Assembly?

[Chris Savage]

That Instructable that I mentioned above has complete assembly instructions.

Having clicked your link, I now understand what "cardiac" means. There is a link to a CARDboard Illustrative Aid to Computation Wikipedia page, which also mentions an emulator for Mac with completely untested versions for Windows and Linux.

There appears to be another emulator written in RUST? I know nothing about that.

I bet if I studied the cardboard version a bit, I could create a Windows version with sliders that would accomplish the same thing without requiring assembly.

[JKnightandKARR]

Happen to know the assembly ins for the kit?? I couldn't find them at all.

That Instructable that I mentioned above (https://www.instructables.com/CARDIAC-CARDboard-Illustrative-Aid-to-Computation-/) has complete assembly instructions. Is there something that you don't understand there?

Sometimes for me, I need photos/videos when trying to do something, I'll reread it again later. work soon.

[JKnightandKARR]

That Instructable that I mentioned above has complete assembly instructions.

Having clicked your link, I now understand what "cardiac" means. There is a link to a CARDboard Illustrative Aid to Computation Wikipedia page, which also mentions an emulator for Mac with completely untested versions for Windows and Linux.

There appears to be another emulator written in RUST? I know nothing about that.

I bet if I studied the cardboard version a bit, I could create a Windows version with sliders that would accomplish the same thing without requiring assembly.

That'd be great. lol

[granz]

That Instructable that I mentioned above has complete assembly instructions.

Having clicked your link, I now understand what "cardiac" means. There is a link to a CARDboard Illustrative Aid to Computation Wikipedia page, which also mentions an emulator for Mac with completely untested versions for Windows and Linux.

There appears to be another emulator written in RUST? I know nothing about that.

I bet if I studied the cardboard version a bit, I could create a Windows version with sliders that would accomplish the same thing without requiring assembly.

There are several: The an on-line emulator at Drexel University (https://www.cs.drexel.edu/~bls96/museum/cardsim.html) which is good, and it follows at the bottom of a GREAT page about CardIAC.

I used to have JCINC (https://web.archive.org/web/20060220033821/https://sourceforge.net/projects/cinc/) that works pretty well.

There is also an emulator in Microsoft Excel (https://web.archive.org/web/20140117081627/https://www.drdobbs.com/embedded-systems/cpu-design-on-paper/240153480,) written by Al Williams (from Dr. Dobbs Magazine - not sure if it is the same Al Williams from Hack-A-Day.)

NOTICE I did not push the emulators much before, because someone who really wants to get to truly understand assembly language really should do the hard part of running the CardIAC language by hand operating the computer, before they play with an emulator. The hand operation burns the machine steps into your brain, and then you can understand assembly better.

[Chris Savage]

I did not push the emulators much before, because someone who really wants to get to truly understand assembly language really should do the hard part of running the CardIAC language by hand operating the computer, before they play with an emulator. The hand operation burns the machine steps into your brain, and then you can understand assembly better.

This is exactly why I encourage people to learn from an Abacus before using a calculator. 

[JKnightandKARR]

That Instructable that I mentioned above has complete assembly instructions.

Having clicked your link, I now understand what "cardiac" means. There is a link to a CARDboard Illustrative Aid to Computation Wikipedia page, which also mentions an emulator for Mac with completely untested versions for Windows and Linux.

There appears to be another emulator written in RUST? I know nothing about that.

I bet if I studied the cardboard version a bit, I could create a Windows version with sliders that would accomplish the same thing without requiring assembly.

There are several: The an on-line emulator at Drexel University (https://www.cs.drexel.edu/~bls96/museum/cardsim.html) which is good, and it follows at the bottom of a GREAT page about CardIAC.

I used to have JCINC (https://web.archive.org/web/20060220033821/https://sourceforge.net/projects/cinc/) that works pretty well.

There is also an emulator in Microsoft Excel (https://web.archive.org/web/20140117081627/https://www.drdobbs.com/embedded-systems/cpu-design-on-paper/240153480,) written by Al Williams (from Dr. Dobbs Magazine - not sure if it is the same Al Williams from Hack-A-Day.)

NOTICE I did not push the emulators much before, because someone who really wants to get to truly understand assembly language really should do the hard part of running the CardIAC language by hand operating the computer, before they play with an emulator. The hand operation burns the machine steps into your brain, and then you can understand assembly better.

That Drexel one, isn't that similar to Cardiac?

[granz]

That Drexel one, isn't that similar to Cardiac?

No, it is not similar, it IS a CardIAC computer emulator.

[JKnightandKARR]

That Drexel one, isn't that similar to Cardiac?

No, it is not similar, it IS a CardIAC computer emulator.

Ok. Thanks

[JKnightandKARR]

Well, Angela and me was in an Antique Mall in Columbus, welt out for my birthday, 12/18, and found a complete and in-box Timex Sinclair 1000, ZX81 clone, I have tried to hook it up, to no avail, then again, I don't have a way to hook it up correctly, tried running the Computer/TV switch box, double sided sticky tape still on the box and bas never been used, from the terminals that go onto the old screw antenna spots, with wires running into coax jack, no luxk, so, I wonder if my analog scope in X/Y mode would get me a view??, but not sure if it even working at moment... Its 9V power supply is pumping out 14V, and the schematics are posting 7-11V power, so it could be damaged. I need a new supply. I have an adjustable transformer, but the 4-way connector I have won't fit unless I pull the PCB out of the case.

I found 2 circuits, a transistor-based one from https://www.bytedelight.com/?page_id=3560 had to use the Internet Archive to get info, RIP Ben, and one using a 555 timer.  There also might be a premade circuit I can get an install to convert the RF modulation signal into a Composite one, probly a grate idea todo since the new TVs don't have anyway I can hook it up, without buying screw terminals to Coax adapter.

Hillarious fact:
Me: *sees the system n call Granz to ask questions on it.*
Granz: *litterally packing similar system n accessories into a box to send to me at that exact time.*
lol

[granz]

Well, Angela and me was in an Antique Mall in Columbus, welt out for my birthday, 12/18, and found a complete and in-box Timex Sinclair 1000, ZX81 clone, I have tried to hook it up, to no avail, then again, I don't have a way to hook it up correctly, tried running the Computer/TV switch box, double sided sticky tape still on the box and bas never been used, from the terminals that go onto the old screw antenna spots, with wires running into coax jack, no luxk, so, I wonder if my analog scope in X/Y mode would get me a view??

If you mean that you could see the computer's display on the scope, then no, you won't be able to see the display - the scope takes a totally different format input than what the television needs.

Its 9V power supply is pumping out 14V, and the schematics are posting 7-11V power, so it could be damaged. I need a new supply.

Are you measuring the output of the power supply without any load? If you just hook up the meter to the output of the power supply by itself, then you will be getting a higher reading than the specified output. These older power supplies depended on the load to provide the voltage regulation, so without the load of the computer, you will read higher than what it will provide with the computer in the circuit.

I have an adjustable transformer, but the 4-way connector I have won't fit unless I pull the PCB out of the case.

Do not hook up a transformer (adjustable or not) to power your TS-1000. A transformer provides an AC output, not the DC that your computer needs. Unless the TS-1000 has diode, and filtering, protection (it does not) on the power input, you will likely destroy the computer.

I found 2 circuits, a transistor-based one from https://www.bytedelight.com/?page_id=3560 had to use the Internet Archive to get info, RIP Ben, and one using a 555 timer.  There also might be a premade circuit I can get an install to convert the RF modulation signal into a Composite one, probly a grate idea todo since the new TVs don't have anyway I can hook it up, without buying screw terminals to Coax adapter.

Well, you won't get a circuit to take the output of the TS-1000 video output and convert it to composite video. There are circuits to get composite video out from the computer, but you will be taking the composite signal from the computer's PCB before the RF modulator, and running it through a small circuit (if I remember right, a single transistor, and a couple other parts - yes, Tezza [Terry Stewart] gives a simple circuit, and a complete description here: https://www.classic-computers.org.nz/blog/2016-01-03-composite-video-for-zx81.htm. Terry is well known in the retro-computing community, and gives lots of good advice)

Hillarious fact:
Me: *sees the system n call Granz to ask questions on it.*
Granz: *litterally packing similar system n accessories into a box to send to me at that exact time.*
lol

Timing is everything, huh?

[JKnightandKARR]

Well, Angela and me was in an Antique Mall in Columbus, welt out for my birthday, 12/18, and found a complete and in-box Timex Sinclair 1000, ZX81 clone, I have tried to hook it up, to no avail, then again, I don't have a way to hook it up correctly, tried running the Computer/TV switch box, double sided sticky tape still on the box and bas never been used, from the terminals that go onto the old screw antenna spots, with wires running into coax jack, no luxk, so, I wonder if my analog scope in X/Y mode would get me a view??

If you mean that you could see the computer's display on the scope, then no, you won't be able to see the display - the scope takes a totally different format input than what the television needs.

Its 9V power supply is pumping out 14V, and the schematics are posting 7-11V power, so it could be damaged. I need a new supply.

Are you measuring the output of the power supply without any load? If you just hook up the meter to the output of the power supply by itself, then you will be getting a higher reading than the specified output. These older power supplies depended on the load to provide the voltage regulation, so without the load of the computer, you will read higher than what it will provide with the computer in the circuit.

I have an adjustable transformer, but the 4-way connector I have won't fit unless I pull the PCB out of the case.

Do not hook up a transformer (adjustable or not) to power your TS-1000. A transformer provides an AC output, not the DC that your computer needs. Unless the TS-1000 has diode, and filtering, protection (it does not) on the power input, you will likely destroy the computer.

I found 2 circuits, a transistor-based one from https://www.bytedelight.com/?page_id=3560 had to use the Internet Archive to get info, RIP Ben, and one using a 555 timer.  There also might be a premade circuit I can get an install to convert the RF modulation signal into a Composite one, probly a grate idea todo since the new TVs don't have anyway I can hook it up, without buying screw terminals to Coax adapter.

Well, you won't get a circuit to take the output of the TS-1000 video output and convert it to composite video. There are circuits to get composite video out from the computer, but you will be taking the composite signal from the computer's PCB before the RF modulator, and running it through a small circuit (if I remember right, a single transistor, and a couple other parts - yes, Tezza [Terry Stewart] gives a simple circuit, and a complete description here: https://www.classic-computers.org.nz/blog/2016-01-03-composite-video-for-zx81.htm. Terry is well known in the retro-computing community, and gives lots of good advice)

Hillarious fact:
Me: *sees the system n call Granz to ask questions on it.*
Granz: *litterally packing similar system n accessories into a box to send to me at that exact time.*
lol

Timing is everything, huh?

Will have to figure out a way to hook it up then...

Ok, will plug it in and measure on pcb then.  Wrong adj transformer, the dc ones with the switch to set the voltage with the various adapters to plug it in to whatever is what I got.  Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Belker-Adjustable-Universal-Household-Electronics/dp/B07NKZCWT1/ref=sr_1_5?xpid=rN9sDygczcwcc  I do
4n't have any of the large ac ones with the knob on top.

That's actually what I mean. That same circuit, along with one with a 555 timer. Below are the ones I got.
https://web.archive.org/web/20250515182348/https://www.bytedelight.com/?page_id=3560
http://zx.zigg.net/misc-projects/ZX81_Video_Conditioning.pdf

[Chris Savage]

This is what I find online with regards to the output from the Timex Sinclair. @granz, does this look accurate?

The Timex Sinclair 1000's video output is an RF signal (UHF Channel 2 or 3 in NTSC regions) that requires an RF-to-Composite converter or an old analog TV with an RF input; it's a simple, monochrome, low-resolution signal, often needing mods for modern TVs, while later models like the TS 2068 offered better composite video options.

For the TS 1000 (and ZX81):

• Signal Type: Radio Frequency (RF).
• Connection: An RCA-style jack labeled "TV", but it's RF, not composite video.
• Frequency: NTSC (60Hz) for US models, PAL (50Hz) for UK models (ZX81).
• Connection to Modern TVs: You need an external RF modulator or a converter box to get it onto a standard TV's composite (yellow RCA) or HDMI input, often requiring specific mods for a clean picture.

For the Timex Sinclair 2068 (TS 2068):

• Improved Output: This model offered better video capabilities with direct composite video output from an expansion port.
• Potential Issues: Even its composite output could be problematic on some modern displays due to non-standard signals, sometimes mixing up colors.

In Summary:
Think of the TS 1000 as needing a proper adapter to "speak" to modern screens, while the TS 2068 was better equipped but still had quirks; both relied on simple, blocky, monochrome graphics.

[granz]

This is what I find online with regards to the output from the Timex Sinclair. @granz, does this look accurate?

Yep, that about sums it up. It fits with what I remember, and know from more recent web finds.

That also reminded me of my old 2068, I wish I knew what happened to that - probably lost in one of my many moves - I miss it quite a bit. On one of my deployments to a war game, I brought my 2068, mounted inside an old .50 cal ammo box, along with a battery operated 5" television, and a tape recorder. It was my first "portable" computer. It was good for making my arm ache after carrying it for maybe 50 milliseconds. 

[Chris Savage]

Yep, that about sums it up. It fits with what I remember, and know from more recent web finds.

Do you think this would help him?

[granz]

Do you think this would help him?

It looks like he could use it, RGB monitors (and this converter) just take three (or is it four) composite inputs, one each for red, green and blue. If he were to take the composite output from the TS-1000, and plug it into either of those inputs he could have a red-, green- or blue-screen output display for his computer. The manual does show that this converter should work with a TS-1000, in any of several different modes.

That said, it seems that a plain composite-in monitor, or television, would be far simpler.

@JKnightandKARR, do you have a composite-in monitor, or television?