Contents |
Description
Computer
The Sanyo PHC-77, a.k.a Wavy77, is a "Word-pro PersoCom" (Word processor Personal Computer) with a built-in 24 dots thermal transfer printer and an FDD drive.
The PHC-77 was aimed at the Japanese market and available in one color but depending the serie it is more or less black, or dark brown.
A special edition was released by the Com Intex (= Computer Communication Inter Exchange) company in a monstruous educational box containing the computer and 20 floppy disks with 85 lessons (was also sold in a set with the MSX2 National FS-4600F, Sanyo MPC-25FS and the MSX2+ Panasonic FS-A1WX).
The keyboard can be folded onto the unit for storage or travel. A wheel on the right side allow to change the print density.
The printer part includes two roms, 16kB for the control of the printer and 256kB for printing of Kanji characters.
The original replacement ink cartridge is the SWP-MR.
This model uses a c7 power connector this is unusual for a non European device. It is 100 Volt.
Size opened: 440×352×100 (WxLxH)
Size folded: 440×210×125 (WxLxH)
Weight: 4.7kg
| Brand | Sanyo |
| Model | PHC-77 |
| Year | 1987 |
| Region | Japan |
| Launch price | ¥138,000 |
| RAM | 64kB (in slot 3-3) |
| VRAM | 128kB |
| Media | MSX cartridges, 2DD floppy disks |
| Video | Yamaha V9938 |
| Audio | PSG (YM2149 integrated in MSX-Engine S1985) |
| Chipset | Yamaha S1985 |
| Keyboard layout | QWERTY/JP50on + numeric keypad |
| Extras | 720kB 3,5" floppy disk drive, MSX-JE (ASCII Japanese MSX-Write including Kanji-ROM level 1), computer reset button, built-in printer, printer reset button, wheel for selecting print density, folding keyboard, switch for enabling/disabling the firmware, MSX-DOS 1 and Wavy Note on 2 floppy disks |
| Emulation | ROMs dumped and emulated with exception of the internal printer. The firmware application menu switch is enabled by default and cannot be changed. Dump of floppy disks is still needed. |
Firmware
This computer comes with a built-in Japanese Word Processor with kana-kanji conversion, MSX-Write, that ASCII had released in 1986 as apart cartridge and includes a Kanji-ROM level 1. It's actually the first version of the MSX-JE system.
This Word Processor seems to have been created by Yamaha, as the indication "YAMAHA-MSX-JWP-SYSTEM" appears at three different locations of the rom.
The firmware is automatically launched when you boot the machine, but you can bypass it by changing the position of the front switch before booting the computer. Note however that on emulators, this switch is not yet emulated.
The firmware menu has 3 options:
- Access to the Word Processor
- Settings - you can choose to work in MSX(1) mode -15 characters- or MSX2 mode -30 characters- and 3 different layouts are available
- Access to MSX-BASIC
MSX-Write does not have a SRAM. Savings need to be done on disk, tape or (temporary) memory disk.
Floppy disks
Two floppy disks were provided with this computer:
- the first disk contains MSX-DOS1 and access to MSX-Write
- the second disk contains Wavy Note with 6 applications: Clock - Calendar - Memo - Address - Schedule - Calculator
Pictures
Computer
Note: MSX-Write is integrated on the printer board. The pictures of the cartridge PCB v.1 and v.2 are available below to make easy a comparison.
Firmware
Software
Specifications
The PHC-77 is an MSX2 with two Z80A from Sharp (LH0080A), a MSX-Engine S1985 from Yamaha and a Gate Array chip M60011 from Mitsubishi. The floppy disk controller is the MB8877A from Fujitsu Microelectronics.
The floppy disk drive made by Toshiba doesn't require rubber belt. The second Z80A is used by the printer.
The cartridge slots and general connectors (for joystick, mouse, etc...) are on the printer board, not on the mainboard.
Slot Map
| Slot | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slot 0 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | 3-0 | 3-1 | 3-2 | 3-3 | ||||
| Page C000h~FFFFh | Cartridge Slot A | Japanese MSX-Write | Cartridge Slot B | 64kB RAM | ||||||
| Page 8000h~BFFFh | ||||||||||
| Page 4000h~7FFFh | Main-ROM | Disk ROM | ||||||||
| Page 0000h~3FFFh | Sub-ROM | |||||||||
Connections
- RF output
- RGB output
- Analog sound & Composite video
- Data Recorder connector
- 2 general connectors (Joysticks, Mouse, Paddle controlers, etc)
- 2 cartridge slots
- Power plug male for main power supply (JIS C 8303 class, AC 100V +/-10% 50/60Hz)
Note: No printer port!
External links
- About PHC-77 (Korean)
- Meet the Sanyo WAVY 77 (Japanese)
- Blog post about the PHC-77 (Korean)
- Sanyo PHC-77 Schematic Rev.02