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Date   : Wed, 17 Sep 2003 14:56:03 +0100
From   : Andrew Hancock <Andrew.Hancock@...>
Subject: Re: Watford Co-pro adaptor

 
 
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*** Signer:   Andrew Hancock <Andrew.Hancock@...>
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Quite a rare object, I have two.

As you've found it allows you to externally host a Co-processor board, that
would usually fit inside the Master.

512k (80186 CoPro) or 65C102 CoPro.

Useful if the BBC Master CoPro slot is already occupied with one of the
above.

So you can have a 512k mounted internally, and a 65C102 mounted externally,
or vice versa.

Will also work on a BBC Micro if plugged into the Tube.

Regards

Andrew

  

-----Original Message-----
From: Jules Richardson [mailto:julesrichardsonuk@...] 
Sent: 17 September 2003 11:37
To: bbc-micro@...
Subject: [BBC-Micro] Watford Co-pro adaptor

Another thing that's just turned up on the doorstep... a Watford Electronics
coprocessor adaptor.

Never heard of one before - it has a nice metal case with a hinged lid.
Inside
is a 80186 board which appears to be the same as that in the Master 512;
this
plugs into a board that has a trailing IDC cable that I assume plugs into
the
Tube on a BBC.

I'm assuming the unit allows Master copro boards to be used on a regular
BBC?
In which case, do I need anything special on the BBC side software or
hardware
wise to make use of the thing? The user-added label on the case says to
switch
on the adapter, then the computer, hit ctrl-A-break, and after the drive
spins
to insert the boot disk (which I don't have)

Oh, the unit also has a power switch on the front and a latching switch with
an
LED above; due to the latching this presumably isn't a reset - anyone know
what
it does?

As an aside, what copro units were produced for the Master series? I only
have
the one 80186 board (well, two now), and a few 65C102 boards. Were there
others
as there were for the BBC - Z80, 68000, 32016, ARM etc.?

cheers

Jules

ps. I have no idea why they went to the trouble of nicely hinging the case -
I
can't see people wanting to swap boards in the unit *that* often! (unless it
has a habit of blowing them up :-)


====
Backward conditioning: putting saliva in a dog's mouth in an attempt to make
a bell ring.

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