{"id":19937,"date":"2024-11-07T15:54:18","date_gmt":"2024-11-07T20:54:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=19937"},"modified":"2026-06-22T13:50:26","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T17:50:26","slug":"vin17","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin17\/","title":{"rendered":"Netronics ELF II"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"w-screen px-6 cu-section cu-section--white ml-offset-center md:px-8 lg:px-14\">\n    <div class=\"space-y-6 cu-max-w-child-5xl  md:space-y-10 cu-prose-first-last\">\n\n            <div class=\"cu-textmedia flex flex-col lg:flex-row mx-auto gap-6 md:gap-10 my-6 md:my-12 first:mt-0 max-w-5xl\">\n        <div class=\"justify-start cu-textmedia-content cu-prose-first-last\" style=\"flex: 0 0 100%;\">\n            <header class=\"font-light prose-xl cu-pageheader md:prose-2xl cu-component-updated cu-prose-first-last\">\n                                    <h1 class=\"cu-prose-first-last font-semibold !mt-2 mb-4 md:mb-6 relative after:absolute after:h-px after:bottom-0 after:bg-cu-red after:left-px text-3xl md:text-4xl lg:text-5xl lg:leading-[3.5rem] pb-5 after:w-10 text-cu-black-700 not-prose\">\n                        Netronics ELF II\n                    <\/h1>\n                \n                                \n                            <\/header>\n\n                    <\/div>\n\n            <\/div>\n\n    <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"netronics-elf-ii\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Netronics ELF II<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>[Vin17]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"160\" height=\"160\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/first-place-400x400-1-160x160.png\" alt=\"First Ever icon\" class=\"wp-image-21940\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/first-place-400x400-1-160x160.png 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/first-place-400x400-1-240x240.png 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/first-place-400x400-1-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/first-place-400x400-1-360x360.png 360w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/first-place-400x400-1.png 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 160px) 100vw, 160px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright\"><a href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260116_150830812-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260116_150830812-400x300.jpg\" alt=\"Netronics ELF II\" class=\"wp-image-23287\" srcset=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260116_150830812-400x300.jpg 400w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260116_150830812-160x120.jpg 160w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260116_150830812-240x180.jpg 240w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260116_150830812-768x577.jpg 768w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260116_150830812-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260116_150830812-2048x1538.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260116_150830812-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/260\/PXL_20260116_150830812-360x270.jpg 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The Netronics ELF II, released in 1978, was a pioneering, affordable microcomputer kit designed for hobbyists and tech experimenters. It featured the RCA 1802, one of the first commercially successful CMOS microprocessors, running at 1.76 MHz. The system came with 256 bytes of RAM expandable up to 64 KB via 4KB or 16KB static RAM expansion cards and offered a five-slot expansion bus for modular hardware upgrades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW36078203 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Key hardware features included a built-in hexadecimal keypad for input, a two-digit hexadecimal LED display, and DMA-based bitmap graphics at 64&#215;32 pixels output to an NTSC TV using the CDP1861 &#8220;Pixie&#8221; graphics chip. Storage was supported via an optional cassette interface through the \u201cGiant Board\u201d expansion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong>: Netronics Research and Development Limited<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Type<\/strong>: Single-board computer<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Release Date<\/strong>: 1978<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost at release<\/strong>: USD $99.95 as a kit (CAD ~$525 adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Cost with peripherals<\/strong>: Adding common peripherals-such as the &#8220;giant board&#8221; for cassette I\/O ($59.95), a 4KB RAM board ($114.95), and a color video board-could bring the total system cost with peripherals to several hundred dollars, with a typical expanded setup exceeding $300 USD (CAD ~$1,550 adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>MIPS<\/strong>: 0.3 (300 KIPS)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"hardware-specifications\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW36078203 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36078203 BCX0\">Hardware Specifications<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>CPU<\/strong>: RCA 1802 microprocessor running at 1.76 MHz.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>RAM<\/strong>: 256 bytes standard, expandable up to 64 KB.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Expansion<\/strong>: 5-slot system bus for expansion cards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Display<\/strong>: Two-character hexadecimal LED display (TIL311), driven by CDP1861 &#8220;Pixie&#8221; video chip; optional video graphics support.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keyboard\/Input<\/strong>: 20-key hexadecimal keypad using 74C923 encoder.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Storage<\/strong>: Optional cassette interface via the &#8220;Giant Board&#8221; for data storage and loading.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"operating-system-programming-languages\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"TextRun SCXW136206418 BCX0\" lang=\"EN-US\" xml:lang=\"EN-US\" data-contrast=\"auto\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW136206418 BCX0\">Operating System &amp; Programming Languages<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW136206418 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;335559685&quot;:0}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Operating System<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Its software environment used a Monitor ROM for basic control and program entry, with available interpreters such as Tiny BASIC (integer-based) and Full BASIC (floating point using Reverse Polish Notation math with an RPN coprocessor chip).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Programs were entered in machine code or loaded via cassette interface.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Supported Languages<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Machine language (entered via hexadecimal keypad).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tiny BASIC (integer BASIC interpreter).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Full BASIC (floating point BASIC with Reverse Polish Notation math coprocessor).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assembly language programming for the RCA 1802.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"notables\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Notables<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Netronics ELF II used the RCA 1802 microprocessor, which is considered the first commercially successful CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) microprocessor.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The RCA 1802 CPU was notable for its use in aerospace and telemetry markets (e.g., NASA\u2019s Galileo spacecraft)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Made early computing accessible to hobbyists for under $100, offering expandability and graphics capabilities that set it apart from other bare-bones trainer systems of the era<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The ELF II was an improved commercial version of the COSMAC ELF, replacing toggle switches with a hexadecimal keypad and adding a pre-etched PCB and expansion bus.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was one of the earliest affordable microcomputers to offer bitmap graphics via the CDP1861 &#8220;Pixie&#8221; chip.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The &#8220;Giant Board&#8221; expansion provided cassette I\/O and a small monitor ROM, enhancing usability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The system\u2019s floating point BASIC used RPN syntax, reflecting the popularity of HP calculators at the time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It fostered a community of hobbyists and was supported by notable figures like Tom Pittman, who contributed Tiny BASIC and educational materials.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nicknamed simply &#8220;ELF II,&#8221; it is remembered as a practical and expandable early microcomputer that bridged the gap between barebones kits and more polished personal computers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Donated by<\/strong>: Dr. Arlen Michaels<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\">Vintage Computing Collection<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Netronics ELF II [Vin17] The Netronics ELF II, released in 1978, was a pioneering, affordable microcomputer kit designed for hobbyists and tech experimenters. It featured the RCA 1802, one of the first commercially successful CMOS microprocessors, running at 1.76 MHz. The system came with 256 bytes of RAM expandable up to 64 KB via 4KB [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":19704,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_cu_dining_location_slug":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"cu_page_type":[90,123],"class_list":["post-19937","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","cu_page_type-vintage-computing","cu_page_type-vintage-inventory"],"acf":{"cu_post_thumbnail":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19937","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19937"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19937\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25081,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19937\/revisions\/25081"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/19704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19937"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"cu_page_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/cu_page_type?post=19937"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}