1,289 discussions, 9,527 archived comments; pages no longer carry the comments themselves. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com> Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
129 lines
5.3 KiB
Markdown
129 lines
5.3 KiB
Markdown
---
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title: OPEN UNIVERSITY, UK Hektor 2
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categories:
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- Computers
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types:
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- Home Computer
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origins:
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- United Kingdom
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years:
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- '1981'
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cpus:
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- '8085'
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params:
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name: Hektor 2
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image: /media/museum/photos/open_hektor_system_1.jpg
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company: /companies/open-university-uk
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company_name: OPEN UNIVERSITY, UK
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specs:
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- label: NAME
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value: Hektor 2
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- label: MANUFACTURER
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value: Open University, UK
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- label: TYPE
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value: Home Computer
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- label: ORIGIN
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value: United Kingdom
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- label: YEAR
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value: ? 1981
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- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
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value: 8085 Assembler, monitor
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- label: KEYBOARD
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value: Full-stroke 60 keys
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- label: CPU
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value: '8085'
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- label: SPEED
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value: 3.024 MHz (using a 6.048 MHz crystal)
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- label: RAM
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value: 4 KB
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- label: ROM
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value: 8 KB
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- label: TEXT MODES
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value: 16 lines of 64 characters
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- label: GRAPHIC MODES
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value: Character graphics only
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- label: COLORS
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value: Monochrome
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- label: SOUND
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value: Simple tone facility, played through TV speaker
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- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
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value: 30.5(W) x 26(D) cm. (mother board only)
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- label: I/O PORTS
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value: TV/RF output, composite video, cassette port, 40-pin interface for external peripheral board
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- label: OS
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value: Proprietary, including monitor, editor and 8085 assembler
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- label: POWER SUPPLY
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value: External PSU
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- label: PERIPHERALS
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value: Expansion board
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- label: PRICE
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value: Unknown, available only on loan to Open University students
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tabs:
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- photos
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- hardware
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forum_thread: 591
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photos:
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- title: BOXED SYSTEM
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/photos/open_hektor_boxed_1.jpg
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- title: MOTHERBOARD EXPLAINED
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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**(1)** Seems to be an I/O port plug\
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**(2)** Tape recorder DIN plug and remote relay\
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**(3)** Hektor peripheral board 40-pin connector\
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**(4)** 8155 I/O chip. Designed for use with 8085 processor. Features 256 bytes of RAM, a timer and I/O ports\
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**(5)** 8085-A processor running at 3.072 Mhz. Here a Toshiba version\
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**(6)** 2 x 2332 chips holding 8 KB of ROM (Monitor and assembler)\
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**(7)** Thomson SFF-93364 video chip\
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**(8)** 5-volt power regulator\
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**(9)** 1 KB video RAM 4118 chip\
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**(10)** 4 KB main RAM memory - 4 x 4118 chips\
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**(11)** TV aerial signals modulator\
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**(12)** Composite video RCA connector\
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**(13)** External power supply DIN plug and switch
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image: /media/museum/photos/open_hektor_boardexpl_1.jpg
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- title: PERIPHERAL BOARD
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subtitle: ''
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text: |-
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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.
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**(1)** Opto-detector disc\
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**(2)** motor\
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**(3)** Fan\
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**(4)** Heater bulbs and thermistor\
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**(5)** Heater control knob\
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**(6)** General analog knob\
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**(7)** Data switches and LEDs\
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**(8)** Ball pins and connecting wires\
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**(9)** 8155 I/O chip dedicated to various board instruments
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image: /media/museum/photos/open_hektor_expboard_1.jpg
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- title: COURSE FOR ENGINEERS
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subtitle: ''
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text: Besides the usual User Manual, the Open University provided a complete course intended for computer engineers students.
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image: /media/museum/photos/open_hektor_manuals_1.jpg
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hardware:
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- title: HEKTOR PERIPHERAL BOARD
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subtitle: ''
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text: ''
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image: /media/museum/hardware/hektor_peripheral_board.jpg
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oc_id: 602
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source:
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url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230205203432/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=602
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date: '2023-02-05'
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---
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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.
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More info needed about Model 2 and Model 1 (PT-501) systems
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**Kerry J. Morris** reports:\
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Oh yes, I remember it well..... (H)ome (E)lectronic (K)it compu(TOR) (!) or something similar.\
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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.\
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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!\
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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).\
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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?
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<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>
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