website/content/museum/acorn-computer-bbc-master.md

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

title	categories	types	origins	years	cpus	params
Acorn Computer BBC Master	Computers	Home Computer	United Kingdom	1986	65C102	name image company company_name specs tabs photos hardware emulators links docs comments related oc_id source BBC Master /media/museum/photos/acorn_bbcmaster_system_1.jpg /companies/acorn-computer Acorn Computer label value NAME BBC Master label value MANUFACTURER Acorn Computer label value TYPE Home Computer label value ORIGIN United Kingdom label value YEAR February 1986 label value END OF PRODUCTION 1993 label value BUILT IN LANGUAGE BBC BASIC IV interpreter label value KEYBOARD Full stroke 93 key with numeric keypad and 10 function keys label value CPU 65C102 (an evolution of the 6502) label value SPEED 2 MHz. label value RAM 128 KB label value ROM 128 KB (Expandable) label value TEXT MODES 40/80 x 25 lines, 20/40/80 x 32, Teletex mode (40 x 25 x 8 colours) label value GRAPHIC MODES 160/320/640 x 256 dots in 2 to 8 colours label value COLORS 8 among 16 label value SOUND 4 chanels, 8 octaves - SN76489 sound generator label value SIZE / WEIGHT 46.7 (W) x 34.5 (D) x 7.5 (H) cm. label value I/O PORTS Tube expansion, BBC High Speed Bus, FDD interface, User interface, RS423 serial, Analog, Econet network, Parallel, tape recorder, TV/RF, RGB & Composite outputs, label value BUILT IN MEDIA Cassette & FDD interfaces label value OS MOS label value POWER SUPPLY Built-in switching power supply unit label value PERIPHERALS External FDD unit, processor card, etc. label value PRICE £499 photos hardware emulators links docs title subtitle text image BBC MASTER /media/museum/photos/acorn_bbcmaster_system_2.jpg title subtitle text image KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP #1 Notice the function-key help insert which can be changed according to the software used. /media/museum/photos/acorn_bbcmaster_keyboardcloseup_2.jpg title subtitle text image KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP #2 Twin cartridge housings, numeric keypad and Master series logo. /media/museum/photos/acorn_bbcmaster_keyboardcloseup_1.jpg title subtitle text image REAR CONNECTORS **(1)** Econet network DIN plug\ **(2)** Audio out RCA jack\ **(3)** Tape recorder DIN plug\ **(4)** Serial RS423 DIN plug\ **(5)** Analogue port DB15 connector\ **(6)** Analogue RGB video out\ **(7)** Composite video out\ **(8)** TV/RF video out\ **(9)** Optional modem cable /media/museum/photos/acorn_bbcmaster_back_1.jpg title subtitle text image BOTTOM CONNECTORS **(1)** Auxiliary power supply - +5V & +12V\ **(2)** External disk drive unit. FD controller chip is provided on the mainboard\ **(3)** Parallel printer\ **(4)** User port\ **(5)** 1 MHz bus\ **(6)** Tube interface /media/museum/photos/acorn_bbcmaster_bottom_1.jpg title subtitle text image INSIDE **(1)** Switching power supply unit\ **(2)** Optional modem card\ **(3)** Optional ROM card. Allows 13 ROM chips to be added\ **(4)** ROM cartridge connectors\ **(5)** Setup and clock battery backup /media/museum/photos/acorn_bbcmaster_inside_1.jpg title subtitle text image MAINBOARD **(1)** Bottom connectors\ **(2)** Cartridge connectors\ **(3)** Rom socket area /media/museum/photos/acorn_bbcmaster_mainboard_1.jpg title subtitle text image SET OF MANUALS The "Welcome Guide" is very detailed, giving all the information about internal hardware and built-in software. /media/museum/photos/acorn_bbcmaster_manuals_1.jpg title subtitle text image OPUS FD UNIT This dual 5.25" floppy drive unit could be used with Acorn DFS or Opus DDOS operating systems.\ Users could select single or double-sided, 40 or 80 track format.\ Depending on the format used, a diskette could store from 100 KB to 360 KB of information.\ Power is supplied by the BBC auxiliary connector. /media/museum/hardware/acorn_bbcmaster_opusfdunit_1.jpg title subtitle text image DUAL ROM SUPPORT #1 Two ROM modules can be inserted in this support. Here one of them is equipped with a null insertion socket. /media/museum/hardware/acorn_bbcmaster_rommodule_1.jpg title subtitle text image DUAL ROM SUPPORT #2 /media/museum/hardware/acorn_bbcmaster_rommodule_2.jpg title subtitle text image 64 KB RAM CARD /media/museum/hardware/acorn_bbcmaster_rammodule_1.jpg title subtitle text image FUNCTION KEY INSERTS Users could insert function key reminders for some of the major software above the row of function keys. /media/museum/hardware/acorn_bbcmaster_inserts_1.jpg title subtitle text image VOLTMACE DELTA CONTROLLERS Voltmace modified its Database videogame system controllers to be sold for micro-computers, mainly Acorn systems : BBC and Electron (with Plus-1 interface). As the keypad was of no use anymore, it was reduced to only 3 fire buttons. /media/museum/hardware/voltmace_joysticks.jpg title url platform text The BBC Lives ! http://www.nvg.org/bbc/emulators.php3 MS DOS This excellent site has a complete list of Acorn systems emulators title url text Acornusers.org http://www.acornusers.org/ The acornusers.org server hosts several Acorn web sites title url text comp.sys.acorn.games FAQ http://www.landfield.com/faqs/acorn/games/ newsgroup FAQ title url text RetroBBC http://www.strafom.force9.co.uk/bbc/Retrobbc/Index.htm Mainly a software archive. Cool ! title url text The BBC and Master Computer Public Domain Library http://8bs.com/ Lots of stuff to see and download title url text The BBC Lives! http://bbc.nvg.org/ The net's largest site catering for enthusiasts of Acorn's range of 8-bit micros title url text The Stairway to Hell http://www.stairwaytohell.com/ Electron and BBC support. Excellent site with a lot of stuff ! title url text The Unofficial Acorn Computer User WWW Server http://www.poppyfields.net/acorn/ title url text Web Wiz CAPTCHA http://www.webwizcaptcha.com Programming of Acorn computers title url cover text ADVANCED REFERENCE MANUAL FOR THE BBC MASTER http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm /media/museum/docs/couvs/acorn_bbc-master_advanced_reference_manual.jpg [**ADVANCED REFERENCE MANUAL FOR THE BBC MASTER**](http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm)written by Ian Bishop Laggett  compiled/archived by Chris Richardson\  type of document : RTF\  source : [BBC Documentation Project](http://www.bbcdocs.com) title url cover text BBC MASTER SERIES MICROCOMPUTER SERVICE MANUAL http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm /media/museum/docs/couvs/vide.gif [**BBC MASTER SERIES MICROCOMPUTER SERVICE MANUAL**](http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm)written by Acorn Computers Limited  compiled/archived by Chris Richardson\  type of document : RTF\  source : [BBC Documentation Project](http://www.bbcdocs.com) title url cover text BBC MASTER REFENCE MANUAL - PART 1 http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm /media/museum/docs/couvs/acorn_bbc-master_reference-manual_part1.jpg [**BBC MASTER REFENCE MANUAL - PART 1**](http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm)written by Acorn Computers Limited  compiled/archived by Chris Richardson\  type of document : PDF\  source : [BBC Documentation Project](http://www.bbcdocs.com) title url cover text BBC MASTER REFENCE MANUAL - PART 2 http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm /media/museum/docs/couvs/acorn_bbc-master_reference-manual_part2.jpg [**BBC MASTER REFENCE MANUAL - PART 2**](http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm)written by Acorn Computers Limited  compiled/archived by Chris Richardson / Keith Howell\  type of document : PDF\  source : [BBC Documentation Project](http://www.bbcdocs.com) title url cover text BBC MASTER 512 USER GUIDE http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm /media/museum/docs/couvs/acorn_bbc-master-512_user-guide.jpg [**BBC MASTER 512 USER GUIDE**](http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm)written by Acorn Computers Limited  compiled/archived by Chris Richardson / Daniel G. van der Pol\  type of document : ZIP\  source : [BBC Documentation Project](http://www.bbcdocs.com) title url cover text MASTER OPERATING SYSTEM http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm /media/museum/docs/couvs/acorn_bbc-master-operating-system.jpg [**MASTER OPERATING SYSTEM**](http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm)written by David Atherton  compiled/archived by Chris Richardson\  type of document : PDF\  source : [BBC Documentation Project](http://www.bbcdocs.com) title url cover text MASTER COMPACT APPLICATION NOTE http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm /media/museum/docs/couvs/vide.gif [**MASTER COMPACT APPLICATION NOTE**](http://members.aon.at/~musher/bbc/essentials.htm)written by Acorn Computers Limited  compiled/archived by Chris Richardson\  type of document : ZIP\  source : [BBC Documentation Project](http://www.bbcdocs.com) author date text Chris Jordan (UK) Saturday 19th April 2014 David wrote: "the BBC B used the IC18 Sound Generator and the BBC Master the IC38 which offered the same number of channels (4) but slightly better quality sound. ... the BBC B+ also used the IC38!" David, ICXX is simply Acorn''s own designation for the position of the IC in the circuit. What identifies the Sound Generator is the manufacturer''s part number - SN76496 in the Model B and B+, and the SN76489 in the Master. There is no difference in the sound output quality between these two chips. By the way, are you the David Shepherd who wrote Atom Minotaur? I''m the Chris Jordan who designed the sound firmware driving the above chips in the BBC Micro. author date text David Shepherd Wednesday 2nd April 2014 "I believe this inaccurate. I recall no improvement in the sound feature between these two models." Pedantically yes, the BBC B used the IC18 Sound Generator and the BBC Master the IC38 which offered the same number of channels (4) but slightly better quality sound. I say pedantically, because the BBC B+ also used the IC38! author date text Chris Jordan Monday 3rd February 2014 "The BBC Master was an enhanced version of the BBC Model B providing improved features... These features were: ... 4 sound channels" I believe this inaccurate. I recall no improvement in the sound feature between these two models. author date text Matthijs (Netherland) Tuesday 30th October 2012 As far as I remember de BBC Master512 ran DR-DOS en not MS-DOS.\ However you could play Flight Simulator on it. $-)\ Also were able to program in Turbo Pascal. author date text Userus Thursday 22nd March 2012 Most accomplished 8-bit home computers? For home games were much important while BBC''s had inferior graphics system. You may compare with MSX2 appeared the same year, for example. author date text Mark (England ) Thursday 20th January 2011 Does anyone know if the BBC B or Master has been put into VHDL code so it can be put onto a single chip ?? I know it''s been done for other old retro machines !! Might make a good project for a programmer proficiency in VDHL /Verilog programming. author date text John H Sunday 19th December 2010 I started programming on one of these (actually on a model B in school)$ I''m now a senior software engineer on large server projects. It struck me the other day, there must be tens of thousands of professional programmers and engineers now active who all owe their careers to the BBC Computers In Schools project. Awesome, when you come to think about it. author date text Steve (Adelaide, Australia) Sunday 5th September 2004 My high school had these things up until 1994 when they were replaced with Macs! I always loved seeing these in action in the late 80's at the library there (before I started at that school in 93) with networking and games like Xor. They were a well designed computer, the fact that they hung around for so long says something.\ From the previous page, I think an Australian school having BBC micro's must have been something of an anomaly. /museum/acorn-computer-atom /museum/acorn-computer-bbc-master-aiv /museum/acorn-computer-bbc-master-compact /museum/acorn-computer-bbc-model-a-b-b /museum/acorn-computer-electron 850 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230608145639/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=850 2023-06-08

The BBC Master was an enhanced version of the BBC Model B providing improved features, but sadly also introducing compatibility problems with earlier BBC systems.

These features were: loads more memory such as shadow, sideways and private RAM, 4 sound channels, twin cartridge sockets, as well as several built-in ROM software packages like View (word processor), ViewSheet (spreadsheet), ADFS (Advanced Filing System), a text editor and terminal utilities.

Like the Model B, the system had so many I/O ports that most of them had to be placed under the case. Luckily, they only used flat-cable connectors.

When it was released, the BBC Master met with great success. From 1986 to 1989, about 200,000 systems were sold, mainly to U.K. schools and universities.
Several enhanced versions of the Master were launched in the following months:
- The Master 512 was a Master 128 with 512 KB of RAM and an internal 80186 processor. It could be upgraded up to 1024 KB and ran MS-DOS.
- The Master Turbo was a Master 128 with a 65C02 as a second processor.

The BBC Master and Master Compact could be considered the most accomplished 8-bit 'home' computers and among the last mass-produced 8-bit machines. Production ended in 1993.
While developing and marketing the BBC Master, Acorn realized the PC world was moving on from 8-bit to 16-bit processors and started developing their own 32-bit chip, the Acorn RISC Machine, or ARM.