Computer preservation – Videoton TV Computer

I’ve just fixed the power supply for one of my vintage computer a Videoton TVC, and though I’ll wriite a small blogpost about it. This computer shares the origin with me we’re both from Hungary.

A Brief History of the Videoton TVC

The Videoton TV-Computer (TVC) represents a fascinating chapter in the history of 8-bit computing, particularly within the context of Hungary’s technological aspirations during the 1980s. Released around 1986, the TVC emerged as a product of necessity and ingenuity. Hungary, then behind the Iron Curtain, sought to develop its own computing solutions, leveraging older technology licenses and adapting them for local needs. Videoton, a major Hungarian electronics manufacturer, took on the challenge, basing the TVC on technology derived from the Enterprise computer.

Designed to support both education and personal computing, the TVC was sold primarily as part of the Hungarian government’s School Computer Program. About 12,000 units were produced, with the 32 KB and 64 KB models being the most common. The later 64k+ model introduced enhanced features, including more video RAM and an updated BASIC interpreter.

What set the TVC apart was its ambitious versatility. It offered a range of features uncommon for its time, including multiple graphical modes, Hungarian keyboard support, and robust expansion capabilities. Four upper expansion ports allowed users to attach peripherals such as floppy drives, RS232 cards, and even a network card. Hobbyists later created enhancements like SD card readers and HDMI output, showcasing the enduring appeal of the TVC.

Despite its technical achievements, the TVC faced stiff competition from imported models like the Commodore Plus/4. Its relatively high production costs and limited software library also constrained its success. Yet, the Videoton TVC remains a symbol of Hungary’s effort to carve out a space in the global computing landscape, embodying both the promise and challenges of localized innovation in a globalizing world.

For enthusiasts and vintage computing hobbyists, the TVC stands as a testament to a bygone era of bold experimentation and regional pride in technology.

Fix the PSU

My TVC has issues with its power supply. It is able to boot (actually supply power) about once for every 10 switch cycles. Thankfully, I’ve found an article with some suggestions on how to modernize the power supply by replacing the internals with a Meanwell RPT-60 medical power supply. This will produce the necessary +12V, -12V, and 5V outputs. The power supply is very accessible, it’s around $25 on Amazon. The repair description (linked below) also shared a 3d model to fix the new smaller PSU in the original housing.

The repair was really simple the only slight difficulty was to map the voltage on the original PSU, as it’s working was very intermittent, but on the picture above you can see the mapped connectors. Also want to call out the PSU-Computer cable uses all blue wires so better to flag them before de-solder.

After that, the replacement was very simple and the final result looked like the original, but with a much smaller modern power supply.

The purpose of this article is to raise awareness about this relatively rare vintage computer. You can find sources to read about the different hardware extensions and programs created for this peculiar device.

You can try it for yourself by using an emulator:

Sources