Contents |
Description
Computer
The Panasonic FS-A1mkII is identical to the FS-A1 but with an additional keypad. It was aimed at the Japanese market and available only in dark gray.
The computer comes with an external power adapter, it includes a pause button that allows users to pause the system at will.
Official price: ¥29,800
| Brand | Panasonic |
| Type | FS-A1mkII |
| Year | 1986 |
| RAM | 64kB in slot 3-0 |
| VRAM | 128kB |
| Media | MSX cartridges |
| Video | Yamaha V9938 |
| Audio | PSG (integrated in MSX-Engine S1985) |
| Chipset | Yamaha S1985 |
| Extras | DESKPAC firmware, pause button, Panasonic FS-JS221 Joypad |
Firmware
The firmware is launched automatically when you boot the machine. Bypassing this software on startup requires the user to press the DEL key during boot until a Beep sound. If you press GRAPH key the SRAM of the RTC will be initialized.
The built-in firmware is the second version of the well-known Panasonic DESKPAC software (Clock settings, Screen adjust, Clock, Calendar, Calculator, 3 games, Screen colors).
Pictures
Computer
Firmware
Specifications
The Panasonic FS-A1mKII is a MSX2 with 2 cartridge slots (one at the top, one at the back), a Z80A from ROHM (BU18400A-PS) and an MSX-Engine S1985 from Yamaha.
Slot Map
| Slot 0 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3-0 | Slot 3-1 | Slot 3-2 | Slot 3-3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank C000h~FFFFh | Cartridge Slot 1 | Cartridge Slot 2 | 64kB Memory Mapper | |||||||
| Bank 8000h~BFFFh | A1 Cockpit 1 | A1 Cockpit 3 | ||||||||
| Bank 4000h~7FFFh | Main-ROM | A1 Cockpit 2 | ||||||||
| Bank 0000h~3FFFh | Sub-ROM |
Connections
- RGB output
- RF output
- Analog sound & Composite video
- Data Recorder connector
- Centronics compatible Parallel port for a printer
- 2 general connectors (Joysticks, Mouse, Paddle controllers, etc)
- 2 cartridge slots
Fixes, Repair and Upgrades
- Memory upgrade to 512KB (Japanese)
- Memory upgrade to 512KB (Portuguese)
- If you use the CF/IDE Sunrise get the Bios v2.50b here. With this version, DEL key is replaced by the STOP key to de-activate the partitions.
- Blog post about the FS-A1mkII (Korean)