uP Trainer
The SYM-1 is a single board "trainer" computer produced by Synertek Systems in 1975. It was designed by Ray Holt. Originally called the VIM-1 (Versatile Input Monitor), that name was later changed to SYM-1.The SYM-1 is a close copy of the popular MOS Technology KIM-1 system, with which it is compatible to a large extent. Compared to the KIM-1, enhancements include the ability to run on a single +5 volt power supply, an enhanced monitor ROM, three configurable ROM/EPROM sockets, RAM expandable on board to 4 KB, an RS-232 serial port, and a "high speed" (185 bytes/second, the KIM-1 supports about 8 bytes/second) audio cassette storage interface. It also features on-board buffer circuits to ease interfacing to "high voltage or high current" devices.
One capability of the SYM-1 is its ability to allow an oscilloscope to be added to provide a 32 character display under software control. As explained in Chapter 7 of the "SYM Reference Manual", the vertical input, ground and trigger input of the oscilloscope are to be connected to the "Scope Out" connector AA on the SYM-1 board. The "Oscilloscope Output Driver Software" code provided in this chapter of the manual is to be entered into the SYM-1's memory and executed to enable the oscilloscope display. This code provides control of the oscilloscope display, as well as a rudimentary character set. Resistors R42 and R45 are to be adjusted to refine the displayed image.
The NBZ80 is a microcomputer produced by the Italian company SGS-ATES around 1979, based on the Z80 microprocessor. It was marketed for educational purposes in the teaching of the microprocessor systems of the time, and defined by the manufacturer itself as a Nanocomputer (the term was a registered trademark). The primary interface is a hexadecimal keypad with a built-in 8-segment seven-segment display, connected to the main block via a flat cable. For testing with electronic circuits, the NBZ80-S version was offered, including a special hardware for experiments.
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