Timex 2068 In America Using Spectrum Software

1 message · 2007-11-19 → 2007-11-19 · Yahoo Group era · View archive on archive.org

Participants: Adam Trionfo

Preserved from the Timex/Sinclair 2068 Yahoo Group (2001–2019), which is no longer online. Text reproduced from the archive.org archive; email addresses masked.

Messages

1. Timex 2068 In America Using Spectrum Software

Adam Trionfo · Mon, 19 Nov 2007 13:43

I have VERY little knowledge of the Timex 2068, but I've been thinking about picking one up and then getting the Spectrum ROM cartridge so that I can try some of the Spectrum games in America (where I live).  I have plenty of questions.  I just posted this message in the sinclairspectrumusers Yahoogroup, but then I found this group.  Hopefully someone (or several people?) can help me with these questions:

1) Does the tape interface on the 2068 use a regular tape player, or is there a special interface?

2) Does the 97% compatibility between the Spectrum and the 2068 (with a Spectrum ROM) take into account the PAL and NTSC problems (i.e. what will happen if I try to run Spectrum PAL games on this 2068 NTSC machine?  Will the screen roll?)?

3) I have experience using the Bally Astrocade's digitally archived games (this is an early 1978 Z-80 game console/computer).  With the Astrocade I can plug the audio jack into my computer's speakers and load a game.  Will this method work with the 2068?

4) Presuming that the 2068 uses a regular tape player, if I type-in a BASIC program, and then I want to save it, can I save it to my computer and then digitally archive it?  This works very well with the Astrocade (which is the system that I'm sort of comparing the 2068 to in my head).

5) Is I cross-compile Z-80 code on the PC, how could I load it into the 2068?  Are there PC archiving programs that con convert pure Z-80 binary output to some type of loadable tape format?

6) I've looked, but I can't find the pin-out of the 2068's joystick ports.  I can't even find a picture of what they look like.  Are they compatible with 2600 joysticks, or would an adapter have to be made?  Heck, are the 2068 joysticks even digital signals?  Also, can the port handle analog (i.e. paddle controllers)?

7) Is there a 2068 program archive on the Internet?

8) Is there a 2068 manual/book/magazine archive on the Internet?

Finally, am I asking there questions in the right group?  This one seems like it is used mostly for Timex 1000 postings (and very infrequently at that).  If I’m posting to the wrong place, then where SHOULD I post?

Thanks.

Adam Trionfo

P.S.  If you’re interested in reading about the Astrocade, then check out my website: www.ballyalley.com.
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Indexed under

TS2068 / TC2068 · ZX Spectrum · Spectrum emulation & software