Contents |
Description
Computer
The HB-F9P (P for PAL) was a computer made and released by Sony in 1986 for the European market. Spain had its own version, model number HB-F9S.
There exists also a Russian HB-F9P with a JCUKEN keyboard, which is probably a prototype that Sony made for the USSR ministry of education to enter that market in the 80s (Yamaha won that deal).
The manuals are translated for each country. The casing looks very similar to the Japanese HB-F5 that was released the year before, but internally it is a completely different machine.
- The HB-F9P has no disk drive
- The HB-F9P has two cartridge slots in the upper right corner
The power button is on the left of the machine, the reset button was located below the cartridge slots. The Russian version can switch between the English character set and the Cyrillic characters by using the CODE button.
| Brand | Sony |
| Model | HB-F9P |
| Year | 1986-11 |
| Region | Europe |
| Launch price | NL: ƒ799 |
| RAM | 128kB in slot 3-2 |
| VRAM | 128kB |
| Media | MSX cartridges |
| Video | Yamaha V9938 |
| Audio | PSG (YM2149 integrated in MSX-Engine S1985) |
| Chipset | Yamaha S1985 |
| Keyboard layout | (Standard model) QWERTY with a "£" key + numeric keypad (Russian model) QWERTY/Cyrillic + numeric keypad |
| Extras | Firmware (Memovision office tool), reset button |
| Emulation | ROMs dumped and emulated for both the regular and Russian version |
Firmware
The HB-F9P (except the Russian prototype) has a firmware called MemoVision whose ROMs are located at slots 3-0 and 3-1. It contains some desk tools (calculator, calendar, timer and clock) and a family agenda. It has the possibility to select the display language: English, Dutch, French and Italian.
Bypassing the firmware requires the user to press the GRAPH key during startup until Beep sound.
MemoVision can save its data on three 3 media:
- A battery powered SRAM cartridge (HBI-55)
- On tape, by pressing SHIFT during boot
- On disk by having a floppy in the drive while booting
By default, the firmware is in Spanish, but you can choose another language, what will modify the Area code stored in the Ricoh RP-5C01 clockchip as follows:
| Value | Language |
|---|---|
| 04 | English |
| 05 (default value) | Dutch |
| 06 | French |
| 07 | Italian |
Pictures
Computer
Firmware
Specifications
The HB-F9P is a MSX2 with a Z80A from Sharp (LH0080A) or NEC (uPD780C) and an S1985 MSX-Engine from Yamaha.
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 | 128kB Memory Mapper | |||||||
| Page 8000h~BFFFh | ||||||||||
| Page 4000h~7FFFh | Main-ROM | MemoVision 2 | MemoVision 1 | |||||||
| Page 0000h~3FFFh | Sub-ROM |
Slot Map for Russian model
| 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 | 128kB Memory Mapper | |||||||
| Page 8000h~BFFFh | ||||||||||
| Page 4000h~7FFFh | Main-ROM | Mirror | ||||||||
| Page 0000h~3FFFh | Sub-ROM |
- Sub-ROM in Slot 3-0 is mirrored to 4000-7FFF.
Connections
- RF output
- RGB output
- 6-pin DIN Audio/Video connector
- Data Recorder connector
- Centronics compatible Parallel port for a printer
- 2 general connectors (Joysticks, Mice, Paddle controllers, etc)
- 2 cartridge slots
- 220V AC Power socket