Canon V-20
 | |
| Japanese Canon V-20 with the kana keyboard | |
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Canon |
| Type | MSX1 home computer |
| Released | 1984 (Japan); 1985 (Europe)[1][2] |
| Intro price | ¥64,800 (Japan); £280 (UK)[1][2] |
| CPU | Z80A at 3.579545 MHz |
| Memory | 64 KB RAM (4864), 16 KB VRAM (4116) |
| Storage | Two MSX cartridge slots; cassette at 1200 or 2400 baud |
| Display | TMS9918ANL (Japan); TMS9929A (Europe) |
| Sound | Yamaha YM2149 PSG |
| ROM | 32 KB MSX BASIC (23256) |
| Power | AC 230 V ±10 % (European version)[3] |
| Dimensions | 402 × 218 × 62 mm |
| Weight | 2.5 kg (Canon, European version) |
| OS / Firmware | — |
| Model no. | V-20 (Japan), V-20 UK version, V-20 French version |
The Canon V-20 is an MSX1 home computer made by Canon. It went on sale in Japan in 1984 at ¥64,800 as a black-cased version of the V-10 with more RAM, and Canon sold European versions from 1985, at £280 in the United Kingdom.[1][2] Canon's service manual covers two European versions: a UK version with composite video and RF outputs, and a French version with an RGB output and no RF modulator.[4][3] The MSX Resource Center notes that the V-20 was recommended for use with the Data Memory Back 90 (DMB-90) interface to the Canon T90 camera.[1]
Specifications
[edit | edit source]| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| CPU | Z80A or equivalent, 3.579545 MHz |
| Video | TMS9929A; 32 × 24 text, 256 × 192 graphics, 16 colours |
| Sound | YM2149, three voices over eight octaves |
| ROM | 32 KB MSX BASIC (type 23256) |
| RAM | 64 KB (type 4864), with 16 KB of video RAM (type 4116) |
| Keyboard | 73 keys (UK) or 72 keys (French) |
| Interfaces | Two cartridge slots, cassette (FSK, 1200 or 2400 baud), 8-bit printer port, two joystick ports, composite video and RF (UK) or RGB (French) |
| Power | AC 230 V ±10 % |
| Size and weight | 402 × 218 × 62 mm, 2.5 kg |
[3] The Japanese V-20 uses a TMS9918ANL video chip and an NEC D780C-1 CPU, and the MSX Resource Center gives its weight as 3.5 kg, a kilogram more than Canon's figure for the European machine.[1] The RAM is in slot 3; the left cartridge slot is slot 1 and the top slot is slot 2.[1]
Hardware
[edit | edit source].png)
The power supply is built in. A power board beside the transformer produces +5 V from an STK770-series switching regulator and +12 V and −12 V from AN7812 and NJM7912 regulators. The main board takes −5 V for the video RAM from −12 V through a zener diode.[5] On the UK version, a PAL encoder board sits over the main board, with the ROM and PSG under it; the French version has an RGB encoder board in the same place.[6]
The service manual describes a diagnostic test cartridge, a 2764 PROM that runs automatically from cartridge slot 2 and checks the CPU, ROM and video RAM before offering further tests.[7]
Documentation
[edit | edit source]Canon's English service manual for the UK and French versions is hosted as the Canon V-20 Service Manual. It includes the disassembly and adjustment procedures, troubleshooting charts, full parts lists and circuit diagrams.[4]
Repair and maintenance
[edit | edit source]- Canon V-20 General Maintenance
- Canon V-20 Troubleshooting Guide
- Canon V-20 Capacitor Replacement Guide
See also Capacitor Failure Symptoms.
Gallery
[edit | edit source]-
European V-20 with the £ key -
Power supply circuit, Fig. VI-2 of the service manual
Related pages
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Canon V-20, MSX Resource Center wiki, 6 May 2026—link(accessed 2026-10-21) The Japanese V-20 of 1984 at ¥64,800: very similar to the V-10 but with more RAM and a black case; 64 KB of RAM in slot 3, 16 KB of VRAM, TMS9918ANL video, YM2149 PSG, separate chips, NEC D780C-1 CPU, JIS keyboard; size 402 × 62 × 218 mm, weight 3.5 kg; left cartridge slot is slot 1 and the top slot is slot 2; RF, mono audio and composite video outputs, data recorder, printer port, two joystick ports, two cartridge slots; designed for use with the DMB-90 interface to the Canon T90 camera; localised for Europe as the V-20 (EU) and V-20 (FR).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Canon V-20 (EU), MSX Resource Center wiki—link(accessed 2026-10-21) The European adaptation of the Japanese V-20, from 1985; official prices £280 in the United Kingdom, ƒ1095 in the Netherlands and 1995 FIM in Finland; TMS9929ANL video; Zilog Z80; QWERTY keyboard with a £ key; top cartridge port is slot 2; a separate version for France.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Canon, V-20 Service Manual, section I-1 "Specifications" (PDF page 5): Z-80A or equivalent at 3.579545 MHz; TMS-9929A video; 32 × 24 text, 256 × 192 graphics, 16 colours; YM2149 sound, 8 octaves, three voices; ROM type 23256, 32 KB MSX BASIC; system RAM 64 KB (type 4864); video RAM 16 KB (type 4116); 73 keys (UK) or 72 (French); two cartridge slots; cassette with remote control, FSK at 1200 or 2400 baud; 8-bit parallel printer interface; composite video (UK) or RGB (French); RF on UHF channel 36 (UK); AC 230 V ±10 %; 402 × 218 × 62 mm; 2.5 kg. Hosted as File:Canon V-20 Service Manual.pdf; see Canon V-20 Service Manual.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Canon, V-20 Service Manual, section I "Introduction" (PDF page 4): the V-20 comes in a UK version and a French version; the top and bottom panels, mains lead and ROM differ, and only the UK version has an RF modulator. See Canon V-20 Service Manual.
- ↑ Canon, V-20 Service Manual, section III-10 "Power supply circuitry" (printed page 43, PDF page 46) and Fig. VI-2 (PDF page 70): the power PCB makes +5 V, +12 V and −12 V; +5 V from an AC input of about 11 V, rectified by D1 to D4 to about 12 V DC and regulated by the chopper regulator U1 (STK770), with reference zener ZD1, VR1 to adjust it, and over-current detection through R4 and TR1; +12 V and −12 V from about 14 V AC through bridge D5 (about ±19 V DC) to U2 (AN7812) and U3 (NJM7912); the −5 V for the dynamic RAM is made on the main PCB with zener D4 (the text says the −12 V is made from −5 V, but the troubleshooting chart on PDF page 14 checks −12 V first and then R15, D4 and C18 for −5 V). See Canon V-20 Service Manual.
- ↑ Canon, V-20 Service Manual, Photo I-3 (PDF page 7): power transformer, +5 V, +12 V and −12 V regulator ICs, secondary fuse, VDP crystal, CPU, VDP, PPI, keyboard, LED board, RF modulator (not used in the French version), and the PAL encoder board (RGB encoder board on the French version) with the ROM and PSG mounted under it. See Canon V-20 Service Manual.
- ↑ Canon, V-20 Service Manual, section III-11 "Test program" (printed page 44, PDF page 47): a diagnostic program on a 2764 PROM in a cartridge for slot 2, starting automatically at power-on; the CPU, ROM and V-RAM tests run before the menu appears; different versions of the cartridge for the UK and French machines. See Canon V-20 Service Manual.