Need ROMs for MPF-1P - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: blackjetrock
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 07:11:03 am
content: I'm attempting to resurrect an MPF-1P Micro professor. The hardware had been mangled, with Z80 missing, crystal gone, 7805 gone and the FIP panel PSU transistor blown. Uncannily I had all these parts in my bins, so have the hardware more or less functioning. The ROM was missing though and I suspect the image I found is bad, so, has anyone got one of these and be willing to dump the ROM, or have the files?Note that this is the FIP display version, not the LED one.Worst case I could disassemble the image I have and fix it, or maybe even write the whole thing from scratch. This seems a bit silly as these things do exist out there, I've seen photos.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 12:08:48 pm
content: Same/similar thing?http://www.flite.co.uk/product.asp?P_ID=1Seems they still sell it so they may have the old ROM too and be generous and offer up a copy if you ask nicely?

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 01:05:48 pm
content: Not the same at all. The MPF1P has a 20 character VFD and an ASCII keyboard, though it would be worth asking Flite if they can still supply spares or a ROM image.Hopefully the O.P's got the IOM-MPF-1P I/O board - its not a very interesting system without it, and if you have that its possible to hack the MPF thermal printer ROM which IIRC contains the disassembler, to divert all printer output to the (optional) RS232 port, and in the spare space, add other useful routines like serial file transfer, then burn an EPROM and fit it to the I/O board.IIRC the printer clashed with the video board, which is why I put time and effort into that hack. Unfortunately the ROM images I had are lost to the mists of time as IIRC I had them on tape for the Z80 system I was cross-developing on.I also did a simple hardware hack for the EPROM programmer to add 12.5V programming voltage support - it was just a switch that changed the feedback divider in the boost circuit to reduce the programming voltage from whatever it was a standard (21V or 25V). As this was for classroom use I made a top panel with a cutout for the ZIF socket, mounted on standoffs and used it to mount the voltage selector switch.There was a common fault on the MPF-1P and its EPROM programmer - the epoxy dipped axial chokes used in the boost converters for the VFD supply and for the EPROM Vpp weren't very good and tended to develop shorted turns which killed the Q and resulted in grossly insufficient voltage output. The only visible signs was slight discolouration of of some of them. Replace with a ferrite bobbin inductor with an adequate DC current rating, even if it hasn't failed yet. If you are really unlucky you may have to replace the boost chip as well.

author: PA0PBZ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 01:24:04 pm
content: Found this after a bit of searching. I have no means of checking if it is the correct one but at least it has the text "*****MPF-I-PLUS*****" in it, which happens to be 20 charsEdit: There's more:https://forum.system-cfg.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=487&start=30

author: blackjetrock
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 06:50:30 pm
content: I did email, but have heard nothing yet. See other reply for details on ROM search.

author: blackjetrock
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 06:52:21 pm
content: Correct, the MPF I have is the vacuum fluorescent display version. I don't have any other cards for it, I wanted it for Z80 assembly language programming, I may build peripherals later, perhaps.

author: blackjetrock
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 04, 2017, 06:54:57 pm
content: That's truly excellent, I didn't find that in my searches, you must have a better google than me!I just tried the monitor ROM and it works!. I'm very grateful to the forum for this, it's quite amazing that in a few hours I have got the ROMs and a working system. Well, the beeper had been chopped off and I haven't fitted another one, but everything seems fine apart from that.Cheers.