Timex Sinclair TS 1500 vs. Sinclair Spectrum

Discussion about ZX80 / ZX81 Software
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Compuman
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Joined: Sun Oct 02, 2011 6:42 pm

Timex Sinclair TS 1500 vs. Sinclair Spectrum

Post by Compuman »

I kept looking and so far I couldn't come with a definite answer to this: will the software I have on my 20 year old audio cassettes from a British Sinclair Spectrum (with rubber keys) work on an American Timex Sinclair TS 1500? Are these two compatible in terms of software and hardware? From what I understood, the 2068 IS NOT compatible with the original Sinclair Spectrum, so I was wondering if the 1500 is. I do not have the 1500 yet but I intend to get one if there's a guarantee my Sinclair Spectrum games will run on it. I just want to play my games again, I didn't play them in 20 years...
sirmorris
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Re: Timex Sinclair TS 1500 vs. Sinclair Spectrum

Post by sirmorris »

Hi, sorry to disappoint you but the TS1500 is a 16K ZX81 compatible machine. You won't be playing your spectrum tapes on it :¬/

C
Compuman
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Re: Timex Sinclair TS 1500 vs. Sinclair Spectrum

Post by Compuman »

Thanks for the reply. However, I thought TS 1000 was the one compatible with ZX81 and the 1500 was more evolved, thus hoping it was compatible with the Spectrum. So now I have another question: is there ANY Timex Sinclair model (or anything else that was sold in North America) that would allow me to play my Spectrum games on?
gozzo
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Re: Timex Sinclair TS 1500 vs. Sinclair Spectrum

Post by gozzo »

You'll need a TS2068, - as far as I understand it ,there was a ROM cartridge to make it more 'spectrum' compatible, but still not 100%, your best bet is to buy a proper spectrum somehow - you will also need a 50Hz capable TV.
RWAP
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Re: Timex Sinclair TS 1500 vs. Sinclair Spectrum

Post by RWAP »

Actually,

I have just sold a Spectrum to a user in the USA - having done the composite video modification, he then plans to use this to connect to the TV - see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqnIa4rXK_c for some help on using a UK based Spectrum in the USA.

There are also various discussions on World of Spectrum -
http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/s ... hp?t=28863
http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/s ... hp?t=27203
http://www.worldofspectrum.org/forums/s ... hp?t=27195

I have several Spectrums available for sale - it is pointless buying a UK PSU (plus it increases the postage too much)

Rich
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PokeMon
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Re: Timex Sinclair TS 1500 vs. Sinclair Spectrum

Post by PokeMon »

RWAP wrote:Actually,

I have just sold a Spectrum to a user in the USA - having done the composite video modification, he then plans to use this to connect to the TV - see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqnIa4rXK_c for some help on using a UK based Spectrum in the USA.
I think a video modification is not necessary for newer TV''s (not older than about 6 to 8 years). In Europe nearly all TV understand NTSC video format including different color frequency (multi-norm tv). Think TV must have same feature in US. Nearly all modern video chip sets in TV's talk either PAL or NTSC.
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BrunoFlorindo
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Re: Timex Sinclair TS 1500 vs. Sinclair Spectrum

Post by BrunoFlorindo »

But TVs over here in the U.S. do not support PAL nor SECAM, only NTSC. :) And we don't have scart, for example. The links that Rich posted are good.

The best place to ask about the TS2068 is here:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ts2068/messages

But if I see any topic about the TS2068 on www.worldofspectrum.org/forums I'm usually the first one to reply.
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