website/content/museum/multitech-mpf-1-a-b.md

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
MULTITECH MPF-1 A/B	Computers	Home Computer	Taïwan	1981	Zilog Z80	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos adverts hardware emulators links related oc_id source MPF-1 A/B /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf-1b_1.jpg /companies/multitech MULTITECH label value NAME MPF-1 A/B label value MANUFACTURER Multitech label value TYPE Home Computer label value ORIGIN Taïwan label value YEAR 1981 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE Machine code label value KEYBOARD Hexadecimal calculator-type keyboard\ 36 keys including, 16 hexadecimal keys, 19 function keys, and one user-definable key label value CPU Zilog Z80 label value SPEED 1,79 Mhz label value CO-PROCESSOR 8255 Programmable Peripheral Interface (used for keyboard scanning and control of seven-segment LED display) label value RAM 2 KB (up to 4 KB) label value ROM 2 KB (up to 8 KB) label value TEXT MODES 6 digits (Six digit half-inch seven-segment red LED display) label value GRAPHIC MODES None label value COLORS No (red ;-) ) label value SOUND Beeper label value SIZE / WEIGHT 1575 x 2230 x 160 mm / 1.41lb label value I/O PORTS Z80 bus, PIO CPC I/O bus, cassette interface, EPROM slot label value POWER SUPPLY External PSU, 9v 600mA\ The board operates from a single 5V power supply and has a current consumption of 500mA label value PRICE MPF-1A : 1295 FF (France, oct. 83)\ MPF-1B : 1395 FF (France, oct. 83)\ MPF-1 - Micro-Professor: $149 photos adverts hardware emulators links 473 title subtitle text image BOOK OPENED /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf1_1.jpg title subtitle text image ZOOM Notice that casette interface on the top-left part of the board (labeled RD & WR). The display consits of a 7-segments LED screen (6 digits). The hexadecimal keyboard has quite a lot of commands available. /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf1_zoom_1.jpg title subtitle text image CLOSED It really looks like a book ! /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf1_closed.jpg title subtitle text image CLOSED #2 It really looks like a book ! /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf1_closed_2.jpg title subtitle text image BOX /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf1_box_1.jpg title subtitle text image E&L INSTRUMENTS E&L Instruments still sell (2003) a training system called FOX MT-80Z which is a MPF-1B grafted to an expansion board with a prototype area.\ Also included is a socket for STD-Bus cards. /media/museum/photos/multitech_mpf1b_elinstr_1.jpg title subtitle text image U.S. ADVERT (1982) /media/museum/pubs/multitech_mpf1_pub_1.jpg title subtitle text image FRENCH AD (JAN. 1984) French advert for correspondance courses using MPF-1 computers. /media/museum/pubs/multitech_mpf1_pub_4.jpg title subtitle text image FRENCH AD (MAY 1984) /media/museum/pubs/multitech_mpf1_pub_3.jpg title subtitle text image FRENCH AD (DEC. 1986) /media/museum/pubs/multitech_mpf_pub_1.jpg title subtitle text image APPLICATIONS BOARD The applications board has been designed to aid the teaching of microprocessor interfacing from simple switch and lamp input/output through to more complex closed-loop and open-loop control systems. The new board layout enables students to easily understand each experiment section as it is worked upon. The wide array of features incorporated into the board include digital switches, traffic light coloured LED displays, temperature, light, and optical position/speed sensors, a heater, a DC motor, an LED bargraph, and a potentiometer. A screw terminal is also provided for external anologue input. Picture and text comes from [Flite Electronics](http://www.flite.co.uk/micros/mpf-1b.html) who are still selling these systems ! /media/museum/hardware/multitech_mpf-1b_application-board.gif title subtitle text image MPF-1B THERMAL PRINTER This 20 column thermal printer for the MPF-1B Z80 microprocessor training system provides a permanent hard copy output. The compact unit fits neatly into the case of the MPF-1B and connects to the system via the 40 way ribbon cable provided. Its quiet printing mechanism forms clear, easy to read characters at a rate of almost one line per second. The monitor program contained in the printer's built-in 4Kbytes firmware contains printing routines and pre-defined alphanumeric character patterns enabling users to easily control the printer from within their own programs. The printer's firmware also contains an MPF-1B memory dump routine, as well as a Z80 disassembler allowing program listings to be produced in assembly language mnemonics as well as hexadecimal code. Picture and text comes from [Flite Electronics](http://www.flite.co.uk/micros/mpf-1b.html) who are still selling these systems ! /media/museum/hardware/multitech_mpf-1b_mpfprt.gif title subtitle text image PRINTER Another picture /media/museum/hardware/multitech_mpf1_printer.jpg title subtitle text image PRINTER Box /media/museum/hardware/multitech_mpf1_printer_box.jpg title subtitle text image MPF-1B EPROM PROGRAMMER BOARD This EPROM programmer board enables programs developed on the MPF-1B microprocessor training system to be stored on EPROMs up to 8Kbytes in size. The programmed EPROM may then be removed from the programmer and plugged into the MPF-1Bs memory expansion socket so acting as a permanently resident program. The EPROM programmer board contains its own 6Kbytes RAM buffer and also has a built in 2Kbytes monitor providing a range of easy to use commands allowing data to be read, modified and written. The programmer board fits neatly into the case of the MPF-1B and connects to the system via the 40 way ribbon cable provided. Picture and text comes from [Flite Electronics](http://www.flite.co.uk/micros/mpf-1b.html) who are still selling these systems ! /media/museum/hardware/multitech_mpf-1b_mpfepb.gif title subtitle text image SWITCH & LAMP UNIT This low cost board provides the ideal introduction to interfacing microprocessors. Eight large LEDs give a clear indication of output conditions, and eight lever switches enable data to be fed directly to the computer in digital form. This board provides an economical and useful way of simulating I/O conditions for program testing and debugging purposes, making it ideal for engineers and advanced students. The switch and lamp unit connects to the Peripheral Input/Output connector of the MPF-1B and so the optional Z80 PIO chip must be fitted to the system. A 40 way ribbon cable is provided with the board for its connection to the MPF-1B. Picture and text comes from [Flite Electronics](http://www.flite.co.uk/micros/mpf-1b.html) who are still selling these systems ! /media/museum/hardware/multitech_mpf-1b_swandlp.gif title subtitle text image 4MM I/O MODULE The 4mm I/O module has been designed to allow the MPF-1B microprocessor training system to be easily interfaced to a wide range of educational control products via widely used 4mm plugs and sockets. Thirty-seven 4mm sockets are provided giving the user access to the input/output and control lines of the Z80 Peripheral Input/Output (PIO) chip. With the 4mm interface module, the MPF-1B may be interfaced to other manufacturers' systems that you may have already purchased. The I/O module connects to the Peripheral Input/Output connector of the MPF-1B and so the optional Z80 PIO chip must be fitted to the system. A 40 way ribbon cable is provided with the module for its connection to the MPF-1B. Picture and text comes from [Flite Electronics](http://www.flite.co.uk/micros/mpf-1b.html) who are still selling these systems ! /media/museum/hardware/multitech_mpf-1b_mpf4mm.gif title url platform text MESS http://www.mess.org Multiplatform This popular emulator can also emulate an MPF-1 computer title url text ACER milestones http://global.acer.com/about/milestones.htm Multitech was the first name of ACER title url text Flite Electronics https://www.flite.co.uk/ Flite Electronics are still producing and selling MPF-1B systems !! title url text Lee Davison webpages http://retro.hansotten.nl/ Nice info about the training computers /museum/multitech-mpf-1-65 /museum/multitech-mpf-1-plus /museum/multitech-mpf-i-88 479 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20221205012039/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=479 2022-12-05

The MPF-1 (MicroProFessor 1) was a computer system specifically designed by Multitech (now known as Acer!) as a learning tool for use in the teaching of microprocessor, microelectronics, and control technology. In the 80's it was sold as an Z80 CPU learning and initiation system, and believe it or not, it is still in production and sold by www.flite.co.uk !! at the time this article is written.

The capacities of the system were quite poor. The standard model could be programmed only in machine code through the small hexadecimal keyboard. When sold in it's original package it had the particularity to look like a book when closed.

There was an EPROM socket which can be compared to a cartridge slot. A mini-Basic EPROM and some other utilities and languages were available as options.

There are in fact two models : MPF-1 (later called MPF-1A) and MPF-1B. The MPF-1(A) is machine code programmed only whereas the MPF-1B offers a really crude version of BASIC (one button = 1 command, as per the early TRS-80) in addition to the machine code capabilities.

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Chris remembers:
After teaching myself 6510 machine code on the C64 (well Commodore Basic was useless) aged 15, I 'formally' learnt machine code programming at college (aged 16) on one of these things when I was aged 16~18 during my Ordinary National Diploma in Electronics Engineering.
I can remember the abject frustration of typing in Machine Code in Hex, I suppose it could of been worse - ie binary
It was an excellent teaching tool though. No distractions in the way of fancy GUIs and you had to concentrate on the job in hand.
Everyone should be made to learn machine code programming first before high level languages. It makes you break problems down into the lowest level possible. It certainly makes you more concious that you are writing sloppy code in hll's such as C.

David Shepherd reports:
The picture you have is not of this board as it was in 1979-84. I suspect that this is of the modern version which was clearly re-designed at what point in time I do not know. Although, the specification does appear to be identical; hopefully they have replaced the power regulator, which on the originals heated up to 70°C and you were advised not to touch it!

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.