Last modified on 30 August 2006, at 01:28

Amstrad MP1/MP2 modulator

Revision as of 01:28, 30 August 2006 by SpaceRat (Talk | contribs)

A TV-modulator and power supply by Amstrad for the classic CPC-computers

As the Amstrad CPCs always came together with a monitor, normally there was no need for a TV modulator inside the CPC as seen on other home computers (Sinclair Spectrum, Commodore C64/C128 and so on). As the power supply was included inside the monitor, there wasn't an external power supply either.

If you bought an Amstrad CPC together with one of the green screen monitors GT64/GT65 however, you might have wanted the ability to play games on the colour TV-set later, so Amstrad also made the MP-1/MP-2 devices. They provided the power needed by the CPCs, so that you didn't have to carry the monitor around just to have power, and a TV-modulator which modulated the monitor signal in a way that it could be seen on a regular TV-set.

Having an MP-1/MP-2 today is more or less just a gimmick, as a self-made SCART connection gives better picture quality (SCART connectors weren't common back in the 80s) and the power can be taken from a PC AT or even ATX power supply as well.

The difference between the MP-1 and MP-2 models is just the additional 12V power supply for the CPC664/CPC6128's disk drive in the later model.

Technical Specs.

Pictures

Weblinks

Manual

The procedure of setting up the CPC with the MP-1/MP-2 modulators is described in the CPC's user manual.