24 replies to this topic

[Gunstar]

I'm getting back into Sinclair computing, I'll be getting a QL, but I will also be getting a Spectrum, but I figure I might as well get the best version, but, I will probably be doing all sorts of upgrades for it eventually, and want the best version for upgrading memory, and whatever else for which there are upgrades. Also, as I recall, the Spectrum had some versions with rubber keyboards and some had real keyboards? I want a real keyboard, too, but I am will to upgrade to a real keyboard if the best Spectrum for upgrading has rubber keys. I would prefer a real keyboard at first.

Edited by Gunstar, Thu Dec 8, 2011 12:12 PM.

[eshu]

Probably not what you're after - but I always had a soft spot for this: http://en.wikipedia....wiki/SAM_Coupé

[ApolloBoy]

I'd probably go for the later Speccys, like the 128 or the +2/+3. The 128 not only has a plastic keyboard like the Spectrum+, but it's also got RGB output and an additional AY-3-8910 sound chip, the same used in the Intellivision and similar to the YM2149 in the ST. The +2 and +3 have the same improvements; the +2 also has a built-in tape drive and the +3 has a 3" floppy drive (that's right, not a 3.5" drive) in place of the tape drive. Personally I'd go for the 128 as it's the smaller of the bunch and uses a generic power supply as opposed to the special one used by the +3 and some versions of the +2.

[Gunstar]

eshu, on Thu Dec 8, 2011 1:51 PM, said:

Probably not what you're after - but I always had a soft spot for this: http://en.wikipedia..../SAM_Coup%C3%A9

Definately interesting, but I want a real Spectrum. Though if the Sam Coupe' had it's own substantial library I might be interesting in collecting for it too...later on...

[gooner73]

as a long time speccy owner, i would go for the 128+2 or the 128k standard!

[Gunstar]

ApolloBoy, on Thu Dec 8, 2011 2:51 PM, said:

I'd probably go for the later Speccys, like the 128 or the +2/+3. The 128 not only has a plastic keyboard like the Spectrum+, but it's also got RGB output and an additional AY-3-8910 sound chip, the same used in the Intellivision and similar to the YM2149 in the ST. The +2 and +3 have the same improvements; the +2 also has a built-in tape drive and the +3 has a 3" floppy drive (that's right, not a 3.5" drive) in place of the tape drive. Personally I'd go for the 128 as it's the smaller of the bunch and uses a generic power supply as opposed to the special one used by the +3 and some versions of the +2.

Ok, I'll look into those models and depending on what I can get them for, I may decide to go with one of the ones with built-in drives, but I'll go for a 128 if I can get the system with external drives bundled. All will depend on what is offered and the prices. Thank you very much for your insights.

[Gunstar]

What does the Timex/Sinclair 2068 compare too on the other side of the pond, this one was released in North America, but I went Atari instead becuase buy the time I saved up for it, Timex had stopped support of all Sinclair's in N.A., and I figured I would have zero support, though this was long before the internet. http://www.timexsinclair.org/

Edited by Gunstar, Thu Dec 8, 2011 3:50 PM.

[ApolloBoy]

You need a rather hard-to-find cartridge in order for the TS-2068 to be Speccy-compatible so I wouldn't recommend it. Not to mention of course that the TS-2068 is very rare itself.

[Mayhem]

To concur with ApolloBoy, if you're serious about using the Speccy to load and play games, then a 128 of some form (normal or +2) would be the best option.

[Gunstar]

What types of upgrade/modifications are availble for the Spectrum 128 (+2/+3)? Both that are or were commercially available as well as fan-made and instructions for homebrew ones.

Edited by Gunstar, Fri Dec 9, 2011 8:39 AM.

[98PaceCar]

I did this exercise last year and actually carried a setup back from a trip to London. I went the 128+2 route for the keyboard, built in tape drive, and ease in hooking it up to a 1084. The only add-ons I've found that I actually use on a regular basis are a joystick module (even though it has ports built in, I only have Atari style sticks) and a divIDE interface with an SD to IDE adaptor for loading from SD card.

[remowilliams]

98PaceCar, on Fri Dec 9, 2011 9:32 AM, said:

I did this exercise last year and actually carried a setup back from a trip to London. I went the 128+2 route for the keyboard, built in tape drive, and ease in hooking it up to a 1084. The only add-ons I've found that I actually use on a regular basis are a joystick module (even though it has ports built in, I only have Atari style sticks) and a divIDE interface with an SD to IDE adaptor for loading from SD card.

Same exact route I went. One handy thing was that until I got the divIDE, I could use the tape drive and one of those old cd/cassette adapter things to 'play' cassette files from the PC into the Spectrum. And with the +2 I've got a very handy RGB SCART cable to use with my SCART > component converter.

[TMR]

98PaceCar, on Fri Dec 9, 2011 9:32 AM, said:

The only add-ons I've found that I actually use on a regular basis are a joystick module (even though it has ports built in, I only have Atari style sticks)

Getting a stock Atari configuration stick working is just a matter of getting a converter, mine cost a tenner (it handles both ports) from eBay.

For super big expansions, it might be better to look at one of the Russian machines, they've usually got large wedges of RAM and other features onboard.

[gooner73]

I have seen somewhere that you can copy tap files to cd and load from your pc onto the speccy, but not sure if this true or if it works!

[TMR]

gooner73, on Tue Dec 13, 2011 5:12 PM, said:

I have seen somewhere that you can copy tap files to cd and load from your pc onto the speccy, but not sure if this true or if it works!

Yes, this works from just about any audio source with one of those car stereo adapters in the tape deck (in fact it works on most 8-bits, i've had C64 and Amstrad CPC games loading that way too - i'd try with the Atari 8-bit but i don't have a working tape deck!)

Personally i'm using a DivIDE and loading TAP images from a Compact Flash card now.

[JamesD]

The grey +2 is probably compatible with the most software.


Check out http://www.worldofspectrum.org/ for the most/best Speccy info.

If you can still get one, DivIDE seems to be the most common CF type interface.
http://velesoft.spec...ivide/index.htm
http://velesoft.speccy.cz/

There's also an SD/MMC interface
http://www.zxbada.bbk.org/zxmmc/

[JamesD]

This guy sells the DivIDE+, just be aware that it can take a while to receive it, see the SIDE project thread in the Atari 8 bit area.
http://www.zaxon.eu/divide.html

[TMR]

JamesD, on Fri Dec 16, 2011 7:42 AM, said:

This guy sells the DivIDE+, just be aware that it can take a while to receive it

i ended up waiting over three months and, despite emailing him once a fortnight after the 3 to 4 weeks he said on the website, received just one email in reply that said it'd be sent the next Monday (which was about a month before it actually arrived) - i wasn't massively impressed whe it turned up either if i'm honest, the top half of the case was detached for some reason and i'll have to tape it or something...

i went to Sintech for a regular DivIDE in the end because i needed one in a hurry by that point for Replay and, whilst it doesn't come cased, they turned the order around in a week and, after adding a 40 pin to CF card adapter and an external power source (all from eBay), i've been happy with it. They're not selling them right now, but it might be worth getting in touch to show interest.

[98PaceCar]

TMR, on Sat Dec 10, 2011 7:51 PM, said:

98PaceCar, on Fri Dec 9, 2011 9:32 AM, said:

The only add-ons I've found that I actually use on a regular basis are a joystick module (even though it has ports built in, I only have Atari style sticks)

Getting a stock Atari configuration stick working is just a matter of getting a converter, mine cost a tenner (it handles both ports) from eBay.

Is this just a converter to use the built in ports or something like a Kempston interface that plugs into the user port? It would rock if I could have something that would allow the built in ports to work so that I could retire the user port splitter I'm using now (Kempston and divIDE plugged in all the time).

[TMR]

98PaceCar, on Fri Dec 16, 2011 9:13 AM, said:

TMR, on Sat Dec 10, 2011 7:51 PM, said:

Getting a stock Atari configuration stick working is just a matter of getting a converter, mine cost a tenner (it handles both ports) from eBay.

Is this just a converter to use the built in ports or something like a Kempston interface that plugs into the user port?

They're crossover cables that connect to the internal joystick ports - here's a link to the one i'm using.

[98PaceCar]

TMR, on Fri Dec 16, 2011 9:32 AM, said:

98PaceCar, on Fri Dec 16, 2011 9:13 AM, said:

TMR, on Sat Dec 10, 2011 7:51 PM, said:

Getting a stock Atari configuration stick working is just a matter of getting a converter, mine cost a tenner (it handles both ports) from eBay.

Is this just a converter to use the built in ports or something like a Kempston interface that plugs into the user port?

They're crossover cables that connect to the internal joystick ports - here's a link to the one i'm using.

Very cool! I'll be ordering one of those asap!

[JamesD]

TMR, on Fri Dec 16, 2011 8:50 AM, said:

JamesD, on Fri Dec 16, 2011 7:42 AM, said:

This guy sells the DivIDE+, just be aware that it can take a while to receive it

i ended up waiting over three months and, despite emailing him once a fortnight after the 3 to 4 weeks he said on the website, received just one email in reply that said it'd be sent the next Monday (which was about a month before it actually arrived) - i wasn't massively impressed whe it turned up either if i'm honest, the top half of the case was detached for some reason and i'll have to tape it or something...

i went to Sintech for a regular DivIDE in the end because i needed one in a hurry by that point for Replay and, whilst it doesn't come cased, they turned the order around in a week and, after adding a 40 pin to CF card adapter and an external power source (all from eBay), i've been happy with it. They're not selling them right now, but it might be worth getting in touch to show interest.

Personally, I'd rather have a ZXMMC interface but I couldn't find them for sale anywhere.

[98PaceCar]

JamesD, on Fri Dec 16, 2011 3:01 PM, said:

TMR, on Fri Dec 16, 2011 8:50 AM, said:

JamesD, on Fri Dec 16, 2011 7:42 AM, said:

This guy sells the DivIDE+, just be aware that it can take a while to receive it

i ended up waiting over three months and, despite emailing him once a fortnight after the 3 to 4 weeks he said on the website, received just one email in reply that said it'd be sent the next Monday (which was about a month before it actually arrived) - i wasn't massively impressed whe it turned up either if i'm honest, the top half of the case was detached for some reason and i'll have to tape it or something...

i went to Sintech for a regular DivIDE in the end because i needed one in a hurry by that point for Replay and, whilst it doesn't come cased, they turned the order around in a week and, after adding a 40 pin to CF card adapter and an external power source (all from eBay), i've been happy with it. They're not selling them right now, but it might be worth getting in touch to show interest.

Personally, I'd rather have a ZXMMC interface but I couldn't find them for sale anywhere.

The ZXMMC looks pretty cool, but am I missing something in thinking that you'd have to open up your system in order to swap the card out? I guess it's easy to store the whole library on a single card and always have it available.

[JamesD]

98PaceCar, on Fri Dec 16, 2011 3:48 PM, said:

JamesD, on Fri Dec 16, 2011 3:01 PM, said:

Personally, I'd rather have a ZXMMC interface but I couldn't find them for sale anywhere.

The ZXMMC looks pretty cool, but am I missing something in thinking that you'd have to open up your system in order to swap the card out? I guess it's easy to store the whole library on a single card and always have it available.

I *think* there are connections for a 2nd card on the board. If so, you could probably rig a connector on the back of most Speccys so you have one inside and one accessible from the outside.

[JamesD]

"The interface supports up to two cards, but the pcb has room for just a single slot. The second one may be soldered on the top of the first (see picture below); all pins are tied together but the chip select, which (for second slot) should be wired to "PAD1" (the gray wire in the picture). Then, the new card can be selected by lowering D1 instead of D0 on the $1F chip select register. A led is provided for each slot, indicating card access."

Edited by JamesD, Fri Dec 16, 2011 7:19 PM.