Multitech MicroProfessor MPF-1 Plus: Part 1 (Adding BASIC & Forth)
38This is Multitech's (later known as Acer) first computer, the MicroProfessor 1. There's four iterations - this is the final one, the MPF-1P, or stylised as "MPF-I-P". This particular machine has parts date-stamped 1986.
It is also, apparently, the computer with the longest production history as it's still available from Flite Electronics (special/bulk orders I'm guessing):
https://www.flite.co.uk/
Big thanks to @MrWaalkman for the donation! I really like this little machine. It would be interesting to track down the expansion boards.
It comes with a keyboard and single-line vacuum fluorescent display (VFD), an 8KB monitor ROM and 4KB of battery-backed RAM.
It is possible to add 8KB of expansion ROM - in this case I've added both BASIC and Forth on a 16KB EPROM with A13 address line switchable:
https://electrickery.hosting.philpem.me.uk/comp/mpf1/doc/
You need to break the track for pin 26 on U3 ... the is the A13 line for a 16KB 27128 ... it is "not connected" in an 8KB 2764 and thus wired to 5V on the board. You can then add a switch to switch A13 between ground (lower 8KB bank in a 27128) and 5V (upper 8KB bank).
There were (are) expansion boards available ... loads of information (including manuals & ROMs) can be found here:
https://electrickery.hosting.philpem.me.uk/comp/mpf1/
There was even a video interface available, which has been re-made:
https://electrickery.hosting.philpem.me.uk/comp/mpf1/VIO-MPF-IB/index.html
... or ...
https://github.com/electrickery/VIO_MPF_I
I'm planning to make this board and try it out.
Other videos about the MPF-1:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5pwokf56wMKBFwpbaPu6he5nzCzLp9Jw