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Al-Alamiah (Sakhr) AX-370 (Arabic MSX 2)

Al-Alamiah (Sakhr) AX-370 (Arabic MSX 2)

Sakhr Computers was a Kuwaiti company (Al Alamiah co.) that was selling MSX computers imported from Japan in all of the Arab world. These MSX were localized and rebranded for some Arabic markets.

The AX-370 is the Sanyo WAVY PHC-70FD MSX2+ computer localised by Al Alamiah with more RAM (128kB instead of 64kB). This machine has an Arabic QWERTY keyboard.

The Rensha controller (autofire), the Pause key and the X-BASIC (or Turbo-Basic) have been removed, the MSX2+ bios roms have been replaced by MSX2 roms, but there’s still the MSX2+ videochip, the Yamaha V9958. It means that software using in language machine the MSX2+ features, especially SCREEN 10 to 12 and the horizontal scrolling, can be runned on this MSX2 computer.

This machine comes with version 2.03 of Arabic firmware, present on all Sakhr/Al Alamiah computers. The firmware can be skipped by pressing CTRL key while booting and until you come on the MSX-BASIC screen. By doing that, the machine will be in International mode and the Arabic characters will not be available.

However, from MSX-BASIC, you can fully enable the Arabic mode with CALL ARABIC, _ ARABIC, CALL ARABON or _ ARABON. It is also possible to keep the Arabic BASIC active without the other Arabic features by entering first CALL ARABIC or _ ARABIC, then CALL ARABOFF or _ ARABOFF.

This firmware adds Arabic characters, new MSX-BASIC commands (see Arabic BASIC) and 4 applications. You can choose them in the menu with the keys 1 to 4.

By comparison with version 2.02, a new application has been added, it’s Sakhr BASIC or how to use BASIC directly in Arabic language. Other options are Word Processor with choice between English or Arabic Word Processor, the Arabic version of The Painter, a graphic tool in screen 5 (the original version can be found in the Yamaha YIS-805) and the Calendar.

If you press key 5 when you are in the menu, you will go to MSX-BASIC. Going back to the menu is possible with CALL MENU or _ MENU. From MSX-BASIC, the Word Processor can be launched with CALL SWP or _ SWP, Sakhr Basic with CALL SBASIC or _ SBASIC, The Painter with CALL PAINT or _ PAINT, the Calendar with CALL CALENDAR or _ CALENDAR.

If you are in International mode, only CALL SWP or _SWP can be used, you will directly go to the English (or French) Word Processor. It’s not recommended to use the other commands without first enabling the Arabic mode.

Gallery:

Gallery of Cleaning and Testing:

source: msx.org

  1. elsayed sobhy
    August 15th, 2016 at 19:48 | #1

    this device is very good

  2. R de Rooy
    October 10th, 2016 at 14:45 | #2

    Do you have any pictures of the bottom of the PCB? In particular I’m looking for which MSX Engine chip it has. Is it the Toshiba T9769A?

  3. October 10th, 2016 at 15:04 | #3

    @R de Rooy

    sorry no, but when i have a moment of time i make a photo and update the gallery.

  4. Manuel Bilderbeek
    December 7th, 2016 at 23:55 | #4

    Hi

    Yes, I’m here also very interested to see a detailed photograph of the mainboard, both top and bottom side, so we can see exactly which chips are on this machine.

    Thanks in advance!

  5. March 23rd, 2020 at 22:23 | #5

    Hi! i have SANYO WAVY70FD its same as AX370 but have different power supply for only 110V.
    I need remake to 230V. How big black capacitor is on primary side PSU? (V,uF)

  6. Durrusehvar
    July 10th, 2021 at 00:07 | #6

    Help. I switched to international mode by holding ctrl while booting up and can’t go back to arabic firmware even after turning on and off.

  7. Mohammed Mahmoud
    March 3rd, 2023 at 23:39 | #7

    @Durrusehvar
    type in basic _arabic

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