Sharp PC-1500 explained
The Sharp PC-1500 was a pocket computer produced by Sharp between 1981 and 1985. A rebadged version was also sold as the TRS-80 Pocket Computer PC-2.
The whole computer was designed around the LH5801, an 8-bit CPU similar to the Zilog Z80, but all laid-out in power-saving CMOS circuits. Equipped with 2 KB of on-board RAM, the programming language is BASIC. Later, German engineers provided an assembler for the machine.[1] Later even a C compiler followed.An external slot is available and accepts memory (from 4 KB to 32 KB) and ROM modules.
Eight versions of this pocket computer with 2 KB memory:[2]
- Sharp PC-1500 - Japanese version (1981)
- Sharp PC-1500 - Japanese version with blue paint around LCD. CE-157 Kana module bundle model. Known as PC-1500D (1984)
- Sharp PC-1500 - European, Australasian and North American version (1982)
- Sharp PC-1500 RP2 - Brazilian version (1982)
- HiradasTechnika PTA-4000 - Hungarian licence.
- HiradasTechnika PTA-4000+16 - Hungarian licence (with internal 16 KB memory extension)
- Tandy TRS-80 PC-2
- Nanfeng PC-1500A - Chinese license (CKD assembly from Japanese components)
Two versions with 8 KB memory:
- Sharp PC-1501 - Japanese rework with 8 KB memory (1984)
- Sharp PC-1500A - Western rework with 8 KB memory (1984)
Technical specifications
- 156×8 pixel LCD
- Integrated speaker
- Integrated RTC
- Memory/cartridge slot
- 60-pin expansion port for printer and tape drive
- Battery slot (4×AA)
- Connector for external power supply (Official adaptor is Sharp EA-150, rated at 500 mA at 9 V, comes with the CE-150 printer interface.)
Accessories
- CE-150 4-colour printer/plotter and cassette interface in travel case. Known as KA-160 with PTA-4000.
- CE-151 4 KB memory module
- CE-152 Cassette recorder (as external storage) (same as General Electric 3-5160A[3])
- CE-153 Software board
- CE-154 Wallet dedicated to PC-1500 + CE-150 + CE-152 + CE-153
- CE-155 8 KB memory module
- CE-156 Tape with Katakana software
- CE-157 4 KB memory module with CR2032 battery data backup and Katakana chars ROM
- CE-158 Communication dock with RS-232C and parallel interface with (4 rechargeable, shrink-wrapped, permanently built-in) NiCd battery (AA) as additional power supply for the computer.
- CE-159 8 KB memory module with CR2032 battery data backup
- CE-160 7.6 KB read only memory module with CR2032 battery data backup
- CE-161 16 KB memory module with CR2032 battery data backup
- CE-162E Tape and parallel port interface
- CE-163 32 KB (2x16 KB) dual-page memory module with CR2032 battery data backup. Only one page (16 KB) can be accessed at a time, switchable via the following command in PROG mode:
Page 0 : POKE&5804,0 [enter] Page 1 : POKE&5804,1 [enter]
Related Sharp pocket computers
BASIC compatibility with early models
Some earlier model PC-1500s will show a value 1 less in the FOR...NEXT counter on exiting the loop compared to later PC-1500s and the PC-1600.[4]
For example:
10 FOR K=1 TO 1020 NEXT K30 PRINT K
K will be set to 11 on later model PC-1500s and PC-1600s, but will be 10 on early PC-1500s.
Consider this example:
10 S=020 FOR K=1 TO 10 STEP 430 S=S+140 NEXT K50 PRINT S
S will be set to 3 on later model PC-1500s and PC-1600s, but will be 4 on early PC-1500s.
Early model PC-1500s evaluate IF...THEN statements differently. The behaviour can be summarised thus:
| Model | | |
|---|
| PC-1600 / Later PC-1500 | ≠0 | 0 |
| Early PC-1500 | >0 | <0 | |
An early model PC-1500 can be detected by using the command: PEEK&C5C0.
If the value returned is 6, it is an early model.
Example program in BASIC
1 ARUN 10 5 REM "PC1500 VAT Program:" 10 INPUT "Price: ";P 20 PRINT P;" ";P*V;" ";P*V*M 30 GOTO 10 40 ENDThe PC-1500 allows special abbreviations, and the syntax can also look as follows: 20 PRINT P;" ";PV;" ";PVM
Usage of variables
P = Purchase Price V = VAT (%/100) - To be input by hand before calculation begins, e.g.: V=1.14 (Enter) M = Markup (%/100) - To be input by hand before calculation begins, e.g.: M=1.15 (Enter)
Display of the answers are as follows
Answer1; Answer2; Answer3 Purchase Price; VAT Price; Sales Price Value: P; Value: P*V; Value: P*V*M
Program description
Significance
The design of initial prototypes of EMKE series of public transport cash registers were built around customized versions of the PC-1500 and its Hungarian clone PTA-4000. The series production models used almost exclusively in Hungarian regional and national bus services up to present day, are built around a version designed by EMKE and are heavily influenced by the PC-1500 design.[5]
Emulation
With the SHARP PC-1500A emulator and the PockEmul you can emulate a PC-1500A.
See also
References
External links
Notes and References
- Web site: Assembler Archives - PC-1500.info. PC-1500.info. 2016-03-20.
- Web site: All and more about Sharp PC-1500 and Tandy PC-2.
- Web site: CE-152 : The clone by GENERAL ELECTRIC - PC-1500.info.
- Sharp PC-1600 Operation Manual, 1986, p.355.
- Web site: Emke Kereskedelmi és Szolgáltató Kft..
