Motorola MEK6802D5
Motorola MEK6802D5
[Vin165]
The Motorola MEK6802D5 was a single-board computer (SBC) based on the Motorola 6802 microprocessor, developed in the early 1980s, primarily aimed at educational and prototyping applications. Its most notable features include a hexadecimal keypad, a 6-digit HEX display, and a modest memory capacity of 256 bytes with an optional 1K, making it a significant tool for microprocessor education and early microcontroller design.
- Manufacturer: Motorola
- Type: Single Board Computer
- Release Date: 1982
- Cost at release: CAD ~$1,000 (adjusted for inflation)
- MIPS: ~50 KIPS
Hardware Specifications
- CPU: Motorola 6802 microprocessor @ 895 kHz
- RAM: 256 bytes onboard, expandable by 1 KB
- Input: Hexadecimal keypad (16 keys)
- Output: 6-digit hexadecimal LED display
- Expansion: Optional memory and peripheral expansion capabilities
- Power: Typically powered by an external power supply
- Weight: ~1.8 kg
Operating System & Programming Languages
- Operating System: Simple built-in monitor program known as the “D5 Bug” as its operating system. This monitor provided users with basic input/output control and debugging facilities through the hexadecimal keypad and LED display.
- Supported Languages: 6802 assembly language
Notables
- The MEK6802D5 was Motorola’s educational and training kit for the 6802 CPU, released in 1982 as an evolution of the earlier MEK6800 series from the 1970s.
- It featured a unique hexadecimal keypad and a 6-digit LED display, which facilitated hands-on learning of machine code and assembly language programming.
- It was widely used in technical education (e.g., TAFE) to teach basic I/O, addressing, and microprocessor architecture, influencing a generation of engineers.
- The system’s onboard monitor program was called the “D5 Bug,” giving it a distinctive identity in the era of microcontroller trainers.
- The MEK6802D5 was compatible with Motorola’s EXORciser development system, enabling expansion and integration into broader engineering workflows.
- It competed with and was Motorola’s answer to similar educational microcomputers like the KIM-1 and AIM65.
- Not a mass-market home computer, it holds a special place in vintage computing as a practical tool for microprocessor training rather than general consumer use.
- Collector value today stems from its role as a foundational teaching tool and its rarity compared to more popular contemporaries.
Donated by: Dr. Arlen Michaels