https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/ Fri, 17 Apr 2026 12:11:56 +0000 MyBB https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-1003.html Fri, 13 Mar 2026 04:33:24 +1100 mswidi]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-1003.html



The nostalgia of the old days in the late 1980 will always follow me....]]>



The nostalgia of the old days in the late 1980 will always follow me....]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-985.html Wed, 28 Jan 2026 22:01:24 +1100 MarvinTMRX86]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-985.html
Thanks for approving me into the group.

My path through Computers has been C64>C128>Amiga>PC>PC>PC> etc etc and a career in IT (36 years now).
My early exposure to Computers was Apple II at School, friends with Vic20's and then an older friend who was a HAM/Amateur Radio operator who was ex-communications for the AirForce. He had 2 Microbee machines at the time (1985). He was interested in intercepting Satellite transmissions and listening in. I was fascinated and became involved and started getting involved. Eventually we ended up writing software to communicate with Pack Rat (I think it was called) and decode Satelite transmissions and managed to obtain slow-scan TV. Always enjoyed my times working on the Microbee. Being a kid naturally there was the lure of games and I ended up selling my Trainset and mowing lawns to eventually purchase my first Computer being the C64 Breadbin. Although the games were the attraction I ended up more fascinated by programming and real world interfacing the C64. 

Fast forward to recent times and I'm absolutely obsessed with Retro computing. I work with the latest technology every day but prefer to come home and work on retro machines, I find it calming. I now and have a lot of retro machines but the nostalgia of working on the Microbee has always been there. Word seems to get around and people bring me old machines to tinker with. Some time back a client brought a Microbee to me and I spent a lot of time replacing components but never got it working and ended up selling it on ebay as parts which was really disappointing because the Microbee is pretty rare. More recently a customer brought me another Microbee and I've been working away cleaning it and checking components for some time now.

The first thing I tested in isolation was the PSU and it was overvolting at 15.6V so I discarded that and built my own version of a power supply and dialled down the voltage to 9 volts. Last night was the moment of truth. I connected the power and sure enough I have MicroBee Disk Monitor c1983 screen. I was so happy!!! 
BTW: Should it "beep" when its turned on from the speaker? I can't remember?

I have a lot of work to do still. It appears that almost all the keys work but haven't been able to get anything out the "V" key and the disk drives don't power on at all. Actually plugging them in results in the display disappearing on the Microbee so thats my next challenge.

I found your wonderful group and thought I'd introduce myself and share my story. 
The more I learn about the Microbee the more puzzled I am as to why I didn't hear more about the Microbee "back in the day". The Microbee is an amazing machine and such an integral part of the Australian Computer History. 

Anyway, I'm enjoying my journey and here's some pics for you.
-Glenn
Model II 1982 with MB1656 Component board



]]>
Thanks for approving me into the group.

My path through Computers has been C64>C128>Amiga>PC>PC>PC> etc etc and a career in IT (36 years now).
My early exposure to Computers was Apple II at School, friends with Vic20's and then an older friend who was a HAM/Amateur Radio operator who was ex-communications for the AirForce. He had 2 Microbee machines at the time (1985). He was interested in intercepting Satellite transmissions and listening in. I was fascinated and became involved and started getting involved. Eventually we ended up writing software to communicate with Pack Rat (I think it was called) and decode Satelite transmissions and managed to obtain slow-scan TV. Always enjoyed my times working on the Microbee. Being a kid naturally there was the lure of games and I ended up selling my Trainset and mowing lawns to eventually purchase my first Computer being the C64 Breadbin. Although the games were the attraction I ended up more fascinated by programming and real world interfacing the C64. 

Fast forward to recent times and I'm absolutely obsessed with Retro computing. I work with the latest technology every day but prefer to come home and work on retro machines, I find it calming. I now and have a lot of retro machines but the nostalgia of working on the Microbee has always been there. Word seems to get around and people bring me old machines to tinker with. Some time back a client brought a Microbee to me and I spent a lot of time replacing components but never got it working and ended up selling it on ebay as parts which was really disappointing because the Microbee is pretty rare. More recently a customer brought me another Microbee and I've been working away cleaning it and checking components for some time now.

The first thing I tested in isolation was the PSU and it was overvolting at 15.6V so I discarded that and built my own version of a power supply and dialled down the voltage to 9 volts. Last night was the moment of truth. I connected the power and sure enough I have MicroBee Disk Monitor c1983 screen. I was so happy!!! 
BTW: Should it "beep" when its turned on from the speaker? I can't remember?

I have a lot of work to do still. It appears that almost all the keys work but haven't been able to get anything out the "V" key and the disk drives don't power on at all. Actually plugging them in results in the display disappearing on the Microbee so thats my next challenge.

I found your wonderful group and thought I'd introduce myself and share my story. 
The more I learn about the Microbee the more puzzled I am as to why I didn't hear more about the Microbee "back in the day". The Microbee is an amazing machine and such an integral part of the Australian Computer History. 

Anyway, I'm enjoying my journey and here's some pics for you.
-Glenn
Model II 1982 with MB1656 Component board



]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-978.html Wed, 24 Dec 2025 01:32:57 +1100 theVintage]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-978.html
I joined from Germany today because I came across this forum that seems to have a wealth of information on the Exidy sourcerer system as well. A while back, I restored a daisywheel printer that Exidy sold as the DP6120 with the word processing system. I'm looking for information on this printer and particularly the jumper settings on the controller board to properly configure it.
I run a blog on my retro projects also showing the printer: https://www.thevintagecomputer.de/tec-fp...l-printer/

Best regards
Timo]]>
I joined from Germany today because I came across this forum that seems to have a wealth of information on the Exidy sourcerer system as well. A while back, I restored a daisywheel printer that Exidy sold as the DP6120 with the word processing system. I'm looking for information on this printer and particularly the jumper settings on the controller board to properly configure it.
I run a blog on my retro projects also showing the printer: https://www.thevintagecomputer.de/tec-fp...l-printer/

Best regards
Timo]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-967.html Wed, 12 Nov 2025 15:31:12 +1100 apple2]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-967.html
I've been into retro 8-bit computers since the late 70's. Apple II, Dream 6800, Souther Cross Z80, TEC-1D/F, uComp Z80, Heathkit ET-3400, SYM-1, IMSAI 8080 (clone).

Although I don't yet own any type of Microbee, I do have a lot of other 8 bit SBCs, Apple II and Mac 68K computers.

I'm mainly a hardware guy, but over the last few years I consider myself a Software guy too. My latest project was adding a Compact Flash Hard drive to my ET-3400 and write the disk drivers so that I could have 126 disk drives up to 16MB in size. I also ported FLEX 6800 OS so I could boot FLEX directly off the CF card.

Back around 2014ish there was a new kit being made for the Microbee by the original company at around $400 IIRC, and at the time I was going to put my name on the list for one but decided to research a bit more first. I was mainly concerned that I wouldn't have any media to run on it or any way to load or save files. I think there was some kind of SD storage solution but I can't recall if that was ever available and this is the main reason why I didn't order one. Apparently you could connect up some original vintage hardware, but this isn't how I wanted to use the Microbee. An SD card solution for a hard drive/floppy drive emulator would be nice.

I was a member of the MSPP and posted stuff and documentation relating to the Dream 6800. hi Chicken Man! Recently, as I'm now retired, I tried to log into my original MSPP account but was bounced. Unable to RESET my password I'm joining here to see what the latest is on the Microbee kit (if any), and maybe get some help with MSPP which still seems to exist.

regards,
Mark C
Townsville QLD, in Oz.]]>
I've been into retro 8-bit computers since the late 70's. Apple II, Dream 6800, Souther Cross Z80, TEC-1D/F, uComp Z80, Heathkit ET-3400, SYM-1, IMSAI 8080 (clone).

Although I don't yet own any type of Microbee, I do have a lot of other 8 bit SBCs, Apple II and Mac 68K computers.

I'm mainly a hardware guy, but over the last few years I consider myself a Software guy too. My latest project was adding a Compact Flash Hard drive to my ET-3400 and write the disk drivers so that I could have 126 disk drives up to 16MB in size. I also ported FLEX 6800 OS so I could boot FLEX directly off the CF card.

Back around 2014ish there was a new kit being made for the Microbee by the original company at around $400 IIRC, and at the time I was going to put my name on the list for one but decided to research a bit more first. I was mainly concerned that I wouldn't have any media to run on it or any way to load or save files. I think there was some kind of SD storage solution but I can't recall if that was ever available and this is the main reason why I didn't order one. Apparently you could connect up some original vintage hardware, but this isn't how I wanted to use the Microbee. An SD card solution for a hard drive/floppy drive emulator would be nice.

I was a member of the MSPP and posted stuff and documentation relating to the Dream 6800. hi Chicken Man! Recently, as I'm now retired, I tried to log into my original MSPP account but was bounced. Unable to RESET my password I'm joining here to see what the latest is on the Microbee kit (if any), and maybe get some help with MSPP which still seems to exist.

regards,
Mark C
Townsville QLD, in Oz.]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-966.html Wed, 12 Nov 2025 14:25:34 +1100 The_Huck]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-966.html

I recently picked up a Microbee Model II and disk drive from our local recycling centre and I'm very keen to get it up and running.

I also have a couple of Dick Smith System 80s (among other types of systems) and I actually came across this forum when searching for information regarding the System 80.
I'm guessing most of you will be Aussies so you may be interested in some of the other systems I have from over your way such as the Dick Smith Wizzard and VZ200s.

At some stage I will be looking at getting the Microbee up and running (missing power supply) but I currently have questions regarding the System 80 so that will be my first actual posting.

Cheers from NZ.
The Huck

I stream on Twitch here - https://www.twitch.tv/the_huck_]]>

I recently picked up a Microbee Model II and disk drive from our local recycling centre and I'm very keen to get it up and running.

I also have a couple of Dick Smith System 80s (among other types of systems) and I actually came across this forum when searching for information regarding the System 80.
I'm guessing most of you will be Aussies so you may be interested in some of the other systems I have from over your way such as the Dick Smith Wizzard and VZ200s.

At some stage I will be looking at getting the Microbee up and running (missing power supply) but I currently have questions regarding the System 80 so that will be my first actual posting.

Cheers from NZ.
The Huck

I stream on Twitch here - https://www.twitch.tv/the_huck_]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-960.html Fri, 17 Oct 2025 01:03:41 +1100 lloyd_borrett]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-960.html
The other day, I was searching the web to update details on my website page about the PC Connection Australia BBS I ran back in the day. See https://www.borrett.id.au/computing/pcbbs.htm

I came across some information about the Microbee Matilda. But it was wrong!

So I'm creating a web page about my involvement with the Microbee Matilda - see https://www.borrett.id.au/computing/micr...atilda.htm

It's an early work in progress, which I hope helps the Microbee community.

If anyone has a working Microbee Matilda, I'd love a screenshot of my Menu System program running under DOS to add to my web page.

Some of you may remember me as a columnist in Your Computer magazine, back in the day—or maybe as the founder and inaugural President of the Melbourne PC User Group.]]>
The other day, I was searching the web to update details on my website page about the PC Connection Australia BBS I ran back in the day. See https://www.borrett.id.au/computing/pcbbs.htm

I came across some information about the Microbee Matilda. But it was wrong!

So I'm creating a web page about my involvement with the Microbee Matilda - see https://www.borrett.id.au/computing/micr...atilda.htm

It's an early work in progress, which I hope helps the Microbee community.

If anyone has a working Microbee Matilda, I'd love a screenshot of my Menu System program running under DOS to add to my web page.

Some of you may remember me as a columnist in Your Computer magazine, back in the day—or maybe as the founder and inaugural President of the Melbourne PC User Group.]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-946.html Sat, 13 Sep 2025 22:49:52 +1000 Graham72]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-946.html
As a 20 yo I used to frequent the Tandy store in Albury in the late '70's and learnt a bit on the store machines.

When I was22 yo, my brother in law was a salesman at City Personal Computers in Sydney, he sold his motorcycle to fund his Apple II purchase with a CP/M card and double disk drives and graciously allowed me many hours on it. Christmas 1981 he gave me a zx80, and for himself a modem. I think it was a Dick Smith model, but the years dull recall. Anyway between Christmas and New Year we got the modem working and he dialled into a university computer in California. WOW! BBS became a source of programs over the next 10 years

It was another 20 years before the WWW was a thing! Your Computer magazine was the read in 1982/3 and I published a ZX80 program for $100! Advertisements for the Microbee piqued my interest as I had outgrown the ZX80. I got my 'bee and enjoyed it immensely.

Online magazine, Your Computer and the program books were a never ending source of ideas. I had a Epson FX80 printer, but cassette tape was limiting. However I learnt the various types of sorting data, and how great arrays can be.

My brother in law lent me a XT for several months and I got used to hard drives, MSDOS, dBaseII and Windows 286. Sadly I sold my Microbee, magazines, tapes and books to a woman who wanted it for her teenage son, hopefully he got as much joy from it as I did.

It was with joy I stumbled across this forum several years ago, but life events stopped me pursuing it at that time. The past month has been great as I have reacquainted myself with MicroWorld Basic and CP/M, et al. The biggest struggle has been relearning the use of eg a1$(;4,8) etc to parse strings.   

I'd like to say thanks to uBee, Admin and Chickenman especially. I really appreciate the opportunity to relearn Microbee computing using the emulator and the .dsk and rom images. Also thanks to all who have contributed to the forum with hints, tips and comments. The amount of information and resources are overwhelming but I'm winning, I think.]]>
As a 20 yo I used to frequent the Tandy store in Albury in the late '70's and learnt a bit on the store machines.

When I was22 yo, my brother in law was a salesman at City Personal Computers in Sydney, he sold his motorcycle to fund his Apple II purchase with a CP/M card and double disk drives and graciously allowed me many hours on it. Christmas 1981 he gave me a zx80, and for himself a modem. I think it was a Dick Smith model, but the years dull recall. Anyway between Christmas and New Year we got the modem working and he dialled into a university computer in California. WOW! BBS became a source of programs over the next 10 years

It was another 20 years before the WWW was a thing! Your Computer magazine was the read in 1982/3 and I published a ZX80 program for $100! Advertisements for the Microbee piqued my interest as I had outgrown the ZX80. I got my 'bee and enjoyed it immensely.

Online magazine, Your Computer and the program books were a never ending source of ideas. I had a Epson FX80 printer, but cassette tape was limiting. However I learnt the various types of sorting data, and how great arrays can be.

My brother in law lent me a XT for several months and I got used to hard drives, MSDOS, dBaseII and Windows 286. Sadly I sold my Microbee, magazines, tapes and books to a woman who wanted it for her teenage son, hopefully he got as much joy from it as I did.

It was with joy I stumbled across this forum several years ago, but life events stopped me pursuing it at that time. The past month has been great as I have reacquainted myself with MicroWorld Basic and CP/M, et al. The biggest struggle has been relearning the use of eg a1$(;4,8) etc to parse strings.   

I'd like to say thanks to uBee, Admin and Chickenman especially. I really appreciate the opportunity to relearn Microbee computing using the emulator and the .dsk and rom images. Also thanks to all who have contributed to the forum with hints, tips and comments. The amount of information and resources are overwhelming but I'm winning, I think.]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-945.html Tue, 09 Sep 2025 21:58:10 +1000 jmpg]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-945.html https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-944.html Tue, 09 Sep 2025 09:49:59 +1000 VK2FVAX]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-944.html
Lifelong uBee lover. Have rehomed all of my uBee's and kept only the 256TC-E which I adore.

Very keen to see what Ewan blesses us with next as his schedule allows. Was great to talk to him at VCF-Canbs a couple of months back. Pretty interesting developments.

Have a good one!
Al.]]>
Lifelong uBee lover. Have rehomed all of my uBee's and kept only the 256TC-E which I adore.

Very keen to see what Ewan blesses us with next as his schedule allows. Was great to talk to him at VCF-Canbs a couple of months back. Pretty interesting developments.

Have a good one!
Al.]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-918.html Thu, 29 May 2025 12:22:52 +1000 Natostrike]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-918.html
It was one of the two main games I remember from early childhood playing on my families Microbee, Merlin and Emu Joust, there were probably more but that is testing my memory.

Dad had an enthusiast friend who got him into the system and then (from my patchy memory) helped him build a floppy disk drive and this Microbee system and the C64 my grandparents owned were the genesis of my love of gaming.

Merlin became 90s Adventure games, Sierra and Lucas Arts, Emu Joust became Half-Life and other action games I guess.

I now work in IT, probably because of all this as well, while I am not much of a coder or hardware enthusiast, my main interest was always in the games.

Just amazing to see that the Microbee is still kicking in someway or the other in forums like this.]]>
It was one of the two main games I remember from early childhood playing on my families Microbee, Merlin and Emu Joust, there were probably more but that is testing my memory.

Dad had an enthusiast friend who got him into the system and then (from my patchy memory) helped him build a floppy disk drive and this Microbee system and the C64 my grandparents owned were the genesis of my love of gaming.

Merlin became 90s Adventure games, Sierra and Lucas Arts, Emu Joust became Half-Life and other action games I guess.

I now work in IT, probably because of all this as well, while I am not much of a coder or hardware enthusiast, my main interest was always in the games.

Just amazing to see that the Microbee is still kicking in someway or the other in forums like this.]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-917.html Sun, 25 May 2025 16:05:42 +1000 void]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-917.html
Anyway, I'm a bit of a retro-computing nerd, and thought I'd check out what's happening with this fairly unique slice of computing history these days.

Cheers!
Rob.]]>
Anyway, I'm a bit of a retro-computing nerd, and thought I'd check out what's happening with this fairly unique slice of computing history these days.

Cheers!
Rob.]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-914.html Mon, 19 May 2025 11:04:52 +1000 Darren]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-914.html  . Actually ended here looking for a photo of the Pulsar LBB - not something that really seems to be anywhere. I do/did have one in storage. I left a working LBB system, hard disk, and 8" floppies, but I later found out later my mother in law tends to "clean up" and tends to throw out things she doesn't understand (!) so I don't have much hope of ever seeing it again.

It was definitely a blast working there!]]>  . Actually ended here looking for a photo of the Pulsar LBB - not something that really seems to be anywhere. I do/did have one in storage. I left a working LBB system, hard disk, and 8" floppies, but I later found out later my mother in law tends to "clean up" and tends to throw out things she doesn't understand (!) so I don't have much hope of ever seeing it again.

It was definitely a blast working there!]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-901.html Fri, 21 Mar 2025 00:03:31 +1100 cj7hawk]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-901.html
My first time here.

I don't have a Microbee yet, but have quite a few CP/M machines, ranging from Amstrads and Spectrums to Kaypro's and Osbornes.

I'm still looking for that elusive well-priced Microbee find.

Working on my own machine designs and have written a CP/M compatible OS from scratch in z80 assembler recently, and also a CP/M based z80 macro-assembler and matching Windows 10/11 based cross assembler that takes the same source code.

I came here looking for some connections between the Microbee and other early Australian machines.

David.]]>
My first time here.

I don't have a Microbee yet, but have quite a few CP/M machines, ranging from Amstrads and Spectrums to Kaypro's and Osbornes.

I'm still looking for that elusive well-priced Microbee find.

Working on my own machine designs and have written a CP/M compatible OS from scratch in z80 assembler recently, and also a CP/M based z80 macro-assembler and matching Windows 10/11 based cross assembler that takes the same source code.

I came here looking for some connections between the Microbee and other early Australian machines.

David.]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-898.html Thu, 20 Mar 2025 11:01:45 +1100 wstanley]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-898.html
Fell down the rabbit hole of TRS-80 Model 1, found out that DSE had a clone (System 80) and while reading about Dick's computing business, was reminded that Australia had it's own unique Microbee thing happening...... the rabbit hole deepens!

Unfortunately I think the Microbee was out of the public spotlight before I was old enough to pay attention or get exposure. Here to find out more and connect a bit more locally (a little tired of everything being US-centric)

Thanks in advance for any stress my limited historical and technical knowledge might inflict 

Warren (yes - I know the joke about rabbits haha)]]>
Fell down the rabbit hole of TRS-80 Model 1, found out that DSE had a clone (System 80) and while reading about Dick's computing business, was reminded that Australia had it's own unique Microbee thing happening...... the rabbit hole deepens!

Unfortunately I think the Microbee was out of the public spotlight before I was old enough to pay attention or get exposure. Here to find out more and connect a bit more locally (a little tired of everything being US-centric)

Thanks in advance for any stress my limited historical and technical knowledge might inflict 

Warren (yes - I know the joke about rabbits haha)]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-896.html Mon, 17 Mar 2025 22:40:07 +1100 tmuir]]> https://microbeetechnology.com.au/forum/thread-896.html I joined this forum almost 2 1/2 years ago in preparation of me getting myself a Microbee to restore, but like many things life got in the way of me finding one, but I finally got myself one today.
It will be another week or 2 before I receive it and I'm sure I will be needing to ask many questions as this one seems to of had a lot of modifications done to it.
It is a Microbee 16 but has a MB1217-54 colour display card and a 56K MB1656 board on it.
I've previous restored a couple of pinball machines, Atari 6 switcher, ZX81, C64 and a C128, but this will be my first Australian made machine.
I remember using a Microbee computer in highschool computer classes and look forward to reliving that.

Tony]]> I joined this forum almost 2 1/2 years ago in preparation of me getting myself a Microbee to restore, but like many things life got in the way of me finding one, but I finally got myself one today.
It will be another week or 2 before I receive it and I'm sure I will be needing to ask many questions as this one seems to of had a lot of modifications done to it.
It is a Microbee 16 but has a MB1217-54 colour display card and a 56K MB1656 board on it.
I've previous restored a couple of pinball machines, Atari 6 switcher, ZX81, C64 and a C128, but this will be my first Australian made machine.
I remember using a Microbee computer in highschool computer classes and look forward to reliving that.

Tony]]>