ZX Interface 1 for sale
8 messages · 2008-11-25 → 2008-11-28 · Yahoo Group era · View archive on archive.org
Participants: zxbruno, Bill Loguidice, Fred, alhartman6, Jack Boatwright
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. ZX Interface 1 for sale
zxbruno · Tue, 25 Nov 2008 04:42
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230310120619
2. RE: [ts2068] ZX Interface 1 for sale
Bill Loguidice · Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:46
I assume all that's good for is the Microdrive, right? It doesn't serve any
other functionality? Personally I have enough to deal with the microdrives
on the QL...
=================================
Bill Loguidice, Managing Director
Armchair Arcade, Inc.
<http://www.armchairarcade.com/> http://www.armchairarcade.com
A PC Magazine Top 100 Website
=================================
_____
From: [email] [mailto:[email]] On Behalf Of
zxbruno
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 11:42 PM
To: [email]
Subject: [ts2068] ZX Interface 1 for sale
http://cgi.ebay.
<http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230310120619>
com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230310120619
3. Re: [ts2068] ZX Interface 1 for sale
Fred · Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:44
You also get a RS232 interface and ZX Net ports (compatible with the
QL IIRC).
Fred
On 26/11/2008, at 7:46, Bill Loguidice wrote:
> I assume all that's good for is the Microdrive, right? It doesn't
> serve any other functionality? Personally I have enough to deal
> with the microdrives on the QL...
>
> From: [email] [mailto:[email]] On
> Behalf Of zxbruno
> Sent: Monday, November 24, 2008 11:42 PM
> To: [email]
> Subject: [ts2068] ZX Interface 1 for sale
>
> http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230310120619
>
4. Re: ZX Interface 1 for sale
alhartman6 · Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:24
A peripheral from Sinclair Research for its ZX Spectrum home computer, the
ZX Interface 1 was launched in 1983. Originally intended as a local area
network interface for use in school classrooms, it was revised before launch
to also act as the controller for up to eight ZX Microdrive high-speed
tape-loop cartridge drives. It also included a nine-pin RS-232 interface
(intended mainly for use with printers) capable of operating at up to 19.2
kbit/s - a rare instance of Sinclair using an industry-standard connector.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZX_Interface_1
5. Re: ZX Interface 1 for sale
zxbruno · Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:01
The microdrives aren't famous for their reliability, that's for sure.
What I like the most about this interface is the networking
capability. With the right software and cable you can use it to
transfer files between a Spectrum (or a TS2068+fixer) and a PC. Here
are some links that might be of interest:
http://www.rwapsoftware.co.uk/spectrum/spectrum_storage.html#zxinterface1
(for price comparison)
http://www.worldofspectrum.org/utilities.html#networks
http://newsgroups.derkeiler.com/Archive/Comp/comp.sys.sinclair/2006-02/msg00412.html
http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/showpost.php?p=150067&postcount=8
Back in the day some game coders used to have two computers with RS232
interfaces, one where they wrote the code and the other one where they
tested it. This way they could test anything without being afraid of
crashes.
There are endless applications if you know how to do it. Otherwise
it's just a collector's item.
I never used it myself because I have other ways of transferring data
to the Spectrum: DivIDE+ with CF slot, ZX Interface 2 with customized
ROM cards, RS232 cable between 128K Spectrum and PC...
--- In [email], "Bill Loguidice" <bill@...> wrote:
>
> I assume all that's good for is the Microdrive, right? It doesn't
serve any
> other functionality? Personally I have enough to deal with the
microdrives
> on the QL...
>
> =================================
> Bill Loguidice
6. Re: ZX Interface 1 for sale
zxbruno · Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:35
*sigh*
I've updated the original description. Contrary to my initial
assumption, the TS2068 doesn't have the some of the signals the ZX
Interface 1 requires. The twister board and the ZX Spectrum emulator
rom are simply not enough.
The gentleman who kindly informed me of this used to make twister
boards. I invited him to come to the TS2068 yahoo groups and let us
know how to make our own twisters.
I haven't checked the TS2068 technical manual, but if the signals are
present inside the computer, it should be possible to take them to the
backplane/edge connector. But this would be a complicated internal mod
I think.
Soon I'll be auctioning some software and one Sinclair ZX Spectrum
+2A. The next time I visit Portugal I might bring a few 3" drives and
some other Timex/ZX Spectrum items.
7. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Interface 1 for sale
Jack Boatwright · Wed, 26 Nov 2008 10:34
I have had great success using IF1/Microdrives with a "twisted" TS2068 &
Speccy emulator.
It could be that your twister is not configured correctly. I had one once
that pulled the wrong voltage.
On Tue, November 25, 2008 9:35 pm, zxbruno wrote:
> *sigh*
>
>
> I've updated the original description. Contrary to my initial
> assumption, the TS2068 doesn't have the some of the signals the ZX
> Interface 1 requires. The twister board and the ZX Spectrum emulator
> rom are simply not enough.
>
> The gentleman who kindly informed me of this used to make twister
> boards. I invited him to come to the TS2068 yahoo groups and let us know
> how to make our own twisters.
>
> I haven't checked the TS2068 technical manual, but if the signals are
> present inside the computer, it should be possible to take them to the
> backplane/edge connector. But this would be a complicated internal mod I
> think.
>
> Soon I'll be auctioning some software and one Sinclair ZX Spectrum
> +2A. The next time I visit Portugal I might bring a few 3" drives and
> some other Timex/ZX Spectrum items.
>
>
8. Re: ZX Interface 1 for sale
zxbruno · Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:24
--- In [email], "Jack Boatwright" <jboatno4@...> wrote:
>
> I have had great success using IF1/Microdrives with a "twisted" TS2068 &
> Speccy emulator.
>
> It could be that your twister is not configured correctly. I had
one once
> that pulled the wrong voltage.
Ha!! Thank you so much for this information!!! Have a happy thanks giving!
I will quote your words plus everything that I found today about Mr
Keith Watson (someone who also used the IF1 with his TS2068).