Contents |
Description
Computer
The National FS-5500F2 is a MSX2 computer with superimpose and digitize capabilities. It was aimed at the Japanese market. The machine is basically identical to the FS-5500F1. The only difference is that this one has two floppy disk drives.
As for the Philips NMS 8250 and NMS 8255 machines, the correct name of the computer appears only at the back while 'National FS-5500' is displayed on front.
Two switches on the back allow a selection between JP50on or JIS keyboard layout and to enable/disable the built-in firmware, related to the control of an external device for superimposing and digitizing operations.
This computer has a very extended audio/video editing control panel and a built-in trackball (renamed 'Ball Mouse'). The keyboard has an extra key called 'AVC' (Audio Video Control) that can be combined with the SELECT, INS, DEL and function keys.
Firmware data can be saved on the FS-CR1008S cartridge. It contains 8kB SRAM and a battery to preserve them when the computer is off. This professional computer has three expansions slots that can be used to increase the RAM.
| Brand | National |
| Model | FS-5500F2 |
| Year | 1985-12-21 |
| Region | Japan |
| Launch price | ¥228,000 |
| RAM | 64kB in slot 3-2 |
| VRAM | 128kB |
| Media | MSX cartridges, 2DD floppy disks |
| Video | Yamaha V9938 |
| Audio | PSG |
| Chipset | Yamaha S3527 |
| Keyboard layout | QWERTY/JP50on by default (JIS available with switch) + numeric keypad |
| Extras | Two 720kB 3,5" floppy disk drives, separate keyboard with trackball, reset button, eject button for each cartridge slot, switch for choosing keyboard layout, switch for enabling/disabling the firmware, audio/video editing control panel, headphone jack with volume controller at front, backup of the clockchip data, Kanji-ROM level 1, MSX-DOS 1 + Video Graphics (on disk), firmware with National BASIC |
| Emulation | ROMs dumped and emulated with exception of the superimpose functionality and the 3 special expansion slots in the back which need validation. The firmware application switch is emulated in the OFF position. Keyboard switch is set to JIS and cannot be changed. |
Firmware
Accurate infos about the built-in firmware are missing, but it seems to be designed for the control of external devices during superimposing and digitizing operations, as the computer has two unusual connectors: alarm output terminal and system terminal (control output).
This firmware adds 3 instructions to MSX-BASIC: see National BASIC.
Software
Besides MSX-DOS 1, the provided floppy disk contains Video Graphics, a graphic tool with superimposing and digitizing options and mouse support in screen 8.
MSX-DOS can't be launched from this disk as pressing CTRL+STOP when booting leads to a frozen screen. Inserting the disk after booting and entering POKE &HF346,1: CALL SYSTEM leads to the graphic tool. The only remaining option is to copy MSXDOS.SYS and COMMAND.COM to a new formatted disk with the MSX-BASIC COPY command.
Pictures
Computer
Software
Specifications
The National FS-5500F2 is a MSX2 with 2 cartridge slots and two 3.5" disk drives on the front. The CPU is a Z80 from NEC (D780C-1). The MSX-Engine comes from Yamaha (S3527). The floppy disk controller is the MB8877A from Fujitsu Microelectronics.
The three slots in the back have the same pinout as standard extension slot but the connector is different.
Slot Map
Note: The location of the three expansion slots has been checked on a real machine.
| Slot | Slot | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-0 | 0-1 | 0-2 | 0-3 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | 3-0 | 3-1 | 3-2 | 3-3 | ||||
| Page C000h~FFFFh | Slot CN904 | Slot CN906 | Slot CN908 | Cartridge Slot 1 | Cartridge Slot 2 | 64kB Plain RAM | |||||||
| Page 8000h~BFFFh | Kanji driver | Super Impose | |||||||||||
| Page 4000h~7FFFh | Main-ROM | Disk ROM | |||||||||||
| Page 0000h~3FFFh | Sub-ROM | ||||||||||||
Connections
- RF output with channel selector switch
- RGB21 output (not Scart)
- RCA audio and video input
- RCA audio and video output
- Keyboard connector
- Headphone jack (3.5mm?)
- Alarm output terminal
- System terminal (control output)
- Centronics compatible Parallel port for a printer
- Data Recorder connector
- 2 general connectors (Joysticks, Mouse, Paddle controlers, etc)
- 2 cartridge slots at front
- 3 expansion slots on the back
- Power plug for main power supply (JIS C 8303 class, AC 100V +/-10% 50/60Hz)
- 2 power outlets for monitor (AC 100V)
- Floating ground