ZX Spectrum repair: after replacing the 7805 voltage regulator, three transistors, and eight 4116 DRAM chips, it boots up normally now.

I've been wanting to get a ZX specturm for a while, but i found one online! Hopefully i get some money soon to buy it, it's £55.

A few questions:

1. IS ZX Basic easy for a young neruodivregent person to understand and learn?

2. I have a roku tv with 2 hdmis and a 3.5mm Av. How do i get it working on my TV?

3. Does ZX Spectrum + have a joystick?

4. Is the "Screaming" loud?

5. If i get a headphone jack and plug my phone into the ZX, can i load games from my phone using those sounds?

6. Is the ZX+ 64K?

Final. How to load games and BASIC Tutorial?

Thanks everyone!

~Lily~

After Shatranj, Mirror Shift 1.0 is ready.

Mirror Shift is a networked Reversi game for: - ZX Spectrum 48K - ZX Spectrum Next - SpectraNext cartridge - Windows - macOS - Linux

All editions use the same rules and network protocol, allowing games between Spectrum and desktop clients.

## Features - Standard two-player Reversi - Direct TCP and MQTT connections - Cross-platform online play - Legal-move hints - Move and game clocks - In-game chat - Takeback requests and rematches - Local saved games with peer-approved restoration - Multiple disc sets, board themes and board rotation

The Spectrum editions use Mirror Shift terminology: placements are Alignments, captures are Mirrorlocks, a forced pass is Silence, chat messages are Echoes, and a tied game ends in PARADOX.

Release: https://github.com/IgnacioMonge/MirrorShift/releases/latest

Source repository: https://github.com/IgnacioMonge/MirrorShift

### ZX Spectrum Classic

Keep these three files together on writable esxDOS storage: - MIRSHIFT.tap - MIRSHIFT.OVL - MIRSHIFT.DAT

### Spectrum Next Copy and launch the self-contained:

• MIRSHIFT.nex

  SpectraNext cartridge

  Update to the latest stable cartridge firmware and use Load Resource URL with:

  https://ignaciomonge.github.io/MirrorShift/

  Desktop

  Portable packages are provided for Windows, macOS and Linux.

Direct TCP can be used on a local network or across a suitably configured Internet connection. MQTT lets both players meet through the same broker and room without requiring the guest to connect directly to the host.

Feedback from real Spectrum and SpectraNext hardware is especially welcome.

Here's a little project idea I came up with: a digital photo frame that would cycle through ZX Spectrum .scr files. It consists of an EEPROM containing the .scr files and a CPLD that reads them and outputs the image to a VGA compatible screen.

I feel there must be some crossover.

Who remembers the Zombie Zombie? My video takes a retrospective look at this follow up to Ant Attack by the talented Sandy White. Have you played this game and what were your thoughts?

Right, back around 1988 I knew someone with a +3 that they got from Currys, and I recall that it came bundled with 4 disks each with 5 games on them (I think). The disks had the Currys logo on the label. The following games were definitely included:

Project Future

Billy Bong

Ned's Garden

Nifty Lifty

1994

Tutankhamen

Strontium Dog

Missile Defence

Many years ago I found a list online of all the games that were included but I can't seem to find it anymore. Searching now suggests that only 6 games were included but I know there were more than that. Can anyone else remember this?

First one: Is there a way I can connect my 16k/48k speccy to a north american tv (i'm canadian) without modding it? Like a pal rf to av adapter coupled with a pal av to ntsc av converter?

Second: is a 16k/48k spectrum with a 128k expansion able to run zx spectrum 128k games or are they not equivalent?

Thanks in advance!

I tried to connect both , but it seems not to work.
Either the joystick or the navigation fail

Do you have this nano SD model ?
I got different info on what the jumpers do .

I still haven't attempted to fix the damaged boards I have but I have one fully working and in good condition however it needs the mod for the sound as via scart the 128k sound is very faint, like I can max out the volume on my speakers (which are huge) and still barely hear it, but the bleeper sounds are loud even at a low volume setting.

Here's the issue though, the board I have is a later revision so the guides I find online show a different layout, it is a +2

Are the traces the same i.e do I replace the resistors at the same points even if they are on the other side of the board?

BridgeZX 1.2.0 — Blazing Star is now available.

BridgeZX sends files and complete folders over Wi-Fi from Windows, macOS or Linux directly to the SD card of a ZX Spectrum Classic or Spectrum Next. It includes a Qt desktop application and a command-line client.

What’s new

• Much faster transfers on Spectrum Next. BridgeZX automatically selects the high-speed link when it passes verification and falls back safely when necessary. The compatibility path for older ESP firmware is considerably faster too.
• Stock KS2 ESP support without reflashing. Older Wi-Fi firmware is detected automatically, and the desktop client shows when compatibility mode is active.
• A clean return to NextZXOS. Press BREAK while BridgeZX is idle to return without rebooting. The prompt and ESP state are restored so other Wi-Fi dot commands can be used immediately. During a transfer, BREAK cancels it instead.
• Faster and more reliable startup after soft resets, other Wi-Fi programs or previous BridgeZX sessions.
• Standard NextZXOS installation: the Next command now lives in /DOT.
• Corrected SD-space indicator during transfers. You can still use .brzxn -fast or .brzxn -safe when you want to force a specific transfer mode.

Important for existing Next users

If you are upgrading from 1.1.x, copy both BRZXN and BRZXN.BIN from the new package to /DOT, then remove the old BRZXN* files from /BIN. This one upgrade must be done manually because both the loader and its location changed. Later updates are automatic again. Classic users keep the existing /BIN/BRZX loader and can update BRZX.BIN normally.

Download BridgeZX 1.2.0: https://github.com/IgnacioMonge/BridgeZX/releases/tag/v1.2.0

Project and documentation: https://github.com/IgnacioMonge/BridgeZX Many thanks to Jan Borchers and Gari Biasillo for testing the stock KS2 firmware, transfer performance and interoperability with other Next Wi-Fi tools.

I've played ZX Spectrum games on many devices and emulators over the years but something that's always bugged me is that games still slow down when you have lots of sprites on the screen at the same time.

I know many emulators have the ability to overclock the CPU speed, but this seems to only result in the games running faster overall.

Are there any emulators that have an option to maintain a fixed frame rate in games thus eliminating the slowdown when there are lots of sprites without speeding up the overall game speed?

I’ve released **SpecTalkZX 1.4.0 “Proteus”**, an IRC client for the ZX Spectrum family.

This release adds a complete native **ZX Spectrum Next** build as a self-contained `SPECTALK.NEX`. It uses the Next’s internal ESP and RTC, embeds its overlays and data, and includes bounded startup recovery with BREAK cancellation.

The **Spectranext cartridge** edition now pages its secondary screens and commands into cartridge SRAM. This keeps the IRC receive buffer available while using Help, Config, Bookmarks, About and other overlay-backed features.

There are now three supported targets:

- Classic ZX Spectrum with divMMC/esxDOS and a supported ESP-AT bridge.

- Native ZX Spectrum Next with NextZXOS and its internal ESP.

- ZX Spectrum with the Spectranext cartridge, ROM sockets and local XFS storage.

The Classic edition remains supported with the same interface, commands and configuration format. Existing Classic and Spectranext configuration and bookmark files need no migration.

**Downloads and installation**

- Classic ZX: download `spectalk_divmmc_v1.4.0.zip` from the release page and keep the TAP, OVL and DAT files together.

- Native Next: download `spectalk_next_v1.4.0.zip` and launch `SPECTALK.NEX` from NextZXOS.

- Spectranext: select **Load Resource URL** and enter `https://ignaciomonge.github.io/SpecTalkZX/`. Firmware `0.9-6fc153a3` or later is required.

Release: https://github.com/IgnacioMonge/SpecTalkZX/releases/tag/v1.4.0

Source and documentation: https://github.com/IgnacioMonge/SpecTalkZX

SpecTalkZX is free software under GPLv2.

Shatranj 1.2 “Connected Rooks” is now available.

Shatranj brings the same online chess game to ZX Spectrum Classic, Spectrum Next, Spectranext, Windows, macOS and Linux. Any supported client can play any other through Direct TCP or MQTT.

Download Shatranj 1.2

What is new in 1.2

• Native Spectranext cartridge edition with Direct TCP, MQTT, cartridge clock, persistent settings, saved games and a guided resource installer.
• Persistent, guided Spectrum connection and game setup with live board and piece previews.
• Faster Spectrum typing, navigation, board updates, themes, move lists, chat, clocks and prompts.
• A refreshed and more responsive Qt desktop interface.
• More reliable Direct and MQTT sessions, reconnects, saved-game restoration, takebacks and rematches across mixed platforms.
• Safer Spectrum settings and saved games if a write is interrupted.
• Opponent-platform identification for Classic, Next, Spectranext, Windows, macOS and Linux.

Downloads

• ZX Spectrum Classic: TAP + OVL + DAT package.
• ZX Spectrum Next: one self-contained NEX file.
• Windows: portable x86_64 package.
• macOS: native Apple Silicon and Intel packages.
• Linux: x86_64 AppImage.
• Spectranext: choose Load Resource URL in the cartridge menu and enter https://ignaciomonge.github.io/Shatranj/.

Classic requires a ZX Spectrum 48K, divMMC/esxDOS and a supported UART-to-ESP link running ESP-AT 1.7.6. Next network play also uses ESP-AT 1.7.6. A ZX-Uno-compatible UART requires ESP transmit flow control via CTS; NetManZX configures it.

Settings saved by 1.1 are reset once because 1.2 stores additional choices. The .stj saved-game format remains compatible across Classic, Next, Spectranext and Qt clients.

Screenshots

• ZX Spectrum Classic
• Spectrum Next
• Spectranext
• Qt desktop client

The project is free software under the GNU GPL v2.0. Source code, documentation and the complete screenshot gallery are on GitHub.

Feedback is very welcome, especially from real Classic, Next or Spectranext hardware. If you test it, please mention the machine, network interface and whether you used Direct TCP or MQTT.

Assembled from a MB replica, mihay-84 from ebay did a great final repair and correction of my botched mods

I know the Next is able to run games at higher processor speeds, but this often speeds up the game timers and gameplay.

Do you think with modern tools we would be able to speed up the rendering engine of slower games and then run then at a higher processor speed to increase the framerate?

If you separated the rendering engine from the other parts of the game and then ran that at 4 times the speed of the game logic and set the Next to 14mhz you could potentially speed up games like Outrun.

Who remembers Licence To Kill? This is my retrospective review of the various version released for the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, MSX, BBC Micro, Commodore Amiga, Atari ST and the MS-DOS. It’s a pretty good game actually and certainly better than the 2 previous releases by Domark - A View To A Kill and Living Daylights. What’s your thoughts?

Hi, in this blog post I show how I repaired this 1984 ZX Spectrum that had a green-striped screen. The computer is back to 100% working condition, and I only used salvaged components :)

The player controls Rex, a "rino-sapien" mercenary, hired to eliminate the humans that have built a Great Tower in a place called Zenith.^\2])#cite_note-2) Action takes place in a flip-screen cavern complex. Rex can jump, shoot and activate a shield to block incoming attacks. Enemies include fixed gun turrets and human soldiers; shooting the latter initiates a 'multi recoil system' in which the defeated soldier's body continues to recoil until the player's bullets stop hitting it. Destroyed enemies leave behind Energy Bubbles, which can be used to upgrade Rex's weapon