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Description
The Pioneer UC-V102, also called O-THE, is a Videodisc controller for "Level 3" interactive systems. It is meant to be used in combination with a LaserDisc player and the optional SS-D1 video buffer and digitizer. It was marketed in Japan, Europe and the US. The system is really an MSX2, but without the MSX logo.
Unlike most hdden MSX systems, getting to MSX-BASIC and running MSX software on it is very easy. If you switch it on, you will not see the MSX boot logo, but you will go straight to the MSX-BASIC 2.0 prompt. Disks and cartridges can be used just like with any other MSX system.
By default, this computer has only 1 built-in disk drive, but there is a location to add a second disk drive (? reference HXP101).
This machine has 6 internal expansion slots. Each column of three slots goes to a connector in motherboard, named "Expansion SLOT A" or "Expansion SLOT B". Pioneer sold some expansion boards to use in UC-V102:
- the UK-V103 digitizer board
- the UK-V104 RS-232C board (with two UK-V104 boards, the Pioneer UC-V102 could control up to five LaserDiscs players and touch screens (available under the reference UK-V105)
The separate keyboard of the Japanese version (with reference UK-V101) is the same as for the Mitsubishi ML-G30 Model 1 and ML-G30 Model 2.
For the European and American versions, the keyboard (? reference UK-V102) is probably similar to the Mitsubishi ML-G3 keyboard without the typical Spanish keys.
| Brand | Pioneer (Manufacturer: Mitsubishi) |
| Model | UC-V102 |
| Year | 1987 |
| Region | Europe, Japan, US |
| Launch price | |
| RAM | 64kB in slot 0-2 |
| VRAM | 128kB |
| Media | MSX cartridges, 2DD floppy disks |
| Video | Yamaha V9938 |
| Audio | PSG |
| Chipset | Yamaha S1985 |
| Keyboard layout | (JP) QWERTY/JIS + numeric keypad (Europe/US) QWERTY + numeric keypad |
| Extras | One 720kB 3,5" floppy disk drive (the second was sold separately), reset button, Kanji-ROM level 1, RS-232C interface + RS-232C BASIC, superimposer, mono/stereo switch for LaserDisc sound |
| Emulation | ROMs dumped and emulated (Japanese version) |
Pictures
Specifications
The Pioneer UC-V102 is a MSX2 with one cartridge slot and 6 internal expansion slots, a Z80A from Sharp (LH0080A) and an MSX-Engine S1985 from Yamaha.
The main RAM is present on slot 0-2, a configuration that can cause poorly written software to crash. Also, with this layout, the POKE-1,(15-PEEK(-1)\16)*17 trick to workaround buggy software that does not handle subslots properly will cause this machine to freeze.
Slot Map
| Slot | Slot | Slot | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-0 | 0-1 | 0-2 | 0-3 | Slot 1 | 2-0 | 2-1 | 2-2 | 2-3 | 3-0 | 3-1 | 3-2 | 3-3 | ||||
| Page C000h~FFFFh | 64kB Memory Mapper | Cartridge Slot | ES | ES | ES | ES | ES | ES | ||||||||
| Page 8000h~BFFFh | ||||||||||||||||
| Page 4000h~7FFFh | Main-ROM | RS-232C | ||||||||||||||
| Page 0000h~3FFFh | Sub-ROM | Disk ROM | ||||||||||||||
- The RS-232C ROM is a 8kB ROM - 4000h-5FFFh
- ES = Expansion Slot - Each Internal Expansion card slot connects to two sub-slots
Connections
- RGB output (SCART)
- Three sets of RCA Video+Audio input connectors
- One set of RCA Video+Audio output connectors
- Keyboard connector (Hirose QM40-26PA-EP)
- RS-232C connector (DB-25)
- Centronics compatible Parallel port for a printer
- 2 general connectors (Joysticks, Mouse, Paddle controllers, etc)
- 1 cartridge slot
- Three 100-pin custom expansion card slots
- AC Outlet
Note: No Data recorder connector!