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---
title: Signetics Instructor 50
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1978'
cpus:
- Signetics 2650
params:
name: Instructor 50
image: /media/museum/photos/signetics_instr50_system_s1.jpg
company: /companies/signetics
company_name: Signetics
specs:
- label: NAME
value: Instructor 50
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: Signetics
- label: TYPE
value: Professional Computer
- label: ORIGIN
value: U.S.A.
- label: YEAR
value: '1978'
- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
value: Hexadecimal Monitor
- label: KEYBOARD
value: 1 hexadecimal keypad + 1 function keypad
- label: CPU
value: Signetics 2650
- label: SPEED
value: 895 kHz
- label: CO-PROCESSOR
value: Signetics 2656
- label: RAM
value: 128 bytes (used by the monitor) + 512 bytes (free for the user)
- label: ROM
value: 2 KB (monitor)
- label: TEXT MODES
value: LED display - 1 line of 8 characters
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: None
- label: COLORS
value: None
- label: SOUND
value: None
- label: SIZE / WEIGHT
value: 35 (W) x 25 (D) x 7.5 (H) cm / 1.1 kg
- label: I/O PORTS
value: Tape interface, S100 compatible expansion bus
- label: BUILT IN MEDIA
value: None
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: External power supply (5V or 8V depending on models)
- label: PRICE
value: 350$ (USA, 1978)
tabs:
- photos
- adverts
- emulators
- links
- docs
forum_thread: 1003
photos:
- title: INSTRUCTOR 50
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/signetics_instr50_system_s2.jpg
- title: EARLY MODEL
subtitle: ''
text: Early models were labeled ''Signetics 2650 Instructor''
image: /media/museum/photos/signetics_instructor-50_3.jpg
- title: KEYBOARD
subtitle: ''
text: The right keypad allows to enter Hexadecimal data, the left one manages the ROM monitor - program Run/Stop, breakpoints, CPU registers and memory contents.
image: /media/museum/photos/signetics_instr50_keyboard_s1.jpg
- title: I/O SWITCHES
subtitle: ''
text: Each parallel I/O line has its own switch and LED.
image: /media/museum/photos/signetics_instr50_keyboard_s2.jpg
- title: 2650 INSTRUCTIONS
subtitle: ''
text: All the 2650 instructions along with their Hex codes are printed onto the user panel.
image: /media/museum/photos/signetics_instr50_keyboard_s3.jpg
- title: BACK SIDE
subtitle: ''
text: S100 connector and AC adaptor jack.
image: /media/museum/photos/signetics_instr50_rear_s1.jpg
- title: UNDERNEATH
subtitle: ''
text: Thanks to **Rainer Bauer**
image: /media/museum/photos/signetics_instr50_underneath_s1.jpg
- title: SIGNETICS LABEL
subtitle: ''
text: Thanks to **Rainer Bauer**
image: /media/museum/photos/signetics_instr50_label_s1.jpg
- title: MOTHERBOARD
subtitle: ''
text: |-
**(1)** 512 Bytes RAM chips (4x2112)\
**(2)** 2656 chip, holds the clock generator, 2 KB ROM (Monitor), 128 bytes RAM and I/O decoding\
**(3)** Signetics 2650 CPU\
**(4)** Parallel lines decoder\
**(5)** Tape recorder jacks
image: /media/museum/photos/signetics_instr50_mainboard_s1.jpg
- title: RUNNING
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/signetics_instr50_mainboard_s2.jpg
- title: MANUALS
subtitle: ''
text: |-
Complete set of Signetics and Instructor 50 manuals, along with the Instructor demo cassette.
Thanks to **Rainer Bauer**
image: /media/museum/photos/signetics_instr50_manuals_s1.jpg
- title: LOGIC DIAGRAM
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/signetics_instr50_diagram_s1.jpg
adverts:
- title: US ADVERT
subtitle: ''
text: |-
Advert for Instructor 50, Byte March 1979, Page 45.
Thanks to Adam Trinfo for this advert
image: /media/museum/pubs/byte%20%28pub%20for%20instructor%2050%29%28march%201979%2C%20page%2045%29.jpg
emulators:
- title: WinArcadia
url: http://amigan.classicgaming.gamespy.com/
platform: Windows
text: emulates the Emerson Arcadia 2001 console family, the Interton VC 4000 console family, the Elektor TV Games Computer and the Signetics Instructor 50 computer
- title: AmiArcadia
url: http://amigan.classicgaming.gamespy.com/
platform: Amiga OS
text: emulates the Emerson Arcadia 2001 console family, the Interton VC 4000 console family, the Elektor TV Games Computer and the Signetics Instructor 50 computer
links:
- title: Amigan Software
url: http://amigan.classicgaming.gamespy.com/
text: A lot of interesting info and documentation here
docs:
- title: SIGNETICS INSTRUCTOR 50 MANUAL
url: http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/components/signetics/2650/Signetics_Instructor_50_Users_Guide_Aug1979.pdf
cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/signetics-2650_usermanual_s.jpg
text: |-
[**SIGNETICS INSTRUCTOR 50 MANUAL**](http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/components/signetics/2650/Signetics_Instructor_50_Users_Guide_Aug1979.pdf)written by Signetics
 type of document : PDF\
 size : 20 MB\
 source : [BitSavers](http://bitsavers.trailing-edge.com/)
oc_id: 1029
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230606131744/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1029
date: '2023-06-06'
---
The Instructor 50 was a small system designed to teach the use and programmation of the Signetics 2650 CPU. But it was also a real micro-computer with a tape interface to save and load programs, and a S-100 compatible expansion bus.
It actually belonged to a second generation training computers: unlike its predecessors, it wasn't just a raw electronic board, but offered a real plastic case, S-100 bus, tape-interface, etc....
The built-in display was only a eight-digit, seven-segment LED display... When turned on it displays "HELLO". The keyboard was made of an hexadecimal keypad (16 keys) and function keypad (12 keys). Interaction is also made through 8 parallel I/O switches and their corresponding LEDs.
The only software built-in the system was the monitor (called User System Executive or USE), used to program the Instructor 50. Of course, programmation was made in hexadecimal through a simplistic assembler.
The 2 KB ROM was used to store the monitor. RAM was 640 bytes, but 128 bytes were used by the monitor, leaving 512 bytes for programmation. But having 14 address lines, the 2650 CPU was capable of addressing 32K bytes !
<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>