Category Archives: 4-Extensions

CE-165 : More informations (by Don Gregory)

Don Gregory is a PC-1500.info reader and contributor.
In february he sent me all the “Pocket Computer Newsletter” (I apologize, I’m very late to post it)
He contacted me after my last article and give us a lot more informations about the CE-165 :


(CE-165 with it’s cover (c) Don Gregory)

Here is my CE-165 and a user guide I made as follows:

The CE-165 is a program writer for CE-160 memory modules.

Programs must first be written to a CE-155 8k module (not a CE-159).
DEF key labels should be used for your programs. Read a CE-160 manual.
Then the program can be transferred to the CE-160 module.
Up to 16 modules can be programmed at a time.

Maximum byte size of the program for transferal:

BASIC program – 7808 bytes
Katakana in use – 6119 bytes
CE-153 in used – 6740 bytes
Katakana and CE-153 in use – 4941 bytes


(CE-165 ready to program 2 modules (c) Don Gregory)

Procedure:

Connect the PC-1500 with CE-155 to a CE-150 printer.
Load your program and power off.
Connect to the CE-165 via a cable.
Connect the EA-150 power supply to the CE-165 then plug to a wall outlet.
Power on the CE-165 then power on the PC-1500.
CE-165 program Auto Runs.
Commands corresponding to the Function keys will appear on the screen.
If you press the Break key you can restart with Run command or press
Function Key 1.
Function Key 2 is a power down with no line feed at power up, like Auto
Power Off.

Screen 1:
MODULE X UNITS: YES NO

X will be the number of modules that are inserted and functioning.

If the number is correct press the Function Key under YES.
Program proceeds to Screen 2.

If the number is incorrect press the function key under NO.
Screen will show sockets that are not active 0-1-2-3-4-5-6-7
Press Enter shows sockets not active 8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15
Any number not appearing is a good module ready to use.

Screen 2:
ERASE WRITE VERIFY

ERASE – Screen displays ERASE START ******* changes to ERASE END ******
then powers off.

WRITE – Screen displays PREVIOUS SETTINGS AVAILABLE ?? YES NO
NO will ask if you want to include the RESERVE AREA: YES NO
Then asks if CE-153? YES NO
Asks again to confirm CE-153 usage. YES NO
WRITE START ******
WRITE VERIFY ****** If VERIFY fails the socket number(s) is
displayed ERR: X
WRITE END ******** then powers off

VERIFY – Screen displays SOURCE PROGRAM 1500 160
modules in the CE-165 can be verified with a CE-160 or a CE-155 in
the PC-1500.
RESERVE AREA? YES NO
CE-153? YES NO
Confirm CE-153 usage. YES NO
VERIFY START ********* If VERIFY fails the socket number(s) is
displayed ERR: X
VERIFY END ******** then powers off

Note: If CE-153 is used and the NEW command was incorrect ERROR: NEW XXX
THIS VALUE IS WRONG is displayed.

Are you able to understand the meaning of it’s CE-165 serial number ?
It’s one of the firsts one produced.

(My CE-165’s serial number (c) Don Gregory)

Thank you very much Don for this article !
We are happy to see a near mint, full functional, CE-165.

PC-1500 : the full SHARP system

Here is my full SHARP system “in box”.

– PC-1500 small box
– PC-1500 big box with manuals
– PC-1500A big box with manuals
– CE-150 printer and tape interface
– CE-151 4KB memory module
– CE-152 tape recorder
– CE-153 Soft ware board
– CE-154 Briefcase
– CE-155 8KB memory module
– CE-156 Katakana software tape
– CE-157 Katakana ROM module
– CE-158 RS-232C and parallel interface
– CE-159 8KB memory module with write protection
– CE-160 7,8KB Read only memory module
– CE-161 16KB memory module
– CE-162E Tape and parallel interface

The CE-163 2x16KB memory module is missing.
Impossible to find the box. Do you have one ?

PC-1500_FULL_003
PC-1500_FULL_001
Sharp_CE-154_Closed
PC-1500_FULL_002

TE-1508 : Internal 512KB RAMDisk !

Ok, my tests are OK on the prototype board.

TE-1508_RAMDisk

Here are the module features :
– Reference TE-1508
– 512KB of static RAM
– 16 pages of 32KB located in the ME1 zone
– Software selection of the page
– Software Activation/Desactivation (for example the IWS video interface uses same zone in ME1)
– Optional CR-2032 backup battery
– Optional write protection by jumper.

The page selection uses a very special feature of the LH5801 processor which was never being used before… because Sharp never routed this pin !
The data bus can work as a multiplexed bus like the Intel 8052 from the MCS51 family. It means that at one time data are on the bus and another time it’s something else. And this is f… good feature ! I don’t have to use many logical cells. Page 42 of the Technical Reference Manual describe it as the ATP instruction. It pushes the accumulator value on the data bus and provides all signals to store it in a latch. And here we just have to plug an octal latch.

Manual routing is done !
Installing it in your Sharp PC-1500(A) will need some wrapping wires…
TE-1508_Reduce

I need some tests with the final board and i will tell you the price…

Is it enough to store your programs ? 😀

TEAM1560 : Testing a new module… TE-1508

I’m testing a new hardware to take place inside the PC-1500(A).
The schematics is OK, the circuit board is manually routed.
And i’m testing it with some classic DIP components.

This new module will be the TE-1508, a 512KB RAMDrive.
It’s like 25x the maximum user RAM area.
All this memory is organized in 16x32KB pages with a write protect jumper and a CR2032 battery.
It’s in the first half of the ME1 zone and can be disabled by software. (Remember that the IWS video interface uses the same ME1 zone.)
But installing it inside the PC-1500 will be a big job.

Stay tuned…

CE-154 : The Sharp briefcase for the PC-1500

This is a “must have” item for PC-1500 fans.
Sharp_CE-154_Closed
Did James Bond have a such briefcase ? No !
Sharp_CE-154_OpenedFull2

When opening it you have :
– PC-1500 or PC-1500A
– CE-150 printer and cassette interface
– CE-152 tape recorder
– CE-153 extended keyboard
– EA-150 power adapter
And under the CE-153 you have a special compartment with
– CE-153 software tape
– CE-156 Katakana software (for Japan briefcase)
– place for up to 4 paper rolls
– place for all cables (CE-153, CE-152, power)
Sharp_CE-154_OpenedFull1    Sharp_CE-154_FullTop

Here is the empty briefcase :
Sharp_CE-154_1    Sharp_CE-154_EmptyTop

Sharp_CE-154_Full

You can remove the interior :
Sharp_CE-154_Inside

And see that it’s a standard briefcase :
Sharp_CE-154_0 Sharp_CE-154_CaseTop

I’m lucky with this one and i have two covers for the interior :
Sharp_CE-154_Empty1 Sharp_CE-154_Empty0

All is explained in this japanese user manual :
Sharp_CE-154-Doc

CN-2000 : One navigation system for the Sharp PC-1500

If you loose your way ask your PC-1500 !

Here is a small navigation system for the PC-1500 : the CN-2000 from InfoCenter, Inc.
CN-2000 Celestial navigation
EMI_2142 EMI_2143

It’s stored in a very nice wood box.
EMI_2145
The CN-2000 can be plugged to a PC-1500 or PC-1500A.
You have a module to connect on the 60 pins connector and a user manual.
EMI_2147 EMI_2148

The module is in a plastic box.
EMI_2149 EMI_2150

But when you open the box… you are far away from a professional system !
The box is not closed by the screws, it’s closed by some silicon glue.
The 4 screws are very short and fixed by the same glue.
And the board looks like self made but not pro with green paint.
EMI_2151 EMI_2152

The program is BASIC and stored in the EPROM. It’s read protected for common users.

Here is the user manual :
CN-2000Download

If you want to read more about navigation with this module there is “The navigator’s newsletter”
NN_frontpage
Go to the Newsletter archives…

And i have found a small paper in the Yatching magazine talking about the CN-2000 :
CN-2000 Yatching Oct 88 - 30 CN-2000 Yatching Oct 88 - 31