What do you get if you cross a ZX81 with a ZX Spectrum? One of these:
This is a Timex Sinclair TS1500, a follow up to the TS1000. That was just a rebadged ZX81, the same issue 3 ZX81 board in a ZX81 case (with a different TV modulator and a bit of extra RF shielding). This is much more than that. It was only released in the United States, so is a but of an unusual sight here in the UK.
They have started with the BASIC ZX81 circuitry, Z80 CPU, 8K BASIC ROM, but have updated the ULA with a proper crystal oscillator, and built in wait state control (which seems to be an afterthought on the ZX81). They have taken the Spectrum case and keyboard, and also 8x4116 DRAM giving 16 K of RAM. The date code shows late 1983, the Sinclair ZX Spectrum was onto issue 3 boards by that point, seems odd that Timex were redesigning and pushing the ZX81 at this stage.
To power the DRAM, they have used something very similar to the Spectrum's non-too-reliable DC-DC converter. The chip count is about the same as the unexpanded issues 1 ZX Spectrum, with which this has a lot in common.
The 5V power is still provided by a 7805 regulator, mounted on the right hand side of the case. If this was going to get heavy use, I would substitute a switching regulator, but this particular unit is fine to stick with the 7805 and heatsink.
Although that power connector / edge connector arrangement looks very Spectrum like, they have stuck with the ZX81 style 3.5mm mono jack for the power connector, rather than the Spectrum's 2.1mm DC jack.
The Mic, Ear and TV options have been moved to the back like a Spectrum.
This one has been sent to me by a friend in the states. It appears to power up, but there is no response from the keyboard. Taking it apart shows it has the same fault as many ZX Spectrums do, one of the membrane tails has cracked.
Before I can tackle that, I need to check the TV output. This is NSTC RF, and I do not have a suitable tuner here. It have been asked to do a composite video conversion anyway, so that's the first task. What appears to be a modulator box is actually just a screening can around an area of the PCB. Within is an MC1374 based TV modulator circuit. There is also a bit of rust in there, seems to be contained within, presumably from moisture within the can.
This makes the conversion a bit more complicated that usual. The typical approach on a later ZX81 is to disconnect power, input and output from the modulator and install a small buffer amplifier board.
I thought about it for a while and decided the best option was to remove the MC1374. That would disable the rest of the circuitry in there, as well as providing convenient points to pick up the 5V supply and video inputs. It also leaves the option to revert to RF at a later date, should anyone want to.
I used one of the video buffer boards from The Future Was 8 Bit (these are currently on offer until the end of the month). I started with the bare board version and added wires for the required connections. The power, input and output with thin wire and some solid tinned copper wire for the three ground pads. The remaining two pads were for audio passthrough, which aren't needed here. The TS1500 doesn't have audio, although it does have the Spectrum's speaker cutout in the base!
The board fitted nicely onto the plate inside the modulator case, stuck on with some double sided tape. The top two ground connectors give a bit of extra support and hang over the side of the case, held down by the lid.
The two green wires on the right connect the 5V and video signal into the board. The green wire on the left threads under the central metalwork and connects to the output phono connector (the original wire having been disconnected). With the lid back on the modulator, you wouldn't know it had been modified.
Powering on, it looks like we have a picture. The TS1500 is by default in 60Hz NTSC mode. It might be possible to switch to 50Hz PAL mode by setting a pin on the ULA (the standard ZX81 ULA has a pin that is grounded for NTSC mode), but for the moment NTSC is fine.
To test it, I connected a spare keyboard. I couldn't use a ZX81 keyboard for two reasons, one the connectors are spaced apart like a Spectrum, and secondly it appears they are arranged like a Spectrum, with the columns reversed and the rows rearranged. Since it appears to be wired like a Spectrum I used a spare Spectrum+ lid.
It just felt wrong using the Spectrum keyboard to type into what was effectively a ZX81, but most of the keys are the same, so even the extended 'press two keys at once' Spectrum+ keys worked. Only things like the " key which presses the symbol shift and P keys is no good, as on the ZX81 (and TS1500) there is no symbol shift, that key is "./," however things like the arrow and delete keys work correctly.
Looks like we have a functional machine, so it is wired like a Spectrum, and it wasn't much of a surprise when I confirmed it was pretty much a Spectrum.
The metal faceplate was attached with double sided tape, so just a case of carefully prying off the cover without bending it. Under that was a familiar looking keyboard membrane.
Comparing this to an early ZX Spectrum membrane, they appear identical, and indeed both have suffered the same fate.
The metal faceplate is also interchangeable with it's Spectrum counterpart.
As is the keymat, but obviously the symbols on the mats and faceplate are different.
Do not do this, I was just testing the membrane before sticking down the cover. This is probably what the TS2000 / TS2048 would have looked like, but it was dropped in favour of the TS2068.
Finally, the cases are also it would seem very similar.
Given all this, it seems reasonable to assume a ZX Spectrum replacement membrane should be suitable. This one of from RWAP.
That fits in place perfectly.
The keymap and faceplate fit back on, and it's time to plug into the board.
No problems there, the tails were the standard length, and don't seem to fowl anything. Time to test it out.
All keys working, so in answer to the question, 'can you use a ZX Spectrum replacement membrane to repair a TS1500?', yes, you can.
I am assuming it is software compatible with the ZX81, but so far I have not been able to load anything from tape. The TS1500 does look to have a transistor buffer on the input, so I may need to fiddle more with the levels.
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If you want to build a different sort of ZX80 or ZX81, I have Minstrel 2 and 3 kits available from my Tindie store.
Versions are available for ZX81 case:
Or standalone with keyboard:
And also Minstrel 3 with ZXpand microSD card interface:
I have listed the Minstrel 2 and Minstrel 3 PCBs with and without keyboards or overlays on Tindie. Just in case you want to source your own parts and don't like the ease and simplicity of having them all supplied in neat little bags and a foam pad with all the ICs in order.
I am in the process of moving things over there from my SellMyRetro store, so if there is anything that you want, let me know and I'll add it.
I have recently added lots of PET repair and upgrade parts, more to follow.
Bluesky
For those interested in such things, I can now be found on Bluesky, and I expect to be posting more there.
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