The Spectrum - does anybody have one?

[rubber_jonnie]

The only real benefits over an original machine I see is that it's HDMI and can pretend to be any of the original machine types to run games which need/can use the extra facilities... oh and the nice graphical menu system. Getting one of the joysticks, as supplied with TheC64 etc. would be useful for menu navigation too, but that's extra.

It's a nice product at a reasonable price.

I agree, from what I've seen it is well made and as you say can mimic a number of machines. My 48K machines all have composite out and the signal is quite nice from them via my Retrotink to HDMI and of course the +2 has RGB out so is pretty nice via my OSSC, which is part of why I am flip flopping.

I expect the underlying hardware is the same as my 400 Mini as it looks like the carousel system and menus are very similar just with a Spectrum feel to them.

I'll be dropping a Traco in my other 48K machine when I get home from France, in a mini-modernisation attempt, but I am considering bringing things over here so I have some retroness and things like The Spectrum and 400 Mini don't need quite so much support as the real thing, so they may well come instead.

Lots of thoughts buzzing through my head at the moment.

[Icky]

I'll be dropping a Traco in my other 48K machine when I get home from France, in a mini-modernisation attempt, but I am considering bringing things over here so I have some retroness and things like The Spectrum and 400 Mini don't need quite so much support as the real thing, so they may well come instead.

Would be interested on how you get on with the Traco

[rubber_jonnie]

I'll be dropping a Traco in my other 48K machine when I get home from France, in a mini-modernisation attempt, but I am considering bringing things over here so I have some retroness and things like The Spectrum and 400 Mini don't need quite so much support as the real thing, so they may well come instead.

Would be interested on how you get on with the Traco

It works very well in my other 'built from spares and shoved in a new case' Spectrum 48K, runs very much cooler than with the 7805 and giant heatsink.

I've also used them in my Science of Cambridge MK14 and my Z80-MBC2 and they are a great 7805 replacement and run super cool.

[rubber_jonnie]

OK, so since nowhere is in stock of The Spectrum (I reckon it's been a popular xmas present) I've ordered one of these instead:

Screenshot 2024-12-28 at 12.44.25.png

I do love these things and with Evercade cart compatibilty too they are a great thing to take away.

[Icky]

OK, so since nowhere is in stock of The Spectrum (I reckon it's been a popular xmas present) I've ordered one of these instead:

I do love these things and with Evercade cart compatibilty too they are a great thing to take away.

Thought you might have gone for the Alpha to complete the collection:

Street-Fighter-Alpha.png

[rubber_jonnie]

OK, so since nowhere is in stock of The Spectrum (I reckon it's been a popular xmas present) I've ordered one of these instead:

I do love these things and with Evercade cart compatibilty too they are a great thing to take away.

Thought you might have gone for the Alpha to complete the collection:


Street-Fighter-Alpha.png

TBH I'm not a fan of the desktop arcade units, and having a lot of Evercade carts the handheld made more sense since I can double up with the built in games plus an Evercade cart as well.

Oddly, I don't have space for mini cabinets due to their form factor, but the Hyper Mega Techs can be easily dropped in a drawer.

Also I'm more interested in the other games like Bionic Commando and Ghouls and Ghosts.

[rubber_jonnie]

I'll be dropping a Traco in my other 48K machine when I get home from France, in a mini-modernisation attempt, but I am considering bringing things over here so I have some retroness and things like The Spectrum and 400 Mini don't need quite so much support as the real thing, so they may well come instead.

Would be interested on how you get on with the Traco

@Icky

So the Traco implant went very well, here we are before, during and after the transplant:

IMG20250102141622.jpg

IMG20250102141737.jpg

IMG20250102142416.jpg

And finally in testtng and running a good deal cooler than the 7805 that came before:

IMG20250102162035.jpg

So that is both Speccys now running Traco's.

[Icky]

Thanks @rubber_jonnie, quite a difference. IS their any heat from the Traco i.e. is it cool to touch or still gives off some heat?

[rubber_jonnie]

Thanks @rubber_jonnie, quite a difference. IS their any heat from the Traco i.e. is it cool to touch or still gives off some heat?

They run very cool, I also have one in my MK14 replica and my Z80-MBC2 and I find I can touch them and they are fine, not really warm at all so no need for a heatsink.

[Icky]

Thanks @rubber_jonnie - have ordered 3x of them for my spectrum collection.