MiSTer's grandad namesake - miSTER z80

For topics which do not fit in other specific forums.
akeley
Top Contributor
Posts: 1441
Joined: Mon May 25, 2020 7:54 pm
Has thanked: 496 times
Been thanked: 467 times

MiSTer's grandad namesake - miSTER z80

Unread post by akeley »

Yesterday I learned there was actually a micro controller/computer named miSTER before - miSTER Z80/ComPAN. Produced in Poland circa 1985, it started as an industrial real-time controller, but was also used to make microcomputers for office/scientific use. The name derives from Polish phrase "Mikro Sterownik" - meaning a micro controller.

Image

Specs: CPU - U880D (Z80 clone from East Germany), 64 kB RAM (expandable to 960 kB), EPROM 16 kB (or 32 kB), FDD 5,25” or 8”. It could run CP/M and some other stuff like BASIC, FORTH, etc. More info here (in Polish):
https://www.muzeumkomputerow.edu.pl/muz ... g:121.html
https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/MiSter_Z80

I think it's a rather cute blast-from-the-past and a nice legacy connection with MiSTer - especially for those who love the wealth of famous/obscure microcomputers represented on MiSTer FPGA.

Interestingly, I discovered this machine by stumbling upon an auction for its documentation. Somebody is selling its old schematics on our local "ebay" (allegro): https://allegrolokalnie.pl/oferta/dtr-m ... tychy-emag

If it was cheaper (starting at 500USD right now) I'd snag it and maybe somebody could recreate this obscurity in FPGA ;)

CRT SCR$ Project - building a collection of high-quality photos of CRT displays
CRT ART Books - retro-gaming books with authentic CRT photos

Hackshed_Carl
Posts: 121
Joined: Mon May 25, 2020 3:22 pm
Has thanked: 37 times
Been thanked: 52 times
Contact:

Re: MiSTer's grandad namesake - miSTER z80

Unread post by Hackshed_Carl »

Very interesting, thanks for that.
I do love hearing about machines that I'm unaware of.

More importantly, I now know how my next case needs to look :)

User avatar
limi
Top Contributor
Posts: 773
Joined: Sun May 24, 2020 6:53 pm
Has thanked: 179 times
Been thanked: 570 times

Re: MiSTer's grandad namesake - miSTER z80

Unread post by limi »

New MiSTer case just dropped

(Edit: Oops, I guess we made the same joke) 😄

Post Reply