---
title: OHIO Scientific CHALLENGER II
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1978'
cpus:
- '6502'
params:
  name: CHALLENGER II
  image: /media/museum/photos/ohio-scientific_challenger2.jpg
  company: /companies/ohio-scientific
  company_name: OHIO Scientific
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: CHALLENGER II
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: OHIO Scientific
  - label: TYPE
    value: Home Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: U.S.A.
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1978'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: Microsoft BASIC interpreter
  - label: CPU
    value: '6502'
  - label: SPEED
    value: 1 or 2 Mhz.
  - label: RAM
    value: 4 KB expandable up to 36 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: 8 KB
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 64 x 32
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: None
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Tape, Monitor, Four Slots
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: internal P.S.U.
  - label: PRICE
    value: $598 in assembled form
  tabs:
  - photos
  - links
  - docs
  photos:
  - title: THE CHALLENGER II DISK SYSTEM
    subtitle: ''
    text: 'Each Disk can store 250 KB. Unlike the Challenger IIP, the motherboard isn''t in the keyboard case but in the box above the FDD. Two versions of the Challenger Disk System were available : the first one used a monitor and had a video output, the second one used a terminal and had a serial port (RS232 ?). This model doesn''t use a specific operating system, but a special version of Basic (16 KB ROM on the disk controller)'
    image: /media/museum/photos/challenger.jpg
  links:
  - title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
    url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
    text: ''
  docs:
  - title: SUPERBOARD II / CHALLENGER 1P - USERS MANUAL
    url: null
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/challenger_user-manual.jpg
    text: |-
      **SUPERBOARD II / CHALLENGER 1P - USERS MANUAL**\
      written by Ohio Scientific

       compiled/archived by David Wilson\
       type of document : PDF\
       size : 2,7 MB\
       source : www.old-computers.com
  - title: THE 8K BASIC-IN-ROM - REFERENCE MANUAL
    url: null
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/doc_ohio-scientific_osi-basic.jpg
    text: |-
      **THE 8K BASIC-IN-ROM - REFERENCE MANUAL**\
      written by Ohio Scientific

       compiled/archived by David Wilson\
       type of document : PDF\
       size : 576 KB\
       source : www.old-computers.com
  - title: CHALLENGER 1P - TECHNICAL REPORT
    url: null
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/challenger-1p_technical-report.jpg
    text: |-
      **CHALLENGER 1P - TECHNICAL REPORT**\
      written by Ohio Scientific

       compiled/archived by David Wilson\
       type of document : PDF\
       size : 1,4 MB\
       source : www.old-computers.com
  - title: THE CHALLENGER CHARACTER GRAPHICS REFERENCE MANUAL
    url: null
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/challenger_characters-graphics-reference-manual.jpg
    text: |-
      **THE CHALLENGER CHARACTER GRAPHICS REFERENCE MANUAL**\
      written by Ohio Scientific

       compiled/archived by David Wilson\
       type of document : PDF\
       size : 1,3 MB\
       source : www.old-computers.com
  comments:
  - author: ChallengermaN (Yugoslawia - Republic of Macedonia)
    date: Friday 22nd April 2005
    text: I see this in 1985 in primary school in Macedonia. It was using for learning purposes.
  related:
  - /museum/ohio-scientific-challenger-1p
  - /museum/ohio-scientific-challenger-4p
  - /museum/ohio-scientific-challenger-iii
  - /museum/ohio-scientific-superboard-ii
  oc_id: 46
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230528100235/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=46
    date: '2023-05-28'
---

This computer is based on the MODEL 500 CPU board. It is actually a Super Kit (see [Model 500](/museum/ohio-scientific-model-500/)) assembled with a cassette interface and a keyboard. OHIO Scientific presented two enhanced versions of the Challenger IIP : the Challenger II Disk Systems and the [Challenger III](/museum/ohio-scientific-challenger-iii/).

The Disk System version came with 16 KB of RAM (expandable to 192 KB)instead of ROM BASIC and one or two 8'' F.D. drives. The disk BASIC was automatically loaded into the RAM. Up to 4 independant users could be connected simultaneously. The basic version with a single F.D. drive costed $1964.