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New Spectrum cases

Posted: Fri Dec 23, 2016 8:17 pm
by jdfan1000
I don't know if you guys saw this:
http://www.retroradionics.co.uk/fundraising.html

I've ordered one w/ keyboard and faceplate to go with my Harlequin.

Re: New Spectrum cases

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2017 2:51 am
by gammaray
I am thinking of taking my TS1500 and converting it to a Harlequin Spectrum. Something is wrong with it anyway. This would be great.

Now do the holes match?

(I do have one other TS1500 that works)

These will update the keyboard... or do I wait for Spectrum NEXT? Hmmm...

No don't wait. Get it all. Do it all!
SPECTRUM.jpg
SPECTRUM.jpg (52.36 KiB) Viewed 6415 times

Re: New Spectrum cases

Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2017 4:41 am
by gozzo
nooo, dont scrap a ts1500! whats wrong with it?

Re: New Spectrum cases

Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2017 11:06 am
by cypher007
seems a bit iffy. its a co.uk site with pics from zx renew and prices in $.

Re: New Spectrum cases

Posted: Fri Mar 10, 2017 8:36 pm
by RWAP
The site was set up by Djordje who is producing replacement cases etc.

He is currently working in China (and using his contacts there to persuade companies to produce new Spectrum cases). The ZXRenew site acts as his UK distributor (items are also listed on sellmyretro.com). The prices are in USD because of getting the money into China!

So not really dubious.

My real concern is whether Djordje is stretching his project range and how long it will be until the Chinese factories get fed up of producing a tiny number of cases in a specific colour - as I assume they are expecting to get a nice large order at some point (not just 50 here and there)...

Re: New Spectrum cases

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 4:49 pm
by gammaray
gozzo wrote: Sun Feb 19, 2017 4:41 am nooo, dont scrap a ts1500! whats wrong with it?
It boots to "K" but keyboard does not function at all even though ribbons are good...

I suspect the ULA that scans the keyboard? Is that right?

I bought this with books and case and tape recorder made in the states for education. I must have gotten all the stuff that did not work well. I was hopeful and dissapointed too!

Re: New Spectrum cases

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 7:12 pm
by PokeMon
RWAP wrote: Fri Mar 10, 2017 8:36 pm My real concern is whether Djordje is stretching his project range and how long it will be until the Chinese factories get fed up of producing a tiny number of cases in a specific colour - as I assume they are expecting to get a nice large order at some point (not just 50 here and there)...
Some german backers ordered some cases from the retroradionics website and have been delivered and received within about 4-6 weeks.

Re: New Spectrum cases

Posted: Sat Apr 15, 2017 9:49 pm
by RWAP
gammaray wrote: Sat Apr 15, 2017 4:49 pm It boots to "K" but keyboard does not function at all even though ribbons are good...
How do you know the keyboard membrane is good? It has probably failed somewhere unfortunately - try using a thin piece of wire to connect each pin the 8 way socket to a pin in the 5 pin socket - that should generate a key press.

Re: New Spectrum cases

Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2017 1:22 am
by gammaray
1500 runs cooler and physical inspection shows no signs of ribbon damage or breaks. No key press changes "K" cursor.

:?: :? :?:

Re: New Spectrum cases

Posted: Mon Apr 17, 2017 2:13 pm
by PokeMon
Not 100% sure about the TS1500 - but the keyboard routine/technique may be not much different to the ZX81/TS1000.
If any key has a short, no other key will respond/detected by the internal routines until this is removed.
You could verify this by holding one key down, power up and try any key. ;)

So at the end it could be something like this.