Raspberry Pi Multi-Core Co-Processor Tube HAT Adapter Board
for the BBC Model B, B+ and Master 128

This is a Buy-It-Now sale, for a new Raspberry Pi Co-Processor Tube HAT adapter board, for the BBC Micro range Model B, B+ and Master 128. It is also suitable for the Acorn Electron, providing you have a compatible tube interface.

This interface has been designed as a Pi HAT, so can be used with the larger Pi boards, like the Model 3A, 3B and the latest Model 4, and can then be fitted into a HAT case if you wish. If you want to use a Pi Zero, this board is compatible, but I do a smaller more compact board that has the correct spacer holes for the Zero, with it's own mounting holes to fit into a BBC Case internally, please see my other listings.

In this sale you are buying just the adapter PCB assembled and tested, that allows you to plug your own Raspberry Pi into it, and once fitted with a suitable MicroSD card and firmware, it can operate as a Multi-Core Second Processor system, running at lightning speeds!

Once assembled with a Pi and firmware, this clever device doesn't just limit you to a 6502 running at 3, 4, or even 16MHz, it can emulate many of the different Co-Processors available to the BBC Micro over the years, such as:

  • 6502 running at either the original 3MHz, or a blistering equivalent of over 300MHz
  • A Z80, running at 60Mhz for CP/M
  • An 80286 for DOS
  • A 32016 Cambridge Co-Processor for running the Panos Operating System.
  • A 6809
  • A 9MHz emulation of the original ARM Evaluation system
  • A native ARM Co-Processor, running at up to 1400MHz, with the latest firmware and a Model 3A+ or 3B+!
Please click here to watch a quick example on YouTube of the Executive version of Elite loading and running the attractor screen. If you've ever played Elite, either the standard version, or the Executive version on a regular 4MHz 65C102 Co-Prcoessor, you'll see just how much faster and smoother it is, running at an equivalent of over 300MHz!

This board is a universal type, that plugs into the Tube port of any BBC Micro, and draws power from the Tube port itself, so no extra power supply is required. I also supply two different dedicated internal versions for the Master 128, one for the Zero or Zero 2, and one for the Model A or 3A+, which plug into its internal Tube connector, please see my other listings. This adapter also comes with a serial port, which is used for debugging software over the various cores. I can provide more information on this feature and a link to the relevant pages if required.

Comes as just the PCB as pictured in the first three photos. The other photos are representative of how it looks assembled, with a 3B+ and the smaller 3A+. It is also compatible with the original version 1 of the Pi, but you need to remove the composite video connector at S4 to allow it to fit. You will need to source your own Raspberry Pi, along with a MicroSD card for the firmware which is available on my website. You'll also need a 40 way connector cable to connect to the tube. You may also want some supports for the Pi itself, which are shown in the photos. I can provide any of these extra bits if you need them at extra cost.

If you would prefer a complete setup, that comes with everything you need to plug and go, please see my other listings. (Complete HAT Tube kits with the blisteringly fast 3B+ are coming soon!)

Please note, that any second processor needs the Tube Host code inside the BBC Micro to run. This is always fitted in a Master 128, and is usually present in a B+. However, a Model B may not have it fitted, and you may need an additional DNFS ROM to allow this to work. If you're not sure, send me a screenshot of your computer displaying the results of a *HELP - I should be able to tell from there if it's needed or not, and supply it at the same time.

No BBC Micro software for the Co-Processor itself is included, but this can all be downloaded from the net, or I can supply boot disk images for various cores on request free of charge, to use on a GOTEK USB Floppy drive (Please see my other listings if you're interested in one of those as well).

** UK POSTAGE BY ROYAL MAIL **

** Worldwide shipping by the eBay Global Shipping Program **

We also supply GOTEK USB drives for the BBC Micro, as well as Raspberry Pi multi-core Second processors in internal and external versions.
As well as 1770 Disk Upgrade kits, 4 way switchable OSs for the Master 128 and 2 way for the B+, we can supply other refurbished BBC Model Bs and Master 128s to your specification.
Please check my other items for sale, or if they've sold out on my listings, please contact me for details.