website/content/museum/open-university-uk-hektor-2.md

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
OPEN UNIVERSITY, UK Hektor 2	Computers	Home Computer	United Kingdom	1981	8085	name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos hardware oc_id source Hektor 2 /media/museum/photos/open_hektor_system_1.jpg /companies/open-university-uk OPEN UNIVERSITY, UK label value NAME Hektor 2 label value MANUFACTURER Open University, UK label value TYPE Home Computer label value ORIGIN United Kingdom label value YEAR ? 1981 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE 8085 Assembler, monitor label value KEYBOARD Full-stroke 60 keys label value CPU 8085 label value SPEED 3.024 MHz (using a 6.048 MHz crystal) label value RAM 4 KB label value ROM 8 KB label value TEXT MODES 16 lines of 64 characters label value GRAPHIC MODES Character graphics only label value COLORS Monochrome label value SOUND Simple tone facility, played through TV speaker label value SIZE / WEIGHT 30.5(W) x 26(D) cm. (mother board only) label value I/O PORTS TV/RF output, composite video, cassette port, 40-pin interface for external peripheral board label value OS Proprietary, including monitor, editor and 8085 assembler label value POWER SUPPLY External PSU label value PERIPHERALS Expansion board label value PRICE Unknown, available only on loan to Open University students photos hardware 591 title subtitle text image BOXED SYSTEM /media/museum/photos/open_hektor_boxed_1.jpg title subtitle text image MOTHERBOARD EXPLAINED **(1)** Seems to be an I/O port plug\ **(2)** Tape recorder DIN plug and remote relay\ **(3)** Hektor peripheral board 40-pin connector\ **(4)** 8155 I/O chip. Designed for use with 8085 processor. Features 256 bytes of RAM, a timer and I/O ports\ **(5)** 8085-A processor running at 3.072 Mhz. Here a Toshiba version\ **(6)** 2 x 2332 chips holding 8 KB of ROM (Monitor and assembler)\ **(7)** Thomson SFF-93364 video chip\ **(8)** 5-volt power regulator\ **(9)** 1 KB video RAM 4118 chip\ **(10)** 4 KB main RAM memory - 4 x 4118 chips\ **(11)** TV aerial signals modulator\ **(12)** Composite video RCA connector\ **(13)** External power supply DIN plug and switch /media/museum/photos/open_hektor_boardexpl_1.jpg title subtitle text image PERIPHERAL BOARD This board, used in conjunction with the Experiments books, enabled the student to use a microcomputer development system and then, design its own microprocessor-based product. **(1)** Opto-detector disc\ **(2)** motor\ **(3)** Fan\ **(4)** Heater bulbs and thermistor\ **(5)** Heater control knob\ **(6)** General analog knob\ **(7)** Data switches and LEDs\ **(8)** Ball pins and connecting wires\ **(9)** 8155 I/O chip dedicated to various board instruments /media/museum/photos/open_hektor_expboard_1.jpg title subtitle text image COURSE FOR ENGINEERS Besides the usual User Manual, the Open University provided a complete course intended for computer engineers students. /media/museum/photos/open_hektor_manuals_1.jpg title subtitle text image HEKTOR PERIPHERAL BOARD /media/museum/hardware/hektor_peripheral_board.jpg 602 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230205203432/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=602 2023-02-05

Not much is known about this UK single board computer, also called PT-502. It was available only on loan to Open University students. The purpose was to teach electronic and computer engineers students how to conceive and build a microprocessor based system. The system was delivered with a peripheral board and a complete course enabling students to experiment both software and hardware problems.

More info needed about Model 2 and Model 1 (PT-501) systems

Kerry J. Morris reports:
Oh yes, I remember it well..... (H)ome (E)lectronic (K)it compu(TOR) (!) or something similar.
I used one myself, as a part of my OU (Open University) studies c. 1986, for the course 'TM222 - The Digital Computer'. I think they must have originally been developed around 1981.
A bit clunky, I recall, but a great way of learning about microprocessor-based systems. In fact, I continued to use the HEKTOR user manual as a convenient and well written 8085 assembly language reference for about 10 years afterwards!
I seem to remember that a few years ago, when the OU revised the courses which used HEKTOR, and wanted to replace the (by then) ageing technology, they gave students the opportunity to buy a HEKTOR system for a minimal sum (but I can't recall exactly how much).
Since they were only for use with a few specialised OU courses, and were loaned to the students for the duration of the course, they are probably a bit of a rarity (at least compared to some systems), with perhaps no more than a few thousand ever made?

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.