Category Archives: Hardware

System hardware and extensions

Sharp CE-158 : a few ones for sale

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I have some of the rare CE-158 for sale.

Description :
– Used item.
– Last hardware version and clean boards.
– New battery pack 720mA/h (directly soldered because the connector was corroded)
– New power adapter 9v 1A, positive outside.
– New RS232C cable 9F/25M as described in my previous article
– Documentation can be downloaded here.
– No metal plates.

Prices :
– With some light marks : 99 euro (must add shipping costs) (4 left)
– With some marks or scratches on the cover : 89 euro (must add shipping costs) (3 left)
– With some lot of marks on the cover : 79 euro (must add shipping costs) (0 left)

Use the contact form…

Pictures of one with light marks :
EMI_1918

EMI_1917

EMI_1916

EMI_1915

EMI_1914

Sharp CE-158 : Tandy RS-232C interface (Part 3)

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As for the PC-2 Tandy’s choice was to make the difference : RS-232C but but parallel interface.
This was a manner to reduce price.

I don’t know anything about the original packaging but all accessories are same.
The manual is smaller, the keyboard mask adapted to the geometric keyboard.

Tandy_RS232C_001
Tandy_RS232C_005 Tandy_RS232C_007

And the is no difference when connected to the black printer :
Tandy_RS232C_018
Tandy_RS232C_026 Tandy_RS232C_021

Here is the manual :
Tandy_RS232C_Owner_s_manual_001

Next time i will show you the hardware of booth interface versions.
Stay tuned…

Sharp CE-158 : RS-232C and parallel interface (Part 2)

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It’s now time to connect your favorite pocket computer to a big Personal Computer !

First, we have to build the good cable.
CE-158 side it’s a 25 pins male connector.
PC side it’s a 9 pins male connector.

Here is the schematics
Cable

Ok ? Now we make the test on a very well known operating system : Windows XP Pro.
(But my version is in french.)

First locate the Hyper Terminal application :
CE-158_Dialog_001

When it opens you’re prompted to name the new connexion.
CE-158_Dialog_002

Choose COM1 as the connexion mode :
CE-158_Dialog_003

And set the parameters and validate :
CE-158_Dialog_004

On the parameters tab click on “ASCII configuration” :
CE-158_Dialog_006

Then check the boxes as on this picture :
CE-158_Dialog_005

Now it’s time to try receiving something from the PC-1500…

Click on “Transfer” menu and on “Capture text” :
CE-158_Dialog_007

And set the filename to CAPTURE.TXT on the primary drive’s root :
CE-158_Dialog_008

Go on the PC-1500 keyboard and type the following program and finish by the CSAVE command:
CE-158_Dialog_009

The lines 10 to 30 are send to the PC trough the CE-158 and you can see the data on the Hyper Terminal screen.
When the CSAVE command disappear from the PC-1500 screen it’s time to stop data recording.
CE-158_Dialog_010

Please control the file C:\CAPTURE.TXT content :
CE-158_Dialog_011

Is it ok ? GOOD ! Close the Hyper Terminal application.
I show you here the hexadecimal content :
CE-158_Dialog_012

Now we have to test data transmission from PC to PC-1500.
Are you ready ?

Open the DOS box and set the COM1 parameters :
CE-158_Dialog_014

If you get an error message then verify that Hyper Terminal is closed.
Otherwise you’ll get the result :
CE-158_Dialog_015

Go to the PC-1500 and update the program to this one and finish by the CLOAD command.
CE-158_Dialog_016

And on the PC side send the CAPTURE.TXT file to the COM port :
CE-158_Dialog_017

Now control on the PC-1500 that the line 20 ends now by CO 😉
Is it ok for you ?

Sharp CE-158 : RS-232C and parallel interface (Part 1)

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The CE-158 extension is the communication tool for the PC-1500 and provide interface to personal computer world.

It comes in a big box.
CE-158_001 CE-158_002

The CE-158 and accessories are well packaged.
CE-158_003

There is :
The CE-158 interface
The EA-21A power adapter with 8,2v output
The user manual (here in the five major languages)
One metal part for connecting directly to the PC-1500(A)
One metal part for connecting to the CE-150 printer and cassette interface
To screws for the metal parts
One keyboard mask.
CE-158_004
CE-158_006 CE-158_005

Here is the PC-1500 + CE-158 system :
CE-158_008
CE-158_012 CE-158_011

And the PC-1500 + CE-150 + CE-158 system :
CE-158_020
CE-158_026 CE-158_023

You’ll find more informations in the user manuals :

CE-158_US
Download US		CE-158_JP
Download JP
Manuals extracted from the EU manual
CE-158EU_DE
Download DE		CE-158EU_FR
Download FR
CE-158EU_IT
Download IT		CE-158EU_SP
Download SP
CE-158EU_US
Download US

Next time we will see the hardware side (Cable, Electronic boards…)

A new one in the family : NANFENG PC-1500A

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After the Blue Brother, a very rare PC-1500, i’m proud to present you the number 10 : NANFENG PC-1500A.
This one is the only one i know as a non Sharp PC-1500A.
It’s the rarest one !

NANFENG_001

In details you can see the NANFENG logo.
It’s not a paint add-on, it’s like original Sharp embossed logo.
NANFENG_002

On the back it’s like the other Sharp, The CE-161 memory module is a real Sharp one.
NANFENG_003

But the sticker is different and shows “Made in China” and the brand is NENFENG.
The serial number is “NF 002/83 J”. This means that it’s one of the firsts PC-1500A.
Was this a preproduction lot ?
I’m surprised that the front panel is EU/US and don’t have Katakana chars.
The screws are very cheaper than the originals.
NANFENG_004

Inside, on the boards nothing differs from the PC-1500A.
NANFENG_005

But the metal parts are wider, yellow/orange color. And the screws basic.
NANFENG_006
NANFENG_007

Well, is it really a chinese production ? YES only for font parts.
The brown paint is very similar to the Sharp but a little bit darker.
The varnish is not that brilliant.
The symbols near the function keys are brown and not orange.
The beige paint is darker.
The chars on the keys are bigger.
The CL key is a little bit transparent.
All this seems low cost.
NANFENG_008

This is the only one sample i know for the NANFENG PC-1500A.
If someone has more informations then please, use the contact form.

PC-1500 28Kb – Part 2

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This PC-1500 is more than an updated version with huge memory amount and double-speed oscillator.
It’s one of the firsts samples of the A04 production.

In this picture you can see the ROM version on the SC613128 IC.
Do you remember the A03 versions ? They have blue straps… like here on the display board :
PC-1500_28Kb_015

And now lets see under the memory extension…
The board shows many blue straps like the A01 and A03 versions :
PC-1500_28Kb_016

Sure this is a rare item for collectors.
It’s serial number is 20024876.
PC-1500_28Kb_017

Who owns a such collector version ?
Take a screwdriver and verify your PC-1500s 🙂

Thanks again to Lukas ZELLER for this gift.

PC-1500 28Kb – Part 1

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Lukas told me about his gift that there will be a 28Kb PC-1500.
This was a good news !
But this is more than a good news.
Lets me present this updated machine.

Opening the CE-150 box shows us some nice things.
Do you see what i mean ? Examine this picture carefully…
PC-1500_28Kb_001

First there is a sticker “28K”. This means that the memory size is 28Kb. It’s the maximum reachable on this pocket because of the display addressing method.
PC-1500_28Kb_002
Let’s open the machine…

Here is it :
PC-1500_28Kb_010
This extension it made of 13 x 6116 ICs and present a total amount of 26KB of memory.
It’s a very professional board. You can see where the RAM pins are placed ? Simply on the holes between sides. Well done guys !
This board is named “DF1SE PC 1503”. (If you know more about it then use the contact form to tell it to me.)
PC-1500_28Kb_011 PC-1500_28Kb_012

Second, there is a switch on the PC-1500 side :
PC-1500_28Kb_005

Do you know why ?
The LH5801 microprocessor is driven by a 2,6Mhz oscillator.
In 1982 it was fast ! In 1984 it was slow ! lol
This button switch between the 2,6Mhz and a new 5Mhz oscillator. Yes, the twice !!!
Uh… this has some back effects to the real time clock… but the speed is here !
PC-1500_28Kb_007
PC-1500_28Kb_008

The printer case and the pocket pouch have being modified for the switch.
PC-1500_28Kb_003 PC-1500_28Kb_006

Third, there is a very nice update of the printer’s door.
A little black plastic strap help the opening.
PC-1500_28Kb_013
PC-1500_28Kb_014

Next time i will explain something very particular on this PC-1500.
Do you have an idea ???

Frank C. ODDS : my favorite printer for the Sharp PC-1500

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Frank C. ODDS presents his favorite printer for the Sharp PC-1500 : the MCP-40.

Printer04a

The MCP-40 printer — identical, it seems, to another model called “Oric 1” — was a four-colour printer plotter that used a rotating “bullet chamber” device identical to the one in the Sharp CE-150. But the MCP-40 printed on paper rolls 114 mm wide, thus offering larger results than the “bus ticket” output of the CE-150.

Printer01a
Printer03a
Printer02a

The MCP-40 connected to computers via a 36-pin parallel port connector that reduced to a 25-pin DIN connection at the computer. It connected directly to the electricity mains. It therefore functioned more like a full-sized printer than a pocket computer add-on. The printer connected to the PC-1500 via the parallel port on the CE-158 serial/parallel interface.

Printer06a

For printing full-sized text output from the PC-1500, a serial or parallel port connection to the dot matrix, tractor feed type of printer that was widely used in the 1980s. But the MCP-40 came into its own for graphic printing: the four-colour capability, together with the ability to draw smooth lines in any direction, meant it was ideal for plotting graphs and drawing computer-generated diagrams. The MCP-40 sold for a relatively cheap price, making it a great value add-on for a Sharp PC-1500 set-up.

Printer05a
Printer07a

And here is the self test on video :

If you want to learn more here is the Operation manual :
MCP-40 user manual_Page_01
Download

Thank you Frank for sharing your experience with us.