π«π· Matra Alice: Part 1 (First Look) [TCE #0554]
51This boldly red computer is a French version of the Tandy MC-10 using the same Motorola 6803 CPU clocked at 890KHz and using the same MC6847 Video Display Generator (VDG). It was built by French companies Matra and Hachette but seems to be commonly known simply as the "Matra Alice".
The main difference, apart from the bold colour and AZERTY keyboard layout, is the RGB video output (via a 7-pin DIN) rather than RF modulated video ... yay!
00:00 ... Intro
02:15 ... Close-up of ports
02:45 ... Discussion of other Alice machines
06:07 ... Opening it up
07:35 ... Internal regulator & rectifier
09:35 ... Pinouts
10:20 ... Making the 7-pin RGB video output cable
12:01 ... Ready to power on (using 10VDC)
14:15 ... Checking the keyboard
16:16 ... Video output fixed!
17:55 ... Disassembling the keyboard
21:10 ... Channel thanks & outro
The video pinout is:
Pin 1 = n/c
Pin 2 = ground
Pin 3 = red
Pin 4 = synch
Pin 5 = green
Pin 6 = audio
Pin 7 = blue
After building the video cable and supplying 10VDC, I got an image which was quite unstable. I noticed a variable resistor (R45) in the video output stage so gave it a tweak ... perfect, almost! This R45 looks to adjust the level of the FS (field synch) and HS (horizontal synch) signals coming out of the MC6487 VDG, which makes sense why it resolved the stability problem.
The keyboard wasn't working properly ... looks likely due to a mechanical issue ... missing screws! Whilst I have it apart I might as well give the case & key caps a good wash before reassembling with some replacement screws.
Then it'll be time to try loading some cassette software. I'm assuming I'll need the 16KB RAM expansion to play any modern software.
And I'm assuming that it should run Tandy MC-10 software ... although key mapping might be an issue due to the differences in the English QWERTY and French AZERTY layouts ...
I guess this machine could easily be converted to a bog-standard Tandy MC-10 by rearranging the keys and replacing the ROM ... a bright red MC-10 with built-in RGB video output ... but then it'd lose a lot of its charm!
This page (in French) looks to have some quite good information about the Alice series of computers:
https://alice.system-cfg.com/about.php
There were further versions ... this first one (same as the Tandy MC-10) is also known as the "Alice 4KB". The Alice 32 was next with 16KB of RAM and using a different video chip, then the Alice 90 with a proper keyboard & more memory, then finally the Alice 8000 that had both a Motorola 6803 and an Intel 8088.
--------------------------------
Check out my Patreon for regular blog-type updates between videos - there is a free membership tier and two paid tiers (US$2 and US$5). There is also a one-week trial for the paid tiers so if you don't think it's worth it, then cancel ... no hard feelings ... I appreciate any support, even if it's just subscribing to my YouTube channel!
https://www.patreon.com/TheCluelessEngineer
--------------------------------
Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio
https://karlcasey.bandcamp.com/
Β Β Β /Β @whitebataudioΒ Β