The VELA hardware was based around a Motorola 6802 processor (center) and had a basic support ROM (ISL1) built in as standard (bottom left) which carried the basic logging programs for the VELA machine as listed on the base of the VELA. You can click on the photo of the VELA circuit board to see a 6 mega pixel hi-res version.
The VELA PLUS and RS Multi-Function Intelligent Data Logger shared the same PCB which you can see in the image below.
Early VELA PLUS devices were based on the VELA Mark II circuit board and added a noise reduction circuit on a daughter board into the path of the ZN449E A to D converter as can be seen in the photo below on the left of the photo.
In addition to the ISL1 EPROM which carried the basic VELA system together with the initial programs 0 to 16, the VELA could be expanded with extra 2732 EPROMs which have a 4KB capacity to store programs for specialist applications. Some of the extra ROMs that were available were as follows:
The various EPROMs had several programs built in and their programming identification numbers and descriptions are as below.
Program No. | Program Description |
00 | Four channel voltmeter |
01 | Fast Analogue recorder (up to 3m20s) |
02 | Medium analogue recorder (up to 16m39s) |
03 | Slow analogue recorder (up to 11d20h) |
04 | Frequency Meter |
05 | Event Timer |
06 | Multi-chanel Timer |
07 | Pulse counter (up to 41h37m) |
08 | Statistics of inter pulse times |
09 | Statistics of random events (up to 16m39s) |
10 | Versatile waveform generator (uses the digital port) |
11 | Control sequence generator (uses the digital port) |
12 | Ramp generator |
13 | Decimal to binary converter |
14 | Dual beam oscilloscope |
15 | Data retrieve and transfer |
16 | User definable machine code program |
Only programs 20 to 27 were available. Selecting any other program number in this range simply called a RESET function to send a user back to the start point for programming the VELA.
Program No. | Program Description |
20 | 4 Channel Multimeter |
21 | Single Channel Fast Recorder |
22 | 4 Channel Fast Recorder |
23 | 4 Channel Slow Recorder |
24 | Re-entry to Display Routines |
25 | Single channel editor |
26 | Sensor initialisation |
27 | EPROM Identification Date |
It seems that there are at least 2 different versions of ISL2 as the manual I have shows the following programs are available.
Program No. | Program Description |
17 | Insert (into User defined program) |
18 * | Fast Data (Hex) Printer Dump (40 Col.) |
19 * | Print Data Table |
20 * | Disassembler |
21 | Display ADC Binary O/P codes |
22 | Variable Speed O/P to chart |
23 | Voltage to Frequency Converter |
24 | Music Box |
25 | 100 µsec resolution timer |
26 | Memory Block Shifter |
27 ** | VELA Control by µComputer |
28 | 4000 Byte (Secs) datalogger |
29 | Re-Entry routine |
30 ** | Download from µComputer |
31 | Save on Cassette recorder |
32 | Reload from Cassette recorder |
33 * | Fast Data Dump to 80/120 col. printers |
34 * | Print Data table 80/120 col. printers |
35 * | Disassembler for 80/120 col. printers |
36 | Hexadecimal User Creation |
37 | Binary to Denary Converter |
38 | Interactive Control Sequencer |
39 * |
Printer Primer |
Programs marked '*' require a centronics printer cable and suitable printer. Programs marked '**' require a suitable VELA to Micro cable.
ISL3 was scheduled for release in January 1985 was announced as containing Logic Tutor routines, Graphics Dump to printer and extra datalogging routines.
Program No. | Program Description |
40 | 4 channel logic analyser |
41 ** | Printout channel 1, fast transient recorder results |
42 ** | Printout 4 channel (msec) datalogger results |
43 ** | Printout 4 channel (secs) datalogger results |
44 * | Quad 2-input AND/NAND/OR/NOR simulation |
45 * | Dual 2-input AND, 2-input EOR, OR simulation |
46 * | Dual half adders, 2-input AND, OR simulation |
47 * | Quad Set-Reset Flip-Flops simulation |
48* |
Triple JK Flip-Flops, Multi-input AND simulation |
49 | Ramp Generator and 4 channel sampler |
50 *** | Download Data/Program codes from Microcomputer |
51 ** | Printout a graph for fast transient datalogger |
52 ** | Printout a graph for 4 channel (msec) datalogger |
53 ** | Printout a graph for 4 channel (secs) datalogger |
54 ** | 4 channel (minutes) datalogger with printout |
55 *** | 4 channel datalogger controlled by Microcomputer |
56 ** | Printout data from Multi-channel timer (06) |
57 ** | Printout histogram for statistics (07) |
58 ** | Printout histogram for statistics (08) |
59 ** | Printout histogram for statistics (09) |
Programs marked '*' require an Educational Electronics Logic board. Programs marked '**' require a centronics printer cable and suitable printer. Programs marked '***' require a suitable VELA to Micro cable.
I have no further information regarding this EPROM. If you have anymore information regarding this EPROM, please do get in touch.
Program No. | Program Description |
60 | Digital Volt Meter with movable decimal point |
61 | Digital Volt Meter (Decimal point and offset adjustable) |
62 | Digital Volt Meter (Offset adjustable and scaling) |
63 | Energy Meter |
64 | Power Meter |
65 | 100uS resolution timer |
66 | Velocity Meter |
67 | Accelerometer via time measurements |
68 | Accelerometer via Dual velocities and time |
69 | Accelerometer - Direct readout |
70 | Digital Thermometer |
71 | Capacitance Meter |
72 | Phase Meter |
73 | Temperature Data logger |
74 | Rate Meter (0.1Hz resolution) |
75 | Two channel repetitive timer |
76 | Two channel velocity meter |
77 | Two channel timer and velocity meter |
78 | Variable LF Squarewave generator |
79 | Variable Sinewave oscillator (requires ISL3) |
Program No. | Program Description |
0 | Four channel digital voltmeter |
1 | Fast transient recorder |
2 | Analogue (transient) recorder |
3 | Analogue recorder, slow |
4 | Frequency meter |
5 | Event timer |
6 | Multichannel timer |
7 | Unassigned |
8 | Re-entry to output routines |
9 | Download from microcomputer |
10 | Waveform generator |
11 | Control sequence generator |
12 | User program creation |
Program No. | Program Description |
20 | 4 channel sampling by microcomputer with real time data transfer |
21 | Data table to printer of data logging programs |
22 | Data table to printer of data logging programs |
23 | Data table to printer of data logging programs |
24 | Graphics output to printer of data logging programs |
25 | Graphics output to printer of data logging programs |
26 | Graphics output to printer of data logging programs |
27 | 4 chanel real time logger to printer |
28 | Data table to printer of multi-channel timer |
If you've come across this page because you've found a dusty old VELA or any of the peripherals I've mentioned on the site in the store cupboard of the science department and you're wondering what you can do with it... You could always consider donating it to a good home such as mine where it would be reunited with a BBC Micro, archived for the future and used!
Although I now have many VELA related items, I am still missing many more bits and pieces so if you happen to have a VELA, any VELA software, manuals or related VELA handbooks, then I'd still be very interested in hearing from you so please do get in touch!
Of particular interest are any VELA SAM4 compatible modules and software for the RM380Z, Apple II and IBM-PC's of the day which currently are lost to the mists of time with the prospects of viable floppy discs containing the software being more remote as the years go by.
For a full list of VELA related items I'm looking for, please check out my VELA - WANTED, DEAD or ALIVE! page.
The following ROM images are Mk I EPROMS and are incompatible with the ISL1* ROM from the VELA Mk II. You can use the Mk I ROMs in a VELA Mk II or VELA PLUS but there are several differences in the data formats they produce when exporting from the VELA so when sending data to a microcomputer, it should be told it is connected to a Mk I VELA.
The following ROM images are for the VELA Mk II as indicated by a red *.
The following ROM images are for the VELA PLUS as indicated by a green *.
The following ROM image is for the SAM4 Sensor Adaptor Module
This final ROM is the RS Components ROM image that replaces ISL1* for their re-branded Multi-function Intelligent Data Logger.
The following datasheets cover all of the IC chips that are used in the VELA Mk. II data logger.
I'd like to thank Jon Neville-Green of The Discovery Academy School in Stoke-On-Trent who kindly arranged for me to obtain their VELA which had been gathering dust in exchange for a donation to the Science department at the Academy. Thank you very much.
I'd also like to thank Cathy Herriman of Sherborne School for providing me with a full surplus set of manuals and supporting books and documents for the VELA in exchange for a donation to the School funds. Thank you.
Finally, I'd like to thank Mr Robert Boyd of Glossop High School in Adelaide and Dr. Ashley Clarke (one of the original creators of VELA) who have both contributed information in various e-mails that has allowed me to build up and present a wider picture of the VELA data logger and what it could do.