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Documents Ben's ZX Spectrum Mod Part 3 Episode -- Episode 147
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  • Author Author: pchan
  • Date Created: 22 Aug 2014 2:01 PM Date Created
  • Last Updated Last Updated: 15 Aug 2014 7:24 AM
  • Views 1575 views
  • Likes 3 likes
  • Comments 6 comments
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Ben's ZX Spectrum Mod Part 3 Episode -- Episode 147

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element14's The Ben Heck Show

Join the Ben Heck team every week for amazing hacks! Watch them build and mod community-inspired projects using electronics!

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Welcome to the final episode of the ZX Spectrum saga! Ben completes the remaining mods for his completely hand-wired portable. Once all the electronic components are tested and working, Ben builds the unit into a specially designed case fresh off the 3D printer. Ben enjoys the fruits of his labor and enjoys some classic gaming on his new system - arguably the most complex project he’s ever tackled on the the show.

 

 

Build Like Ben: Part List for building your ZX Spectrum Mod:

                    

QtyProduct NameSupplierBuy These PartsBuy These Parts
1CPU RAMelement14Buy NowBuy Now
1CPU ROMelement14Buy NowBuy Now
13.5mm mono cableelement14Buy NowBuy Now
1On/off toggle switchelement14Buy NowBuy Now
1Video RAMelement14Buy NowBuy Now
1Flip flopelement14Buy NowBuy Now
1AND gateelement14Buy NowBuy Now
1Not gateelement14Buy NowBuy Now
1Z80A CPUelement14Buy NowBuy Now
124 pin headerelement14Buy NowBuy Now
1Mosfet transistorelement14Buy NowBuy Now
1Mosfet transistorelement14Buy NowBuy Now
1Mosfet transistorelement14Buy NowBuy Now
1Mosfet transistorelement14Buy NowBuy Now
1Mosfet transistorelement14Buy NowBuy Now
1Mosfet transistorelement14Buy NowBuy Now
1Mosfet transistorelement14Buy NowBuy Now
1Mosfet transistorelement14Buy NowBuy Now
1Mosfet transistorelement14Buy NowBuy Now

 

Parts Not Sold by element14

1PAL compatible LCD screen 9vAdafruit
1ZX Spectrum
17.4v lithium ion battery
1LM1889N TV Modulator
1Video chip

 

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Top Comments

  • Former Member
    Former Member over 10 years ago +1
    Just watched all 3 parts ... that is so cool!!! And it brings back tons of memories of sitting in front of the TV programming my ZX Spectrum. It was the very first computer I owned (age 12) and I've been…
  • Former Member
    Former Member over 10 years ago +1
    As I have. I've never so eagerly waited for a project's conclusion as I have for this one. Beautifully executed, both the electronics and the case (even made me forget about the lacking rainbow). Ben has…
  • Former Member
    Former Member over 10 years ago +1
    This is just exceptional. Like many people in the UK, I grew up programming the spectrum (first the 48k, then the 128+2 and finally the 128+3). What I would really love is for element14 to produce this…
  • Former Member
    Former Member over 10 years ago in reply to Former Member

    I occasionally buy a broken Sinclair spectrum off Ebay and rebuild it.
    Kits would be cool but the trouble is that original Speccys use a chip called a ULA (uncommitted logic array), these were made by Ferranti and aren't in production anymore. The ULA is a vital part of the machine which provides the graphical display and also handles inputs from keyboard and the i/o expansion port.

     

    There are ways to replicate a ULA and schematics exist:
    http://www.zxdesign.info/schematics.shtml

     

    I'd be happier getting a broken Speccy and replacing faulty memory chips than trying to replicate the ULA.

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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 10 years ago in reply to kidiccurus

    I agree about the Spectrum rainbow, however the colour shouldn't be too much of an issue, the ZX80 which came before the Spectrum came in a white case and the Spectrum +2 came in grey.

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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 10 years ago

    This is just exceptional. Like many people in the UK, I grew up programming the spectrum (first the 48k, then the 128+2 and finally the 128+3). What I would really love is for element14 to produce this project as a kit. In the UK, there would be a huge market for this - there is a lot of pent up demand amongst engineers and enthusiasts for kit computers. PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE produce this as a kit, or even a parts list that I could submit to the element14 website to get all the parts in one go without hunting around for everything. Very very nice.

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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 10 years ago

    As I have. I've never so eagerly waited for a project's conclusion as I have for this one.

    Beautifully executed, both the electronics and the case (even made me forget about the lacking rainbow).

    Ben has indeed the skills of an engineer, reverse-engineering these custom electronics from 30 years ago is not a task for the faint of heart. Kudos to Ben as he has proven yet again to be at the same skill level as Jeri Ellsworth, the woman who created the C64-In-A-Joystick. With the data learned from the hardware changes required to shrink this project, it's only a small jump to sketching it into ASIC form.

     

    As I'm sure many of you folks are, I am drooling over that lovely Speccy. If it was for sale, I'm sure I wouldn't be able to afford it.

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  • Former Member
    Former Member over 10 years ago

    Just watched all 3 parts ... that is so cool!!! And it brings back tons of memories of sitting in front of the TV programming my ZX Spectrum. It was the very first computer I owned (age 12) and I've been programming ever since. Is it for sale? image

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  • kidiccurus
    kidiccurus over 10 years ago

    Noooo.... The case should be black and feature the rainbow. Anything else is basically a crime.

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