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The collection

        Our current collection.
Our current set-up consists of a BBC Model B 32K and a BBC Master 128.

Each one having a Turbo MMFC Disk emulator connected to the user port via a User Port Switch. Both have been upgraded to make them Econet capable. Our Econet is the Raspberry Pi Econet Bridge.

With the BBC Model B also having the 8271 Floppy Disk ADFS controller fitted, it has a 5 1/4 floppy drive, a 3.5 inch floppy drive, an original Acorn data cassette deck, Econet and MMFS, we can now copy/backup to just about any media type designed for the BBC.

The master 128 also has a Gotek Drive connected.

Along with our Eprom programmer, we can now burn our own ROMs for use in the Masters' ROM sockets. Although, for when we are testing or experimenting with ROMs, we now have a ROM/RAM Flash card which we can reflash with any ROM of our choice.

More information on that can be found on our >>shortie>> page. (opens a new TAB).

The BBC Model B on the left is numbered #2. It was our second BBC Micro purchase. It was suffering several problems including bad memory ICs. It was lovingly restored and we decided to upgrade it with floppy drive and Econet capability. It also had the speech chips installed although not the British 'Kenneth Kendall' version. It contained the American version of the speech module.

After we restored #2 to perfection, a British ex-pat now living in Australia expressed an interest in a BBC but the cost of shipping one to Oz was kind of pricing him out of the market.
Since we obtained our first BBC cheap, as the seller felt sorry for us, we agreed to pass on the good will shown to us and sent our BBC #1 to Australia where the guy gave it a loving home.

After restoring and upgrading several further BBC Micros and selling them on, we purchased three BBC Master 128s in various states of disrepair.
We managed to restore and upgrade 2. One we sold, one had case and keyboard damged beyond repair. Somebody bought the working mainboard and PSU.

The third we kept for our collection and is now BBC #8 which is shown on the right hand side.

BBC Micro #9

        Econet or not?

Christmas 2024. For some reason tons of BBC Model Bs and Master 128s on the market. Many at vastly inflated prices. Even spares/repair, untested ones.

Not really being in the market for another BBC, I saw this one which was bidding at about £65.
Noticing from the images, the Econet socket is present.
That doesn't mean it actually has the Econet upgrade. I have seen examples of the socket being fitted but without the Econet components being present on the board.
Not sure if that is some scam to make it look as if it has been upgraded, to boost the price.
Caveat Emptor !!!

Having not had a BBC project for over six months, I thought I would bid on this one. Eventually landing it at a good price.

At the time of writing, with the Christmas/new year falling midweek, the holiday postal service is up the Swanny.

Will post more when I get the lid off it.

BBC Micro #9 Arrives

        Arrival date 30-12-2024.

Surprisingly, it turned up over the holiday period. Not even bothering to power it up yet, we need to check the power supply (PSU) capacitors.




Looking at the board, the socket and collection of components at the top-left of the board, tell us that econet has in fact been fitted to this model, also other componets fitted show us that the 8271 disk interface is also present.

Fixing the PSU

        Brief description of Capacitor fix.

We will not go into too much detail as far as the PSU servicing goes. There are many instructions and videos already on t'internet.
We do however have a couple of tips to make things easier for you.

The PSU must be removed from the BBC case and be completely disassembled in order to remove the PCB. Possibly the most difficult part to remove is the mains power switch. It is held in with four flexible plastic tabs, which must be squeezed inwards to allow the switch to be removed from the back of the PSU.


This is very difficult to achieve as space is limited and trying to hold all four tabs flat whilst trying to lever the switch out, with only two hands is troublesome.

One cheat is to wrap a cable tie (zip tie fer you Yankees) around the switch and tighten it, compressing all four retainig tabs at the same time.
Then simply use a flat screwdriver to lever the switch out.
The cable tie will slip off the back of the switch and be left behind.

The caps

                Old VS. New.

As seen in the top image, the two 'RIFA' type capacitors are clearly damaged. One has a piece of its plastic shell missing, the other has a split across it.

The original 'RIFA' type capacitors were made with aluminium foil, paper, and some kind of oily substance. After around 40 years, the oil dried out, causing the capacitors to heat up and go snap, crackle, pop and release a cloud of acrid magic smoke.
The BBC would still work after this minor meltdown, but would keep smoking and stinking out the house. Unless you buy your BBC from a person who promises the 'caps' have already been replaced, you may need to check yourself.

The new capacitor kit includes the two RIFA caps plus one electrolytic, which is recommended to be changed. It also includes some cable ties and a cable clamp for the mains flex. We rarely use this, as it is difficult to remove the old one, and it is not necessary to remove it to disasseble the PSU.

When re-assembling the PSU, it is easier to connect the spade terminals to the back of the switch before pressing the switch back into place.

Use the supplied cable ties to tidy things up.

BBC Micro #10

    Come in Number 10 !

Same time as I saw #9 above, this Master 128 appeared.

Priced at £249, spares or repairs, untested and very tatty.
What was I to do?. Again, not really in the market for another Beeb. After all, I have just bought one I didn't really need, and that hasn't even been posted yet.

Having probably consumed a little too much Merlot, I sent a VERY cheeky offer, noting that it was very tatty and untested. Then I promply forgot about it.
Worst that could happen is the seller could reply with some form of abuse.
Second worst is he could just ignore my offer.
Next day I have an e-mail from Ebay saying I owe them a sum of money equal to the amount I had offered.
The seller had accepted !

Again, I will update this page when I have had a chance to open the Master up.