Busicomputers Prophet 2      Credits to Chris
De Acorn Atoms van Chris Acorn computers site (at-http://acorn.chriswhy.co.uk/)

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Introduction

The Prophet 2 is a modified Atom build by Acorn for Busicomputers Ltd.

Manuals and documentation

 In March 1983 Personal Computer World published a review " Prophet II  " 

Busicomputers Prophet 2

You should compare the pictures of the Atom with the Prophet 2 to spot the differences. The main diffrences are:

  • The Shift and Return keys are orange and the Return key is large,
  • There is a MODE switch to the top right of the keyboard,
  • There is a VIDEO port in addition to the TV output,
  • An Acorn AtomCalc ROM PCB is installed (is this standard on the Prophet2 or an upgrade?),
  • An Acorn 32K dynamic RAM card is installed,
  • A 5v DC input is added in addition to the standard power in (but this may be a later upgrade),
  • The Utility ROM is labelled P2/FP is installed

 Here are some pictures of the Prophet 2:

Prophet 2 front

 Prophet2 (front)

 The Propet2 from the front, showing:

  •  The red Prophet2 label
  • The red Shift and return keys, note return key is large than on the standard Atom,
  • The MODE Key to the right of the keyboard (I believe this toggles between Atom and Prophet modes)

Prophet 2 right

 Prophet2 (right)

Prophet 2 back

 Prophet 2 (back)

 The back of the Prophet2 showing, from left to right:

  • The disc drive interface,
  • The parallel printer interface,
  • The Busicomputers label, below the disc drive and printer interface. For a Hi-Res picture click HERE.
  • The 5V DC power socket upgrade,
  • The 8V DC IN standard Atom power socket,
  • The Cassette tape interface,
  • The TV interface,
  • The Video interface

Prophet 2 open

 Prophet 2 with top cover removed

 The Prophet2, with the top cover removed, showing:

  • The keyboard with the red Shift and Return keys,
  • The speaker,
  • The cable on the right to the MODE switch
  • The upgrade 5V DC in socket

Prophet 2 motherboard

 Prophet 2 motherboard

 The Prophet 2 motherboard is an Atom Issue 5 board (202,000 issue 5). The picture shows, from left to right:

  •  The TV modulator,
  • 1K Video RAM with 10 empty sockets, above the TV modulator,
  • The Cassette Socket,
  • The 8V DC In socket and the upgrade 5V DC in socket on red & black wire.
  • The 6847 Video display generator, the large IC above the DC IN socket,
  • The black wire to the speaker,
  • The Atom Calc ROM PCB above the 6502 CPU and plugs into the optional utility ROM socket,
  • The P2/FP Floating point ROM with white label,
  • The parallel printer socket,
  • The ribbon cable to an Acorn Eurocard expansion

 A Hi-Res version of this picture is available HERE .

 Prophet 2 open

Prophet2 opened.

  The Prophet2 opened out to show the connections between the 32K RAM card in the base and the Acorn expansion bus on the motherboard. The red and black cable to the Video connector is also visible.

Specification:

Serial No.1082/105
Motherboard part no.202,000 Issue 5
CPU6502
CPU Clock1MHz
RAM34K
ROM 12K
- 4K MOS
- 4K P2/FP
- 4K Atom Calc
Add in/UpgradesAcorn 32K Dynamic RAM
Acorn Atom Calc PCB