Ei PECOM 64

In 1980s microcomputers became more and more popular among hobbyists and scientists. When they became cheap enough to be used at home, governments decided to introduce "microelectronics revolution" to schools by teaching IT or Computer Science. However, computers were needed for it. In western countries usually different schools used different machines, the exception was Great Britain when they used mostly Acorn machines. In Eastern block countries, there were competitions to choose locally-produced machine for schools. In Yugoslavia, they had at least 4 projects of school computers and PECOM was one of it.
This small computer was built in Elektronska Industrija Nis factory (Electronic Industry in Nis, currently in Serbia), known from manufacturing radios and calculators. It is probable that the casing comes from some calculator as it has remains of some markings. Contrary to many computers in Eastern block, it was not based on 8080 or Z80 but on CDP1802 processor imported from USA. This purchasing was possible as Yugoslavia was then in a bit better market conditions with western countries than eastern block or Soviet union. PECOM had 32kB of RAM and 16 or 32kB of ROM (PECOM64 had 32kB of ROM, PECOM32 - 16kB). Construction was relatively simple, with power supply and color PAL modulator built-in. It was possible then to make this computer in larger quantities for educational demands.
Inside, it can be seen that they were manufactured as cheap as possible. That's not about quality of components which was good. The manufacturing process was poor - mainboard has a poor quality, soldering is made using a low-alloy process (dry solders are quite common) and all wires are soldered to PCB. Although machine has expansion slot on PCB, there is no hole in case to connect something to it. 230V from power cable is going on mainboard in thin, poorly insulated wires to the power switch in front. Transformer is very cheap, with wires going from it instead of connections.

Manufacturer Elektronska Industrija Niš

Origin Yougoslavia  (now Serbia)
Year of unit 1986
Year of introduction 1985
End of production ?1988?
CPU RCA CDP1802
Speed 2.813MHz
RAM 32kB
ROM 32kB (PECOM64),
16kB (PECOM32)
Colors: 8 colours
Sound: 2-channel synthesizer
OS: BASIC
Display modes: Text: 40x24
Graphics: 240x216 by changing character set
 
 

Media: Tape recorder

Power supply:

Built-in 5V/-5V/12V transformer-based power supply unit.
I/O: Monitor (composite) output
Sound output
RF modulator
Tape recorder
Printer port (in tape recorder socket)
Joystick ocnnector
Unknown expansion connector inside
 
 
 
 
 
 
Possible upgrades: ??
    Accessories in collection:

 - none
Software accessibility: TOSEC, dedicated sites

My unit was bought with unknown history as "probably working, but picture not tunable". Quickly it was found that the cable is not original and was recently attached to prevoiusly-cut one, placing the computer in e-waste facility in its history where cables are cut. After making the cable sit properly in place, machine refused to start. I resoldered RAM finding one chip broken. 4116 has been replaced by modified 4164 and machine starts now well to BASIC.
In the bottom there is a "115/230V" marking embossed in plastic related to some hole, not drilled. Inside, it points to mainboard. I suspect that the case was made for some calculator and then used to make PECOM - in the front side display could be fit and sliding switch with poor power supply unit is characteristic for calculators. Because calculators occupy less space than computers, voltage switch could be indeed fitted there.

The sticker is not original. I had to re-make it. Here, have a PNG of it.

Contents: Starting Recording media Pinouts Links

Starting:

The computer boots right to BASIC. Then program can be typed or loaded.

LOADING PROGRAMS
Programs can be stored as programs or data, when "data" is strings, numbers and constants for program. PLOAD command loads program when Return is pressed after announcing command. After the program, data for it may appear, it is loaded then by using DLOAD command. Data is automatically placed in computer's memory right after program and BASIC program can look into it.
Saving is made in similar manner: PLOAD then DLOAD for data. If you edit program, DATA will be wiped/changed.

BASIC programs can be compiled to use command's memory addresses instead of commands themselves.
 

Recording media

Currently most programs are stored in WAV files. You have to just play it to computer and PLOAD/DLOAD it in the computer. Sometimes (especially with older sound cards) it may be needed to invert the signal, if it's needed use Audacity, CoolEdit or similar program.

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Pinouts:


Tape pinout
DIN connector is also used as some simple serial interface for printer. This pinout is taken from the document in fileland, but I don't guarantee that it'll work as it looks like PECOM has been made in different revisions. Better check at least ground before using.

1 - Tape input (to computer)
2 - GND
3 - Tape output from computer
4 - Printer 1
5 - Printer 2
 

Joystick pinout:

  1 2 3 4 5
  6 7 8 9 10

 1 - GND
2..4 - NC
5 - +5V
6 - COMMON
7 - Up
8 - Right
9 - Left
10 - Down

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Links:

http://www.emma02.hobby-site.com/basic_pecom.html - BASIC reference.
http://www.emma02.hobby-site.com/pecom.html - Nice site and emulator
http://retrospec.sgn.net/users/tomcat/yu/Pecom_list.php - Games in audio format.
https://archive.org/details/Elektronska_Industrija_Nis_PECOM_32_and_64_TOSEC_2012_04_23 - in TOSEC
https://www.grush.one.pl/?issue=komputer.1.87&article=pecom - [POLISH] Review in old magazine. Photo of early prototype.


 

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