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Re: Stuff and Things.
Posted: 27 Jul 2026 15:15
by stephen_usher
You can have my joystick STL file if you like.
I think that a memory upgrade and a floppy disk controller are must have items these days for the machine. The floppy interface has revolutionised the machine for me.
Note that if you want to play a lot of the ported Spectrum games or some of the native ones you'll have to rely upon direct SCART or RF as the programmable display controller can generate resolutions that OSSC+HDMI (TV/media converters/capture devices) just can't handle. Well, the OSSC is happy but the HDMI devices just say "NO SIGNAL".
I'm looking at the possibility of a display interface board as the left and right audio channels on the monitor port seem to be extremely low voltage and so will need to be amplified before going anywhere. I don't think that this is a fault on my machine.
Re: Stuff and Things.
Posted: 27 Jul 2026 15:23
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 27 Jul 2026 15:15
You can have my joystick STL file if you like.
Yes please :)
stephen_usher wrote: 27 Jul 2026 15:15
I think that a memory upgrade and a floppy disk controller are must have items these days for the machine. The floppy interface has revolutionised the machine for me.
I was definitely thinking of a RAM upgrade, I presume the FDD card works with Gotek?
Are there any SD card solutions, I've not looked TBH, I only bought it yesterday.
stephen_usher wrote: 27 Jul 2026 15:15
Note that if you want to play a lot of the ported Spectrum games or some of the native ones you'll have to rely upon direct SCART or RF as the programmable display controller can generate resolutions that OSSC+HDMI (TV/media converters/capture devices) just can't handle. Well, the OSSC is happy but the HDMI devices just say "NO SIGNAL".
I'm sure that CPC464 you sent me does the same as with some resolutions OSSC just won't display them.
stephen_usher wrote: 27 Jul 2026 15:15
I'm looking at the possibility of a display interface board as the left and right audio channels on the monitor port seem to be extremely low voltage and so will need to be amplified before going anywhere. I don't think that this is a fault on my machine.
I was wondering about that connector myself.
Will it work with RGB2HDMI do you know? BTW there is a beta version of the RGB2HDMI that will now pass audio to HDMI though I haven't tried it myself.
Re: Stuff and Things.
Posted: 27 Jul 2026 15:27
by PhilC
@rubber_jonnie Itried contacting a couple of the guys who make SD card interfaces, got a reply from one but never replied again when I asked how much.
Ill have some spare ram and floppy interface boards in a week or so, just waiting on JLC.
Re: Stuff and Things.
Posted: 27 Jul 2026 15:29
by rubber_jonnie
PhilC wrote: 27 Jul 2026 15:27
@rubber_jonnie Itried contacting a couple of the guys who make SD card interfaces, got a reply from one but never replied again when I asked how much.
Ill have some spare ram and floppy interface boards in a week or so, just waiting on JLC.
OK, sounds cool I may be contacting you about those in the near future :)
Re: Stuff and Things.
Posted: 27 Jul 2026 15:39
by stephen_usher
The floppy interface boards are just WD1772 based controllers with the ability to handle up to 4 Shugart drives, or two drives if jumpered to IBM PC mode. If you only need up to 2 Shugart drives then you don't need the second 74LS240.
The board also has an option for a vertical edge connector for expansions and an over the top buck regulator for the 5V rail so you can power power hungry peripherals. 1A is ample so I replaced it with a 1 amp Traco. The board has an optional external power connector and power switch, neither of which I fitted.
The power supply is a 4 amp "9V" unregulated one, centre negative, like the ZX Spectrum. The machine without peripherals draws just over 2 amps, so way above that which the Spectrum PSU can provide.
I'll get the STL file for the joystick handle off my CAD/CAM machine and post here.
Re: Stuff and Things.
Posted: 27 Jul 2026 16:06
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 27 Jul 2026 15:39
The floppy interface boards are just WD1772 based controllers with the ability to handle up to 4 Shugart drives, or two drives if jumpered to IBM PC mode. If you only need up to 2 Shugart drives then you don't need the second 74LS240.
The board also has an option for a vertical edge connector for expansions and an over the top buck regulator for the 5V rail so you can power power hungry peripherals. 1A is ample so I replaced it with a 1 amp Traco. The board has an optional external power connector and power switch, neither of which I fitted.
The power supply is a 4 amp "9V" unregulated one, centre negative, like the ZX Spectrum. The machine without peripherals draws just over 2 amps, so way above that which the Spectrum PSU can provide.
I'll get the STL file for the joystick handle off my CAD/CAM machine and post here.
Cool thanks very much.
I'm sure I have a suitable PSU somewhere, I'll have to have a dig through my boxes, but to begin with I'll use my bench PSU.
Good to know it's center negative, I hate it when they do that...
As for the floppies I'll likely just use a single Gotek, maybe a pair but that's a little way down the road.
Re: Stuff and Things.
Posted: 27 Jul 2026 18:14
by stephen_usher
rubber_jonnie wrote: 27 Jul 2026 16:06
Good to know it's center negative, I hate it when they do that...
Centre negative was the almost universal standard until the late 80s.
Re: Stuff and Things.
Posted: 27 Jul 2026 21:47
by rubber_jonnie
stephen_usher wrote: 27 Jul 2026 18:14
rubber_jonnie wrote: 27 Jul 2026 16:06
Good to know it's center negative, I hate it when they do that...
Centre negative was the almost universal standard until the late 80s.
I think you're right there.
Re: Stuff and Things.
Posted: 30 Jul 2026 09:46
by rubber_jonnie
Well, the Enterprise is on the way, ETA 1st September!!!
Re: Stuff and Things.
Posted: 30 Jul 2026 11:00
by stephen_usher
rubber_jonnie wrote: 30 Jul 2026 09:46
Well, the Enterprise is on the way, ETA 1st September!!!
It''ll actually be less than a week.