Contents |
Description
Computer
The Sony HB-F1II computer is a cost reduced version of the HB-F1 to better compete against the Panasonic FS-A1, while also adding a REN-SHA-TURBO slider (autofire for both joystick and spacebar).
It was available only in black, and aimed at the Japanese market.
This machine includes a pause button that allows users to pause the system at will and a speed slider which can be used to slow down the system.
The reset button that was missing on the HB-F1 is back, on a new location compared to HB-F5 and all Sony MSX1 machines: to the right of the 1st cartridge slot instead to be to the right of the DEL or STOP key.
The cursors keys have a socket for a small 'stick joystick' - which mechanically operates the cursor keys - when not in use the joystick can be clipped in a special storage hole under the machine.
It is provided with the external power adapter AC-HB3.
| Brand | Sony |
| Model | HB-F1II |
| Year | 1987 |
| Region | Japan |
| Launch price | ¥29,800 |
| RAM | 64kB in slot 3-3 |
| VRAM | 128kB |
| Media | MSX cartridges |
| Video | Yamaha V9938 |
| Audio | PSG |
| Chipset | Yamaha S1985 |
| Keyboard layout | QWERTY/JIS |
| Extras | reset button, pause button, speed controller, Ren-Sha Turbo (autofire), firmware (Personal Databank with extra applications) |
| Emulation | ROMs dumped and emulated |
Firmware
The machine comes with a built-in Personal Databank with saving on cassette tape, the HBI-55 data cartridge or an external disk drive.
The firmware is launched automatically when you boot the machine. Bypassing it on startup requires the user to press the DEL key during boot until a Beep sound.
This software has 5 options: BASIC, Address, Schedule, Memo, Copy (limited when a HBI-55 cartridge is not present).
The 3rd option (5th when there's a disk drive) of the Copy menu leads to the Erase Data screen.
When there's a HBI-55 cartridge, it is possible in MSX-BASIC to save little programs on the data cartridge and to load / run them from this cartridge, with the instructions SAVE"CAT:" and LOAD"CAT:".
From MSX-BASIC, you can go to the Personal Databank with CALL HITBIT or _HITBIT.
By comparison with the HB-F5, the firmware has been improved with a better layout, animation at the top of the menu, removal of the weird 80 columns mode and addition of 3 extra applications under function keys:
- F2 = Calculator
- F3 = Clock
- F4 = Calendar
Easter egg
When keeping the Y and P keys pressed during boot, you will get a scrolling list of the development team followed by a digitized voice saying "It's a Sony!". A video of it is available here.
The reference to "Yellow Panther" that was present in the corresponding ROM of the HB-F1 has been removed, but the firmware of both machines is exactly the same.
The font used in the easter egg covers the entire charset, despite the text only shows a few, and despite there is no CALL FONT(n) instruction (as in the MSX1 HB-11 firmware) to directly use it.
However, this font can be used in MSX-BASIC by setting the right values in the system variable CGPNT. Either slot 3-0, address 0x485C for the easter egg font, or slot 3-2, address 0x54DB for a serif font:
- POKE &HF91F,&H83:POKE &HF920,&H5C:POKE &HF921,&H48
- POKE &HF91F,&H8B:POKE &HF920,&HDB:POKE &HF921,&H54
Pictures
Computer
Firmware
Personal Databank
Extra applications
Easter egg
Specifications
The Sony HB-F1II is a MSX2 with 2 cartridge slots (one at the top, one at the back). The CPU is a Z80A from NEC (uPD780C-1). A MSX-Engine from Yamaha (S1985) is used.
The AC-HB3 power adapter specifications are the same as the Panasonic FS-AA51 adapter for the Panasonic FS-A1 and FS-A1mkII.
Slot Map
| Slot 0 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3-0 | Slot 3-1 | Slot 3-2 | Slot 3-3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Page C000h~FFFFh | Cartridge Slot 1 | Cartridge Slot 2 | 64kB RAM | |||||||
| Page 8000h~BFFFh | Firmware 2 | Firmware 3 | ||||||||
| Page 4000h~7FFFh | Main-ROM | Firmware 1 | ||||||||
| Page 0000h~3FFFh | Sub-ROM |
Connections
- RF output
- RGB output
- Analog sound & Composite video
- Data Recorder connector
- Centronics compatible Parallel port for a printer
- 2 general connectors (joysticks, mouse, paddle controllers, ...)
- 2 cartridge slots
Upgrades
As it is conceived, this computer is compatible with the addition of a disk drive. Contrary to what happens when you add a disk drive to the HB-55 and HB-75 MSX1 machines, the firmware menu is no longer skipped and some functions of the integrated software have been modified to take the disk drive into account. The insertion of the HBI-55 cartridge in a free slot does not disable the disk drive.
External links
- Blog post about the HB-F1II (Korean)
- Video board diagram circuit (direct download link) (Japanese)