Victor/Jvc hc-95

Ascended (19691)

15-11-2012, 20:00

The HC-95 is a very rare MSX model. Why did you buy this particular model?? Please do not modify it... I'm interested in photos of the bottom plate with the model name.

Also, photos of the inside of the machine would also be interesting, to see whether it really has a V9958 and 256kB RAM.

Par msxholder

Champion (399)

16-11-2012, 00:24

It's an nice machine.
I do have several versions
You could spend time and try them out manuel
It's much more fun then emulating !!

Par Manuel

Ascended (19691)

16-11-2012, 22:25

If you only lived next door, I would!

However, emulation will still show and document how the machines worked when they are all destroyed in a few decades...

Par msxholder

Champion (399)

16-11-2012, 22:53

They lasted for about 3 decades and I willing to keep them working for another 3 decades
what an distance for us something about 80 miles .
At this moment playing with an ascii harddisk interface
Someday i come around for a good cup of coffee !

Par bateman82

Resident (36)

31-01-2013, 03:50

Hi to everyone!
I feel sorry for my long absence from this forum but... the HC-95 is FINALLY arrived!!!
It has been a looong wait, but now I can write with my msx next to me, so I can post some pics of the port, hardware and so on...

Manuel wrote:

Also, photos of the inside of the machine would also be interesting, to see whether it really has a V9958 and 256kB RAM.

I got some more questions for you, my dear experts:

1)http://usbsecretbase.michikusa.jp/hc-95/index.html here you can see the ac socket. The ac adaptor is a standard cable like the one I use for my old pc: like these, for instance http://www.blioblao.it/cavi-adattatori-e-convertitori-cable-... ?
The tension is 100 w (and I'm from italy), Do I need a stepdown converter? If yes, can you suggest me a good one?

2)How can I remove the backup battery? Someone can explain me?

msxholder wrote:

but please (remove) replace backup battery before leaking damage its 25 years old ! ! ! !

Here http://usbsecretbase.michikusa.jp/hc-95/index.html it says it has the psg (no fm, psg only).

msxholder wrote:

It's a msx2 no other audio as psg

... are you sure?

3)The biggest problem: the keyboard!

RetroTechie wrote:

As for the keyboard: the thing that matters is whether the keyboard matrix matches with a replacement. If so, it would be a re-wiring / replace connector job at worst. Chances are this is the case if you use another MSX keyboard, since such low-level details are often the same between MSX machines. If key matrixes are different, you'd have to re-wire individual keys. In which case some sort interface card might be easier solution.

I Bought a Phillips msx2 8280 (here's the philips pinout: http://gomsx.net/hansotten/msxdocs/philipsnms8280ug.pdf and here's the Victor: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26934921@N03/7008419937/in/phot... ) with a working (hope so...) keyboard and I haven't any soldering ability... someone can do this "converter" for me? I will pay him with paypal and most of all... he will save my life ;)

4)Video connection: the hc-95 output pinout (25 pin) is different from the one of my commodore cdtv (23 pin)... But I've found a solution because the hc 95 has a special expansion lot with s-video ouput so I can use s-video temporaly.
But I'd love to use the RGb with my 1084S monitor... is there a video cable for the hc 95?

PAC wrote:

bateman82 wrote:

2)I've seen the video-audio output and it seems the same of my commodore cdtv (one rgb with separate two audio jack), do you think i can connect to my commodore 1084s monitor?

Looking pictures I see RGB connector is a DB25. Your monitor has an SCART, right?. Then I'm sure you will be able to connect it but I don't know what is the pinout of that RGB connector.

How can I connect it?

jltursan wrote:

Quote:

2)I've seen the video-audio output and it seems the same of my commodore cdtv (one rgb with separate two audio jack), do you think i can connect to my commodore 1084s monitor?

You can connect it by means of the composite video RCA. The RGB connector seems pretty uncommon, looks like the pre-MSX Sony machines (SMC-70 and SMC-777). Anyway it can be plugged for sure using this output and the analog RGB connector of your 1084 (DB9 or DIN6, doesn't matter).
If you know how to use a multimeter, you can try to test some pins looking for matching voltages or GND. Look at the SMC-777 pinout:

1 RGB/COMP (negative)
2 NC
3 625/525 (negative)
4 RED
5 GREEN
6 BLUE
7 COMPOSITE SYNC
8 H.SYNC (negative)
9 V.SYNC (negative)
10 AUDIO OUT
11 +5V(100Opullup)
12 +5
13 -12
14-23 GND 
24 XPT (negative) 
25 +12V

Unlucky I can't understand what you're talking about... for sure I don't own a multimeter and I'm not able to build my cable. Do you know if there's some kind of adaptor?

Thanks to everyone who help me with their precious advices: in particular

PAC wrote:

bateman82 wrote:

1) "what do you think is the best audio setup for this msx? (i will buy a padial slot expander.)" fm music, fm audio, both or moonsoud? sorry I'm a newbie!

For the moment I wouldn't buy an slot expander yet. First of all decide what you want and then you will buy it if you need more hardware like SD interface, etc. About music expansion go directly to an FM-PAC cartridge. Most of the Japanese games use PSG (by default in all MSX's) and MSX-MUSIC(FM-PAC).

and

jltursan wrote:

Quote:

1) "what do you think is the best audio setup for this msx? (i will buy a padial slot expander.)" fm music, fm audio, both or moonsoud? sorry I'm a newbie!

Agreed with PAC, go for a basic FM-PAC.

: I've buyed a Fm Pac from ebay and I'd love to test it with my new msx as soon as possible!

Par bateman82

Resident (36)

01-02-2013, 00:02

Hi,
Is there anybody who can answer to my noob questions? Normally I don't care about fast replies (I've always preferred good replies!) but now I got this incredible machine on my desk and I cannot even test it because I don't want to damage it...

msxholder wrote:

but please (remove) replace backup battery before leaking damage its 25 years old ! ! ! !

Please, somebody answer me, I'd like to test it as soon as possible!
Thanks in advance!!!

Par RetroTechie

Paragon (1563)

01-02-2013, 04:48

Hi Luca,

bateman82 wrote:

I feel sorry for my long absence from this forum but... the HC-95 is FINALLY arrived!!!

Congrats - looks like a very nice & interesting machine!

Quote:

The ac adaptor is a standard cable like the one I use for my old pc: (..) The tension is 100 w (and I'm from italy), Do I need a stepdown converter?

Volts you mean Unless you know for sure that connecting >100V is okay: YES, you need a stepdown converter. No recommendation, but check Wattage before buying. For a complex MSX like yours with 2 drives and various plug-in cards, 50W is probably on the low end of what the converter should be rated for (machine will consume less in normal use, I think). Better get an 80~100W one, shouldn't be bulky or expensive these days.

Btw. I might be wrong, but this type AC input connector for this voltage seems rather unusual.

Quote:

How can I remove the backup battery?

Usually a 2-cell NiCd battery or -pack located somewhere on the main board, should be easy to spot. If unused (=empty) for a long time, it might leak and the substance (electrolyte, some sort of salt/acid) can damage IC pins, pcb tracks etc.

TBH I've yet to see one leak in an MSX (many stories from arcade machines), but since many MSX machines are only used occasionally, it isn't a bad precaution to remove that battery. Some models use a pair of AA's which can be accessed from outside.

Quote:

Here http://usbsecretbase.michikusa.jp/hc-95/index.html it says it has the psg (no fm, psg only).

As per MSX standard, any of the other many sound IC's used on MSX are optional (except YM2413 in 2+ and Turbo-R). The above simply says machine doesn't have any of such other sound IC's apart from the standard PSG.

I guess you'll have to find a way to figure out pinouts for the keyboard and RGB connectors, so

Quote:

If you know how to use a multimeter, you can try to test some pins looking for matching voltages or GND. Look at the SMC-777 pinout:

is good advice. When the pinout is known, others can solder custom cable(s) if necessary. Maybe other HC-95 owners can help with pinout / cabling info?

I'd start with that stepdown converter and RCA video to see if machine works (I'd expect a good quality composite signal from a machine like this). Then add joystick and some game cartridges or floppy games. I've run AUTOEXEC.BAS style menu programs with joystick support to select programs from a menu, although clumsy there's a lot you can do even without a keyboard! :D

As for audio extensions: anything YM2413-based -> SCC -> MSX-Audio (like Philips Music Module) -> Moonsound. Just the first two are enough for a lot of music/sound pleasure! Apart from PSG, YM2413 is probably the most supported in software / games, closely followed by SCC and MSX-Audio. Moonsound less so...

Par bateman82

Resident (36)

01-02-2013, 05:54

Thank you so much RetroTechie!!! You're the man!

Let's start for the most interesting (for me) part: the damn keyboard!

RetroTechie wrote:

Then add joystick and some game cartridges or floppy games. I've run AUTOEXEC.BAS style menu programs with joystick support to select programs from a menu, although clumsy there's a lot you can do even without a keyboard!

What do you mean?
I've always taught that you need keyboard to load every program on your msx (like my beloved c64)...
I've buyed a lot of japanese shumps from japan (floppy disk), so now I can boot them from floppy without the keyboard? great!!!

RetroTechie wrote:

As for audio extensions: anything YM2413-based -> SCC -> MSX-Audio (like Philips Music Module) -> Moonsound.

Thank you for your advice, I've buyed a fmpac and I don't need anything else, because i'd like to buy
the Mega Flash ROM SCC+. As you can see My HC-95 has only one cartdige slot... since I have an old 8280 broken here, can I take one cartdige slot from there and connect to one of the many internal port of the jvc hc 95 (jvc port?)?
If I had to buy a multislot expander what is your advice? I personally think that the padial one costs too much and it's ugly to see... but I think that it is the only one avaible.

RetroTechie wrote:

Btw. I might be wrong, but this type AC input connector for this voltage seems rather unusual. :-?

Even for me it's quite strange... do you think that this can work http://www.mybay.it/shop/1004-elettro/1013-cavi/1074-aliment... ???

Par Manuel

Ascended (19691)

01-02-2013, 12:08

Quote:

As per MSX standard, any of the other many sound IC's used on MSX are optional (except YM2413 in 2+ and Turbo-R).

Wrong. YM2413 is not part of the MSX2+ standard, although I only know one machine that doesn't have it: Sanyo PHC-35J.

About the HC-95, I wrote:

Quote:

The HC-95 is a very rare MSX model. Why did you buy this particular model?? Please do not modify it... I'm interested in photos of the bottom plate with the model name.

Also, photos of the inside of the machine would also be interesting, to see whether it really has a V9958 and 256kB RAM.

Your reply is still very interesting to me.

Par msxholder

Champion (399)

01-02-2013, 12:30

There are 2 models of the HC 95 And one HC 90