Station 200
BBC Master 128
Station 200
BBC Master 128
This picture was taken before I added Station 201 to my network. It shows Station 200 which was added to my Econet in March 2003. It is connected to one of the standard Microvitec Cub monitors.
Station 200 has an internal 65C102 co-processor. This is practically the same as the 6502 Second Processor except that it lives inside the Master's casing. Because it is inaccessible, the co-processor is switched on and off with the commands *CONFIGURE TUBE and *CONFIGURE NOTUBE.There are various ROMs in the cartridge slots. The back cartridge is an Acorn one and the front one is an unusual device with two switches on top which I think was made by Peartree. These cartridges are the only ones small enough to allow the Master to be pushed back underneath the monitor stand when it is not in use.
Next to the monitor is a selection of disc drives. I was experimenting with these in April 2003 to see if I could connect four floppy drives. In theory this is possible but I am not sure if the Master hardware will support this many.
On top is a home-made double 3½" drive. This is made out of two single Cumana drives which I have wired together using a new disc drive cable intended for a PC. This was not easy because 3½" drives require a twist in the cable between the two drives when they are connected together. I did not realise this until I had uncrimped the ribbon cable and taken out the twist which was in it when I bought it. The drives are very heavy because they are made out of metal. They are mains powered and I am much too frightened of electricity to try to wire them up to the same plug so this is one double disc drive which needs two mains sockets!
To prevent the drives coming apart and pulling the ribbon cable out, I have wrapped some Avery laser labels round the middle. Not only are they guaranteed jam-free, they can also be used to stick disc drives together.
Underneath is a proper 5¼" double drive from Technomatic. Unfortunately this is unusable at present as I changed the drive numbers to 2 and 3 during my four-drive experiment so it will not do anything until I change the links back.
Towards the top left hand corner of this picture, you can see part of a photograph of Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visiting my School on 6th September 1995.