BBC Master Compact

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Introduction

The Master Compact was launched in September 1986. It is quite different from the rest of the Master series having a 2 box design (3 if you count the monitor) like a modern PC. But what appears to be the system unit is, in reality, only the disc drive/monitor stand, while the motherboard is under the keyboard! The disc unit only contains a 3.5" drive and power supply

Like the Acorn Electron Plus 3, the Master Compact has a 3.5" disc drive and ADFS as standard, with room for a second 3.5" drive in the disc unit. Unlike the rest of the Master series, the Master Compact does not have cartridge slots. Only the operating system, BASIC IV and ADFS are in ROM. Instead software like View was on the Welcome Disc disc. The Master Compact cost £451.25 (inc VAT).

Manuals and documentation

 Here is the Master Compact product brochure.

Here are the Acorn documents:

• Master Compact Registration postcard
• Master Compact Retail Price List
• Software and Peripherals for the BBC Master Compact. 

In January 1987 Practical Computing published a review "BBC Master 512 & Compact ".

The Master Compact Welcome Guide is the user guide for the Master Compact, but is ca. 200 pages and I have not scanned it. Copies appear from time to time on ebay. Alternatively you can download a scanned manual from the 8bit software  mirror.

The BBC Master Series Compact Microcomputer Service Manual  is available in Documents.
A letter about the default Master Compact Configuration Status  is available in Documents.

Here is an Acorn document Software and Peripherals for the BBC Master Compact.
Here is an Acorn Master Compact postcard to request the latest software list.
Here is the Acorn Master Compact Retail Price List .

For documentation for all Master computers see Master Computers.

Master Compact No. 1

I bought my Master Compact on ebay in June 2001. The computer is in a terrible cosmetic state and missing some of the trim, but is fully working order. It has a Mertec Compact Companion fitted which provides Analogue, User and 2MHz bus ports. I would like a new boxed Master Compact. [Wanted]
 
Here are some photographs:

Master Compact

Master Compact (with an AFK11 monitor). The Mertec Compact Companion is fitted on the right hand end of the keyboard. It is attached to the PCB extension and held in place by 2 large screws. The Mertec Compact Companion has User, analogue and 2MHz Bus ports which are not included in the Master Compact.

Master Compact Motherboard

Master Compact motherboard is underneath the keyboard. it is a pretty sparsely populated. The connectors on the back, from left to right, are: 5V power, Disc, Printer, Joystick, Econet (not connected), RS232 (not connected), Video and RGB. An Econet module is needed for the Econet port. An upgrade is also needed to use the RS232 port.

Master Compact Disc Unit opened

Master Compact Disc Unit, showing how much empty space there is. The 3.5" disc is at the bottom left with the Power Supply behind it. A second 3.5" disc can be fitted in the bottom centre, where there is a cutout for it.

Master Compact No. 2

In January 2006, I bought an Arabic Master Compact from Egypt. This Master Compact is a bit different, in that it has Arabic and English on the keyboard and International and Arabic ROMs. it also has a second, non-working, floppy disc drive fitted. The Arabic support is supplied by 2 ROMs - International ROM v1.60 and ARABIAN-C v2.2, unfortunately I have no documentation for these ROMs.
 
Here are some photographs:

Master Compact with Microvitec Cub monitor

Master Compact showing the ROM list which includes the ARABIC-C and International ROMs

Master Compact Arabic screen

Master Compact in Arabian mode, with text from right to left and at the bottom of the screen Aracbic characters.

Master Compact Arabic keyboard (front)

Master Compact keyboard unit from the front, see the stick on Arabic/English key tops.

 Master Compact Arabic keyboard (back)

Master Compact keyboard unit from the back showing the standard ports. The ports, from the left to right, are RGB, Composite Video, RS232, Econet (not fitted), Joystick, Printer, Disc and DC power in.

 Master Compact Arabic keyboard (bottom)

Master Compact keyboard unit bottom showing the serial number.

 Master Compact Arabic keyboard with keyboard removed

Master Compact keyboard unit with the keyboard removed showing the motherboard.

Master Compact motherboard (top)

Master Compact motherboard (top), The ROMs are on the right below the expansion connector.

Here is a HiRes picture of the Master Compact motherboard .

Master Compact motherboard (bottom)

 Master Compact keyboard (top)

Master Compact keyboard (top) showing the stick-on Arabic/English key tops.

 Master Compact keyboard (bottom)

 Master Compact Disc unit (front)

Master Compact Disc unit showing the 2 floppy disc drives.

 Master Compact Disc unit (bottom)

Master Compact Disc unit showing the disc ribbon cable which connects to the keyboard unit..

 Master Compact Disc unit (bottom)

Master Compact disc unit showing the power in/out sockets, fuse and on the right the DC power out to the keyboard unit.

Master Compact Disc unit (open)  

Master Compact disc unit with the top cover removed, showing the two disc drives and the psu. The right hand disc drive has a power supply but no ribbon cable.

 Master Compact Disc Unit with discs removed 

Master Compact disc unit with the floppy disc drives removed.

Specifications