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MZ 700 - rear view

Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2019 1:58 pm
by fitus
Hello friends,
I would like to buy MZ 700 for my collection.
This piece has some kind of expansion slot on the rear view. What is it?

Re: MZ 700 - rear view

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2019 12:07 am
by hlide
Surely a parallel centronics connector. Inside there is a printer connector.

Re: MZ 700 - rear view

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2019 9:49 am
by UncleBod
The problem is that the DB-25 was used for Centronics and for RS-232. You have to open up and look to know what it is.
The use of female or male connectors was up to the implementation in those days.

Re: MZ 700 - rear view

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2019 1:20 pm
by hlide
Ah yes, it is not centronics. Sorry. It a DB-25.

In https://original.sharpmz.org/mz-700/mothbrd.htm, see 24 : "The connector P-1 physically connects the plotter signals to the system". It could be connected to P-1. Can you use RS-232 and can MZ-700 read through this external printer connector or P-1 connector? The schematics seem to indicate you can only output data, not input data.

Re: MZ 700 - rear view

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2019 3:03 pm
by UncleBod
Still, without knowing where the connector is connected, you will only guess. It might be a (home built) interface board hidden under the cover.
A Centronics interface is still not impossible. There were Centronics interfaces that had DB-25 on the computer side and Centronics on the printer side. /Nils-Arne

Re: MZ 700 - rear view

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2019 4:12 pm
by hlide
Sure, it would be better to have a look inside: maybe there is card at the same height.

Re: MZ 700 - rear view

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2019 8:19 pm
by fitus
Thank you all. It is quite interesting to see how many home-built improvements can be seen in the world.
The auction is gone, so somebody else will know the truth.

Re: MZ 700 - rear view

Posted: Sat Nov 23, 2019 6:16 pm
by Jo Even
UncleBod wrote: Mon Nov 18, 2019 9:49 am The use of female or male connectors was up to the implementation in those days.
The only computer I know that use a male DB25 printer port and female DB25 serial port is the Amiga 1000, and even back in 1985 it was criticized for not having standard ports. So if you see a female DB25 on the back of a computer you can be pretty sure that it's a printer port.

Re: MZ 700 - rear view

Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2019 11:13 am
by S_U_C
From the position of the reset button and the volume control on the righthand side of the connectors indicate you have a MZ800 not a MZ700.
The large connector with the system switches and the joystick i/o port.
The small connector is for printer output.

Re: MZ 700 - rear view

Posted: Mon Nov 25, 2019 11:45 am
by S_U_C
Sorry to raise you hopes it is a MZ700, the "Sharp MZ700/8000 - EXPODED-" by John Simpson has the rear image of the MZ700 on page 5 as a mirror image.
The MZ800 rear image on page 6 is correct with the system switches visible.
Your image after saving and previewing, I can not see the switches.