DragonPlus Installed and Operational
DragonPlus board built
DragonPlus IC Map
An image of some vintage computer hardware
DragonPlus PCB Traces
DragonPlus Kit Contents
Dragon User - Jan 1986 Front Cover (from archive.org)
Dragon User - Article part 1 of 5 (from archive.org)
Dragon User - Article part 2 of 5 (from archive.org)
Dragon User - Article part 3 of 5 (from archive.org)
Dragon User - Article part 4 of 5 (from archive.org)
Dragon User - Article part 5 of 5 (from archive.org)

DragonPlus Board (Kit – 2021 version)

£61.95

Now onto second batch of production PCBs with a new, lower price.

A second display for your Dragon 64/200 or Dragon 32 upgraded to 64K.

  • Clear 80-column monochrome display:
    • Works with OS9, Flex, EDIT128.
    • Frees up RAM in OS9 and Flex, as video RAM is on-board and dedicated.
  • 64K RAM Disk
    • Can be used as an additional RAM drive.

This kit is now suitable for use with all models of Dragon 32, 64 or Dragon 200 with 64K of RAM. Technically it should also work with Tano Dragons, as it connects only to the SAM and ROM sockets. The kit has not been tested for size inside a Tano Dragon however.

The kit is supplied with an additional 40-pin DIL socket, in case you need to re-socket your SAM. This is because many original Dragons had very strange (by today’s standards) sockets with tiny pin holes. Replacing with a modern socket makes for an easier and better connection to the motherboard.

DragonPlus Kit Build Instructions v3.0 – Jun 2021

Please see below for more information and links to videos of the board in operation.

In stock

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Description

What is DragonPlus?

Advertised by Compusense in 1985 as the “Ultimate Expansion For Your Dragon”, Roy Coates (of Manic Miner conversion fame) put it to the test for the Dragon User article. Roy takes the reader on a whistle-stop tour of the specifications and fitting of the board, listing it’s components as follows:

  • 64K of dynamic RAM
  • A 6845 Video Display Generator as used in the BBC Micro
  • An 8K EPROM containing the character set
  • A 2K RAM chip used as screen memory for the 80 columns of 24 rows of text
  • The SAM chip from your Dragon
  • The [or one of the] ROM chips from your Dragon

The conclusion in Dragon User was as follows:

  • The 80 column display is very, very fast and exceptionally clear.
  • The virtual disk gives the impression of using a ‘real’ system, and offers a lot more flexibility.
  • A recommendation that the DragonPlus may be better value for single disk-drive users than a second disk drive.

DragonPlus Board Running OS9

DragonPlus Board Running Flex

DragonPlus Board Running EDIT+ (EDIT128)

Additional information

Weight 0.37 kg
Dimensions 24 × 19 × 8 cm
Condition

New: Other

Mostly new components and PCB. Some old components – fully tested – but due to age, leaded solder will be present.

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