ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
75 messages · 2006-10-29 → 2006-12-13 · Yahoo Group era · View archive on archive.org
Participants: Timex, Jarek Adamski, M. Emrah Oral, Richard Atkinson, aralbrec, Al Hartman, Stephen Wenzler, joe schmoe, john hammer, proteanthread, Julianpa, Bryan Vines, alvin albrecht, William McBrine, Jean-Luc Verville, jboatno4, Edwin Krampitz, Jr.
Attachments in thread: 1 (see the archive.org item)
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. giving away my entire retro computers collection
proteanthread · Sun, 29 Oct 2006 20:47
recepient just pays shipping, includes, atari, trs80, coco, tandy,
ibm, apple2, commodore, CPM, etc.
Jeff Wood
307-222-4224
proteanthread at yahoo
will *ATTEMPT* to have a list shortly if interested; want to give it
away to interested parties who'll help take care of this retro stash.
2. Re: [ts2068] giving away my entire retro computers collection
M. Emrah Oral · Mon, 30 Oct 2006 07:04
do you happen to have a ZX Spectrum ?
proteanthread <[email]> wrote: recepient just pays shipping, includes, atari, trs80, coco, tandy,
ibm, apple2, commodore, CPM, etc.
Jeff Wood
307-222-4224
proteanthread at yahoo
will *ATTEMPT* to have a list shortly if interested; want to give it
away to interested parties who'll help take care of this retro stash.
---------------------------------
Check out the New Yahoo! Mail - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster.
3. Re: [ts2068] giving away my entire retro computers collection
Julianpa · Mon, 30 Oct 2006 14:10
When you have a list send it to me please.
Thanks.
Julian
proteanthread <[email]> escribió:
recepient just pays shipping, includes, atari, trs80, coco, tandy,
ibm, apple2, commodore, CPM, etc.
Jeff Wood
307-222-4224
proteanthread at yahoo
will *ATTEMPT* to have a list shortly if interested; want to give it
away to interested parties who'll help take care of this retro stash.
__________________________________________________
Correo Yahoo!
Espacio para todos tus mensajes, antivirus y antispam ¡gratis!
¡Abrí tu cuenta ya! - http://correo.yahoo.com.ar
4. What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
M. Emrah Oral · Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:13
OK, so I bought yet another 2068 on Ebay, hoping that after the first 2 that had bad video outputs this one would have a decent composite video output and yet this third one has the exact same problem : The video output is in black and white, the image is not sharp, picture looks 'snowy' although I am using the composite video output and not the RF output, and straight lines look zig-zaggy. What the heck !? Did they always have such awful video quality !??
---------------------------------
Low, Low, Low Rates! Check out Yahoo! Messenger's cheap PC-to-Phone call rates.
5. Re: [ts2068] What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
Stephen Wenzler · Tue, 31 Oct 2006 19:42
Hi and I know that those computers have adjustments that is located
inside the unit, the adjustments is located near the speaker so use a
small flat screwdriver to touch-up the video output. I have done it
successfully by tweaking it to functionally correctly. If you like, I
could point to the two adjustments on the pc board of mine. otherwise
that's fine with me.
M. Emrah Oral wrote:
> OK, so I bought yet another 2068 on Ebay, hoping that after the first
> 2 that had bad video outputs this one would have a decent composite
> video output and yet this third one has the exact same problem : The
> video output is in black and white, the image is not sharp, picture
> looks 'snowy' although I am using the composite video output and not
> the RF output, and straight lines look zig-zaggy. What the heck !? Did
> they always have such awful video quality !??
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Low, Low, Low Rates! Check out Yahoo! Messenger's cheap PC-to-Phone
> call rates.
> <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/postman8/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=39663/*http://voice.yahoo.com>
>
>
6. Re: [ts2068] What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
M. Emrah Oral · Tue, 31 Oct 2006 17:06
Hi. I have been tweaking those three 'trim-pots' and although I can restore color the image is still not sharp, letters all fuzzy, looks 'snowy' and if I draw a straight line using a command like DRAW 0,175, it still looks zig-zaggy. I am not sure what to do.
I have a ZX Spectrum 48K from 1983 and it still has perfect color and the RF output of that looks better than the composite video of the three 2068s I have. I also have a ZX Spectrum +2 and a +3 and their video outputs are in excellent shape too. So I dont know what it is that's unique to the 2068 that is aging over time and resulting in bad video output. The first one I got, I even tried replacing every electrolytic capacitor with brand new ones. I tried 2 different 15V adapters. 3 different TVs/monitors. Nothing helps. I can't make the 2068 produce a video signal as good as that of my Spectrums. Weird. Thanks for your help though. :)
Stephen Wenzler <[email]> wrote:
Hi and I know that those computers have adjustments that is located inside the unit, the adjustments is located near the speaker so use a small flat screwdriver to touch-up the video output. I have done it successfully by tweaking it to functionally correctly. If you like, I could point to the two adjustments on the pc board of mine. otherwise that's fine with me.
M. Emrah Oral wrote: OK, so I bought yet another 2068 on Ebay, hoping that after the first 2 that had bad video outputs this one would have a decent composite video output and yet this third one has the exact same problem : The video output is in black and white, the image is not sharp, picture looks 'snowy' although I am using the composite video output and not the RF output, and straight lines look zig-zaggy. What the heck !? Did they always have such awful video quality !??
---------------------------------
Low, Low, Low Rates! Check out Yahoo! Messenger's cheap PC-to-Phone call rates.
---------------------------------
Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail.
7. Re: [ts2068] What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
Stephen Wenzler · Tue, 31 Oct 2006 21:09
It could be other parts associated with video processing and generation
- if you had technical manual for the TS2068 computer, looking at the
schematic diagram you may able to see where all the parts that are
associated with video output and you may able to get everything replaced
with newer ones.
That is my suggestion. Also check power supply caps throughout the board.
M. Emrah Oral wrote:
> Hi. I have been tweaking those three 'trim-pots' and although I can
> restore color the image is still not sharp, letters all fuzzy, looks
> 'snowy' and if I draw a straight line using a command like DRAW 0,175,
> it still looks zig-zaggy. I am not sure what to do.
> I have a ZX Spectrum 48K from 1983 and it still has perfect color and
> the RF output of that looks better than the composite video of the
> three 2068s I have. I also have a ZX Spectrum +2 and a +3 and their
> video outputs are in excellent shape too. So I dont know what it is
> that's unique to the 2068 that is aging over time and resulting in bad
> video output. The first one I got, I even tried replacing every
> electrolytic capacitor with brand new ones. I tried 2 different 15V
> adapters. 3 different TVs/monitors. Nothing helps. I can't make the
> 2068 produce a video signal as good as that of my Spectrums. Weird.
> Thanks for your help though. :)
>
> */Stephen Wenzler <[email]>/* wrote:
>
> Hi and I know that those computers have adjustments that is
> located inside the unit, the adjustments is located near the
> speaker so use a small flat screwdriver to touch-up the video
> output. I have done it successfully by tweaking it to functionally
> correctly. If you like, I could point to the two adjustments on
> the pc board of mine. otherwise that's fine with me.
>
> M. Emrah Oral wrote:
>> OK, so I bought yet another 2068 on Ebay, hoping that after the
>> first 2 that had bad video outputs this one would have a decent
>> composite video output and yet this third one has the exact same
>> problem : The video output is in black and white, the image is
>> not sharp, picture looks 'snowy' although I am using the
>> composite video output and not the RF output, and straight lines
>> look zig-zaggy. What the heck !? Did they always have such awful
>> video quality !??
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Low, Low, Low Rates! Check out Yahoo! Messenger's cheap
>> PC-to-Phone call rates.
>> <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/postman8/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=39663/*http://voice.yahoo.com>
>>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail.
> <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt=42297/*http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta>
>
>
8. Re: [ts2068] What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
M. Emrah Oral · Wed, 1 Nov 2006 01:43:
When you tweaked the three adjustments in your 2068, did that give you a nice and sharp color image? or is it also still fuzzy ? I know most hobbyists are using CGA monitors but I dont have room for another monitor in my apartment. I wish i could just get plain NTSC RGB out of the 2068 edge connector.
PS. The RGB output on the +2 and +3 Spectrums provide excellent image quality.
Stephen Wenzler <[email]> wrote:
It could be other parts associated with video processing and generation - if you had technical manual for the TS2068 computer, looking at the schematic diagram you may able to see where all the parts that are associated with video output and you may able to get everything replaced with newer ones.
That is my suggestion. Also check power supply caps throughout the board.
M. Emrah Oral wrote: Hi. I have been tweaking those three 'trim-pots' and although I can restore color the image is still not sharp, letters all fuzzy, looks 'snowy' and if I draw a straight line using a command like DRAW 0,175, it still looks zig-zaggy. I am not sure what to do.
I have a ZX Spectrum 48K from 1983 and it still has perfect color and the RF output of that looks better than the composite video of the three 2068s I have. I also have a ZX Spectrum +2 and a +3 and their video outputs are in excellent shape too. So I dont know what it is that's unique to the 2068 that is aging over time and resulting in bad video output. The first one I got, I even tried replacing every electrolytic capacitor with brand new ones. I tried 2 different 15V adapters. 3 different TVs/monitors. Nothing helps. I can't make the 2068 produce a video signal as good as that of my Spectrums. Weird. Thanks for your help though. :)
Stephen Wenzler <[email]> wrote:
Hi and I know that those computers have adjustments that is located inside the unit, the adjustments is located near the speaker so use a small flat screwdriver to touch-up the video output. I have done it successfully by tweaking it to functionally correctly. If you like, I could point to the two adjustments on the pc board of mine. otherwise that's fine with me.
M. Emrah Oral wrote: OK, so I bought yet another 2068 on Ebay, hoping that after the first 2 that had bad video outputs this one would have a decent composite video output and yet this third one has the exact same problem : The video output is in black and white, the image is not sharp, picture looks 'snowy' although I am using the composite video output and not the RF output, and straight lines look zig-zaggy. What the heck !? Did they always have such awful video quality !??
---------------------------------
Low, Low, Low Rates! Check out Yahoo! Messenger's cheap PC-to-Phone call rates.
---------------------------------
Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail.
---------------------------------
Cheap Talk? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates.
9. Re: [ts2068] What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
Stephen Wenzler · Wed, 01 Nov 2006 05:12
Yes, definately and it has stabilized the display also the AERCO
interface does have CGA out connector so I added a small PC board of a
logic chip to help invert the video sync signals to work correctly on a
old Radio Shack's CGA monitor that I bought off from eBay few years ago
and it works like a charm! Right now it is in closet sitting on the top
of boxes of my personal stuff.
Remember, some CGA monotors acts weird because they cannot sense the
sync pulses correctly so they need to be inverted to correct the
problem. On the little PC board I built I included two jumpers so that
you can configure it based on the CGA monitor's sync's polity to work
correctly.
M. Emrah Oral wrote:
> When you tweaked the three adjustments in your 2068, did that give you
> a nice and sharp color image? or is it also still fuzzy ? I know most
> hobbyists are using CGA monitors but I dont have room for another
> monitor in my apartment. I wish i could just get plain NTSC RGB out of
> the 2068 edge connector.
>
> PS. The RGB output on the +2 and +3 Spectrums provide excellent image
> quality.
>
> */Stephen Wenzler <[email]>/* wrote:
>
> It could be other parts associated with video processing and
> generation - if you had technical manual for the TS2068 computer,
> looking at the schematic diagram you may able to see where all the
> parts that are associated with video output and you may able to
> get everything replaced with newer ones.
>
> That is my suggestion. Also check power supply caps throughout the
> board.
>
> M. Emrah Oral wrote:
>> Hi. I have been tweaking those three 'trim-pots' and although I
>> can restore color the image is still not sharp, letters all
>> fuzzy, looks 'snowy' and if I draw a straight line using a
>> command like DRAW 0,175, it still looks zig-zaggy. I am not sure
>> what to do.
>> I have a ZX Spectrum 48K from 1983 and it still has perfect color
>> and the RF output of that looks better than the composite video
>> of the three 2068s I have. I also have a ZX Spectrum +2 and a +3
>> and their video outputs are in excellent shape too. So I dont
>> know what it is that's unique to the 2068 that is aging over time
>> and resulting in bad video output. The first one I got, I even
>> tried replacing every electrolytic capacitor with brand new ones.
>> I tried 2 different 15V adapters. 3 different TVs/monitors.
>> Nothing helps. I can't make the 2068 produce a video signal as
>> good as that of my Spectrums. Weird. Thanks for your help though. :)
>>
>> */Stephen Wenzler <[email]>/* wrote:
>>
>> Hi and I know that those computers have adjustments that is
>> located inside the unit, the adjustments is located near the
>> speaker so use a small flat screwdriver to touch-up the video
>> output. I have done it successfully by tweaking it to
>> functionally correctly. If you like, I could point to the two
>> adjustments on the pc board of mine. otherwise that's fine
>> with me.
>>
>> M. Emrah Oral wrote:
>>> OK, so I bought yet another 2068 on Ebay, hoping that after
>>> the first 2 that had bad video outputs this one would have a
>>> decent composite video output and yet this third one has the
>>> exact same problem : The video output is in black and white,
>>> the image is not sharp, picture looks 'snowy' although I am
>>> using the composite video output and not the RF output, and
>>> straight lines look zig-zaggy. What the heck !? Did they
>>> always have such awful video quality !??
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>>> Low, Low, Low Rates! Check out Yahoo! Messenger's cheap
>>> PC-to-Phone call rates.
>>> <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/postman8/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt9663/*http://voice.yahoo.com>
>>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail.
>> <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evtB297/*http://advision.webevents.yahoo.com/mailbeta>
>>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Cheap Talk? Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates.
> <http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mail_us/taglines/postman8/*http://us.rd.yahoo.com/evt9663/*http://voice.yahoo.com>
>
>
10. Re: [ts2068] What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
joe schmoe · Sat, 18 Nov 2006 07:54
Are we sure that this is not an 50hz vs. 60 hz
problem? Is the little selector switch which selects
between chanell 2 and channel 3 part of this issue?
____________________________________________________________________________________
Sponsored Link
Mortgage rates near 39yr lows.
$310k for $999/mo. Calculate new payment!
www.LowerMyBills.com/lre
11. Re: [ts2068] What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
Bryan Vines · Sun, 19 Nov 2006 06:51
I remember the video being crappy even when I got the
computer new in 1983. I almost never used it with
color as a result. I tended to use it with a green
phosphor Zenith monitor, and I'd set BORDER 0:PAPER
0:INK 7 (7 was white, right?). That's the first thing
I'd do after powering the computer up.
It looked fine like that. :) But again, that was just
on a green screen monitor with a black background and
white (well...green on the display) text.
--bkv
--- joe schmoe <[email]> wrote:
> Are we sure that this is not an 50hz vs. 60 hz
> problem? Is the little selector switch which selects
> between chanell 2 and channel 3 part of this issue?
____________________________________________________________________________________
Sponsored Link
Compare mortgage rates for today.
Get up to 5 free quotes.
Www2.nextag.com
12. Re: [ts2068] What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
M. Emrah Oral · Sun, 19 Nov 2006 08:59
That is so weird. Timex decides that the original ZX Spectrum wasn't good enough
for the US market, drops in a custom ULA with higher resolution graphics and
releases the computer with video circuitry that gives such a terrible image quality ?
My 20 year old ZX spectrum's video quality is 10 times better, even through RF!
Timex should have imported ZX Spectrums instead of designing their own machine IMHO
Bryan Vines <[email]> wrote:
I remember the video being crappy even when I got the
computer new in 1983. I almost never used it with
color as a result. I tended to use it with a green
phosphor Zenith monitor, and I'd set BORDER 0:PAPER
0:INK 7 (7 was white, right?). That's the first thing
I'd do after powering the computer up.
It looked fine like that. :) But again, that was just
on a green screen monitor with a black background and
white (well...green on the display) text.
--bkv
--- joe schmoe <[email]> wrote:
> Are we sure that this is not an 50hz vs. 60 hz
> problem? Is the little selector switch which selects
> between chanell 2 and channel 3 part of this issue?
__________________________________________________________
Sponsored Link
Compare mortgage rates for today.
Get up to 5 free quotes.
Www2.nextag.com
---------------------------------
Check out the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta - Fire up a more powerful email and get things done faster.
13. Re: [ts2068] What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
Timex · Sun, 19 Nov 2006 19:58
I don't know with composite color monitors as I have only used a
color monitor once and I don't remember how it looked.
With the green monitors (neptun) Timex of Portugal selled with TC2048
and TC2068 have a really sharp image.
I have tryed to use them with my Apple Performa 5200 video card and
it have a crap image. Even TT3000 have a crap image with the Performa
5200 video card (I can't read what CP/M outputs).
The first thing I'do when I power a TC on is OUT 255,62
:)
Johnny Red, Portugal
On Nov 19, 2006, at 4:59 PM, M. Emrah Oral wrote:
> That is so weird. Timex decides that the original ZX Spectrum
> wasn't good enough
> for the US market, drops in a custom ULA with higher resolution
> graphics and
> releases the computer with video circuitry that gives such a
> terrible image quality ?
>
> My 20 year old ZX spectrum's video quality is 10 times better, even
> through RF!
> Timex should have imported ZX Spectrums instead of designing their
> own machine IMHO
>
> Bryan Vines <[email]> wrote:
> I remember the video being crappy even when I got the
> computer new in 1983. I almost never used it with
> color as a result. I tended to use it with a green
> phosphor Zenith monitor, and I'd set BORDER 0:PAPER
> 0:INK 7 (7 was white, right?). That's the first thing
> I'd do after powering the computer up.
>
> It looked fine like that. :) But again, that was just
> on a green screen monitor with a black background and
> white (well...green on the display) text.
>
> --bkv
>
> --- joe schmoe <[email]> wrote:
>
> > Are we sure that this is not an 50hz vs. 60 hz
> > problem? Is the little selector switch which selects
> > between chanell 2 and channel 3 part of this issue?
>
> __________________________________________________________
> Sponsored Link
>
> Compare mortgage rates for today.
> Get up to 5 free quotes.
> Www2.nextag.com
>
>
> Check out the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta - Fire up a more powerful
> email and get things done faster.
14. Re: [ts2068] What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
M. Emrah Oral · Sun, 19 Nov 2006 14:15
I think the TC has a different/better video circuit than the TS.. may be I am wrong though.
Red (Timex)" <[email]> wrote: I don't know with composite color monitors as I have only used a
color monitor once and I don't remember how it looked.
With the green monitors (neptun) Timex of Portugal selled with TC2048
and TC2068 have a really sharp image.
I have tryed to use them with my Apple Performa 5200 video card and
it have a crap image. Even TT3000 have a crap image with the Performa
5200 video card (I can't read what CP/M outputs).
The first thing I'do when I power a TC on is OUT 255,62
:)
Johnny Red, Portugal
On Nov 19, 2006, at 4:59 PM, M. Emrah Oral wrote:
> That is so weird. Timex decides that the original ZX Spectrum
> wasn't good enough
> for the US market, drops in a custom ULA with higher resolution
> graphics and
> releases the computer with video circuitry that gives such a
> terrible image quality ?
>
> My 20 year old ZX spectrum's video quality is 10 times better, even
> through RF!
> Timex should have imported ZX Spectrums instead of designing their
> own machine IMHO
>
> Bryan Vines <[email]> wrote:
> I remember the video being crappy even when I got the
> computer new in 1983. I almost never used it with
> color as a result. I tended to use it with a green
> phosphor Zenith monitor, and I'd set BORDER 0:PAPER
> 0:INK 7 (7 was white, right?). That's the first thing
> I'd do after powering the computer up.
>
> It looked fine like that. :) But again, that was just
> on a green screen monitor with a black background and
> white (well...green on the display) text.
>
> --bkv
>
> --- joe schmoe <[email]> wrote:
>
> > Are we sure that this is not an 50hz vs. 60 hz
> > problem? Is the little selector switch which selects
> > between chanell 2 and channel 3 part of this issue?
>
> __________________________________________________________
> Sponsored Link
>
> Compare mortgage rates for today.
> Get up to 5 free quotes.
> Www2.nextag.com
>
>
> Check out the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta - Fire up a more powerful
> email and get things done faster.
---------------------------------
Sponsored Link
Mortgage rates near 39yr lows. $510,000 Mortgage for $1,698/mo - Calculate new house payment
15. RE: [ts2068] What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
alvin albrecht · Sun, 19 Nov 2006 15:18
>My 20 year old ZX spectrum's video quality is 10 times better, even through RF!
>Timex should have imported ZX Spectrums instead of designing their own machine IMHOThe video quality from my 2068 was just fine. The composite out was
excellent but I didn't own a monitor so only had a chance to try it out on
friends' monitors. But there was no way you could comfortably read text
on a colour TV in the 512x192 mode, for that you needed a b&w or a
monitor.
The video signal generated will not work on all colour TVs - perhaps
that has something to do with the problems you're experiencing?
Alvin
_________________________________________________________________
Be one of the first to try Windows Live Mail.
http://ideas.live.com/programpage.aspx?versionId=5d21c51a-b161-4314-9b0e-4911fb2b2e6d
16. Re: [ts2068] What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
Timex · Mon, 20 Nov 2006 01:36
Jarek can say something about that.
My only TS2068 is broken. :(
Je
On Nov 19, 2006, at 10:15 PM, M. Emrah Oral wrote:
> I think the TC has a different/better video circuit than the TS..
> may be I am wrong though.
>
> Red (Timex)" <[email]> wrote:
> I don't know with composite color monitors as I have only used a
> color monitor once and I don't remember how it looked.
> With the green monitors (neptun) Timex of Portugal selled with TC2048
> and TC2068 have a really sharp image.
> I have tryed to use them with my Apple Performa 5200 video card and
> it have a crap image. Even TT3000 have a crap image with the Performa
> 5200 video card (I can't read what CP/M outputs).
>
> The first thing I'do when I power a TC on is OUT 255,62
> :)
>
> Johnny Red, Portugal
>
> On Nov 19, 2006, at 4:59 PM, M. Emrah Oral wrote:
>
> > That is so weird. Timex decides that the original ZX Spectrum
> > wasn't good enough
> > for the US market, drops in a custom ULA with higher resolution
> > graphics and
> > releases the computer with video circuitry that gives such a
> > terrible image quality ?
> >
> > My 20 year old ZX spectrum's video quality is 10 times better, even
> > through RF!
> > Timex should have imported ZX Spectrums instead of designing their
> > own machine IMHO
> >
> > Bryan Vines <[email]> wrote:
> > I remember the video being crappy even when I got the
> > computer new in 1983. I almost never used it with
> > color as a result. I tended to use it with a green
> > phosphor Zenith monitor, and I'd set BORDER 0:PAPER
> > 0:INK 7 (7 was white, right?). That's the first thing
> > I'd do after powering the computer up.
> >
> > It looked fine like that. :) But again, that was just
> > on a green screen monitor with a black background and
> > white (well...green on the display) text.
> >
> > --bkv
> >
> > --- joe schmoe <[email]> wrote:
> >
> > > Are we sure that this is not an 50hz vs. 60 hz
> > > problem? Is the little selector switch which selects
> > > between chanell 2 and channel 3 part of this issue?
> >
> > __________________________________________________________
> > Sponsored Link
> >
> > Compare mortgage rates for today.
> > Get up to 5 free quotes.
> > Www2.nextag.com
> >
> >
> > Check out the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta - Fire up a more powerful
> > email and get things done faster.
>
>
> Sponsored Link
>
> Mortgage rates near 39yr lows. $510,000 Mortgage for $1,698/mo -
> Calculate new house payment
17. Re: What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
Al Hartman · Mon, 20 Nov 2006 15:54
A ZX-Spectrum would have been illegal for sale in the United States, as
it would not have passed F.C.C. regulations.
And to redesign the Spectrum enough to pass F.C.C. was exactly what
Timex did to make the 2068. They also didn't want to lose control of
the market by having the Spectrum manufacturers in Europe import all
their software and hardware unchanged, so they made the 2068
incompatible with the Spectrum on purpose.
You and I might quibble with that.
But, that's how it is in business with people who don't understand.
In Europe, the ZX-Spectrum spanked the Commodore 64's butt. It oculd
have done really well here.
The redesign I would have done would have been to put it in a larger,
shielded case with a real keyboard and let the Commodore 64 watch out!
Al
Phila, PA
--- In [email], "M. Emrah Oral" <oralm2@...> wrote:
>
> That is so weird. Timex decides that the original ZX Spectrum wasn't
good enough
> for the US market, drops in a custom ULA with higher resolution
graphics and
> releases the computer with video circuitry that gives such a
terrible image quality ?
>
> My 20 year old ZX spectrum's video quality is 10 times better, even
through RF!
> Timex should have imported ZX Spectrums instead of designing their
own machine IMHO
18. Re: [ts2068] Re: What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
Timex · Mon, 20 Nov 2006 21:50
A keyboard like TT3000??
Johnny Red, Portugal
On Nov 20, 2006, at 3:54 PM, Al Hartman wrote:
>
> A ZX-Spectrum would have been illegal for sale in the United
> States, as
> it would not have passed F.C.C. regulations.
>
> And to redesign the Spectrum enough to pass F.C.C. was exactly what
> Timex did to make the 2068. They also didn't want to lose control of
> the market by having the Spectrum manufacturers in Europe import all
> their software and hardware unchanged, so they made the 2068
> incompatible with the Spectrum on purpose.
>
> You and I might quibble with that.
>
> But, that's how it is in business with people who don't understand.
>
> In Europe, the ZX-Spectrum spanked the Commodore 64's butt. It oculd
> have done really well here.
>
> The redesign I would have done would have been to put it in a larger,
> shielded case with a real keyboard and let the Commodore 64 watch out!
>
> Al
> Phila, PA
>
> --- In [email], "M. Emrah Oral" <oralm2@...> wrote:
>>
>> That is so weird. Timex decides that the original ZX Spectrum wasn't
> good enough
>> for the US market, drops in a custom ULA with higher resolution
> graphics and
>> releases the computer with video circuitry that gives such a
> terrible image quality ?
>>
>> My 20 year old ZX spectrum's video quality is 10 times better, even
> through RF!
>> Timex should have imported ZX Spectrums instead of designing their
> own machine IMHO
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
19. Re: [ts2068] Re: What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
William McBrine · Mon, 20 Nov 2006 19:19
On Mon, 20 Nov 2006, Al Hartman wrote:
> The redesign I would have done would have been to put it in a larger,
> shielded case with a real keyboard and let the Commodore 64 watch out!
Well, that's more or less what happened... I realize that it wasn't quite
a C64 keyboard, but it was pretty typeable. I always compare it to the
(early) TRS-80 Color Computer, which also used "chicklet" keys, but wasn't
nearly as good. And of course, it beats the 48K Spectrum's mushy keys.
Looking back on that era, it's surprising how expensive "real" keyboards
were, and how many manufacturers tried to find cheaper alternatives. You'd
expect the ever-improving price/performance ratio in processing power and
storage space... but keyboards?
--
William McBrine <[email]>
20. Re: What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
Al Hartman · Tue, 21 Nov 2006 16:28
Well, the TS-2068 was a pretty capable computer, hampered by the
keyboard and the perception that it was a "toy" computer.
It was certainly more powerful than the TRS-80 Model I, II and III
which ran MANY businesses for years.
And with the Timex Portugal Disk System, which we sold at Zebra
Systems, it could even run CP/M and thusly run serious business
software like WordStar, dBase II, SuperCalc, and others.
What's funny is that the computer that ran Zebra, was an IMSAI Z-80
Computer with a serial terminal which was in many ways a less
powerful computer than the TS-2068 we sold with it...
Timex Portugal made some nice upgrades to these computers, and the
TC2068 was a nice machine. They also had a TC2048 which was basically
a Spectrum in a nicer case and with a nicer keyboard.
A shame more of Timex Portugals products didn't reach the United
States.
I wanted to do more, but the market was "shutting down" at the time,
and we couldn't risk the money to invest in products that might sit
on the shelves.
I miss companies like AERCO and Larken and others who did some nice
add-ons for the T/S and other computer lines.
If anyone knows how to contact someone from AERCO, let me know. I
have one of their Easie-ST RAM upgrades and need the docs for it so I
can fix mine, and upgrade it to 4mb.
Al
Phila, PA
--- In [email], William McBrine <wmcbrine@...> wrote:
>
> Well, that's more or less what happened... I realize that it wasn't
quite
> a C64 keyboard, but it was pretty typeable. I always compare it to
the
> (early) TRS-80 Color Computer, which also used "chicklet" keys, but
wasn't
> nearly as good. And of course, it beats the 48K Spectrum's mushy
keys.
>
> Looking back on that era, it's surprising how expensive "real"
keyboards
> were, and how many manufacturers tried to find cheaper
alternatives. You'd
> expect the ever-improving price/performance ratio in processing
power and
> storage space... but keyboards?
>
> --
> William McBrine <wmcbrine@...>
>
21. Re: [ts2068] Re: What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
Timex · Wed, 22 Nov 2006 01:29
On Nov 21, 2006, at 4:28 PM, Al Hartman wrote:
> Timex Portugal made some nice upgrades to these computers, and the
> TC2068 was a nice machine. They also had a TC2048 which was basically
> a Spectrum in a nicer case and with a nicer keyboard.
Yes they did!
TC2048 is a Spectrum with TC2068 SLCD (it have multicolor mode and hi-
res graphic mode), plus a Kempson joystick port and Composite monitor
connection.
> A shame more of Timex Portugals products didn't reach the United
> States.
>
> I wanted to do more, but the market was "shutting down" at the time,
> and we couldn't risk the money to invest in products that might sit
> on the shelves.
What can you tell about the negotiation between Zebra and TMX Portugal?
Johnny Red, Portugal
22. Re: [ts2068] Re: What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
john hammer · Tue, 21 Nov 2006 18:04
Just a little something that I remembered when I used
to do ALOT of Timex projects,
Everyone kind of misunderstood what really went on
with the jumpy ts2068 video. If I remember right, the
main xtal that worked with the SCLD ran at 14.112 mhz.
It just about had to run at that freq, because the
SCLD had a rgb signal output to the expansion port.
(btw, I ran a rgb monitor out of the port and it was
PERFECT). With that in mind, lets look at the video
chip, which had a xtal that ran at 3.57mhz. No matter
how hard a person tweeked the trimmer, the video
always rolled a small bit, due to the fact that the
scld and the video chip ran at slightly different
freqs, if the scld had a crystal that was closer, the
rgb outputs would be crap.
Non the less, as we all can agree, the ts2068 was WAY
ahead of its time, Right??
John
--- Al Hartman <[email]> wrote:
> Well, the TS-2068 was a pretty capable computer,
> hampered by the
> keyboard and the perception that it was a "toy"
> computer.
>
> It was certainly more powerful than the TRS-80 Model
> I, II and III
> which ran MANY businesses for years.
>
> And with the Timex Portugal Disk System, which we
> sold at Zebra
> Systems, it could even run CP/M and thusly run
> serious business
> software like WordStar, dBase II, SuperCalc, and
> others.
>
> What's funny is that the computer that ran Zebra,
> was an IMSAI Z-80
> Computer with a serial terminal which was in many
> ways a less
> powerful computer than the TS-2068 we sold with
> it...
>
> Timex Portugal made some nice upgrades to these
> computers, and the
> TC2068 was a nice machine. They also had a TC2048
> which was basically
> a Spectrum in a nicer case and with a nicer
> keyboard.
>
> A shame more of Timex Portugals products didn't
> reach the United
> States.
>
> I wanted to do more, but the market was "shutting
> down" at the time,
> and we couldn't risk the money to invest in products
> that might sit
> on the shelves.
>
> I miss companies like AERCO and Larken and others
> who did some nice
> add-ons for the T/S and other computer lines.
>
> If anyone knows how to contact someone from AERCO,
> let me know. I
> have one of their Easie-ST RAM upgrades and need the
> docs for it so I
> can fix mine, and upgrade it to 4mb.
>
> Al
> Phila, PA
>
>
> --- In [email], William McBrine
> <wmcbrine@...> wrote:
> >
> > Well, that's more or less what happened... I
> realize that it wasn't
> quite
> > a C64 keyboard, but it was pretty typeable. I
> always compare it to
> the
> > (early) TRS-80 Color Computer, which also used
> "chicklet" keys, but
> wasn't
> > nearly as good. And of course, it beats the 48K
> Spectrum's mushy
> keys.
> >
> > Looking back on that era, it's surprising how
> expensive "real"
> keyboards
> > were, and how many manufacturers tried to find
> cheaper
> alternatives. You'd
> > expect the ever-improving price/performance ratio
> in processing
> power and
> > storage space... but keyboards?
> >
> > --
> > William McBrine <wmcbrine@...>
> >
>
>
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________________
Sponsored Link
Online degrees - find the right program to advance your career.
www.nextag.com
23. Re: [ts2068] Re: What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
M. Emrah Oral · Wed, 22 Nov 2006 01:29
RGB output ? Wow, now that I didn't know. I have a muktisystem (PAL/NTSC) European SONY TV with dual SCART inputs one of which has RGB pins. Does that mean I can hook up the 2068 via SCART and get that 'perfect picture'?
john hammer <[email]> wrote:
Just a little something that I remembered when I used
to do ALOT of Timex projects,
Everyone kind of misunderstood what really went on
with the jumpy ts2068 video. If I remember right, the
main xtal that worked with the SCLD ran at 14.112 mhz.
It just about had to run at that freq, because the
SCLD had a rgb signal output to the expansion port.
(btw, I ran a rgb monitor out of the port and it was
PERFECT). With that in mind, lets look at the video
chip, which had a xtal that ran at 3.57mhz. No matter
how hard a person tweeked the trimmer, the video
always rolled a small bit, due to the fact that the
scld and the video chip ran at slightly different
freqs, if the scld had a crystal that was closer, the
rgb outputs would be crap.
Non the less, as we all can agree, the ts2068 was WAY
ahead of its time, Right??
John
--- Al Hartman <[email]> wrote:
> Well, the TS-2068 was a pretty capable computer,
> hampered by the
> keyboard and the perception that it was a "toy"
> computer.
>
> It was certainly more powerful than the TRS-80 Model
> I, II and III
> which ran MANY businesses for years.
>
> And with the Timex Portugal Disk System, which we
> sold at Zebra
> Systems, it could even run CP/M and thusly run
> serious business
> software like WordStar, dBase II, SuperCalc, and
> others.
>
> What's funny is that the computer that ran Zebra,
> was an IMSAI Z-80
> Computer with a serial terminal which was in many
> ways a less
> powerful computer than the TS-2068 we sold with
> it...
>
> Timex Portugal made some nice upgrades to these
> computers, and the
> TC2068 was a nice machine. They also had a TC2048
> which was basically
> a Spectrum in a nicer case and with a nicer
> keyboard.
>
> A shame more of Timex Portugals products didn't
> reach the United
> States.
>
> I wanted to do more, but the market was "shutting
> down" at the time,
> and we couldn't risk the money to invest in products
> that might sit
> on the shelves.
>
> I miss companies like AERCO and Larken and others
> who did some nice
> add-ons for the T/S and other computer lines.
>
> If anyone knows how to contact someone from AERCO,
> let me know. I
> have one of their Easie-ST RAM upgrades and need the
> docs for it so I
> can fix mine, and upgrade it to 4mb.
>
> Al
> Phila, PA
>
>
> --- In [email], William McBrine
> <wmcbrine@...> wrote:
> >
> > Well, that's more or less what happened... I
> realize that it wasn't
> quite
> > a C64 keyboard, but it was pretty typeable. I
> always compare it to
> the
> > (early) TRS-80 Color Computer, which also used
> "chicklet" keys, but
> wasn't
> > nearly as good. And of course, it beats the 48K
> Spectrum's mushy
> keys.
> >
> > Looking back on that era, it's surprising how
> expensive "real"
> keyboards
> > were, and how many manufacturers tried to find
> cheaper
> alternatives. You'd
> > expect the ever-improving price/performance ratio
> in processing
> power and
> > storage space... but keyboards?
> >
> > --
> > William McBrine <wmcbrine@...>
> >
>
>
>
>
__________________________________________________________
Sponsored Link
Online degrees - find the right program to advance your career.
www.nextag.com
---------------------------------
Sponsored Link
Mortgage rates near 39yr lows. $510,000 Mortgage for $1,698/mo - Calculate new house payment
24. Re : [ts2068] Re: What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
Jean-Luc Verville · Wed, 22 Nov 2006 04:41
I confirm that there was a RGB output through an Oliger interface
and it was really sharp.
I used to run it on a Toshiba 19" RGB Monitor and unfortunately
the monitor died a few years back, but the TS2068 is still alive.
Bero
----- Message initial ----
De : M. Emrah Oral <[email]>
À : [email]
Envoyé le : mercredi 22 novembre 2006, 04 h 29 min 38 s
Objet : Re: [ts2068] Re: What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
RGB output ? Wow, now that I didn't know. I have a muktisystem (PAL/NTSC) European SONY TV with dual SCART inputs one of which has RGB pins. Does that mean I can hook up the 2068 via SCART and get that 'perfect picture'?
john hammer <johnp_1955@yahoo. com> wrote:
Just a little something that I remembered when I used
to do ALOT of Timex projects,
Everyone kind of misunderstood what really went on
with the jumpy ts2068 video. If I remember right, the
main xtal that worked with the SCLD ran at 14.112 mhz.
It
just about had to run at that freq, because the
SCLD had a rgb signal output to the expansion port.
(btw, I ran a rgb monitor out of the port and it was
PERFECT). With that in mind, lets look at the video
chip, which had a xtal that ran at 3.57mhz. No matter
how hard a person tweeked the trimmer, the video
always rolled a small bit, due to the fact that the
scld and the video chip ran at slightly different
freqs, if the scld had a crystal that was closer, the
rgb outputs would be crap.
Non the less, as we all can agree, the ts2068 was WAY
ahead of its time, Right??
John
--- Al Hartman <alhartman6@comcast. net> wrote:
> Well, the TS-2068 was a pretty capable computer,
> hampered by the
> keyboard and the perception that it was a "toy"
> computer.
>
> It was certainly more powerful than the TRS-80 Model
> I, II and III
> which ran MANY businesses for years.
>
> And with the Timex Portugal Disk System, which we
> sold at Zebra
> Systems, it could even run CP/M and thusly run
> serious business
> software like WordStar, dBase II, SuperCalc, and
> others.
>
> What's funny is that the computer that ran Zebra,
> was an IMSAI Z-80
> Computer with a serial terminal which was in many
> ways a less
> powerful computer than the TS-2068 we sold with
> it...
>
> Timex Portugal made some nice upgrades to these
> computers, and the
> TC2068 was a nice machine. They also had a TC2048
> which was basically
> a Spectrum in a nicer case and with a nicer
> keyboard.
>
> A shame more of Timex Portugals products didn't
> reach the United
> States.
>
> I wanted to do more, but the
market was "shutting
> down" at the time,
> and we couldn't risk the money to invest in products
> that might sit
> on the shelves.
>
> I miss companies like AERCO and Larken and others
> who did some nice
> add-ons for the T/S and other computer lines.
>
> If anyone knows how to contact someone from AERCO,
> let me know. I
> have one of their Easie-ST RAM upgrades and need the
> docs for it so I
> can fix mine, and upgrade it to 4mb.
>
> Al
> Phila, PA
>
>
> --- In ts2068@yahoogroups. com, William McBrine
> <wmcbrine@.. .> wrote:
> >
> > Well, that's more or less what happened... I
> realize that it wasn't
> quite
> > a C64 keyboard, but it was pretty typeable. I
> always compare it to
> the
> > (early) TRS-80 Color Computer, which also used
> "chicklet" keys, but
> wasn't
> > nearly as good. And of course, it beats the 48K
> Spectrum's mushy
> keys.
> >
> > Looking back on that era, it's surprising how
> expensive "real"
> keyboards
> > were, and how many manufacturers tried to find
> cheaper
> alternatives. You'd
> > expect the ever-improving price/performance ratio
> in processing
> power and
> > storage space... but keyboards?
> >
> > --
> > William McBrine <wmcbrine@.. .>
> >
>
>
>
>
____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _
Sponsored Link
Online degrees - find the right program to advance your career.
www.nextag.com
Sponsored Link
Mortgage rates near 39yr lows. $510,000 Mortgage for $1,698/mo -
Calculate new house payment
<!--
#ygrp-mlmsg {font-size:13px;font-family:arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif;}
#ygrp-mlmsg table {font-size:inherit;font:100%;}
#ygrp-mlmsg select, input, textarea {font:99% arial,helvetica,clean,sans-serif;}
#ygrp-mlmsg pre, code {font:115% monospace;}
#ygrp-mlmsg * {line-height:1.22em;}
#ygrp-text{
font-family:Georgia;
}
#ygrp-text p{
margin:0 0 1em 0;
}
#ygrp-tpmsgs{
font-family:Arial;
clear:both;
}
#ygrp-vitnav{
padding-top:10px;
font-family:Verdana;
font-size:77%;
margin:0;
}
#ygrp-vitnav a{
padding:0 1px;
}
#ygrp-actbar{
clear:both;
margin:25px 0;
white-space:nowrap;
color:#666;
text-align:right;
}
#ygrp-actbar .left{
float:left;
white-space:nowrap;
}
.bld{font-weight:bold;}
#ygrp-grft{
font-family:Verdana;
font-size:77%;
padding:15px 0;
}
#ygrp-ft{
font-family:verdana;
font-size:77%;
border-top:1px solid #666;
padding:5px 0;
}
#ygrp-mlmsg #logo{
padding-bottom:10px;
}
#ygrp-vital{
background-color:#e0ecee;
margin-bottom:20px;
padding:2px 0 8px 8px;
}
#ygrp-vital #vithd{
font-size:77%;
font-family:Verdana;
font-weight:bold;
color:#333;
text-transform:uppercase;
}
#ygrp-vital ul{
padding:0;
margin:2px 0;
}
#ygrp-vital ul li{
list-style-type:none;
clear:both;
border:1px solid #e0ecee;
}
#ygrp-vital ul li .ct{
font-weight:bold;
color:#ff7900;
float:right;
width:2em;
text-align:right;
padding-right:.5em;
}
#ygrp-vital ul li .cat{
font-weight:bold;
}
#ygrp-vital a {
text-decoration:none;
}
#ygrp-vital a:hover{
text-decoration:underline;
}
#ygrp-sponsor #hd{
color:#999;
font-size:77%;
}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov{
padding:6px 13px;
background-color:#e0ecee;
margin-bottom:20px;
}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov ul{
padding:0 0 0 8px;
margin:0;
}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov li{
list-style-type:square;
padding:6px 0;
font-size:77%;
}
#ygrp-sponsor #ov li a{
text-decoration:none;
font-size:130%;
}
#ygrp-sponsor #nc {
background-color:#eee;
margin-bottom:20px;
padding:0 8px;
}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad{
padding:8px 0;
}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad #hd1{
font-family:Arial;
font-weight:bold;
color:#628c2a;
font-size:100%;
line-height:122%;
}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad a{
text-decoration:none;
}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad a:hover{
text-decoration:underline;
}
#ygrp-sponsor .ad p{
margin:0;
}
o {font-size:0;}
.MsoNormal {
margin:0 0 0 0;
}
#ygrp-text tt{
font-size:120%;
}
blockquote{margin:0 0 0 4px;}
.replbq {margin:4;}
-->
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
En finir avec le spam? Yahoo! Courriel vous offre la meilleure protection possible contre les messages non nollicités
http://mail.yahoo.ca Yahoo! Courriel
25. ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
M. Emrah Oral · Wed, 22 Nov 2006 11:49
OK, so here is what I did.. I happened to have a ROM chip I removed from a dead ZX Spectrum 48K (my first ever computer) I unplugged the main ROM chip (u16) from my spare 2068, plugged in the ZX Spectrum ROM (Hitachi) hoping that it wouldn't blow something up. I powered it up and.... there it is the original ZX Spectrum boot screen! I guess this is kind of like using an emulator cartridge internally. Now I have no idea how/if the presence of the second ROM (the shadow rom, U20 I believe) would interfere with the ZX Spectrum ROM code, but I will try running some original spectrum titles on the 2068 now. I wonder if I can still use OUT to access the sound chip and hi-res screen modes.. I am sure this is a very simple thing that all of you already knew but for someone like me, it was kinda amazing to swap a ROM chip :) LOL.. The spirit of my first ever computer is now alive inside a 2068. :)
"M. Emrah Oral" <[email]> wrote: RGB output ? Wow, now that I didn't know. I have a muktisystem (PAL/NTSC) European SONY TV with dual SCART inputs one of which has RGB pins. Does that mean I can hook up the 2068 via SCART and get that 'perfect picture'?
john hammer <[email]> wrote:
Just a little something that I remembered when I used
to do ALOT of Timex projects,
Everyone kind of misunderstood what really went on
with the jumpy ts2068 video. If I remember right, the
main xtal that worked with the SCLD ran at 14.112 mhz.
It just about had to run at that freq, because the
SCLD had a rgb signal output to the expansion port.
(btw, I ran a rgb monitor out of the port and it was
PERFECT). With that in mind, lets look at the video
chip, which had a xtal that ran at 3.57mhz. No matter
how hard a person tweeked the trimmer, the video
always rolled a small bit, due to the fact that the
scld and the video chip ran at slightly different
freqs, if the scld had a crystal that was closer, the
rgb outputs would be crap.
Non the less, as we all can agree, the ts2068 was WAY
ahead of its time, Right??
John
--- Al Hartman <[email]> wrote:
> Well, the TS-2068 was a pretty capable computer,
> hampered by the
> keyboard and the perception that it was a "toy"
> computer.
>
> It was certainly more powerful than the TRS-80 Model
> I, II and III
> which ran MANY businesses for years.
>
> And with the Timex Portugal Disk System, which we
> sold at Zebra
> Systems, it could even run CP/M and thusly run
> serious business
> software like WordStar, dBase II, SuperCalc, and
> others.
>
> What's funny is that the computer that ran Zebra,
> was an IMSAI Z-80
> Computer with a serial terminal which was in many
> ways a less
> powerful computer than the TS-2068 we sold with
> it...
>
> Timex Portugal made some nice upgrades to these
> computers, and the
> TC2068 was a nice machine. They also had a TC2048
> which was basically
> a Spectrum in a nicer case and with a nicer
> keyboard.
>
> A shame more of Timex Portugals products didn't
> reach the United
> States.
>
> I wanted to do more, but the market was "shutting
> down" at the time,
> and we couldn't risk the money to invest in products
> that might sit
> on the shelves.
>
> I miss companies like AERCO and Larken and others
> who did some nice
> add-ons for the T/S and other computer lines.
>
> If anyone knows how to contact someone from AERCO,
> let me know. I
> have one of their Easie-ST RAM upgrades and need the
> docs for it so I
> can fix mine, and upgrade it to 4mb.
>
> Al
> Phila, PA
>
>
> --- In [email], William McBrine
> <wmcbrine@...> wrote:
> >
> > Well, that's more or less what happened... I
> realize that it wasn't
> quite
> > a C64 keyboard, but it was pretty typeable. I
> always compare it to
> the
> > (early) TRS-80 Color Computer, which also used
> "chicklet" keys, but
> wasn't
> > nearly as good. And of course, it beats the 48K
> Spectrum's mushy
> keys.
> >
> > Looking back on that era, it's surprising how
> expensive "real"
> keyboards
> > were, and how many manufacturers tried to find
> cheaper
> alternatives. You'd
> > expect the ever-improving price/performance ratio
> in processing
> power and
> > storage space... but keyboards?
> >
> > --
> > William McBrine <wmcbrine@...>
> >
>
>
>
>
__________________________________________________________
Sponsored Link
Online degrees - find the right program to advance your career.
www.nextag.com
---------------------------------
Sponsored Link
Mortgage rates near 39yr lows. $510,000 Mortgage for $1,698/mo - Calculate new house payment
---------------------------------
Sponsored Link
Mortgage rates near 39yr lows. $420,000 Mortgage for $1,399/mo - Calculate new house payment
26. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Timex · Wed, 22 Nov 2006 21:29
On Nov 22, 2006, at 8:19 PM, Jarek Adamski wrote:
>> but I will try running some original spectrum titles on
>> the 2068 now.
> There are some incompatibilities, that you can see on some
> demos, like:
> - no attribbutes read on 255 port,
> - shorter frame (58300 tacts in place of 70000).
Not software compatibility, but hardware compatibility.
TS2068 have buffers separating the BUSes and ZX Spectrum/TC have
resistors.
>> I wonder if I can still use OUT to access the sound chip
>> and hi-res screen modes..
> Yes. You have kind of TS2048 (as the Portuguese TC2048). :)
If you want a TS2048 just remove the upper bank RAM chips (I think it
will crash).
Johnny Red, Portugal
27. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Timex · Wed, 22 Nov 2006 22:58
On Nov 22, 2006, at 10:31 PM, Jarek Adamski wrote:
> --- In [email], "Johnny Red (Timex)" <timex.pt@...>
> wrote:
>> TS2068 have buffers separating the BUSes and ZX
>> Spectrum/TC have resistors.
> Hm, the reason is that Timex have an ULA port at
> 255 address, while ZX do not.
Hm? Só this ULA port was removed from the TCs?
>> If you want a TS2048 just remove the upper bank RAM chips
>> (I think it will crash).
> TC2048 has 48kB, it only doesn't have the 24kB ROM that
> uses EXROM - has a ZX Spectrum ROM, slighty modified
> (OUT 255,0 - as the TS2068 chip doesn't reset correctly).
That I know. TS2048 was a 16K version of TS2068 not a TS2068 Spectrum
version (Like TC2048 was to TC2068).
Watch this flyer:
http://timex.comboios.info/timex_hi/ts2068-folheto1a.jpg
TS2068 has 72K memory (48K+24K)
TS2048 has 40K memory (16K+24K)
Remember that this is one of the first flyers has they call the
computers, the TS2000 series and not the TS2068 was it was called later.
So if you want a TS2048 (not a TC2048), remove the upper memory RAM
chips :)
Johnny Red, Portugal
28. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Richard Atkinson · Wed, 22 Nov 2006 23:13
Actually it's both those reasons.
The TS2068 has the bus transceivers (buffers), the Spectrum (and TCs) has
the resistors. The Spectrum's ULA isn't asserted onto the bus at I/O
location 255, whereas the TS2068's SCLD asserts the extra register there.
Because the Spectrum hardware doesn't assert anything at that address, and
because the ULA data bus is tied to the CPU data bus via those resistors,
what's on the ULA data bus is allowed to appear on the CPU data bus and be
read by an IN 255 instruction.
If the Spectrum's ULA (or any other piece of hardware) were to assert itself
at that location, it would be stronger than the ULA data bus signal due to
the weakening effect of the resistors, and the attribute byte read wouldn't
work.
Similarly, if the Spectrum used bus transceivers instead of resistors, that
were only enabled on accesses to the ULA addresses (IN 254 etc), the signal
on the ULA data bus wouldn't reach the CPU data bus on non-ULA addresses (IN
255), and the attribute byte read wouldn't work either.
Richard
On 11/22/06, Jarek Adamski <[email]> wrote:
>
> --- In [email], "Johnny Red (Timex)" <timex.pt@...> wrote:
> > TS2068 have buffers separating the BUSes and ZX
> > Spectrum/TC have resistors.
> Hm, the reason is that Timex have an ULA port at
> 255 address, while ZX do not.
>
> > If you want a TS2048 just remove the upper bank RAM chips
> > (I think it will crash).
> TC2048 has 48kB, it only doesn't have the 24kB ROM that
> uses EXROM - has a ZX Spectrum ROM, slighty modified
> (OUT 255,0 - as the TS2068 chip doesn't reset correctly).
>
> Jarek Adamski
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
29. [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Richard Atkinson · Thu, 23 Nov 2006 00:40
This is a question possibly for Jarek.
The TC2048 ROM has a slight modification from the Spectrum ROM to set the
Timex SCLD port 255 register to a particular value. A normal Spectrum ROM
doesn't have this.
Is this modification necessary for reliable operation on a TS2068 in the
"HOME ROM" position?
Richard
On 11/22/06, Johnny Red (Timex) <[email]> wrote:
>
>
> On Nov 22, 2006, at 8:19 PM, Jarek Adamski wrote:
>
> >> but I will try running some original spectrum titles on
> >> the 2068 now.
> > There are some incompatibilities, that you can see on some
> > demos, like:
> > - no attribbutes read on 255 port,
> > - shorter frame (58300 tacts in place of 70000).
>
> Not software compatibility, but hardware compatibility.
> TS2068 have buffers separating the BUSes and ZX Spectrum/TC have
> resistors.
>
> >> I wonder if I can still use OUT to access the sound chip
> >> and hi-res screen modes..
> > Yes. You have kind of TS2048 (as the Portuguese TC2048). :)
>
> If you want a TS2048 just remove the upper bank RAM chips (I think it
> will crash).
>
> Johnny Red, Portugal
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
30. Re: What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
Al Hartman · Wed, 22 Nov 2006 20:01
--- In [email], "Johnny Red (Timex)" <timex.pt@...>
wrote:
>
> What can you tell about the negotiation between Zebra and TMX
Portugal?
>
> Johnny Red, Portugal
Not much, since I didn't do any of the negotiating.
Basically, Zebra was contacted by Boeing Aircraft (I believe), in order
to promote trade between the U.S. and Portugal in order to help balance
the sale to Portugal of American Made Aircraft.
Stewart negotiated with Timex Portugal and we purchased ULA chips, ZX-
81 Keyboards, Some Disk Systems (which didn't survive shipment well),
Spectrum ROMS, and other items.
We ended up making our own "Twister" Board to run the TC2068 version of
the disk system on the TS2068 (The TC 2068 had a Spectrum edge pinout).
We also used the Spectrum ROMS on out own cartridge cards to make a
Spectrum Emulator which we sold.
Recently, my partner Tom and I (both former Zebra Employees) were
allowed to pick through what remains of Zebra Systems Inventory. We
found some ZX-81 ULA chips, some of the A to D boards (Used for the
Koala Pad), and some other various things. Including a couple of the
Spectrum Emulator Cartridges.
If there's interest, we can do a new run of the cartridge boards,
though we don't have Spectrum ROMS to populate them with.
We are also looking into the possibility of doing a run of new ZX81
Keyboards since we have a lot of working computers that only need a
working keyboard to be complete.
We would of course make enough extra to make these available for
enthusiasts to repair their computers as well.
Tom just upgraded my TS1000 to 16k internally, and thanks to one of the
list members I have a 2068 on the way which ought to help quite a bit
with product development.
Is there any interest in some of Zebra's other products?
Like: Tech Draw, or Z-Term for the TS-2068?
I don't want to get ahead of what we can do right now.
But, keep an eye on this list, and I'll announce what is available and
when.
I expect a Website will be forthcoming.
Al
Phila, PA
31. Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Jarek Adamski · Wed, 22 Nov 2006 20:19
Hello!
--- In [email], "M. Emrah Oral" <oralm2@...> wrote:
> I guess this is kind of like using an emulator cartridge
> internally.
The Spectrum emulator cartridge pages the Spectrum ROM in
Dock bank (what needs activation by OUT 244,3). You plugged
it into Home bank, so it replaces the TS 16kB ROM, just
because you replaced the chip.
> Now I have no idea how/if the presence of the second ROM
> (the shadow rom, U20 I believe) would interfere with the
> ZX Spectrum ROM code,
There's no interferention. The U20 can be paged in by
OUT 244,1: OUT 255,128, what should be never done by
ZX Spectrum software.
> but I will try running some original spectrum titles on
> the 2068 now.
There are some incompatibilities, that you can see on some
demos, like:
- no attribbutes read on 255 port,
- shorter frame (58300 tacts in place of 70000).
> I wonder if I can still use OUT to access the sound chip
> and hi-res screen modes..
Yes. You have kind of TS2048 (as the Portuguese TC2048). :)
Have a good time.
BTW I cannot help with bad video issues... I'm not
familiar with video circuits, especially color encoding.
Jarek Adamski
32. Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Jarek Adamski · Wed, 22 Nov 2006 22:31
--- In [email], "Johnny Red (Timex)" <timex.pt@...> wrote:
> TS2068 have buffers separating the BUSes and ZX
> Spectrum/TC have resistors.
Hm, the reason is that Timex have an ULA port at
255 address, while ZX do not.
> If you want a TS2048 just remove the upper bank RAM chips
> (I think it will crash).
TC2048 has 48kB, it only doesn't have the 24kB ROM that
uses EXROM - has a ZX Spectrum ROM, slighty modified
(OUT 255,0 - as the TS2068 chip doesn't reset correctly).
Jarek Adamski
33. Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Jarek Adamski · Thu, 23 Nov 2006 12:51
--- In [email], "Johnny Red (Timex)" wrote:
> Hm? Só this ULA port was removed from the TCs?
No, in TC/TS you can read back the value that was
OUTed, while in ZX Spectrum (48K and 128K) there's
no such port, so you can get 255 or values that ULA
reads from screen memory while screen generation
(the current cell attribbute). From other side, on
ZX Spectrum +3 (also +2A, +2B) the value is always
255.
> That I know. TS2048 was a 16K version of TS2068 not a
> TS2068 Spectrum version (Like TC2048 was to TC2068).
Oh, I see... I assumed TS2048 would be something like
TC2048, but with 60Hz. :)
Jarek Adamski
34. 2068 TTL RGB Question...
M. Emrah Oral · Thu, 23 Nov 2006 15:04
Ok, so after complaining about the video quality so much I decided to make an RGB cable. Of course the biggest challenge is finding the endge connector. I spent almost half a day and went to so many electronics stores but none of them had the rather unusual edge connector for the 2068.
I want to make a cable so I can get the RGB signal from the expansion port and feed it into the SCART input of a multi-system (PAL/NTSC/SECAM) SONY television. I also found out that the RGB signal is TTL Is that true ? If it is, can I still connect it to a standard SCART RGB input ? I think the TTL levels mean up to 5Volts and SCART spec says something like 1.0V peak.. So should I connect some resistors in series on eacg bus R, G and B ? I remember soldering resistors inside the SCART plug for the cable I made for my ZX Spectrum +3 years ago.
Does anyone know ?
---------------------------------
Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.
35. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Timex · Thu, 23 Nov 2006 23:13
On Nov 23, 2006, at 10:17 PM, aralbrec wrote:
>>> That I know. TS2048 was a 16K version of TS2068 not a
>>> TS2068 Spectrum version (Like TC2048 was to TC2068).
>> Oh, I see... I assumed TS2048 would be something like
>> TC2048, but with 60Hz. :)
>
> Aye, Timex wasn't sure itself what they were doing. In the
> beginning it was a Spectrum-like machine, later the 2068/2048 and
> only the TS2068 made it.
>
> An ISBN number generator was put up on the css newsgroup and what
> came out of that was a book search -- several Timex books were
> listed but were pulled and never published. You can see why -- they
> all assumed the TS2068 was a Spectrum :-)
In the first Timex pictures of Timex Sinclair 2000 series we see a ZX
Spectrum type casing (almost the same as the TS1500):
http://timex.comboios.info/Timex/2000.jpg
I only know a picture of a TS2048 and I don't know if it was a
promotional picture or a prototype, but I can see that there is a
"2048" in that label and the keyboard template is from a 2068.
http://timex.comboios.info/Timex/ts2048.jpg
TS2068 wasn't just a Spectrum, it was a better Spectrum :)
Johnny Red, Portugal
36. Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
aralbrec · Thu, 23 Nov 2006 22:17
--- In [email], "Jarek Adamski" <8bit@...> wrote:
>
> --- In [email], "Johnny Red (Timex)" wrote:
> > Hm? Só this ULA port was removed from the TCs?
> No, in TC/TS you can read back the value that was
> OUTed, while in ZX Spectrum (48K and 128K) there's
> no such port, so you can get 255 or values that ULA
> reads from screen memory while screen generation
> (the current cell attribbute). From other side, on
> ZX Spectrum +3 (also +2A, +2B) the value is always
> 255.
Port $ff is not the only port that can be used -- it can be any
unattached port. I've seen it done with other ports as well.
Since the TC has a resistor-decoupled bus it is able to do the same
trick and read attr bytes from unattached ports. The TS machine
cannot do this because it uses a buffer to decouple the bus. For a
TC it is easy to patch the program to read from an unattached port
if necessary -- on the TS a patch is more difficult.
Joffa uses a much nicer method to figure out where the raster is --
he sets the R register to 0 at the top of the frame and counts the
number of times R reaches 128 to calculate #cycles passed and the
position of the raster. This is compatible with all Timex and
Sinclair machines, though the loop count has to be changed for NTSC.
> > That I know. TS2048 was a 16K version of TS2068 not a
> > TS2068 Spectrum version (Like TC2048 was to TC2068).
> Oh, I see... I assumed TS2048 would be something like
> TC2048, but with 60Hz. :)
Aye, Timex wasn't sure itself what they were doing. In the
beginning it was a Spectrum-like machine, later the 2068/2048 and
only the TS2068 made it.
An ISBN number generator was put up on the css newsgroup and what
came out of that was a book search -- several Timex books were
listed but were pulled and never published. You can see why -- they
all assumed the TS2068 was a Spectrum :-)
37. Re: [ts2068] 2068 TTL RGB Question...
Jarek Adamski · Fri, 24 Nov 2006 12:56
Hello!
On Pt, Listopada 24, 2006 00:04, M. Emrah Oral wrote:
> I spent almost half a day and went to so many electronics
> stores but none of them had the rather unusual edge
> connector for the 2068.
You may also search for an old 386 motherboard dedicated
for desktop case. They have had a big edge connector for
a vertical boards with ISA slots, because the cards were
inserted parallely to the motherboard. I have one that
had 2×55 pins slot, I got it 10 years ago. (I already
utilized the slot.)
If nothing else helps, you can use two shorter edge
connectors and carefully join them together. It is a
precise work, to make the connection to be exactly 2.54mm.
I have seen such joins made for ZX Spectrum interfaces.
> I also found out that the RGB signal is TTL Is that true ?
I think it is, but I not verified.
> If it is, can I still connect it to a standard SCART RGB
> input ? I think the TTL levels mean up to 5Volts and SCART
> spec says something like 1.0V peak.. So should I connect
> some resistors in series on eacg bus R, G and B ?
Yes, resistors would work. 100ohm to ground and 270ohm to
color signal will give around 1V. You can take the
synchronization signal from composite video. If horizontal
and vertical must be separated, there's something like
LM1881 that can do it.
--
Jarek Adamski
38. Re: [ts2068] 2068 TTL RGB Question...
M. Emrah Oral · Fri, 24 Nov 2006 04:55
Jarek, thanks a lot for all your help. I am relatively new to the list. It is amazing how you know so much about Sinclair computers and other 8-bits in general Were you somehow professionally involved in the design/engineering/sales/repairs etc. or is it just a hobby for you?
As for the sync signal, my tv accepts composite-sync so I dont have to separate the H and V sync although I am familiar with the LM 1881. I used one to connect my Spectrum +3 to an Amiga 1438 multisync PAL/VGA monitor. (Yes, PAL and VGA.. very unusual!)
Thanks again
Emrah
Jarek Adamski <[email]> wrote: Hello!
On Pt, Listopada 24, 2006 00:04, M. Emrah Oral wrote:
> I spent almost half a day and went to so many electronics
> stores but none of them had the rather unusual edge
> connector for the 2068.
You may also search for an old 386 motherboard dedicated
for desktop case. They have had a big edge connector for
a vertical boards with ISA slots, because the cards were
inserted parallely to the motherboard. I have one that
had 2×55 pins slot, I got it 10 years ago. (I already
utilized the slot.)
If nothing else helps, you can use two shorter edge
connectors and carefully join them together. It is a
precise work, to make the connection to be exactly 2.54mm.
I have seen such joins made for ZX Spectrum interfaces.
> I also found out that the RGB signal is TTL Is that true ?
I think it is, but I not verified.
> If it is, can I still connect it to a standard SCART RGB
> input ? I think the TTL levels mean up to 5Volts and SCART
> spec says something like 1.0V peak.. So should I connect
> some resistors in series on eacg bus R, G and B ?
Yes, resistors would work. 100ohm to ground and 270ohm to
color signal will give around 1V. You can take the
synchronization signal from composite video. If horizontal
and vertical must be separated, there's something like
LM1881 that can do it.
--
Jarek Adamski
Yahoo! Groups Links
---------------------------------
Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.
39. 2068 Edge Connectors...
Al Hartman · Fri, 24 Nov 2006 16:02
What we did at Zebra Systems was to purchase larger connectors with the
correct spacing and cut them down on the band saw.
Instead of trying to join together two smaller edge connectors, you'd
have better luck getting a larger one and cutting it down with a saw.
You need to make sure you install a key into the connector. Since
cutting down the connector will mean that there are no stops on the
edges, the keying is crucial.
The easiest thing to do is to use a blob of solder across the two pins
where the key should be. And then, cut the pins on the opposite side of
the connector.
That would be my best suggestion.
Al
Phila, PA
40. Re: 2068 TTL RGB Question...
aralbrec · Sat, 25 Nov 2006 07:45
--- In [email], "M. Emrah Oral" <oralm2@...> wrote:
>
> Ok, so after complaining about the video quality so much I decided
to make an RGB cable
There is an RGB circuit in the 2068 technical manual that shows how to
generate the sync signals. Everything is TTL as you suspect, but I'm
not so sure the resistor divider Jarek suggests will work -- don't RGB
monitors have 75 ohm input impedance? I don't know for sure that's
why I ask. In that case, just follow the resistor divider with an
emitter follower.
41. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
joe schmoe · Sat, 25 Nov 2006 12:38
There is a picture of the 2048 in the PDF that I am
uploading that I took today, from the inherited
Johnson COllection. I have finally begun to try to
photograph and catalog all that is in these 8 bins of
hardware. I came across 2 power supplies that had a
Timex label and appeared to be power supplies like
those that came with the Zebra Disk System. I am
really not sure what they are. They are silver
plastic.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Cheap talk?
Check out Yahoo! Messenger's low PC-to-Phone call rates.
http://voice.yahoo.com
42. RE: [ts2068] RGB Color
joe schmoe · Sat, 25 Nov 2006 12:57
I remember Eric Johnson saying that the RGB intergace
was a piece of cake to make and install..the one from
the 20698 Tech manual.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.
http://new.mail.yahoo.com
43. Re: RGB Color
aralbrec · Sat, 25 Nov 2006 22:02
> I remember Eric Johnson saying that the RGB intergace
> was a piece of cake to make and install..the one from
> the 20698 Tech manual.
Nobody's mentioned there is a compendium of articles about RGB
interface circuits in the files area of this group. Tim Stoddard's
suggests regulating the dc supply *again* to clean it up in order to
get rid of some background hash. I still suspect most modern RGB
monitors have 75 ohm input impedance, so going from TTL to 1V p-p
needs a buffered resistor divider.
44. Re: [ts2068] Re: What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
john hammer · Sun, 26 Nov 2006 17:00
Hi,
Just for kicks I went and got out my 2068 and low and
behold, I directly used the r,g,and b outputs as well
as the sinc output and ran them Directly to the rgb
plug that I installed on the backside of the computer.
I never used any logic or resistors, however, in hind
sight, I guess that was kind of risky, there wasnt any
protection between the 9 pin plug and the scld.
As far as my 2068 goes, it was a real sweetheart. I
had the 16k homerom, os64, a spectrum rom and the
exrom {with 8k to spare} all programmed on a 64k eprom
in the homerom socket. Inside of the cartridge port I
had a small dip switch to tell if it would come up in
ts, os64 or spectrum modes. The exrom socket was left
open, a well intended project was going to be putting
some static ram in the socket, do a little creative
addressing, but that part never happened. I enjoyed
working with it very much, as well as talking alot
with Eric J. on what I came up with. I miss our
conversations alot......
John
--- "M. Emrah Oral" <[email]> wrote:
> RGB output ? Wow, now that I didn't know. I have a
> muktisystem (PAL/NTSC) European SONY TV with dual
> SCART inputs one of which has RGB pins. Does that
> mean I can hook up the 2068 via SCART and get that
> 'perfect picture'?
>
> john hammer <[email]> wrote:
>
>
> Just a little something that I remembered when I
> used
> to do ALOT of Timex projects,
> Everyone kind of misunderstood what really went on
> with the jumpy ts2068 video. If I remember right,
> the
> main xtal that worked with the SCLD ran at 14.112
> mhz.
> It just about had to run at that freq, because the
> SCLD had a rgb signal output to the expansion port.
> (btw, I ran a rgb monitor out of the port and it
> was
> PERFECT). With that in mind, lets look at the video
> chip, which had a xtal that ran at 3.57mhz. No
> matter
> how hard a person tweeked the trimmer, the video
> always rolled a small bit, due to the fact that the
> scld and the video chip ran at slightly different
> freqs, if the scld had a crystal that was closer,
> the
> rgb outputs would be crap.
> Non the less, as we all can agree, the ts2068 was
> WAY
> ahead of its time, Right??
>
> John
>
> --- Al Hartman <[email]> wrote:
>
> > Well, the TS-2068 was a pretty capable computer,
> > hampered by the
> > keyboard and the perception that it was a "toy"
> > computer.
> >
> > It was certainly more powerful than the TRS-80
> Model
> > I, II and III
> > which ran MANY businesses for years.
> >
> > And with the Timex Portugal Disk System, which we
> > sold at Zebra
> > Systems, it could even run CP/M and thusly run
> > serious business
> > software like WordStar, dBase II, SuperCalc, and
> > others.
> >
> > What's funny is that the computer that ran Zebra,
> > was an IMSAI Z-80
> > Computer with a serial terminal which was in many
> > ways a less
> > powerful computer than the TS-2068 we sold with
> > it...
> >
> > Timex Portugal made some nice upgrades to these
> > computers, and the
> > TC2068 was a nice machine. They also had a TC2048
> > which was basically
> > a Spectrum in a nicer case and with a nicer
> > keyboard.
> >
> > A shame more of Timex Portugals products didn't
> > reach the United
> > States.
> >
> > I wanted to do more, but the market was "shutting
> > down" at the time,
> > and we couldn't risk the money to invest in
> products
> > that might sit
> > on the shelves.
> >
> > I miss companies like AERCO and Larken and others
> > who did some nice
> > add-ons for the T/S and other computer lines.
> >
> > If anyone knows how to contact someone from
> AERCO,
> > let me know. I
> > have one of their Easie-ST RAM upgrades and need
> the
> > docs for it so I
> > can fix mine, and upgrade it to 4mb.
> >
> > Al
> > Phila, PA
> >
> >
> > --- In [email], William McBrine
> > <wmcbrine@...> wrote:
> > >
> > > Well, that's more or less what happened... I
> > realize that it wasn't
> > quite
> > > a C64 keyboard, but it was pretty typeable. I
> > always compare it to
> > the
> > > (early) TRS-80 Color Computer, which also used
> > "chicklet" keys, but
> > wasn't
> > > nearly as good. And of course, it beats the 48K
> > Spectrum's mushy
> > keys.
> > >
> > > Looking back on that era, it's surprising how
> > expensive "real"
> > keyboards
> > > were, and how many manufacturers tried to find
> > cheaper
> > alternatives. You'd
> > > expect the ever-improving price/performance
> ratio
> > in processing
> > power and
> > > storage space... but keyboards?
> > >
> > > --
> > > William McBrine <wmcbrine@...>
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>
__________________________________________________________
> Sponsored Link
>
> Online degrees - find the right program to advance
> your career.
> www.nextag.com
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
> Sponsored Link
>
> Mortgage rates near 39yr lows. $510,000 Mortgage for
> $1,698/mo - Calculate new house payment
____________________________________________________________________________________
Yahoo! Music Unlimited
Access over 1 million songs.
http://music.yahoo.com/unlimited
45. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Timex · Tue, 28 Nov 2006 01:49
The modification is documented in my website:
http://timex.comboios.info/tc2048.html
A ZX Spectrum don't need it because it doesn't have another display
mode.
And yes it would be to reset the display to mode "0" (normal Spectrum
mode). The TS/TC 20x8 might boot into another screen mode diferent
from the "Spectrum mode".
Johnny Red, Portugal
On Nov 23, 2006, at 12:40 AM, Richard Atkinson wrote:
> This is a question possibly for Jarek.
>
> The TC2048 ROM has a slight modification from the Spectrum ROM to
> set the Timex SCLD port 255 register to a particular value. A
> normal Spectrum ROM doesn't have this.
>
> Is this modification necessary for reliable operation on a TS2068
> in the "HOME ROM" position?
>
> Richard
>
>
> On 11/22/06, Johnny Red (Timex) <[email] > wrote:
> On Nov 22, 2006, at 8:19 PM, Jarek Adamski wrote:
>
> >> but I will try running some original spectrum titles on
> >> the 2068 now.
> > There are some incompatibilities, that you can see on some
> > demos, like:
> > - no attribbutes read on 255 port,
> > - shorter frame (58300 tacts in place of 70000).
>
> Not software compatibility, but hardware compatibility.
> TS2068 have buffers separating the BUSes and ZX Spectrum/TC have
> resistors.
>
> >> I wonder if I can still use OUT to access the sound chip
> >> and hi-res screen modes..
> > Yes. You have kind of TS2048 (as the Portuguese TC2048). :)
>
> If you want a TS2048 just remove the upper bank RAM chips (I think it
> will crash).
>
> Johnny Red, Portugal
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
46. Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Jarek Adamski · Tue, 28 Nov 2006 19:31
--- In [email], "Johnny Red (Timex)" wrote:
>
> The modification is documented in my website:
> http://timex.comboios.info/tc2048.html
You wrote there: "You can connect the Interface 1 and
Interface 2 to the TC2048."
Interface 1 doesn't work with TC2048, because the 255
port isn't initialized by I1. I tried this, TC2048
with I1 attached wakes up in hires mode and hangs.
I have written a longer reply, but no idea where it
has gone. I even don't have a copy, as my server with
my mailbox was moved to another IP, so I probably
lost it. This is 8th computer failure in last 12 months,
what is too much for me...
BTW If I haven't reply to anyone's mail, please remail
it again, as it may be lost...
Jarek Adamski
47. Re: SPAM [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
jboatno4 · Tue, 28 Nov 2006 22:29
Johnny Red is correct, I have used both the IF 1 & 2, as well as FDD &
FDD-3000 with a TC2048, TC2068 & TS2068 (with the appropriate "twister").
Jack
On Tue, November 28, 2006 11:31 am, Jarek Adamski wrote:
> --- In [email], "Johnny Red (Timex)" wrote:
>
>>
>> The modification is documented in my website:
>> http://timex.comboios.info/tc2048.html
>>
> You wrote there: "You can connect the Interface 1 and
> Interface 2 to the TC2048."
>
>
> Interface 1 doesn't work with TC2048, because the 255
> port isn't initialized by I1. I tried this, TC2048 with I1 attached wakes
> up in hires mode and hangs.
>
> I have written a longer reply, but no idea where it
> has gone. I even don't have a copy, as my server with my mailbox was moved
> to another IP, so I probably lost it. This is 8th computer failure in last
> 12 months,
> what is too much for me...
>
> BTW If I haven't reply to anyone's mail, please remail
> it again, as it may be lost...
>
> Jarek Adamski
>
>
>
48. Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Jarek Adamski · Wed, 29 Nov 2006 08:24
On Cz, Listopada 23, 2006 01:40, Richard Atkinson wrote:
> The TC2048 ROM has a slight modification from the Spectrum ROM
> to set the Timex SCLD port 255 register to a particular value.
> A normal Spectrum ROM doesn't have this.
>
> Is this modification necessary for reliable operation on a
> TS2068 in the "HOME ROM" position?
It is neccessary for Timex Computers, as the TS2068 SCLD used
doesn't have correct reset feature on 255 port. Some time ago
I've connected a Interface 1 to TC2048 - and this didn't worked,
while the screen was in hires mode. (ROM of Interface 1 doesn't
have the modication of course.)
In TS2068 computer the TS2068 SCLD is different (at least has
different pinout) - I don't really know, if the reset feature
is corrected. There's only one way to try - use ZX Spectrum
ROM as Home and power-on the computer many times, typeing e.g.
OUT 255,6 or OUT 255,255. If on any power-on the computer
doesn't wake up with 0 in 255 port, the modification is
required.
Of course the ROM in Home can only be placed inside the TS2068,
as this isn't possible from cartridge slot. Second, when placed
as Dock, the computer wakes up with original Home ROM, so the
neccessary OUT are already done.
BTW The reset on 244 works better, but sometimes not. There are
some TC2048 that start with EXROM (non-existend) after power-on,
so the computer hangs without sensible reason. I've found this
with logic analyser. In most cases you can hang the TC2048 with
OUT 244,3 (or anything range 1..7) - power-off and then power-on
doesn't help. :) It must be off for several minutes to reset the
244 port and bring back the Home memory to CPU.
Jack: It is possible there are some series of TS2068 chip (used
in TC2048). Some of them can have the reset corrected, so if
you are lucky, the Interface 1 will work. But in general this
doesn't work, due to the missed 255 port initialization when
Interface 1 is connected.
--
Jarek Adamski
49. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Richard Atkinson · 29 Nov 2006 16:31:04 +
Wow, that is appallingly bad design. I don't know why the SCLD can't use
the CPU RESET# pulse.
This presents problems for TS2068s with Spectrum or TC2048 ROMs in the HOME
position; what to do if the computer starts up with EXROM banked in.
On Nov 29 2006, aralbrec wrote:
>--- In [email], "Jarek Adamski" <8bit@...> wrote:
>> In TS2068 computer the TS2068 SCLD is different (at least has
>> different pinout) - I don't really know, if the reset feature
>> is corrected. There's only one way to try - use ZX Spectrum
>> ROM as Home and power-on the computer many times, typeing e.g.
>> OUT 255,6 or OUT 255,255. If on any power-on the computer
>> doesn't wake up with 0 in 255 port, the modification is
>> required.
>
>The ts2068 rom contains a case for the EXROM being powered it up, in
>which case it copes a short routine to RAM that pages the HOME ram
>in and jumps to the initialization routine. Also pretty early on an
>OUT (255),0 is done to set the video mode to 32 columns so there
>isn't much chance to glimpse the 64 column mode coming up if the
>reset circuitry isn't implemented.
>
>A long while back someone filed off the top of an SCLD and spotted a
>big fat reset capacitor on the die. One has to wonder what that
>reset cap was for if these registers weren't reset at power up?
>
>
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
50. Re: What is wrong with all the Timex 2068s out there !??!?
aralbrec · Wed, 29 Nov 2006 12:23
--- In [email], john hammer <johnp_1955@...> wrote:
> Just for kicks I went and got out my 2068 and low and
> behold, I directly used the r,g,and b outputs as well
> as the sinc output and ran them Directly to the rgb
> plug that I installed on the backside of the computer.
> I never used any logic or resistors, however, in hind
> sight, I guess that was kind of risky, there wasnt any
> protection between the 9 pin plug and the scld.
RGB monitors were commonly TTL back in the day but now I *believe*,
better qualify that as I have never done any work in video, they are
analogue with 75 ohm input impedance. So this was fine with older
generation monitors but probably won't work with modern monitors.
Anyway the experience I had with my 2068 was decent quality on TVs
and composite monitors, no worse than any other machine on the
market. The 2068 doesn't quite generate video up to spec so it may
not work with some colour TVs, as mentioned in the technical manual,
and I wonder if modern TVs have problems as the original poster's
frustrated postings indicate.
51. Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
aralbrec · Wed, 29 Nov 2006 12:58
--- In [email], "Jarek Adamski" <8bit@...> wrote:
> In TS2068 computer the TS2068 SCLD is different (at least has
> different pinout) - I don't really know, if the reset feature
> is corrected. There's only one way to try - use ZX Spectrum
> ROM as Home and power-on the computer many times, typeing e.g.
> OUT 255,6 or OUT 255,255. If on any power-on the computer
> doesn't wake up with 0 in 255 port, the modification is
> required.
The ts2068 rom contains a case for the EXROM being powered it up, in
which case it copes a short routine to RAM that pages the HOME ram
in and jumps to the initialization routine. Also pretty early on an
OUT (255),0 is done to set the video mode to 32 columns so there
isn't much chance to glimpse the 64 column mode coming up if the
reset circuitry isn't implemented.
A long while back someone filed off the top of an SCLD and spotted a
big fat reset capacitor on the die. One has to wonder what that
reset cap was for if these registers weren't reset at power up?
52. Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Jarek Adamski · Wed, 29 Nov 2006 17:46
--- In [email], Richard Atkinson <rga24@...> wrote:
>
> Wow, that is appallingly bad design. I don't know why
> the SCLD can't use the CPU RESET# pulse.
Just no such input on the 68 pins PLCC case. It is possible
that a series of them has internal RC reset for the 244 and
255 ports, but some doesn't (at least among the ones mounted
in TC2048).
> This presents problems for TS2068s with Spectrum or TC2048
> ROMs in the HOME position; what to do if the computer starts
> up with EXROM banked in.
As Alvin wrote, the EXROM code in 2068 has small code that
is copied to RAM and then jumps to Home ROM.
In case of TC2048, the computer hangs without sensible
reason at first sight. I've upgraded such recently. In 3
times of 10 it started with EXROM. I even considered to
mount small EPROM (like 2732) with a switching code.
The SCLD was:
TS 2068 PAL
335-912015
NCR-0380118
F820280 PT
A8614
(Last line is production date 14th week of 1986.)
Jarek Adamski
53. Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
aralbrec · Wed, 29 Nov 2006 22:44
--- In [email], "Jarek Adamski" <8bit@...> wrote:
>
> --- In [email], Richard Atkinson <rga24@> wrote:
> >
> > Wow, that is appallingly bad design. I don't know why
> > the SCLD can't use the CPU RESET# pulse.
> Just no such input on the 68 pins PLCC case. It is possible
> that a series of them has internal RC reset for the 244 and
> 255 ports, but some doesn't (at least among the ones mounted
> in TC2048).
Yes, having the spare pin for external reset can be a problem.
However, the presence of a big capacitor on the die suggests a
global reset would have been possible on power up without an
external reset signal.
The SCLD is a sea-of-gates package -- the entire chip is pre-
manufactured with an array of transistors or small regular groups of
transistors separated by wiring channels. Timex would have
specified only the final metal mask layer which connects the already
present transistors to form a circuit. It is within the realm of
possibility, though not likely as this would have been the result of
poor layout, that routing a global reset line could have caused
trouble with limited space in the wiring channels if the SCLD is
packed tightly with logic. This is pure and utter speculation in an
attempt to explain the rather confusing omission of power on reset :-
)
54. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
john hammer · Wed, 29 Nov 2006 20:05
--- aralbrec <[email]> wrote:
> --- In [email], "Jarek Adamski"
> <8bit@...> wrote:
> >
> > --- In [email], Richard Atkinson
> <rga24@> wrote:
> > >
> > > Wow, that is appallingly bad design. I don't
> know why
> > > the SCLD can't use the CPU RESET# pulse.
> > Just no such input on the 68 pins PLCC case. It is
> possible
> > that a series of them has internal RC reset for
> the 244 and
> > 255 ports, but some doesn't (at least among the
> ones mounted
> > in TC2048).
>
> Yes, having the spare pin for external reset can be
> a problem.
> However, the presence of a big capacitor on the die
> suggests a
> global reset would have been possible on power up
> without an
> external reset signal.
>
> The SCLD is a sea-of-gates package -- the entire
> chip is pre-
> manufactured with an array of transistors or small
> regular groups of
> transistors separated by wiring channels. Timex
> would have
> specified only the final metal mask layer which
> connects the already
> present transistors to form a circuit. It is within
> the realm of
> possibility, though not likely as this would have
> been the result of
> poor layout, that routing a global reset line could
> have caused
> trouble with limited space in the wiring channels if
> the SCLD is
> packed tightly with logic. This is pure and utter
> speculation in an
> attempt to explain the rather confusing omission of
> power on reset :-
> )
>
Even though Timex may have made a few design flaws,
maybe trying to fight a tight deadline along with
keeping costs low, look at it this way: it could have
been alot worse. Remember how NASA screwed up and
forgot a Metric/sae conversion on one of the Mars
landers and watched it plow into the dust???{sorry for
my poor sense of humor)
>
> J.
____________________________________________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.
http://new.mail.yahoo.com
55. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Richard Atkinson · 30 Nov 2006 10:21:30 +
And, thinking about this further last night, I realised that the Timex SCLD
design philosophy is actually consistent with the Sinclair design
philosophy.
The Sinclair ULA powers up in a random state too, I believe, requiring the
software to clear its register manually. The Timex SCLD is an extension of
this.
One solution for a TS2068 with a TC2048 ROM would be to put two TC2048 ROMs
in the machine, one in the HOME ROM socket and one in the EXROM socket.
That way whichever ROM was selected on powerup would continue to function
all the time.
It doesn't explain what happens if the SCLD powers up with the DOCK ROM
selected.
Richard
On Nov 30 2006, john hammer wrote:
>
> Even though Timex may have made a few design flaws,
>maybe trying to fight a tight deadline along with
>keeping costs low, look at it this way: it could have
>been alot worse. Remember how NASA screwed up and
>forgot a Metric/sae conversion on one of the Mars
>landers and watched it plow into the dust???{sorry for
>my poor sense of humor)
>>
>> J.
>
>
>
>
>
> ____________________________________________________________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.
> http://new.mail.yahoo.com
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
56. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
M. Emrah Oral · Thu, 30 Nov 2006 03:48
So that's why when I had the ROM chip from my dead ZX Spectrum 48 installed in my 2068, HOME socket, about half the time I turned on the machine I didnt get the copyright screen (but a blank screen) and would have to turn off and then back on once or twice ?
Richard Atkinson <[email]> wrote: And, thinking about this further last night, I realised that the Timex SCLD
design philosophy is actually consistent with the Sinclair design
philosophy.
The Sinclair ULA powers up in a random state too, I believe, requiring the
software to clear its register manually. The Timex SCLD is an extension of
this.
One solution for a TS2068 with a TC2048 ROM would be to put two TC2048 ROMs
in the machine, one in the HOME ROM socket and one in the EXROM socket.
That way whichever ROM was selected on powerup would continue to function
all the time.
It doesn't explain what happens if the SCLD powers up with the DOCK ROM
selected.
Richard
On Nov 30 2006, john hammer wrote:
>
> Even though Timex may have made a few design flaws,
>maybe trying to fight a tight deadline along with
>keeping costs low, look at it this way: it could have
>been alot worse. Remember how NASA screwed up and
>forgot a Metric/sae conversion on one of the Mars
>landers and watched it plow into the dust???{sorry for
>my poor sense of humor)
>>
>> J.
>
>
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________________
> Do you Yahoo!? Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.
> http://new.mail.yahoo.com
>
>
>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
---------------------------------
Want to start your own business? Learn how on Yahoo! Small Business.
57. Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Jarek Adamski · Thu, 30 Nov 2006 19:18
--- In [email], "M. Emrah Oral" wrote:
> So that's why when I had the ROM chip from my dead
> ZX Spectrum 48 installed in my 2068, HOME socket,
> about half the time I turned on the machine I didnt
> get the copyright screen (but a blank screen) and
> would have to turn off and then back on once or twice ?
Yes, and we have the answer that the TS2068 doesn't
have correct reset for 244/255, as you made the
testing.
The code from 2068 EXROM doesn't jump to #0000 address,
as it should, but somewhere inside (#0D31) the Spectrum
ROM.
> One solution for a TS2068 with a TC2048 ROM would be
> to put two TC2048 ROMs in the machine, one in the HOME
> ROM socket and one in the EXROM socket. That way
> whichever ROM was selected on powerup would continue
> to function all the time.
This doesn't help. Having 255 value in 244 port makes
the RAM unaccessible. So the correct contents for EXROM
ROM must contain OUT 244,0. Otherwise, on first OUT
255,0 the EXROM would be replaced with Dock.
> It doesn't explain what happens if the SCLD powers up
> with the DOCK ROM selected.
This is really interesting, as strarting from Dock would
make the TS2068 in factory configuration to hang
sometimes on power-on, what I don't nemember to happen.
My impression is, the 244/255 ports start only from
values 0 or 255.
In first case the basic configuration is selected, in
the second case it starts from EXROM, with black, hires
screen and interrupts off.
In most Portuguese TC2048 usually the 244 port is 0,
while the 255 one has 255 value. So it very rarely starts
from EXROM, and need only OUT 255,0.
Emrah: I never was professionally involved with 8bit
computers. I learned everything myself, and usually
too late. It is more than hobby for me... one of ways
I want to convert my abilities into something useful.
It's too complicated matter to explain it in foreign
language. :)
Jarek Adamski
58. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Timex · Fri, 1 Dec 2006 11:09:
On Nov 29, 2006, at 5:46 PM, Jarek Adamski wrote:
> The SCLD was:
> TS 2068 PAL
> 335-912015
> NCR-0380118
> F820280 PT
> A8614
>
> (Last line is production date 14th week of 1986.)
>
> Jarek Adamski
You can calculate this?
Johnny Red, Portugal
59. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Richard Atkinson · 01 Dec 2006 18:33:05 +
On Nov 30 2006, Jarek Adamski wrote:
>The code from 2068 EXROM doesn't jump to #0000 address,
>as it should, but somewhere inside (#0D31) the Spectrum
>ROM.
Presumably jumping to this address in the TS2068 HOME ROM makes sense, but
what happens if the CPU jumps to this address in a TC2048 ROM?
I now envisage a 48K Spectrum-compatible TS2068 with a TC2048 ROM in the
HOME position and a standard TS2068 EXROM in the EXROM position.
Richard
60. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Timex · Fri, 1 Dec 2006 22:21:
I didn't yet understand the need to replace the TS2068 HOME ROM for a
TC2048 ROM.
TMX Portugal Spectrum Emulador Cartridge have a TC2048 ROM.
Jarek, do you know what's inside TMX Portugal Spectrum Emulador
Cartridge beside ROM/EPROM??
Johnny Red, Portugal
On Dec 1, 2006, at 6:33 PM, Richard Atkinson wrote:
> On Nov 30 2006, Jarek Adamski wrote:
>
>> The code from 2068 EXROM doesn't jump to #0000 address,
>> as it should, but somewhere inside (#0D31) the Spectrum
>> ROM.
>
> Presumably jumping to this address in the TS2068 HOME ROM makes
> sense, but
> what happens if the CPU jumps to this address in a TC2048 ROM?
>
> I now envisage a 48K Spectrum-compatible TS2068 with a TC2048 ROM
> in the
> HOME position and a standard TS2068 EXROM in the EXROM position.
>
> Richard
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
61. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Timex · Sat, 2 Dec 2006 00:17:
On Nov 29, 2006, at 5:46 PM, Jarek Adamski wrote:
> The SCLD was:
> TS 2068 PAL
> 335-912015
> NCR-0380118
> F820280 PT
> A8614
>
> (Last line is production date 14th week of 1986.)
My TT3000 and my TC2068 with socketed SCLD:
TS 2068 PAL
335-912015
NCR-0380118
F820176
N8625
Timex prototype (same as yours):
TS 2068 PAL
335-0680118
F820280 PT
A8614
TS1500 SCLD (?)
TS1500
(c)TIMEX
COMPUTER CORP 1983
NCR F808081
8333F USA
TS1500A
(c)TIMEX
COMPUTER CORP 1983
NCR F812012
8417D
Can you calculate this?
Johnny Red, Portugal
62. Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Jarek Adamski · Sat, 02 Dec 2006 11:58
--- In [email], "Johnny Red (Timex)" wrote:
> I didn't yet understand the need to replace the TS2068
> HOME ROM for a TC2048 ROM.
If you want to run Spectrum software, you need the Spectrum
ROM. You can place it in Dock (as cartridge) or as Home
(intrernally, you don't need extra electronic parts in this
case). Due the TS2068 SCLD bug, the computer can start with
non-zero values in 244/255 ports, and will hang then if
original Spectrum ROM is used. The TC2048 ROM works better,
as resets the 255 port.
> TMX Portugal Spectrum Emulador Cartridge have a TC2048 ROM.
I expect they are made as Home cartridges, what works with
TC2068 and does not with TS2068.
> Jarek, do you know what's inside TMX Portugal Spectrum
> Emulador Cartridge beside ROM/EPROM??
I have only Unipolbrit cartridges. There's a 74LS32 (four
OR gates). The documentation for this cartridge as Eagle
CAD files is here:
http://8bit.yarek.pl/interface/ts.cartridge/900505.zip
Most of electronic components, like chips and printed
circuit boards have date of manufacturing encoded as
four digits. First two are last two digits of the year
(e.g. 83, 94), next two are week number range 01..52.
So, for example, 8402 means 2nd to 8th January 1984.
Jarek Adamski.
63. Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Edwin Krampitz, Jr. · Sun, 03 Dec 2006 06:24
--- In [email], "Johnny Red (Timex)" <timex.pt@...>
wrote:
>
> TS1500A
> (c)TIMEX
> COMPUTER CORP 1983
> NCR F812012
> 8417D
>
Interesting. If the date code used has the same format as for the
TC, this T/S 1500 was built during the 17th week of 1984that is,
around the end of April or beginning of May 1984. Timex USA
announced its decision to leave the computer market in the US in
February 1984, so this particular T/S 1500 came several weeks AFTER
the Timex USA announcement. And the 1500, essentially a T/S 1000
(ZX81) packaged in a Spectrum case, was sold only in North America.
Hmm . . .
Does anyone know just how long after Timex USA made the announcement
before production of computers for the US actually ended? If I
recall correctly, the company implied in February 1984 that the
decision was effective immediately, meaning that production should
also have ended immediately. Clearly (at least for this model, the
T/S 1500) it did not.
64. Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
aralbrec · Sun, 03 Dec 2006 07:43
--- In [email], "Edwin Krampitz, Jr." <ekrampitzjr@...>
wrote:
> Interesting. If the date code used has the same format as for the
> TC, this T/S 1500 was built during the 17th week of 1984that is,
> around the end of April or beginning of May 1984. Timex USA
> announced its decision to leave the computer market in the US in
> February 1984, so this particular T/S 1500 came several weeks AFTER
> the Timex USA announcement. And the 1500, essentially a T/S 1000
> (ZX81) packaged in a Spectrum case, was sold only in North America.
> Hmm . . .
Good eye! This encouraged me to have a peek inside my 2068:
TS2000
(c) TIMEX PT
COMPUTER CORP 1983
NCR F809112
8343F USA
And then I noticed something else I had completely forgotten
about: I made a small modification to get a better TV display.
I don't recall where I got the circuit and I can't say exactly
what was done since my computer is missing a transistor (must
have come loose and fallen off) but it involved U8 and R14.
Did anyone else make this modification?
65. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Timex · Sun, 3 Dec 2006 12:59:
TS1500 continued to be build in TMX Portugal (as well TS1000). This
one was build there.
The Board of the TS1500 that have this chip (SCLD?) is diferent from
the american TS1500, it is much smaller.
Johnny Red, Portugal
On Dec 3, 2006, at 6:24 AM, Edwin Krampitz, Jr. wrote:
> --- In [email], "Johnny Red (Timex)" <timex.pt@...>
> wrote:
>>
>> TS1500A
>> (c)TIMEX
>> COMPUTER CORP 1983
>> NCR F812012
>> 8417D
>>
>
> Interesting. If the date code used has the same format as for the
> TC, this T/S 1500 was built during the 17th week of 1984—that is,
> around the end of April or beginning of May 1984. Timex USA
> announced its decision to leave the computer market in the US in
> February 1984, so this particular T/S 1500 came several weeks AFTER
> the Timex USA announcement. And the 1500, essentially a T/S 1000
> (ZX81) packaged in a Spectrum case, was sold only in North America.
> Hmm . . .
>
> Does anyone know just how long after Timex USA made the announcement
> before production of computers for the US actually ended? If I
> recall correctly, the company implied in February 1984 that the
> decision was effective immediately, meaning that production should
> also have ended immediately. Clearly (at least for this model, the
> T/S 1500) it did not.
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
66. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Timex · Sun, 3 Dec 2006 13:22:
On Dec 3, 2006, at 7:43 AM, aralbrec wrote:
> --- In [email], "Edwin Krampitz, Jr." <ekrampitzjr@...>
> wrote:
>> And the 1500, essentially a T/S 1000
>> (ZX81) packaged in a Spectrum case, was sold only in North America.
>> Hmm . . .
I forgot to say in my last post that TS1500 has something that looks
like nobody knows (I don't know too). Why Timex made a special chip
for TS1500? It doesn't have the Ferranti ULA. And TS1510 auto-starts
in TS1500 but not in TS1000/ZX81.
> Good eye! This encouraged me to have a peek inside my 2068:
>
> TS2000
> (c) TIMEX PT
> COMPUTER CORP 1983
> NCR F809112
> 8343F USA
I have this SCLD:
TS2000
(c) TIMEX PT
COMPUTER CORP 1983
NCR F809901
8345F USA
And I can't find my TS2068 to peek inside :(
Have someone tryed to contact NCR to know if they have something
about this chips?
Johnny Red, Portugal
67. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Richard Atkinson · Tue, 12 Dec 2006 17:34 · 📎 1: timex cold start.txt
I had a quick look at the TS2068 HOME ROM cold start routine and the EXROM
alternative, and also at the cold start routine of the Spectrum ROM (TC2048
being equivalent for this purpose). The attached text file shows the three
routines.
It appears that the routine at 0D31 in the TS2068 HOME ROM is equivalent to
a routine at 11CB in the Spectrum / TC2048 ROM. Both are executed shortly
after startup by the two machines, regardless of whether the machine started
up in HOME ROM or EXROM in the case of the TS2068.
Therefore, in order to obtain a reasonably reliable Spectrum compatible
TS2068, I propose to:
1. Install a TC2048 ROM in the HOME position
2. Patch a TS2068 EXROM to jump to 11CB instead of 0D31 and install it in
the EXROM position
Thus the machine will start regardless of whether HOME ROM or EXROM was
enabled, and will deal with the FF port appropriately. The rest of the EXROM
image won't be used by Spectrum BASIC, but it will still be possible to
inspect it using the appropriate OUTs and PEEKs.
Richard
On 12/2/06, Jarek Adamski <[email]> wrote:
>
> --- In [email], "Johnny Red (Timex)" wrote:
> > I didn't yet understand the need to replace the TS2068
> > HOME ROM for a TC2048 ROM.
> If you want to run Spectrum software, you need the Spectrum
> ROM. You can place it in Dock (as cartridge) or as Home
> (intrernally, you don't need extra electronic parts in this
> case). Due the TS2068 SCLD bug, the computer can start with
> non-zero values in 244/255 ports, and will hang then if
> original Spectrum ROM is used. The TC2048 ROM works better,
> as resets the 255 port.
>
> > TMX Portugal Spectrum Emulador Cartridge have a TC2048 ROM.
> I expect they are made as Home cartridges, what works with
> TC2068 and does not with TS2068.
>
> > Jarek, do you know what's inside TMX Portugal Spectrum
> > Emulador Cartridge beside ROM/EPROM??
> I have only Unipolbrit cartridges. There's a 74LS32 (four
> OR gates). The documentation for this cartridge as Eagle
> CAD files is here:
> http://8bit.yarek.pl/interface/ts.cartridge/900505.zip
>
>
>
> Most of electronic components, like chips and printed
> circuit boards have date of manufacturing encoded as
> four digits. First two are last two digits of the year
> (e.g. 83, 94), next two are week number range 01..52.
> So, for example, 8402 means 2nd to 8th January 1984.
>
> Jarek Adamski.
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
68. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Richard Atkinson · Tue, 12 Dec 2006 17:51
Further notes on the patch referred to below.
Locations 0058 and 0059 in the TS2068 should be patched from 31 and 0D to
read CB and 11 respectively.
On 12/12/06, Richard Atkinson <[email]> wrote:
>
> I had a quick look at the TS2068 HOME ROM cold start routine and the EXROM
> alternative, and also at the cold start routine of the Spectrum ROM (TC2048
> being equivalent for this purpose). The attached text file shows the three
> routines.
>
> It appears that the routine at 0D31 in the TS2068 HOME ROM is equivalent
> to a routine at 11CB in the Spectrum / TC2048 ROM. Both are executed shortly
> after startup by the two machines, regardless of whether the machine started
> up in HOME ROM or EXROM in the case of the TS2068.
>
> Therefore, in order to obtain a reasonably reliable Spectrum compatible
> TS2068, I propose to:
>
> 1. Install a TC2048 ROM in the HOME position
>
> 2. Patch a TS2068 EXROM to jump to 11CB instead of 0D31 and install it in
> the EXROM position
>
> Thus the machine will start regardless of whether HOME ROM or EXROM was
> enabled, and will deal with the FF port appropriately. The rest of the EXROM
> image won't be used by Spectrum BASIC, but it will still be possible to
> inspect it using the appropriate OUTs and PEEKs.
>
> Richard
>
>
> On 12/2/06, Jarek Adamski <[email]> wrote:
> >
> > --- In [email], "Johnny Red (Timex)" wrote:
> > > I didn't yet understand the need to replace the TS2068
> > > HOME ROM for a TC2048 ROM.
> > If you want to run Spectrum software, you need the Spectrum
> > ROM. You can place it in Dock (as cartridge) or as Home
> > (intrernally, you don't need extra electronic parts in this
> > case). Due the TS2068 SCLD bug, the computer can start with
> > non-zero values in 244/255 ports, and will hang then if
> > original Spectrum ROM is used. The TC2048 ROM works better,
> > as resets the 255 port.
> >
> > > TMX Portugal Spectrum Emulador Cartridge have a TC2048 ROM.
> > I expect they are made as Home cartridges, what works with
> > TC2068 and does not with TS2068.
> >
> > > Jarek, do you know what's inside TMX Portugal Spectrum
> > > Emulador Cartridge beside ROM/EPROM??
> > I have only Unipolbrit cartridges. There's a 74LS32 (four
> > OR gates). The documentation for this cartridge as Eagle
> > CAD files is here:
> > http://8bit.yarek.pl/interface/ts.cartridge/900505.zip
> >
> >
> >
> > Most of electronic components, like chips and printed
> > circuit boards have date of manufacturing encoded as
> > four digits. First two are last two digits of the year
> > (e.g. 83, 94), next two are week number range 01..52.
> > So, for example, 8402 means 2nd to 8th January 1984.
> >
> > Jarek Adamski.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>
69. Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Jarek Adamski · Tue, 12 Dec 2006 18:03
--- In [email], "Richard Atkinson" wrote:
> Therefore, in order to obtain a reasonably reliable
> Spectrum compatible TS2068, I propose to:
> 1. Install a TC2048 ROM in the HOME position
> 2. Patch a TS2068 EXROM to jump to 11CB instead of
> 0D31 and install it in the EXROM position
Hm, it would be better for the EXROM to jump to #0000,
this is more flexible for both configurations.
Anyway, it is not easy to do such changes. The TS2068
uses PROMs, that have 3 activation inputs connected
to /RD and /MREQ signals of Z80CPU and /ROMCS or
/EXROM signals of the SCLD.
It is hard to get such PROMs now - they are programmed
at factory. I'm not sure if it is possible to patch
the EXROM PROM chip to change the jump adress.
EPROMs can be used, but you need to add OR gates, as
EPROM have only 2 activation inputs. The /MREQ line
must be connected, otherwise the EPROM will set its
data into IN ports. Also lines from SCLD are required.
Only the /RD line may be skipped, what is done in
TC2048. This produces conflicts on data lines in case
of "writing to ROM area", what Spectrum ROM really
does.
Jarek Adamski
70. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Richard Atkinson · Tue, 12 Dec 2006 23:41
Hi Jarek,
Thanks for your comments. I'll use a 27128 EPROM and a 2764 EPROM; I have
large stocks of these but not an eraser or programmer (yet) so I'll be
sorting that out in the next few months.
I'll do as you suggest and connect MREQ# and ROMCS# / EXROM# to the EPROMs.
This will require some rewiring of the sockets but thankfully no logic
gates. I don't mind bus conflicts on writes to ROM areas.
As you see from the ROM disassemblies, the startup routine in EXROM
effectively accomplishes the same setup instructions as the startup routine
in HOME ROM does, before they both jump to 0D31, so it seems reasonable for
the EXROM route to continue at 0D31. The EXROM routine contains equivalents
for all the following instructions:
0000 f3 di
0001 af xor a
0002 11ffff ld de,0ffffh
Are you saying 0000 is more flexible because then it doesn't matter whether
a TS2068 ROM or a TC2048 is in the HOME position?
Richard
On 12/12/06, Jarek Adamski <[email]> wrote:
>
> --- In [email], "Richard Atkinson" wrote:
> > Therefore, in order to obtain a reasonably reliable
> > Spectrum compatible TS2068, I propose to:
> > 1. Install a TC2048 ROM in the HOME position
> > 2. Patch a TS2068 EXROM to jump to 11CB instead of
> > 0D31 and install it in the EXROM position
> Hm, it would be better for the EXROM to jump to #0000,
> this is more flexible for both configurations.
>
> Anyway, it is not easy to do such changes. The TS2068
> uses PROMs, that have 3 activation inputs connected
> to /RD and /MREQ signals of Z80CPU and /ROMCS or
> /EXROM signals of the SCLD.
>
> It is hard to get such PROMs now - they are programmed
> at factory. I'm not sure if it is possible to patch
> the EXROM PROM chip to change the jump adress.
>
> EPROMs can be used, but you need to add OR gates, as
> EPROM have only 2 activation inputs. The /MREQ line
> must be connected, otherwise the EPROM will set its
> data into IN ports. Also lines from SCLD are required.
> Only the /RD line may be skipped, what is done in
> TC2048. This produces conflicts on data lines in case
> of "writing to ROM area", what Spectrum ROM really
> does.
>
> Jarek Adamski
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
71. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Richard Atkinson · Wed, 13 Dec 2006 01:42
Related to this, has anyone ever patched the Spectrum 128 ROM to reset the
Timex FF port?
I've had a quick look at the two Spectrum 128 ROMs just now (I'll call them
the Main ROM and the Sub ROM, the first being asserted on powerup and the
second being largely similar to the 48K Spectrum ROM).
While it would seem to be possible to patch the Sub ROM in a similar way to
the TC2048 ROM patch (although not in the same location because that area of
ROM is used in the 128 Sub ROM), there doesn't seem to be much point because
it's not the ROM that gets asserted on powerup.
Thus the only worthwhile patch would seem to be a patch of the Main ROM,
soon after powerup. There seem to be 4 spare bytes early on in the execution
which might be useful to call a patch routine, or even enough to insert the
patch directly.
Richard
On 12/13/06, Jarek Adamski <[email]> wrote:
>
> Hello Richard!
>
> --- In [email], "Richard Atkinson" wrote:
> > Thanks for your comments. I'll use a 27128 EPROM and a
> > 2764 EPROM; I have large stocks of these but not an
> > eraser or programmer (yet) so I'll be sorting that
> > out in the next few months.
> For internal upgrade I've designed FlashD0 board. It
> allows to use a 29C010 PEROM (128kB, DIL) as the memory.
> The board needs /IORQ, /WR and /RESET to be connected
> from Z80CPU. There's also another board that extends
> the first to 29C040 PEROM (512kB, PLCC) - this is
> intended to use it as disk simulation.
>
> There are 8 ROM banks for 128kB version and 32 ROM banks
> for 512kB one. Banks are switched with OUT 208,n, where
> n is bank number and configuration. I have a Spectrum ROM
> patched with a code that can switch banks and reprogram
> a ROM page with data taken from 32768..49151.
>
> To use it a diode-resitor AND gate must be made, as the
> PEROM must be enabled both by /ROMCS and /EXROM lines.
> A14 and A15 should be connected via 1kohm resistor to
> pins 27 and 1 respectively, to give 64kB available in
> EXROM. So, for Home ROM any of the 0..7 banks can be
> selected, while in EXROM there are banks 4, 5, 6, 7
> (from 0 to 65535).
>
> For the EXROM socket, that gets free when FlashD0 is
> used, I have a board that supports 512kB RAM with
> battery-backup... This still needs time to be tested,
> fine-tunded and described...
>
>
> > Are you saying 0000 is more flexible because then it
> > doesn't matter whether a TS2068 ROM or a TC2048 is
> > in the HOME position?
> Right.
>
> Jarek Adamski
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
72. Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Jarek Adamski · Wed, 13 Dec 2006 00:13
Hello Richard!
--- In [email], "Richard Atkinson" wrote:
> Thanks for your comments. I'll use a 27128 EPROM and a
> 2764 EPROM; I have large stocks of these but not an
> eraser or programmer (yet) so I'll be sorting that
> out in the next few months.
For internal upgrade I've designed FlashD0 board. It
allows to use a 29C010 PEROM (128kB, DIL) as the memory.
The board needs /IORQ, /WR and /RESET to be connected
from Z80CPU. There's also another board that extends
the first to 29C040 PEROM (512kB, PLCC) - this is
intended to use it as disk simulation.
There are 8 ROM banks for 128kB version and 32 ROM banks
for 512kB one. Banks are switched with OUT 208,n, where
n is bank number and configuration. I have a Spectrum ROM
patched with a code that can switch banks and reprogram
a ROM page with data taken from 32768..49151.
To use it a diode-resitor AND gate must be made, as the
PEROM must be enabled both by /ROMCS and /EXROM lines.
A14 and A15 should be connected via 1kohm resistor to
pins 27 and 1 respectively, to give 64kB available in
EXROM. So, for Home ROM any of the 0..7 banks can be
selected, while in EXROM there are banks 4, 5, 6, 7
(from 0 to 65535).
For the EXROM socket, that gets free when FlashD0 is
used, I have a board that supports 512kB RAM with
battery-backup... This still needs time to be tested,
fine-tunded and described...
> Are you saying 0000 is more flexible because then it
> doesn't matter whether a TS2068 ROM or a TC2048 is
> in the HOME position?
Right.
Jarek Adamski
73. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Richard Atkinson · Wed, 13 Dec 2006 10:38
There seems to be a delay loop at the start of the Main ROM, after which
execution jumps to 00C7. I would propose to insert the write to port FF
before this jump, since you know that the accumulator is already zero at
this point and there are enough spare bytes to insert it without moving
anything other than the jump instruction.
Patch:
0009 D3FF OUT (FF), A
000B C3C700 JP 00C7
In fact there are still two bytes spare after inserting the first OUT, so
maybe a second OUT to reset port F4 would be useful, though I note the
TC2048 ROM doesn't do this.
Richard
On 12/13/06, Richard Atkinson <[email]> wrote:
>
> Related to this, has anyone ever patched the Spectrum 128 ROM to reset the
> Timex FF port?
>
> I've had a quick look at the two Spectrum 128 ROMs just now (I'll call
> them the Main ROM and the Sub ROM, the first being asserted on powerup and
> the second being largely similar to the 48K Spectrum ROM).
>
> While it would seem to be possible to patch the Sub ROM in a similar way
> to the TC2048 ROM patch (although not in the same location because that area
> of ROM is used in the 128 Sub ROM), there doesn't seem to be much point
> because it's not the ROM that gets asserted on powerup.
>
> Thus the only worthwhile patch would seem to be a patch of the Main ROM,
> soon after powerup. There seem to be 4 spare bytes early on in the execution
> which might be useful to call a patch routine, or even enough to insert the
> patch directly.
>
> Richard
>
>
> On 12/13/06, Jarek Adamski <[email]> wrote:
> >
> > Hello Richard!
> >
> > --- In [email], "Richard Atkinson" wrote:
> > > Thanks for your comments. I'll use a 27128 EPROM and a
> > > 2764 EPROM; I have large stocks of these but not an
> > > eraser or programmer (yet) so I'll be sorting that
> > > out in the next few months.
> > For internal upgrade I've designed FlashD0 board. It
> > allows to use a 29C010 PEROM (128kB, DIL) as the memory.
> > The board needs /IORQ, /WR and /RESET to be connected
> > from Z80CPU. There's also another board that extends
> > the first to 29C040 PEROM (512kB, PLCC) - this is
> > intended to use it as disk simulation.
> >
> > There are 8 ROM banks for 128kB version and 32 ROM banks
> > for 512kB one. Banks are switched with OUT 208,n, where
> > n is bank number and configuration. I have a Spectrum ROM
> > patched with a code that can switch banks and reprogram
> > a ROM page with data taken from 32768..49151.
> >
> > To use it a diode-resitor AND gate must be made, as the
> > PEROM must be enabled both by /ROMCS and /EXROM lines.
> > A14 and A15 should be connected via 1kohm resistor to
> > pins 27 and 1 respectively, to give 64kB available in
> > EXROM. So, for Home ROM any of the 0..7 banks can be
> > selected, while in EXROM there are banks 4, 5, 6, 7
> > (from 0 to 65535).
> >
> > For the EXROM socket, that gets free when FlashD0 is
> > used, I have a board that supports 512kB RAM with
> > battery-backup... This still needs time to be tested,
> > fine-tunded and described...
> >
> >
> > > Are you saying 0000 is more flexible because then it
> > > doesn't matter whether a TS2068 ROM or a TC2048 is
> > > in the HOME position?
> > Right.
> >
> > Jarek Adamski
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
74. Re: [ts2068] Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Richard Atkinson · Wed, 13 Dec 2006 13:31
Here's a patch for the TS2068 EXROM to work with the below quoted patch for
the Spectrum 128 Main ROM. Again, the purpose of this patch is to allow the
modified computer to run when starting up with EXROM enabled; the EXROM
won't be used by the patched Spectrum 128 ROMs, although it will be possible
to read it using the appropriate commands.
>0001 3e01 ld a,01h
>0003 d3f4 out (f4h),a
>0005 1842 jr 0049h
>0049 012b69 ld bc,692bh
>004c 0b dec bc
>004d 78 ld a,b
>004e b1 or c
>004f 20fb jr nz,004ch
>0051 1807 jr 005ah
>0053 d3f4 out (0f4h),a
>0055 d3ff out (0ffh),a
>0057 c3c700 jp 00c7h
>005a 215300 ld hl,0053h
005d 110060 ld de,6000h
>0060 010700 ld bc,0007h
0063 edb0 ldir
0065 c30060 jp 6000h
I've indicated code which changes in the patch with the '>' markers. A few
instructions, particularly in the copy to RAM routine at the end, are
unchanged in the patch.
This code carries out the same operations to the F4h and FFh ports as in the
TS2068 EXROM, but subsitutes the Spectrum 128 delay for the other
instructions in the old routine which are also found in the TS2068 HOME ROM
startup routine and not in the Spectrum 128 Main ROM. After the HOME bank
has been enabled the code jumps to the routine at 00C7h in the Spectrum 128
Main ROM.
The patch uses 4 empty bytes at the beginning of the TS2068 EXROM, but
otherwise has the same footprint as the original routine.
Richard
On 12/13/06, Jarek Adamski <[email]> wrote:
>
> --- In [email], "Richard Atkinson" wrote:
> > There seems to be a delay loop at the start of the Main
> > ROM, after which execution jumps to 00C7.
> The delay is used because of reset problems. /RESET line
> is connected both to Z80CPU and the 74LS176 latch for
> #7FFD (32765) port. The Z80CPU starts first, while the
> latch is still being resetted. So any write to #7FFD has
> no result for some time. I've tested this myself writing
> ZXVGS - I had to insert a delay before any bank switching,
> however no delay was required for emulator.
>
> > I would propose to insert the write to port FF before
> > this jump,
> The SCLD is not resetted with /RESET line, so this should
> work.
>
> Jarek Adamski
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
75. Re: ZX Spectrum ROM in TS2068
Jarek Adamski · Wed, 13 Dec 2006 11:20
--- In [email], "Richard Atkinson" wrote:
> There seems to be a delay loop at the start of the Main
> ROM, after which execution jumps to 00C7.
The delay is used because of reset problems. /RESET line
is connected both to Z80CPU and the 74LS176 latch for
#7FFD (32765) port. The Z80CPU starts first, while the
latch is still being resetted. So any write to #7FFD has
no result for some time. I've tested this myself writing
ZXVGS - I had to insert a delay before any bank switching,
however no delay was required for emulator.
> I would propose to insert the write to port FF before
> this jump,
The SCLD is not resetted with /RESET line, so this should
work.
Jarek Adamski
Indexed under
TS2068 / TC2068 · Cartridges, EPROM & dumping · Video upgrades (composite, RGB, HDMI) · Spectrum emulation & software · For sale, wanted & collections