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TS2068 created because the UK Spectrum wouldn't have passed FCC regs?

1 message · 2003-02-28 → 2003-02-28 · Yahoo Group era · View archive on archive.org

Participants: indygolunaria

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. TS2068 created because the UK Spectrum wouldn't have passed FCC regs?

indygolunaria · Fri, 28 Feb 2003 18:00

Cross post from the classicmp list; anyone have any confirmation of
this detail?

L
------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 18:31:52 -0800 (PST)
From: Al Hartman <[email]>
Subject: Re: TS2068
To: [email]
Reply-To: [email]

> From: [email]
>
> > But, as-is it wouldn't pass FCC regulations.
>
> Not to doubt your word, but what is your source for
> that information?  I've had several conversations
> with George Grimm (President of Timex Computer
> Corp.) and he never mentioned a problem with the
> FCC.

I have to say that it was anecdotal and repeated in
every review of the machine I have ever read.

In that day, FCC regs were the big talk about all
sorts of computer equipment.

It was also said that one of the reasons the TRS-80
Model III was created was because the Model I wouldn't
pass FCC regulations as a home computer.

Many PC Clones had problems with the FCC also.

Used to be when you bought a clone you asked:

Does it have an FCC ID?
Does it run Lotus 1-2-3?
Does it run Flight Simulator?

Usually, in that order.

So no, I have no hard data to back that up.

But, the inside of the TS-2068 is shielded and the
Spectrum isn't.

> I would be interested to see photos of the
> prototype.  Do you have any Web space you can post                 
          > photos to?

Yes, but they'd be diappointing. Basically, it looks
exactly like a British Spectrum but it has an American
RF converter in it.

No discernable difference on the outside.

> Mind if I ask the company name?

Not at all, it was: Zebra Systems, Inc.

www.zebrasystems.inc

I did most of the tech support, and wrote most of the
manuals and some of the advertising. It was a fun
job...

We did Timex, Coco (I also worked for Specrrum
Projects before coming to Zebra), Amiga and Atari-ST.

Zebra was a sister company to Alpha Products and
Colorware (Tim Jenison of Amiga Video Toaster fame. In
fact, he prototyped the toaster on a Coco.)


Regards,
Al

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TS2068 / TC2068 · ZX Spectrum