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Forum Index : Microcontroller and PC projects : DREAM-6800 computer
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NuttElecs Newbie  Joined: 10/11/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6 |
You may call me old, even old fashioned but after having a play with the Maximite, memories returned. In my possession I still have a self built DREAM-6800 computer complete with all the documentation, managed to locate it amongst the relics in the shed loft. Resurrection is the key word, must have a go and get it operational again. Can anybody else remember this machine which first surfaced in Electronics Australia in 1979? Regards, Gordon |
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| mookster1 Regular Member  Joined: 10/06/2011 Location: New ZealandPosts: 81 |
I don't personally remember it but I remember an article on it in New Zealand PCWorld not too long ago. As I have a great interest in old computers (but don't actually own any!) I thought it fascinating. Capacitance is futile - roll on 2012! |
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BobDevries Senior Member  Joined: 08/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 266 |
Hi all, I built a DREAM 6800 years ago (around 80 or 81 I think). Sadly I don't have it now, but it's on my to-do list to build another one. I have the docs for the some of the add-ons still, and also the newsletter "Dreamer" issues 1 to 14(?). Regards, Bob Devries Dalby, QLD, Australia |
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| NuttElecs Newbie Joined: 10/11/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6 |
Hi Bob, No double sided PCB's in those days, I can remember placing a heap of insulated wire links on the board. Some of the games were quite addictive, remember playing "Depth Charge" a lot. If you require copies of the documentation for your rebuild maybe I can be of assistance. Regards, |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5160 |
I remember the articles. I was still at school at the time and didn't have any money, so my first computer was a couple of years after that. I do remember the 6800 has a big following, there were lots of program listings published in EA and ETI. I also have faint memory of another similar kit computer, from ETI? Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| NuttElecs Newbie Joined: 10/11/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6 |
The ETI version was the 660 Learners Computer. Regards, |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5160 |
That was it. I remember it caught my attention because it used a delay line, something new to me at the time. Found some links. Magazine articles. DREAM 6800 ETI-660 Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| NuttElecs Newbie Joined: 10/11/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6 |
Hi Glenn, Thanks for the links, Michael Bauer had posted PDF's of the original EA articles which will help save my old eyes as the original Owners Manual is a bit hard to decipher with the ravages of age. Regards, |
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| Ray B Senior Member Joined: 16/02/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 219 |
Dream 6800 I have 2. Last week I was cleaning out a shed from a previous home of mine and I found these two boxes. Just had to take them to my new home. Original was built from a PCB kit but then to "prove I could" I built another in an old tin ashtray at work from veroboard. Cut my teeth with 6800 machine code with these beasts but finally gave them up when I was able to buy a Dick Smith VZ200/300 which I could program in VZ-Basic. Wow they were the days.... 
RayB from Perth WA |
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| BobDevries Senior Member Joined: 08/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 266 |
I also learned how to program on a DREAM-6800, in CHIP-8 and machine code. I had the DREAMSOFT expansion ROM #1 and #2, which included an extra PCB with more RAM and two PIA chips. I went from there to the Tandy Color Computer, and then to the Amiga 500/2000. Sadly, I sold my DREAM, and I'm kicking myself for that error of judgement now. As I said, I hope to build another, with some modifications such as revised RAM chip (6116 or similar). Regards, Bob Devries Dalby, QLD, Australia |
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brucepython Regular Member Joined: 19/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 64 |
Wow! That rattled a few synapses. Yes, I admit to building a DREAM and putting it in a fancy case. Pity about the daggy keypad plugged into the front. (But it taught me all about RSI.) CHIP-8 was handy, but I got most satisfaction by learning to write in hand-carved machine code even if calculating jumps to a lower address always was at best entertaining but usually catastrophic. I added an EA 8K expansion board to it, along with a synthesiser chip and a TTY interface and the machine code to run it. Ah yes, and a joystick. I don't think I've had quite as many options hanging off any subsequent computer so at least all those cables taught me about "keeping it simple". With the TTY it was used as a "word processor" in a junior primary class at a nearby school for a couple of terms with EVERYTHING PRINTED IN CAPS. However, the kids were keen to write and enjoyed sharing their stories. I've forgotten how I handled deleting erroneous keystrokes. And of course when I moved interstate I sold it. Along with the TTY. Big mistake. The DREAM was intended to educate and it certainly did that. I'd wanted a computer ever since I saw SILLIAC in action in 1957 at Sydney Uni, even playing "Waltzing Matilda", and DREAM fulfilled that wish. Bruce |
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| NuttElecs Newbie Joined: 10/11/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 6 |
Hi Bruce, The days of leather helmets, goggles and flying by the seat of your pants, certainly good stuff and learnt a lot along the way, unlike today where everything is GUI and you do not want to delve into the bytes. Just had an email from Michael Bauer, at the forefront of the DREAM-6800, he still has a preference for a code with graphics capabilities, don't blame him. Chunky graphics on the DREAM would get you hooked. Regards, |
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| aargee Senior Member Joined: 21/08/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 255 |
In high school a mate and I built the EA 2650 computer, complete with TTL based terminal PCB, cassette interface and paper tape reader. They weren't quite as impressed as we were, getting the whole thing going as they thought they were getting something similar to the TRS80, programmable in BASIC. I still have the Signetics 2650 programming manual at home. - Rob. For crying out loud, all I wanted to do was flash this blasted LED. |
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marcwolf Senior Member Joined: 08/06/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 119 |
Ah. So many projects that take me down memory lane. I have the book of the EA EDU-8 which was a non microprocessor computer written back in 75-76. I also remember saving up my pocket money and buying a Signetic's 2650 complete with white ceramic case and gold cover. I also brought a NS SC/MP Cut my programming teeth on the schools PDP11-40 where if you crashed the memory you had to load it using paper tape and bootstrap from the front panel. And yes - it had REAL core memory. Still programming by the ways too :> Dave Coding Coding Coding.. Keep those keyboards coding.. RAW CODE!!!!! |
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Synergetic Newbie Joined: 14/01/2013 Location: New ZealandPosts: 22 |
Yes I built one and still have the DREAM 6800 laying around somewhere. First Asemmbeler and Machine language we learnt .. CHIPOS and the DREAM schematic are permanent eacthed in my nuerons . Lead on to IBM 370 assembler and machine code and MVS/370/XA OS internals |
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palcal Guru  Joined: 12/10/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2006 |
Does anyone remember the Applix 1616, it used a Motorola 68000 chip, I think that may have been in EA. I built one in the early 80's and still have it in working order. My first floppy drive and a RAM disk. Paul. "It is better to be ignorant and ask a stupid question than to be plain Stupid and not ask at all" |
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Bill.b Senior Member Joined: 25/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 242 |
When I was doing my engineering course back in the late 70s, We use the MKE 6800D2 development boards to learn machine language programing. I purchased the MKE6802D3 single board development kit at this time. I still have the unit and it still works (some of the segments of the display don't work so I may have to replace these in the future). 
Bill In the interests of the environment, this post has been constructed entirely from recycled electrons. |
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| BobDevries Senior Member Joined: 08/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 266 |
*puts hand up* I own an Applix 1616 (or 2) complete with disk drives, and hard disc (SCSI). I also remember the articles about the EDUC-8 computer. I didn't have the resources to build one, tho. Regards, Bob Devries Dalby, QLD, Australia Bob Devries Dalby, QLD, Australia |
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| BobDevries Senior Member Joined: 08/06/2011 Location: AustraliaPosts: 266 |
I'm still kicking myself for letting the DREAM 6800 go. SIGH!!!! Regards, Bob Devries Dalby, QLD, Australia |
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| pkretro Newbie Joined: 29/12/2014 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1 |
Greetings I would like to aquire an applix 1616 , as mentioned in these posts , if anyone has one . Please contact me via email . Regards pkretro philip.kocent@bigpond.com |
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