Timex Sinclair 1000 repair

[granz]

I actually have ones laying around.

Yeah, I kind of thought that you might. As I mentioned, many people have them on hand - especially people like us.

[MicroNut]

I use Eighty-One alot! Very realistic. You can add video affects to the video so it can be just as fuzzy as a CRT TV. It even has the infamous ram pack bug. The Ram Pack expansion had a habit of disconnecting from the ZX81 if you bumped the ZX81 then "POOF" program gone! It is a button in Eight-One you can click to simulate it.

@JKnightandKARR how did you connect a keyboard to the ZX81? It used a 5x8 matrix of switches connected to the ULA and decoded in the rom. A normal keyboard uses a formatted bitstream via PS2 or USB.

[Chris Savage]

how did you connect a keyboard to the ZX81? It used a 5x8 matrix of switches connected to the ULA and decoded in the rom. A normal keyboard uses a formatted bitstream via PS2 or USB.

I was going to ask the same question...

[granz]

Back when I built my keyboard for my ZX-81, I used a surplus, non-encoded keyboard. When I mentioned the glue-on key labels to Joe, I was referring to his emulator:

It's an Emulator for ZX80/ZX81/Spectrum etc. Ironically it even has files for the Timex Sinclair 1000 even though its the same as the Sinclair ZX81 lol, anywho, if you hit Help menu there's a drop down option for the original keyboard for reference purposes.

For a real keyboard, for a real(ish) ZX-81/TS1000 (or a separate cheapie USB keyboard for an emulated ZX,) the glue-on labels will come in real handy.

[MicroNut]

Oops  I thought he was talking about a real ZX81. I did get a ZX81 simulated on a DE0-Nano FPGA that had a PS2 connection for a normal keyboard. I remember back in the early eighties picking up a keyboard from Radio Shack that you had to wire each key. I was planning on connecting it to my Timex Sinclair 1000 but never got around to it and the keyboard was eventually thrown out.

BTW ZEsarUX is another excellent ZX81/Spectrum emulator.

[granz]

Oops  I thought he was talking about a real ZX81. I did get a ZX81 simulated on a DE0-Nano FPGA that had a PS2 connection for a normal keyboard. I remember back in the early eighties picking up a keyboard from Radio Shack that you had to wire each key. I was planning on connecting it to my Timex Sinclair 1000 but never got around to it and the keyboard was eventually thrown out.

BTW ZEsarUX is another excellent ZX81/Spectrum emulator.

Yeah, your FPGA ZX is the one that I was thinking about. Use a regular USB keyboard, with the Sinclair keycaps glued on, and the FPGA emulator is much better/more realistic.

[Chris Savage]

Oops  I thought he was talking about a real ZX81.

Same. I get it now. 

[JKnightandKARR]

I use Eighty-One alot! Very realistic. You can add video affects to the video so it can be just as fuzzy as a CRT TV. It even has the infamous ram pack bug. The Ram Pack expansion had a habit of disconnecting from the ZX81 if you bumped the ZX81 then "POOF" program gone! It is a button in Eight-One you can click to simulate it.

@JKnightandKARR how did you connect a keyboard to the ZX81? It used a 5x8 matrix of switches connected to the ULA and decoded in the rom. A normal keyboard uses a formatted bitstream via PS2 or USB.

My emulator is on my Acer Nitro 5 laptop, so USB easy. Lol I found it through that link you posted. Works pretty well.

[JKnightandKARR]

I actually have ones laying around.

Yeah, I kind of thought that you might. As I mentioned, many people have them on hand - especially people like us.

Only alittle. Lol

[JKnightandKARR]

Back when I built my keyboard for my ZX-81, I used a surplus, non-encoded keyboard. When I mentioned the glue-on key labels to Joe, I was referring to his emulator:

It's an Emulator for ZX80/ZX81/Spectrum etc. Ironically it even has files for the Timex Sinclair 1000 even though its the same as the Sinclair ZX81 lol, anywho, if you hit Help menu there's a drop down option for the original keyboard for reference purposes.

For a real keyboard, for a real(ish) ZX-81/TS1000 (or a separate cheapie USB keyboard for an emulated ZX,) the glue-on labels will come in real handy.

I wonder if I can use an adapter n plug a keyboard into me tablet for my Spectrum emu?? The on screen keyboard kinda covers it up some...

[granz]

I wonder if I can use an adapter n plug a keyboard into me tablet for my Spectrum emu?? The on screen keyboard kinda covers it up some...

Yeah, that would be an OTG (On The Go) adapter or cable. You get the kind that plugs into your tablet (micro USB-A or USB-C) and then the keyboard, or mouse or whatever, plugs into the adapter. I actually carry one of each with me everywhere - I used one this morning (Marilyn forgot her Children's Church lesson, so I was able to get it off a thumb drive.)

[JKnightandKARR]

I wonder if I can use an adapter n plug a keyboard into me tablet for my Spectrum emu?? The on screen keyboard kinda covers it up some...

Yeah, that would be an OTG (On The Go) adapter or cable. You get the kind that plugs into your tablet (micro USB-A or USB-C) and then the keyboard, or mouse or whatever, plugs into the adapter. I actually carry one of each with me everywhere - I used one this morning (Marilyn forgot her Children's Church lesson, so I was able to get it off a thumb drive.)

I think I got one. Have to try it. I gotta bluetooth keyboard, but not much luck finding the extra keys.

[granz]

If you do not have any adapters, this is the one that I used yesterday:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F3X4P6GM $6.99 for 10 adapters.


And, if you need micro-USB, there are these:
https://www.amazon.com/Togconn-Adapter-Aluminum-Keyboard-Controller/dp/B0BX9G7RDL $9.99 for 4 cables.


Although, I do have, and carry, adapters for the micro-, I can't find my orders for the adapters, just these small cables. The adapters are better for every-day-carry.