{"id":22844,"date":"2025-11-21T15:39:03","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T20:39:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/?page_id=22844"},"modified":"2025-11-21T16:30:50","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T21:30:50","slug":"vin165","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/scs\/vintage-computing\/item\/vin165\/","title":{"rendered":"Motorola MEK6802D5"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2>Motorola MEK6802D5<\/h2>\n<p>[Vin165]<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Manufacturer<\/strong>: Motorola<\/li>\n<li><strong>Type<\/strong>: Single Board Computer<\/li>\n<li><strong>Release Date<\/strong>: 1982<\/li>\n<li><strong>Cost at release<\/strong>: CAD ~$1,000 (adjusted for inflation)<\/li>\n<li><strong>MIPS<\/strong>: ~50 KIPS<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><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<ul>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>CPU<\/strong>: Motorola 6802 microprocessor @ 895 kHz<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>RAM<\/strong>: 256 bytes onboard, expandable by 1 KB<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>Input<\/strong>: Hexadecimal keypad (16 keys)<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>Output<\/strong>: 6-digit hexadecimal LED display<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>Expansion<\/strong>: Optional memory and peripheral expansion capabilities<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>Power<\/strong>: Typically powered by an external power supply<\/li>\n<li class=\"my-2 [&amp;+p]:mt-4 [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:inline-block [&amp;_strong:has(+br)]:pb-2\"><strong>Weight<\/strong>: ~1.8 kg<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><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}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li class=\"my-0\"><strong>Operating System<\/strong>: Simple built-in monitor program known as the &#8220;D5 Bug&#8221; as its operating system. This monitor provided users with basic input\/output control and debugging facilities through the hexadecimal keypad and LED display.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Supported Languages<\/strong>: 6802 assembly language<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Notables<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>The MEK6802D5 was Motorola\u2019s educational and training kit for the 6802 CPU, released in 1982 as an evolution of the earlier MEK6800 series from the 1970s.<\/li>\n<li>It featured a unique hexadecimal keypad and a 6-digit LED display, which facilitated hands-on learning of machine code and assembly language programming.<\/li>\n<li>It was widely used in technical education (e.g., TAFE) to teach basic I\/O, addressing, and microprocessor architecture, influencing a generation of engineers.<\/li>\n<li>The system\u2019s onboard monitor program was called the &#8220;D5 Bug,&#8221; giving it a distinctive identity in the era of microcontroller trainers.<\/li>\n<li>The MEK6802D5 was compatible with Motorola\u2019s EXORciser development system, enabling expansion and integration into broader engineering workflows.<\/li>\n<li>It competed with and was Motorola\u2019s answer to similar educational microcomputers like the KIM-1 and AIM65.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>Collector value today stems from its role as a foundational teaching tool and its rarity compared to more popular contemporaries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Donated by<\/strong>: Dr. Arlen Michaels<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"parent":19704,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Motorola MEK6802D5 - 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