Search Posts:

1976 DATAC 1000 6502 Training Computer

SHARE

Return to Threads

  1976 DATAC 1000 6502 Training Computer by Bill Degnan - 05/01/2022 00:43
The DATAC 1000 was designed by Philadelphia Area Computing Society (PACS) members Carmen DiCamillo and Roland James in 1976. In its original form the DATAC 1000 was a single board 6502 microcomputer trainer that included a training course for beginning computer engineering students to use to learn about 6502 microprocessor systems design. Click image for larger view.


It is likely the DATAC 1000 was demoed by PACS at the PC'76 personal computing consumer trade fair in Atlantic City, NJ, alongside the Apple, MITS, Processor Technologies and other pioneering vendors of the time (AUG 28-29 1976). PACS would also host instruction sessions internally that featured the DATAC 1000 and at least one local college (Drexel University) used them, possibly other schools as well.

the TUTORIAL BOARD with a FUTURE

MOS, the original producer of the 6502 microprocessor, had their corporate headquarters nearby and they (and/or possibly Rockwell) would have likely partnered with PACS to support the DATAC project by supplying chips, hardware and expertise. After PC'76 Carmen DiCamillo and Roland James formed DATEC Engineering to produce their system commercially (Southampton, PA USA). They eventually produced three DATAC 1000 models, the 1000T (kit/trainer) 1000C (controller version), and the 1000E (complete computer system). Byte Magazine published a brief article about the DATAC 1000 in their July 1977 issue, where they described it as "A Tutorial Training Computer". It is not known how many units of each version (T, C, E) were produced. The unit pictured here appears to have been a 1000T but there is no "T" printed on the board. Many of the chips have silkscreen dates of 1978 indicating that the DATAC was being produced through 1978.

DATAC Engineering promoted their 1000 model as an instantly usable without need of a terminal, but for those who wanted to use peripherals the DATAC 1000 came with a TIM ROM chip resident monitor program, RS232 or 20 mA current loop interface for the console device, and expansion features including a 72-pin bus expansion connector and PROM/EPROM sockets.

This particular DATAC included a homebrew Hexidecimal keypad, used for data entry. The HexPad was built and possibly designed by Roy Brader. Click image for larger view.


Pictured is Roy Brader, sitting behind his DATAC system. Note also the speaker for audio output. Click image for larger view. (NOTE: The QWERTY keyboard next to the HEX keyboard is also his design but was NOT part of the DATAC system).


More photos

The system still works! More to come...

Reply

Resources:


Buy a Commodore Computer Poster

Popular Topics and FAQs


  • Commodore B Series Tips and Tricks
  • Aerocomp TRS 80 M 1 Expansion Unit DDC
  • Items Wanted
  • Lobo Max 80
  • Zenith Z-19-CN
  • Prototype PET 2001 photo
  • Using Toggle Switches to Analyze Memory
  • Commodore Disk Archive Project
  • PET 2001 Prototype at Gametronics 1977
  • Jim Butterfield Photo
  • IMSAI 8080 With Processor Tech. Cutter
  • Secrecy is the keystone of all tyranny
  • Cromemco System Three
  • Northstar Horizon - Boot Problem
  • Computer History and Restoration Links
  • Commodore BX-256-80 - 8088 Co-processor
  • S-100 board testing with Z-80 ICE
  • Donner 3500 - an early portable computer
  • Digital (DEC) PDP 11/05 NC Assembly
  • Univac 1219 rescue
  • IMSAI 1.4 BASIC vs. MITS 8K BASIC
  • Fido BBS listing node list 6-13-1986
  • PDP 8e
  • MITS 88-2 SIO (2SIO) for BASIC
  • Visual Technology Inc Model 1050
  • Amiga 2500 Restoration
  • The Evolution Of IBM Computers
  • Replacement teletype print hammer head
  • Archiving and Copying Software 101
  • Computers Built 1940 - 1950
  • CBM B-520 (a.k.a B256-80 or B500 256)
  • RCA COSMAC Microkit
  • Commodore 64K C-116 Mods
  • MITS 8800b Turnmon 9600 baud
  • Catweasel, 8in and 5 1/4
  • Raspberry Pi as Gateway to Internet
  • Digital PDP11 late 1969 early 1970
  • PDP 11/40 72 inch cabinet model
  • PDP 11/40 Industrial 11 model
  • Digitial MicroVAX 3100 30 System
  • Digital VAX 4000-200
  • Commodore 64 / 1541 DRIVEKNOCK
  • Booting the System Using RL02 drive
  • PACS: Reflections by Kathleen Mauchly
  • Tele-Graphic Computer Systems Inc.
  • Commodore B Series SID Jukebox?
  • Installing Core into PDP 11/40
  • Setting Up OpenVMS 7.1 DNS CLERK
  • Felt-Tarrant Comptometer Model J
  • NextStation Color
  • Digital Rainbow (PC100-B2)
  • 1970 Compusad Compulogical Tutor
  • Archiving Papertapes Using DSI NC 2400
  • 1976 P.C.C. Features the MAI JOLT 6502
  • 1961 Beckman DEXTIR Computer
  • UNIVAC 1 and UNIVAC File Computer 1
  • Past Issues:


    RW 300 Console Model

    This image was selected at random from the archive. Click image for more photos and files from this set.