SPECIFICATIONS
NASCOM-1
| Year | 1978/9 |
| CPU | 1 or 2 MHz Z80 |
| Register size | 8 bits |
| Installed RAM | 2 kB (about 850 bytes for user) |
| Maximum RAM | 2 kB (on board) |
| Installed ROM | 1 kB (2kB with extended monitor) |
| Interfaces | RS232, RF out, TTY, PIO lines |
| Storage | Cassette 300baud |
| Case style | Single board Computer (uncased) |
| Languages | Z80 machine code + monitor |
NASCOM-2
| Year | 1979/80 |
| CPU | 2 or 4 MHz Z80A |
| Register size | 8 bits |
| Installed RAM | 10 kB (nearly 9k for user) |
| Maximum RAM | 32 kB (and/or ROM in selectable sockets on board) |
| Installed ROM | 10 kB (including BASIC) |
| Interfaces | RS232, Video out, RF out, TTY, PIO lines |
| Storage | Cassette 300/1200 baud Kansas city |
| Case style | Single board Computer (uncased) |
| Languages | Z80 machine code + monitor and 8k Microsoft BASIC in ROM |
NASCOM-3
| Year | 1982 |
| CPU | 4 MHz Z80 |
| Register size | 8 bits |
| Installed RAM | 48 kB typ |
| Maximum RAM | depends on expansion cards |
| Installed ROM | 2k monitor + 8k BASIC – possibly others |
| Interfaces | RS232, Video out, RF out, TTY |
| Graphics | 40×25 text 80×25 text 320×256 8 colours 640×256 3 colours |
| Storage | Cassette 300/1200 baud Kansas city with optionfor 1 or 2 320k 5.25inch floppy disk drives
using either CPM 2.2 or NAS DOS operating systems |
| Case style | Keyboard/computer + monitor |
| Languages | Z80 machine code + monitor and 8k Microsoft BASIC in ROM |
Actually a cased Nascom-2 with a built-in power supply, bus and keyboard!
nascom.info 
Old Nascom user..
Can I email you?
no problem, Les.
Interesting blog. I had(have? I think it’s in my ex’s loft) a Nascom-2, on which I programmed geophysical stuff in BASIC and Pascal. You could load the Pascal compiler from tape. I also designed built an 80-bus serial comms board, hooked it up to an acoustic modem and used it as a remote terminal to a VAX 11/730 minicomputer in Croydon (from London W4). Happy days!
I have just donated my Nascom3 to the National Museum of Computing. I will be delivering it on Sunday next.june 11 2017.
This is something that I wish I’d seen. 🙂 I never got to see a Nascom 3. Any chance of some photographs before you send it?
Good info here. I found this site looking for “Animation Graphics Board”, I just got my AGB working in my Nascom 2. I don’t think it has run since 1987 or so.
I’m seriously thinking about fab’ing a NASCOM1 PCB. I built one in the late ’70s and it’s one of my fondest memories (I must be a looser). Other than the Apple I replica, there’s no old-school computer kits these days.
Do you think others may be interested in a NASCOM 1 PCB and/or kit?
Paul
Bought a kit in 1978.. one of those with pre-soldered IC sockets. But I never got around to assemble it, for two reasons: There was no way I could afford to buy or build the power supply, something I didn’t realise when I got in on a group buy of the Nascom 1 (at tech. school). And I didn’t have anything I could use for a display – I have the impression that in the UK it was quite common to use the family TV for such things, that would not be acceptable in my country.
However, I have finally acquired a +5V -5V +12V -12V power supply.. and setting up to assemble my Nascom 1. Still have to ponder on the display part, but now I think I can figure something out.
Hi Tor,
If you can find something that will accept a combined video input you should be ok as that is available on the Nascom 1. The original modulator circuit was very rarely used – most people opted for one of the “tin can” modulators that were much better. Those were supplied with the later kits too. A lot of us either found little computer monitors to use or bought 12 inch mono TVs. Unfortunately there aren’t a lot of either of those left!
Good luck with your build!
When I lived in England I had a Nascom 2 in the early 1980s It was still running n 1989. Also had a Gemini that I gave to my parents to use. I designed and built a Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) board for my Nascom. It had 9 channels of ADC using an 8 bit ADC Ferranti chip. 8 Channels were multiplexed to one ADC chip. The 9th channel went direct to a second ADC chip. This was to do near simultaneous sampling. The Board also had a Zilog PIO, SIO and Realtime clock chip with Battery Backup. I used this board to record my own ECG which was printed out on a dot matirx printer Epson MX80. I am a retired BioMedical Engineer, currently living in Maryland, USA. I can send a photo of this Board. I still have it. The Nascom 2 has long so gone, though I still have the DRAM memory chips for it. I had memory board and modified it to take 64K. Wrote that up or one of the Nascom magazines. I remember the names of David Hunt, Dave Greenhalugh (guessing at spelling of name)
Hi Bob 🙂
Thanks for contacting me. That’s an interesting board, I’d love a pic if you could send one. Pity about your Nascom 2, but that’s how it goes. If your write-up is in one of the magazines that I have I can send you a scan of it. 🙂
The bloke you are thinking of might have been Paul Greenhalgh.
I am interested in the Henelec Disk System leaflet. I could send five pages about the Henelec FDC.
Regards,
Mathias
Hi Mathias 🙂
I’ve fixed my web page so you can read the leaflet that I have now. 🙂 Yes please – if you can contribute anything I’d be grateful.