that also contains the keyboard. At the left upper part of the keyboard, you can see the module port. The modules are compatible with the [KC 87](/museum/robotron-kc-87/) modules. Because of the political changes of 1989, only very few A 5105 machines were made.\
The same case design was used by Robotron for another computer, the "KC compact" which was an Amstrad CPC clone. Like the A 5105, the **KC compact** remained a rarity, as these old-fashioned machines proved to be unsellable after 1989, when western computers became available in former Eastern Germany.

<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>