qlwiki:aurora [Sinclair QL Wiki]

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 ====== Aurora ======
The Aurora motherboard was a replacement for the standard Sinclair QL motherbaord, designed by [[qlwiki:Zeljko Nastasic]] and marketed by [[qlwiki:Qubbesoft]]. 


Although the Aurora lacked a processor (it was designed for use with a [[qlwiki:Gold Card]] or [[qlwiki:Super Gold Card]]), it was ideally suited for use in a PC case, as it allowed you to connect to either a standard QL monitor, a VGA or an SVGA monitor (or even an LCD controller board).


As well as the standard QL display modes, Aurora also supports up to 768 x 576 pixel displays at 256 colours, which can be accessed either directly, or through using the SMSQ/e operating system.  Two chips were taken from the original QL - the 8302 ULA and the 8049 co-processor.


The Aurora allows you to connect various ROMs for operating systems (including standard QL ROMs, [[qlwiki:Minerva]] MK1 or Minerva MK2) and even a 512K 27050 or 27C040 EPROM.


Standard PC connectors are on the motherboard to allow you to attach the following:


a) Reset button, power and network LEDs, speaker and network adaptor lead
b) An Atari / Amiga BUS mouse (not serial / PS/2)
c) 2 x DB-9 or DB-25 serial ports
d) External power connector (although the Aurora was normally powered through a powered backplane).


You could add more connectivity by using a [[qlwiki:Minerva]] MK2 operating system and/or [[qlwiki:SuperHermes]] in place of a standard 8049 processor.


An extended ROM port connector is also provided which (with a suitable adaptor) allows you to either use standard QL ROM cartridges (and other devices), or an extended ROM connector which included a further 7 signals (so far as we know, no hardware was ever produced to utilise this).


Finally most people used a replacement keyboard interface built into an 8049 replacement (SuperHERMES, the Di-Ren keyboard interface, or Jürgen Falkenberg interface), although the Aurora does include a Keyboard matrix connector which accepted a special adaptor which would enable a standard QL keyboard membrane to be used.


{{qlwiki:aurora_motherboard.jpg?direct&240x208  |Aurora Motherboard}}